Born - A Daughter

"A Daughter!

Well, what brought her?"
Kitty asks. "How came she here? "
Half with joy and half with fear,
Kitty is our eldest child -
Eight years old, and rather wild -
Wild in manner, but in mind
Wishing all things well defined.

''Last night I did not see her, father,
Or I'm sure I had much rather
Stayed at home, as still as a mouse.
Than played all day at grandma's house.
She is so pretty, and so tiny -
And what makes her face so shiny?
Will it always be like that?
Will she swell up, plump and fat,
Like my little doll? or tall.
Like my wax one? tell me all
About her, papa dear,
For I do so love to hear
Where she came from, and who brought her,
Yours and mamma's brand-new daughter."

A daughter! another daughter!
And the question is, "What brought her?"
Spence, our boy, but three years old,
Says the nurse did, and is bold 

In defiance of them both,
Since to yield his place he's loth;
And, pouting, feels his nose's point.
When I declare 'tis out of joint.

But though the childish explanation
Be food enough for child's vexation.
We older folks must better find
To feed the hunger of the mind;
To us, of larger issues preaching,
This link of life eternal, reaching
From earth to heaven, this new-born soul
Come, fresh from whence forever roll
It's countless years through yonder heaven,
Has deeper cause for thinking given.

A daughter!
Whatever else - she comes to bring
A blessing in her life's young spring.
" No matter, darling - she is here -
Our daughter, sister, baby dear!
Open your hearts, and let her enter,
Open them wide, for God hath sent her."