Only page of title Fairly Easy
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"_The Loehrs is come to your house! _" And a small
But very much elated little chap,
In snowy linen-suit and tasseled cap,
Leaped from the back-fence just across the street
From Bixlers', and came galloping to meet
His equally delighted little pair
Of playmates, hurrying out to join him there --
"_The Loehrs is come! -- The Loehrs is come! _" his glee
Augmented to a pitch of ecstasy
Communicated wildly, till the cry
"_The Loehrs is come! _" in chorus quavered high
And thrilling as some paean of challenge or
Soul-stirring chant of armied conqueror.
'Em all a-drivin' into town! " bragged he --
"An' seen 'em turnin' up the alley where
_Your_ folks lives at. An' John an' Jake wuz there
Both in the wagon; -- yes, an' Willy, too;
An' Mary -- Yes, an' Edith -- with bran-new
An' purtiest-trimmed hats 'at ever wuz! --
An' Susan, an' Janey. -- An' the _Hammonds-uz_
In their fine buggy 'at they're ridin' roun'
So much, all over an' aroun' the town
An' _ever_'wheres, -- them _city_-people who's
A-visutin' at Loehrs-uz!"
The faces all are gathered. And how glad
The Mother's features, knowing that she had
Her dear, sweet Mary Loehr back again. --
She always was so proud of her; and then
The dear girl, in return, was happy, too,
And with a heart as loving, kind and true
As that maturer one which seemed to blend
As one the love of mother and of friend.
The fair girl whispered something low, whereat
A tender, wistful look would gather in
The mother-eyes; and then there would begin
A sudden cheerier talk, directed to
The stranger guests -- the man and woman who,
It was explained, were coming now to make
Their temporary home in town for sake
Of the wife's somewhat failing health. Yes, they
Were city-people, seeking rest this way,
The man said, answering a query made
By some well meaning neighbor -- with a shade
Of apprehension in the answer. No, --
They had no _children_. As he answered so,
The man's arm went about his wife, and she
Leant toward him, with her eyes lit prayerfully:
Then she arose -- he following -- and bent
Above the little sleeping innocent
Within the cradle at the mother's side --
He patting her, all silent, as she cried.