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1849–1916

THE STEPMOTHER.

James Whitcomb Riley

First she come to our house, Tommy run and hid; And Emily and Bob and me We cried jus’ like we did

When Mother died,— and we all said ‘ At we all wisht‘ at we was dead! And Nurse she could n't stop us, And Pa he tried and tried,—

We sobbed and shook and would n't look, But only cried and cried; And nen someone — we could n't jus’ Tell who — was cryin’ same as us!

Our Stepmother! Yes, it was her, Her arms around us all — ‘ Cause Tom slid down the bannister And peeked in from the hall.—

And we all love her, too, because She's purt nigh good as Mother was!

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THE STEPMOTHER. · James Whitcomb Riley · Poetry Cove