﻿ELLA GRAY. 53 



And sometimes, lady, when I cry. 

 Grandmother says that, by and by, 

 If I am good, and don't complain. 

 That I shall see mamma again, 

 And by her side forever stay, 

 And she will never go away. 

 Do tell me, lady, is it so ? 

 When will they will they let me go ?" 

 " But, Ella, think! there 's only you. 

 And what will little Willie do?" 

 A puzzled look o'erspread her face, 

 Yet in a moment left no trace ; 

 " Willie ! dear lady, in the sky, 

 There will be room for him and I ; 

 And my mamma will be so glad, 

 To see him such a soncy lad ; 

 Her arms are plenty wide enough, 

 I 'm sure, to wrap around us both ! 

 Then tell me, dearest lady, do ! 

 When will they, will they let us go?" 



Before the summer passed away, 



I heard again from Ella Gray ; 



A servant with a message came, 



The little Ella breathed my name ! 



I flew to soothe the dying child, 



But she it was my griet beguiled, 



For, opening wide her clear blue eyes, 



And glancing upward to the skies, 



Without a shade of pain or fear, 



She whispered softly in my ear 



" I 'm going home I 'm going home ! 



Mamma Mamma I come I come !" 



' I come I come!" the parting breath 



Sobbed through the lips, then still in death. 



I held the casket in my arms, 



But, conqueror over death's alarms, 



The spirit, freed from stain or blight, 



Sprang upward to the realms of light ; 



And whispering soft, "I come I come ! ' 



In purer air had found its home. 



