Page 40 - Poetry-Family

Naming the Baby

We have got a new born sister,
We were nigh the first that kissed her.
When the nursing woman brought her
To papa, his infant daughter,
How papa’s dear eyes did glisten!
She will shortly be to christen;
And papa has made the offer,
We shall have the naming of her.
Now we wonder what would please her, —
Charlotte, Julia or Louisa?
Jane or Mary, there’re too common;
Joan’s too formal for a woman;
Ann’s a prettier name beside,
But we had Aunt Ann that died.
They would say if ‘twas Rebecca
That she was a little Quaker.
Edith’s pretty, but that looks
Better in old English books;
Ellen’s left off long ago;
Blanche is out of fashion now.
None that I have named as yet
Are so good as Margaret.
Emily is neat and fine;
What do you think of Caroline?
How we are puzzled and perplexed
What to choose or think of next!
We are in a little fever,
Lest the name that we should give her,
Should disgrace her or defame her.
We will leave grandma to name her,
And she names her Isadore,
For the loved aunt gone before.
Her middle name it is Eugenia,
After grandma’s youngest sister.
So we call her Isogene,
For she is our Philopene.

“The above little poem was recited by the four children, Phoebe,
Paul, Eli and Hope, of Mr. and Mrs. C.P. Ives, at their home in

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