| |
| I HAVE got a new-born sister; | |
| I was nigh the first that kissed her. | |
| When the nursing-woman brought her | |
| To papa, his infant daughter, | |
| How papa’s dear eyes did glisten!— | 5 |
| She will shortly be to christen; | |
| And papa has made the offer, | |
| I shall have the naming of her. | |
| |
| Now I wonder what would please her,— | |
| Charlotte, Julia, or Louisa? | 10 |
| Ann and Mary, they ’re too common; | |
| Joan ’s too formal for a woman; | |
| Jane ’s a prettier name beside; | |
| But we had a Jane that died. | |
| They would say, if ’t was Rebecca, | 15 |
| That she was a little Quaker. | |
| Edith ’s pretty, but that looks | |
| Better in old English books; | |
| Ellen ’s left off long ago; | |
| Blanche is out of fashion now. | 20 |
| None that I have named as yet | |
| Are so good as Margaret. | |
| Emily is neat and fine; | |
| What do you think of Caroline? | |
| How I ’m puzzled and perplexed | 25 |
| What to choose or think of next! | |
| I am in a little fever | |
| Lest the name that I should give her | |
| Should disgrace her or defame her;— | |
| I will leave papa to name her. | 30 |
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