Once more rings the birthday with merry young laughter,
        Our bairnies once more are around us at play;
      Their little hearts reck not of what may come after,
        As lightly they weave the fresh flowers of to-day.

      Now to thy father’s loved hand gaily clinging,
        To ask for the kiss he stoops fondly to gi’e;
      To his care-laden spirit once more thou art bringing
        The freshness of thine, bonny winsome wee Gee![100]

Thy rosy young cheek to my own thou art pressing,
Thy little arms twining around me I feel. 
And thy Father in Heaven to thank for each blessing,
I see thee beside me in innocence kneel.

When the dread shadow of sickness is o’er me,
I see thee, a lassie all brightness and bloom;
Still, still through thy tears strewing blossoms before me,
Still watching beside me through silence and gloom.

* * * * *

Hushed now is the music! and hushed be my weeping
For days that return not and light that hath fled. 
No more from their rest may I summon the sleeping,
Or linger to gaze on the years that are dead.

Fadeth my dream—­and my day is declining,
But love lifts the gloamin’ and smooths the rough way;
And I hail the bright midday o’er thee that is shining,
And think of a home that will ne’er pass away.

[100] The name she was called by in her childhood.

Early in 1879 Lady Russell began again to have more intercourse with her friends in London, and in May she went with her son and daughter to the Alexandra Hotel for a short stay in town.  She writes in her Recollections: 

In May (1879) we spent ten days at the Alexandra Hotel, in the midst of many kind friends and acquaintances.  It was strange to be once more in “the crowd, the hum, the shock of men” as of old—­and all so changed, so solitary within....  We there first saw Mr. Justin McCarthy—­he has since become a true friend, and his companionship and conversation are always delightful; as with so warm a heart and so bright an intellect they could not fail to be.

In April, 1880, when Mr. Gladstone’s candidature in Midlothian was causing the greatest excitement and enthusiasm, Lady Russell received this letter from Mrs. Gladstone.

    120, GEORGE STREET, EDINBURGH, April 4, 1880

MY DEAR LADY RUSSELL,—­We are so much touched by your letter and all the warmth and kindness you have shown to ourselves and Mary and Herbert.  How can I thank you enough?  I see in your letter all the memories of the past, and that you can throw your kind heart into the present moment lovingly.  The old precious memories only make you more alive to what is going on, as you think of him who had gone before and shown so noble an example to my husband.  No doubt it did not escape you, words of my husband about Lord Russell....  All here goes on splendidly;