Little All-Aloney's feet <br />Pitter-patter in the hall, <br />And his mother runs to meet <br />And to kiss her toddling sweet, <br />Ere perchance he fall. <br />He is, oh, so weak and small! <br />Yet what danger shall he fear <br />When his mother hovereth near, <br />And he hears her cheering call: <br />"All-Aloney"? <br /> <br />Little All-Aloney's face <br />It is all aglow with glee, <br />As around that romping-place <br />At a terrifying pace <br />Lungeth, plungeth he! <br />And that hero seems to be <br />All unconscious of our cheers - <br />Only one dear voice he hears <br />Calling reassuringly: <br />"All-Aloney!" <br /> <br />Though his legs bend with their load, <br />Though his feet they seem so small <br />That you cannot help forebode <br />Some disastrous episode <br />In that noisy hall, <br />Neither threatening bump nor fall <br />Little All-Aloney fears, <br />But with sweet bravado steers <br />Whither comes that cheery call: <br />"All-Aloney!" <br /> <br />Ah, that in the years to come, <br />When he shares of Sorrow's store, - <br />When his feet are chill and numb, <br />When his cross is burdensome, <br />And his heart is sore: <br />Would that he could hear once more <br />The gentle voice he used to hear - <br />Divine with mother love and cheer - <br />Calling from yonder spirit shore: <br />"All, all alone!"<br /><br />Eugene Field<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/little-all-aloney/
