Annette Browne, "Little Brown Boy" (1921)
Why do I think so?
Why he tinted your body that beautiful brown,
So the angels might guard you from Heaven on down;
While trailing clouds of glory you came down here to stay,
They watched that little soul in brown all the long way.
They loved you dearly there, I know.
Don't you feel it so?
They might have made hair plain and straight on your head,
But they fashioned those crisp little curls there instead;
They gave them with their love for you and put them on to stay
And wanted them always to grow just that way.
I wonder that they ever let you go;
They loved you so.
They gave you a heart full of laughter and song,
And lips that go merrily all the day long.
I guess they let you come to us so we might see what joy
And loveliness can dwell within a little boy.
Published in The Brownies' Book, January 1921