"Little Ella"

Little Ella.
Little Ella, fairest, dearest
 Unto me and unto mine
Earthly cherub coming nearest
 To my dreams of forms divine
Her brief absence frets and pains me
 Her bright presence gladness brings
Her spontaneous love restrains me
 From a thousand selfish things
  2.
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 besprint with early flowrs
Like a bird mid silvan shadows
 In the golden summer hours.
  3.
Little Ella brings a blessing
 With her bright and winning smile
With her frank and fond caressing
And her prattle free form guile
When I hear her footsteps bounding
 or
 In the hall and through the grove
And her voice with joy resounding
 'Tis the music that I love.