THE DOLLS

“Whenever you dress me dolls, mammy,

Why do you dress them so,

And make them gallant soldiers,

When never a one I know;

And not as gentle ladies

With frills and frocks and curls,

As people dress the dollies

Of other little girls?”

Ah — why did she not answer: -

“Because your mammy's heed

Is always gallant soldiers,

As well may be, indeed.

One of them was your daddy,

His name I must not tell;

He's not the dad who lives here,

But one I love too well.”