In Memory of Mary Elizabeth Bedinger (1958-1966)

             THE LITTLE GIRL THAT MEETS ME
​

There's a little girl that meets me,
And with laughter ever greets me,
And to kiss her oft entreats me,
As I stray
"Long the path of life so dreary,
Where the maddened heart and weary,
Shades the sunlight shining near me,
On my way.

She has eyes as bright as heaven,
(Only aged about seven,)
But unto her God has given
Such a heart,
That forever she is singing,
And her sweet voice ever ringing,
Beauty o'er the rapt heart bringing,
Sweet as art.

With her sunny hair, so curly,
With her teeth so white and pearly,
I have met her late and early,
By the way,
And I take her hand and press it
In my own, just to caress it --
"Pretty little hand -- God bless it!"
I do say.

There's a little girl that meets me,
And with laughter ever greets me,
And to kiss her oft entreats me,
As I stray
"Long the path of life so dreary,
Where the maddened heart and weary,
Shades the sunlight shining near me,
On my way.

She has eyes as bright as heaven,
(Only aged about seven,)
But unto her God has given
Such a heart,
That forever she is singing,
And her sweet voice ever ringing,
Beauty o'er the rapt heart bringing,
Sweet as art.

With her sunny hair, so curly,
With her teeth so white and pearly,
I have met her late and early,
By the way,
And I take her hand and press it
In my own, just to caress it --
"Pretty little hand -- God bless it!"
I do say.


​My thanks to B. F. Washington
who wrote this poem for his daughter
Fanny Madison Washington
in 1868.