Poems (White)/Tam's Party

by Jeannie Copes White

TAM'S PARTY

I know a little boy so free—
His birthday came, and he was three.

Then baby boys and girls,
With straight hair and with curls,
All dressed in very best,—
A birthday party guest.
The little girls in white
With ribbon sashes bright,
The boys in suit and belt
The girls their equal felt.
They came in one by one
Just after mid-day sun.
Each had a little gift:
A birthday party with
Out gifts is not the thing;
'Tis custom thus to bring,
They say; one must not go
Unless a present show.
So Tarn had ball and top,
Books, candy and what not.
He felt quite proud that day,
And all were very gay.
The cake was large and white;
Tarn's name was pink and bright;
Three candles stood up straight
On top, each in a plate,
And way up over head
A rabbit; goodies spread
Below; at every place,
To decorate and grace,
By ribbons from her nest
Held rabbits for each guest;
And eggs of every shade
The table gaily made;
Large cakes tied with a bow,
For cream, in color show.

They had an Easter hunt,
In grass right in the front.
The two who found the most
Eggs; prizes they would boast.
All were so glad and free
And merry as could be;
A brighter day for them
I think scarce could have been.
And somehow as I look,
Into my brain I took
A notion: that may be
If angels thus could see
This happy baby day,
That all that they would say
Would be, that in this way
We learn to love and pray;
For happiness is best
For youth. As for the rest
Of life, a childhood passed
In love and joy and grass
Is time and labor spent
Of which you'll not repent.
For one can never know
What after-life will show.
But this you rest content,
That in a youth well spent
Prepares the child to grow,
And easily to flow
Into a youth and man
That can all waters span.