One Pair Of Stockings
An old woman sat by her brighl fireside, Swaying thouglilfully to and fro, In an aucient cliair whose creaky craw Told a tale of long ago While down by her side on the kitchen floor, Stood a basket of worsted balls - a score, Then she spoke of the time when the basket tliere Was filled to the very brim. And now there remained of the goodly pile But a single pair - for hitn. Then wonder not at the dimmed eye-light, There's but one pair of stockings to mend toni glit, For each empty nook in the basket old, By the hearth there's an empty seat , And I miss the shadows froni ofi' the wall, And the patter of many feet ; 'Tis for this that a tear gathered over my sight At the one pair of etockings to mend to-niht. 'Twas said that far through the frest wild, And over the mountains bold, Was a land whose rivers and darkening caves Were gemmed with the rarest gold Then my first-born tnrned from the oaken door, And 1 knew the shadows were only four. Another went forth on the foaming wave3 And diminished the basket's store - But his feet giew cold - so weary and cold - They'll never be warm any more - And this nook in its emptiness seeuieth tome To give forth no voice but the moan of the sea. Two otiléis have gone towards the setting Sun And made them a home in its light, And f'airy tingers have taken their share To mend by the (i reside briglit ; Sorne other basket their garments flll, But mine! Oh mine is empty still. Another - the dearest - the fairest - the best - Was taken by angels away. And ciad in a garment that waxeth not old. In a land of continual day ; Oh, wonder no more at the dimmed eye-light, While I meud the one pair of stockicgs tonight.
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Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus