Little All-Aloney

Little All-Aloney's feet     Pitter-patter in the hall,     And his mother runs to meet     And to kiss her toddling sweet,     Ere perchance he fall.     He is, oh, so weak and small!     Yet what danger shall he fear     When his mother hovereth near,     And he hears her cheering call:     "All-Aloney"?     Little All-Aloney's face     It is all aglow with glee,     As around that romping-place     At a terrifying pace     Lungeth, plungeth he!     And that hero seems to be     All unconscious of our cheers -     Only one dear voice he hears     Calling reassuringly:     "All-Aloney!"     Though his legs bend with their load,     Though his feet they seem so small     That you cannot help forebode     Some disastrous episode     In that noisy hall,     Neither threatening bump nor fall     Little All-Aloney fears,     But with sweet bravado steers     Whither comes that cheery call:     "All-Aloney!"     Ah, that in the years to come,     When he shares of Sorrow's store, -     When his feet are chill and numb,     When his cross is burdensome,     And his heart is sore:     Would that he could hear once more     The gentle voice he used to hear -     Divine with mother love and cheer -     Calling from yonder spirit shore:     "All, all alone!"