And welcomes the visions that day after day
With baby's sweet presence will nestle and stay.

"Time passes, my _baby_ has suddenly flown,
And left me a daughter to maidenhood grown.
As _I_ did, e'en so does my bonny maid do,
And--learns that sweet lesson so old and so new.

"For _her_ comes a day when the wedding bells ring,
And my darling to other than 'mother' must cling.
Like mother, like daughter,' 'like father, like son,'
'Tis an adage will live till all living be done."

Grandma pauses a moment. Her listener cries,
With a sweet look of sympathy in her young eyes:
"And then you were lonely, poor Grandma! I know,
But so was--my _great_ grandmama, long ago."

A smile lights the dear, aged face, and again
Grandma takes up her story. "Yes, dearie, but then
It wasn't for long, because, darling, you see,
A gift _I_ once gave was soon given to me.

[Illustration: "_Learns that sweet lesson so old and so new_"]

"The gift of a grandchild as fair and as sweet
As the baby _my_ mother's heart bounded to meet;
Oh, how my fond prayers 'rose in gratitude true,
For the blessings of daughter and granddaughter too!