Originally published in Pearson's Weekly (C. Arthur Pearson Ltd.) vol.1 #32 (28 Feb 1891).
Oh! fair is the face of the red-headed baby,
Her velvety cheeks show the June rose's dyes,
And her eyes are so blue that I sometimes think, maybe,
They caught their bright hue from the blue of the skies
When the angels were bringing her through in the morning,
For she came as the sun from the ocean arose,
And his beams to the streams gave a golden adorning,
And the song birds awakened the world from repose.
She had a red head, but I hardly think that'll
Detract from her beauty in any one's eyes;
Her smile is like sunshine, like music her prattle,
There ne'er was a baby so pretty and wise.
Her lips are twin rosebuds, and 'twixt their red portals
Two snowy white pearls are revealed to the view;
Her mamma declares she's the sweetest of mortals,
The red-headed baby whose eyes are so blue.
She never excited my temper's caloric
By screaming and bawling with anger or fright;
I never was called on to bring paregoric
To sooth her to sleep at the dead of the night;
I never was waked in the cold winter season
To sing to that baby while walking the floor;
No, never, indeed, for a very good reason—
The darling belongs to the people next door.