Dorothea Auguste Gunhilde Schrage

“ Us when we are merely thinking; His Hand is not far away
To guide us to His wishes; though all seems bright as day.
Before you take the leap, think carefully and well;
Don’t be in any hurry, it may mean quite a spell.
Then, if you think a partner would to your blessings add,
A home and little children to love and to make glad;
Then make your resolutions, to stand while life shall last,
’Tis but human to err, forgive all that is past.
Though times be turbulent at first, forget it with a smile,
And say softly to yourself, ’twill be better after while ”

“ When you came up profusely, one can hardly believe
That blossoms like these, such wee little mites
Could produce in my garden such wonderful sights.
When once you are planted when Spring comes around,
Multiplied by hundreds you’d peep through the ground;
Awaiting the heat, the Sun and the rain
In the sweet early summer to grow lovely again.
You come every year, you make my heart glad
With such beautiful blossoms, how can I be sad?
The humming bird loves you, they come every day
And drink of your nectar, so softly and gay.{8} ”

“ O’Day.
Miss Sigrid Hiland went out one day,
And decided to change her name to Mrs. O’Day;
Mr. Minister tied the knot firmly and strong,
For together they must live—we hope very long.
To housekeeping she set her heart with a vim,
Not to please herself; oh, no, but to please him;
And she is so sweet for this good man to possess,
She is winsome and brave, and will a home bless.
We wish you all joy that this world can give,
And for many years together, happy will live ”

“ Rocking your child with tenderest care.{55}
Mother love is strong, many a sorrow, many a tear;
When all else fails, her love is still there;
And she’ll go to the end of the earth for you.
So noble, so gentle—none kinder and true;
Yes, you were my first friend—why should I not love
To pray for your soul that is called above.
{56} Ascension Day.
We sailed away one fair March day,
From Norway’s shore so far away
To a new land; our hopes were high;
Oh, what have we done; oh, my; oh, my;
Left father and mother and dear friends on shore,
Perhaps never to see them more. ”

“ To look after us and spend the day.{22}
If our toys lay around on our very best floor,
And we pin pictures up on the walls and the door;
The noise that we make—we jump up and down,
On our beautiful sofa, in our parlor of brown.
He didn’t say one teentsy bit a word,
For he had a nap, and never has heard.
He looks for his glasses—they are on his nose;
Now this is a fine time for me to propose.
But mother came home, not one word did she say,
Except, you have had a good time today.
When grandpa was gone, we could see by her looks,
Something that’s not often written in books. ”

“ One naughty word the heart doth sear,
These are the things that one should fear.
Blossom and glow and bloom and bloom,
The time may come—the years of gloom.
Mother love can never die,
Her love has little wings that fly.
The sun by day, the moon by night,
God has created love and light. ”

“ July 18, 1918—On this day 556 men left Kansas City for various
camps, at the Union Station, Kansas City, Mo.
{36} The Bird of Paradise.
The most beautiful birds live where the climate is warm,
Where breezes blow that can do them no harm;
The bird of paradise, most beautiful of all,
In the month of May entertains with a ball,
To show off their plumage, they dance high up in the trees.
Early in the mornings, when all is at peace.
It’s the male bird that’s bedecked with plumage fine,
How they love to display and sit in the sunshine ”

“ Now, mammy, don’t please say one word to dad,
For this was the best day we ever have had;
We wish you’d have grandpa come every day,
Never to leave us, but come here to stay.
We love you and daddy as much as we can,
But we also love grandpa, he’s such a fine man.
{23} Christmas in Norway.
Good Shepherd, I pray Thee, let Santa come
And bring us the things we have asked for so long;
There’s Gerald needs shoes, his old ones are too bad,
And an overcoat, a warm one, for the very best dad;
There’s Peer, need’s a cap, to keep out the cold,
We have looked at one longingly—but it was sold. ”

“ So dad took his hopeful to her with great joy. Nothing has happened on this dear little street since the day that you left it, at least nothing great. The same neighbors sit on their porches at night, trying to find a breeze, perhaps a stray one, real light. I’ll close now and hope that these lines will fall into the hands of your dear self and all. We think of you often in your home far away, and hope you’ll be well and happy; and say, here’s a kiss, and goodby, and hope you will find the time to write me ”

“ We planned and talked trip, both night and day,
Until the time came, we would be on our way.
We packed a basket full of good things to eat
On the train, for the children, was happiness complete.
In the afternoon at four, we reached our destination,
Looking around, there was no one at the station
To meet us with family small.
Was our letter miscarried or lost in the mail?
A man on a horse came leisurely riding so light;
Can you direct us to the home of Mr. White? ”

“ A sled and some mittens, nuts, and candy, too;
I dest love old Santa; but I dreamed I had found
A dear little playmate, wif cheeks red and round,
All bundled up in your old blue shawl,
Without any hair, dest like a big doll;
Wish I could see Santa; oh, please, call him back,
And say he forgot a playmate for Jack.
{16} Is Marriage a Failure?
Marriage is a problem, at least, so I have heard,
I hope you’ll kindly listen, for I, too, have a word;
But it was God’s own making; He ne’er can do a wrong ”

“ For we have been such good friends, think I should treat them fair;
I’ll be too big for hair bows—oh, dear, what shall I do;
Well, I’ll go down to grandma’s, and settle it with you.
{35} Good-By, Daddy.
A scene so sad, so very sad, how can I e’er forget,
They seemed to know each other, whom they had not even met;
The friends of these brave soldiers, in sorrow bent and sore,
For fear these sons have parted, and will never see them more.
Just one more kiss for daddy, dear sweetheart, don’t be sad,
When I get to camp, dear, you shall daily hear from dad ”

“ This, the first day in school, and be called a bad name.
I tip-toed quietly and whispered in mother’s ear,
For I didn’t want little sister such naughty words to hear.
But after this day, I had never a fear,
For she said little fairies are always near
To protect little children from danger they keep,
Even at night when they are asleep.
{13} Baby.
I’m just a little baby, I pray you let me sleep;
Please let me have my own way, for I don’t want to weep.
I love to lay and stretch, of Heav’n I love to think,
That sunny home I came from; just one more little wink. ”

“ Come to your sweetheart—I’ll wipe off the dust;
Fall down in my lap, for have you I must.{20}
I believe you are flirting, so high in the air,
The humming bird and butterfly can fly ’round you there.
I don’t want to harm you; believe, me, I could;
I can shake you, and make you, if only I would.
One day shortly after, I saw on the ground
The apple I had worshipped, with others around ”

“ The ship was an old fashioned sailing vessel and under ordinary circumstances would have required three to four weeks time from Bergen, Norway, to Montreal, Canada.
Passengers were compelled to carry enough bread for their entire families, to last for the whole trip, which of course, would become hard and dry. Many icebergs have nearly vertical walls, often more than one hundred feet. These floating mountains of ice sometimes have very fantastic shapes. It is not safe for a ship to come near one, and it is no uncommon thing for an iceberg to suddenly turn upside down. ”

“ I can guess you are enjoying the breeze from the bay, while we are most uncomfortable. Be glad you are there, in your home in Seattle, where heat need not give you a care. Daughter is all settled now in her home so neat, with her husband and her two children sweet. ”

“ Two miles to walk to school ’twill mean an early rise;
Folks seem to say I’m small yet—but work, I don’t despise;
Before Dad went away, he laid his hand upon my head,
“My son, take care of mother, sister Lillian and Fred.”
I’m glad I have a father, that is so brave and strong,
I’m going to be like him, the time will not be long;
I will not be a slacker, I’ll do all that I can;
It never will be my fault if I don’t grow up a man.
{69} An Old Clock.
I’m an old wooden clock, on the mantel I stand,
Pointing the hours with my slender hand ”

“ And none was more rosy and sweeter than you.
{21} Little Mischiefs.
Grandpa’s darlings see him coming
Up the hill, they come a running,
Till at length they stop to rest;
Then he thinks how he is blest. ”