"Little Ella"

Little Ella
Little Ella, fairest, dearest
 Unto me and unto mine
Earthly cherub, comeing nearest
 To my dreams of forms divine
Her brief absence frets and pains me
 Her bright presence solace brings
Her spontaneous love restrains me
 From a thousand selfish things

Little Ella moveth lightly
 Like a graceful fawn at play
Like a brooklet running brightly
 In the genial smile of May
Like a breeze upon the meadows
 All bespread with early flowrs
Like a bird mid silvern shadows
 In the golden summer hours

Little Ella like a fairy
 Ever moving ever gay
Little Ella light and airy
 each
 Lends in brightness to the day
I will seek her fond caressing
 I will make her cares my own
She will be to me a blessing
 When all other joys have flown