--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Merrill, H. R. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 15 number: 8 published: 1912-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'H. R. Merrill, "Just Two Little Shoes: A Poem," *Improvement Era* 15, no. 8 (June 1912): 731.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1508unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1508unse start_page: 731 end_page: 731 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1912-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1508unse publication_year: 1912 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1912, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Just Two Little Shoes: A Poem Just Two Little Shoe? Two little shoes whose well-worn toes Do mutely tell of tender feet, With skin just like a fresh, wild rose, As delicate, smooth and as sweet. They'd toddle forth at eventide — I can hear his gurgles and coos — Dearer than all the world beside Was the patter of little shoes. Treasured as gold are these small shoes, With their toe-caps of shiny black, Uppers shading from tans to blues, And coloring's gone from the back, Worn by the creep of my Dandy Boy; — The thought of his crowing imbues In my heart such a world of joy, As I fondle his little shoes. Two little shoes, I love them well, For the sake of my Dandy Boy, Whose gurgling laugh would rise and swell, Brimming my heart with heav'nly joy. The angels came one summer night, Came down with the shadows and dews; My little man joined in their flight, So I treasure his lonely shoes. Oh, how I love these tiny shoes, Since his patter I'll hear no more. ^ No more I'll run from his fierce "boos, As he wriggles across the floor; I'll kiss no more his laughing lips, Nor the down of his curls profuse; Nor can I check the tear that drips On the laces of little shoes. Two little feet, all pink and white, Have gone toddling away from me They trotted off one starry night, Far. far, over the boundless sea. He left his smile where angels stroll, In the sunset's gorgeous hues; The mystic touch that thrilled my soul He left here with his tiny shoes. H. R. Merrill. PRESTON, IDAHO