Bless the little babies!
Oh, they make the home,
Keeping husband evenings,
Time he used to roam.
Boon companions miss him--
Cards have lost their charms;
There he sits contented,
Baby in his arms.
Bless the little babies!
Oh they strip the heart
Of all false allurements,
By their native art.
Once the belle, a mother;
Fashion, fol-de-rol;
Selfish whims that spoiled her,
Vanish one and all.
Bless the little babies!
Bridging many a breach,
'Twixt the wife and husband,
Binding each to each.
Husband stops his growling,
Warmed by baby's smiles;
Wife forgets her grievance,
Watching baby's wiles.
Bless the little babies!
Shame upon the wives
Ruled by Self, and Fashion,
Living barren lives.
Out upon the practice,
Murder--nothing less,
Of the scores of women
God had meant to bless.
Bless the little babies!--
Blessings, few or many,
Pity on the household
Never counting any.
It is like a garden
Where there are no flowers;
Bless the pretty blossoms,
Filling happy bowers.
Maurine by Ella Wheeler
Milwaukee: Cramer, Aikens & Cramer, 1876.
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