What was so interesting about this christening is that Josh's mother (my niece Angie) is a Methodist Preacher. She preaches at a small country church that her great grandparents were members of when she was born.
But Angie did not perform the christening. That honor went to her father (my husband's brother) who is also a Methodist preacher.
It was very special to see my brother-in-law baptise his own grandson.
I have always enjoyed hearing my brother-in-law preach. But I was totally in awe at hearing my niece preach. She is truly gifted.
As part of her sermon she read a poem by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton. I did a Google search when I got home so I could read it again and share it with you.
Song for a Fifth Child
Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!
Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat- a- cake, darling and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard and there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby. Babies don’t keep.
1958 Ruth Hulburt Hamilton
Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!
Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat- a- cake, darling and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard and there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby. Babies don’t keep.
1958 Ruth Hulburt Hamilton
There wasn't a dry eye in the whole place!
Of course you are wondering about the Christening gown. Yes, I made it but I did it over 5 years ago for her first child.
When she was expecting her first child I offered to make the Christening gown.
When I asked her what she wanted she told be she wanted the Christening gown to be made from her wedding dress.
She gave me the entire wedding gown and told me to cut it up.
Here is a picture of Josh with his dad.
On the front of the gown I hand embroidered a Celtic Cross design from the MP Internet subscribers club in 2004.
The embroidery is a Padded Satin Stitch. I started using readers glasses to embroidery while making this.
The pearls in the embroidery are from Angie's wedding dress. The bullion rose spray was my addition to the design.
A lovely story. And a wonderful Christening. I have never read the entire poem before. Only the last part. The entire poem is so much better and puts all the pieces together. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThat is an heirloom gown that will pass down through many, many generations!!!
ReplyDeleteJanet this was a beautiful post. Josh is a gorgeous baby and your Christening gown is exquisite.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course, I cried at the poem. I love that poem.
Janet...what a wonderful day for your family. The baby is precious and the gown beautiful!!! And I have always loved that poem. I had the bottom part memorized as a teenager because I used to dream about the day when I would have little ones. Today is that day....I have four little ones now and I do sit and snuggle them as much as possible...even to the point of a dirty house sometimes.
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