THE CRADLE.
185
They laid him in the dropping loop,
And softly swung him, till at last
Over his beauty balmy Sleep
Its delicate enchantment cast.
And softly swung him, till at last
Over his beauty balmy Sleep
Its delicate enchantment cast.
And then they ran to call us all:
"Come, see where little Rob is! Guess!"
And brought us where the darling lay,
A heap of rosy loveliness
"Come, see where little Rob is! Guess!"
And brought us where the darling lay,
A heap of rosy loveliness
Curled in the net: the dim old place
He brightened; like a star he shone
Cradled in air; we stood as once
The shepherds of Judea had done.
He brightened; like a star he shone
Cradled in air; we stood as once
The shepherds of Judea had done.
And while adoring him we gazed,
With eyes that gathered tender dew,
Wrathful upon the gentle scene
His Celtic nurse indignant flew.
With eyes that gathered tender dew,
Wrathful upon the gentle scene
His Celtic nurse indignant flew.
"Is this a fit place for the child!"
And out of his delicious sleep
She clutched him, muttering as she went,
Her scorn and wonder, low and deep.
And out of his delicious sleep
She clutched him, muttering as she went,
Her scorn and wonder, low and deep.
