A Mother's Valentines

By George Cooper, 1906

Little ones met round the table

When the February snow,

With a silence all unbroken,

Glistened in the starry glow.

There were Bessie, Madge and Percy,

And the youngest, Baby Lou;

Glossy heads were bending over

Some hard task they had to do.

Busy pens were nimbly scratching;

Tiny finger-tips, once pink,

Had achieved a lavish coating

Of papa's forbidden ink.

Every sunny brow looked puzzled,

Each was quiet as could be;

There was something secret brew-

ing

That was very plain to see.

Smilingly their mother watched them 

Till the clock ticked on to nine;

But their bright eyes ne'er grew

weary,

And of sleep they gave no sign.

"Come, my darlings," whispered 

mother,

"Time for all to be in bed!"

And her gentle voice, like music,

Roused each pretty, drooping head.

When four snowy sheets of paper

Dimpled hand had folded tight,

Mother kissed her laughing darlings,

And they bade her sweet "good

night."

But she heard their whispered plot-

ting,

Till they sank to pleasant sleep;

And she prayed the Heavenly Father

All her little ones to keep.

When the morning's gold is glittering

On the ice-gems of the trees, 

Four wee letters, neatly folded,

On the door-sill mother sees;

And she opens, and she reads them,

With a mother's pure delight;

Now she understands the meaning

Of the mystery last night.