To have a Cricket on the Hearth is the luckiest thing in all the world ! '' John looked at her as if he had very nearly got the thought into his head that she was his Cricket in chief , and he quite agreed with her . But it was probably one of his narrow escapes , for he said nothing . `` The first time I heard its cheerful little note , John , was on that night when you brought me home -- when you brought me to my new home here ; its little mistress . Nearly a year ago . You recollect , John ? '' Oh , yes ! John remembered . I should think so ! `` Its chirp was such a welcome to me ! It seemed so full of promise and encouragement . It seemed to say , you would be kind and gentle with me , and would not expect -LRB- I had a fear of that , John , then -RRB- to find an old head on the shoulders of your foolish little wife . '' John thoughtfully patted one of the shoulders , and then the head , as though he would have said No , no ; he had had no such expectation ; he had been quite content to take them as they were . And really he had reason . They were very comely . `` It spoke the truth , John , when it seemed to say so : for you have ever been , I am sure , the best , the most considerate , the most affectionate of husbands to me . This has been a happy home , John ; and I love the Cricket for its sake ! '' `` Why , so do I , then , '' said the Carrier . `` So do I , Dot . '' `` I love it for the many times I have heard it , and the many thoughts its harmless music has given me .
Sometimes , in the twilight , when I have felt a little solitary and down-hearted , XXXXX -- before baby was here , to keep me company and make the house gay -- when I have thought how lonely you would be if I should die ; how lonely I should be , if I could know that you had lost me , dear ; its Chirp , Chirp , Chirp upon the hearth has seemed to tell me of another little voice , so sweet , so very dear to me , before whose coming sound my trouble vanished like a dream .
Cricket John chirp fear first night note promise sake shoulders