THE PREFACE. little ballads contained in this volume are nothing more than their name declares, com monplace blossoms that will by no means compare favorably with loftier flowers of brighter hue. Some of them have previously appeared in print, and others are given to the public for the first time. Some are written with special reference to the authors little friends. They are the spontaneous outburst of a heart that longed to sing, but whose earliest warblings, because of great physical prostration and its conse quent privations ere the threshold of the twelfth birthday had been reached, were attuned to a minor key. If towards the close of this little volume the reader is able to detect the more exultant notes of 759410 iv joy and gladness PREFACE. which thrilled the heart as the lines were written, to Him who so wondrously lib erates and restores, she would ascribe all the praise. PITTSFIELD, MASS., Jan. 28, 1885. A. M. B. CONTENTS. ONWARD 9 THE OLD CHOOL-HOUSE n FRIENDSHIP 15 HOUSE-CLEANING TIME . 19 OUR TWILIGHT TALK 22 WHAT OF THE NIGHT 26 TRUSTING 28 QUESTIONS 30 WEALTH 32 BESSIE AND HER PETS 34 AN EASTER SONG 38 OUR OLD HOME 41 ROBINS TRIALS 46 A COUNTY SONG 49 THE STOLEN NEST 51 DEATH OF SANTA CLAUS 54 TRUST AND BE STILL 58 ANOTHER YEAR 62 THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM 66 PLEA IN BEHALF OF LADIES TEMPERANCE UNION 70 IN BEHALF OF THE LADIES AID SOCIETY, 2OTH ANNIVERSARY. 74 LOST FOOTSTEPS 78 FOOTSTEPS REGAINED 82 A CORONATION SONG 84