Enfant Gaté*

I had a dancing little girl; Her laugh was full of joy, And never would I trade that girl For any girl or boy. Her laughter turned the sunshine on At the dawning of each day, And, when at night the sun went down, The stars in the milky way Would nod their head and wink their eye And bid her come out to play. She was sometimes bold and sometimes shy, And I liked her either way. For the tinkling tones in her voice that rang, It fair would make me laugh At the words she said an the songs she sang And the questions she could ask; She filled my life with happiness Till my heart fair overflowed. She loved wee gifts and games of guess, And she was a six-year-old. Then I awoke one sunny morn Knowing life has many stages. I knew that little girl had gone Into the happy pages Of pleasant dreams and memories. In the silence of the night Time tip-toed through her draperies, And I knew that time was right. Then down the hall on dancing feet Came another little girl- She seemed so tall; her voice so sweet; And her smile lit up my world. Saying, 'Mommy dear, now don't you fear, I may be a little older, But I am here-to stay all year.' And she draped around my shoulder. Now she fills my life with happiness Till my heart fair overflows. This one loves gifts and games of guess, But she is a seven-year-old. In French 'enfant gaté' (awn-faw gaw-tay) means a favorite, pampered child. In this poem it is hard to tell which is more pampered, the mother or child.