Child Songs of Cheer

<h2><SPAN name="A_VALENTINE_TO_A_LITTLE_CHILD" id="A_VALENTINE_TO_A_LITTLE_CHILD"></SPAN>A VALENTINE TO A LITTLE CHILD</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Dear heart, on this thrice-blessed day,<br/></span> <span class="i2">An thou my sweetheart be,<br/></span> <span class="i0">The rose of love shall bide alway<br/></span> <span class="i2">Upon the red-rose tree.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">And in the garden of my heart<br/></span> <span class="i2">So ceaselessly shall shine,<br/></span> <span class="i0">The little birds will know thou art<br/></span> <span class="i2">Mine own true Valentine.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">And I will bid them wing and sing<br/></span> <span class="i2">To all good winds that blow,<br/></span> <span class="i0">That to thy little feet they bring<br/></span> <span class="i2">All blessings, even so.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">And o'er thy cradle I will coax,<br/></span> <span class="i2">By every lucky charm,<br/></span> <span class="i0">The friendship of the fairy folks<br/></span> <span class="i2">To fold thee from all harm.<br/></span> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</SPAN></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">So may they hover round thy head<br/></span> <span class="i2">And gently thereupon,<br/></span> <span class="i0">As doth the April sunshine, shed<br/></span> <span class="i2">Most gracious benison.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">And all fair gifts that Fortune hath,<br/></span> <span class="i2">I'll pray she promise these,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And that she loose about thy path<br/></span> <span class="i2">All sweet influences.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Then here's a kiss! and there's a kiss!<br/></span> <span class="i2">And kisses, one, two, three!<br/></span> <span class="i0">I seal them in the folds of this,<br/></span> <span class="i2">And speed them unto thee!<br/></span></div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</SPAN></span></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />