Very
quietly they slipped their little hands into his and told him in
whispers, "Mamma is singing Agnes to sleep, and we must not make any
noise." So very quiet good-bye kisses full of sweet promises were given
and John turned towards Lucy. She sat in her low nursing-chair slowly
rocking to-and-fro the baby in her arms. Her face was bent and smiling
above it and she was singing sweet and singing low a strain from a
pretty lullaby,
"O rock the sweet carnation red,
And rock the silver lining,
And rock my baby softly, too,
With skein of silk entwining.
Come, O Sleep, from Chio's Isle!
And take my little one awhile!"
She had lost all her anxious expression. She was rosy and smiling, and
looked as if she liked the nursery rhyme as well as Agnes did and that
Agnes liked it was shown by the little starts with which she roused
herself if she felt the song slipping away from her.
"Let me kiss the little one," said John, "and then I must bid you
good-bye. We shall soon meet again, Lucy, and I am glad to leave you
looking so much better.
Pages:
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248