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        WILLIE.

WE HAVE MISSED YOU.

Willie, is it you, dear ?
Safe, safe, at home !
They did not tell me true, dear,
They said you would not come ;
I heard you at the gate,
And it made my heart rejoice,
For I knew that welcome footstep,
And that dear, familiar voice,
Making music in my ear,
In the lonely midnight gloom :
Oh ! Willie, we have missed you ;
Welcome ! welcome, home !

We've longed to see you nightly,
But this night of all ;
The fire was blazing brightly,
And lights were in the hall ;
The little ones were up
Till 'twas ten o'clock, and past,
Then their eyes began to twinkle,
And they've gone to sleep at last ;
But they listened for your voice,
Till they thought you'd never come ;
Oh ! Willie, we have missed you,
Welcome ! welcome, home !

The days were sad without you,
The nights were long and drear ;
My dreams have been about you,
Oh ! welcome, Willie, dear !
Last night I wept and watched,
By the moonlight's cheerless ray,
Till I thought I heard your footstep,
Then I wiped my tears away :
But my heart grew sad again,
When I found you had not come,
Oh ! Willie, we have missed you,
Welcome ! welcome, home !