*Composed about 1857 and sung by the Hutchinson Family

Mrs C.H.Gildersleeve (Abbie Peters Buchanan aka Abby) was born to John Buchanan and Abbie Peters in Cambridge, New York, America on 5th August 1834.

She was first married to Charles H. Gildersleeve at Green Bay Wisconsin and after his death in 1866 married Christopher S. Longstreet (Dentist, New York).

Abby Gildersleeve was a teacher in Buffalo, America between 1853 and 1860.

MRS. LOFTY AND I.
By Mrs. C. Gildersleeve.

Mrs. Lofty keeps a carriage,
So do I;
She has dapple grays to draw it,
None have I;
She’s no prouder with her coachman
Than am I,
With my blue-eyed, laughing baby,
Trundling by.
I hide his face lest she should see
The cherub boy, and envy me.

Her fine husband has white fingers,
Mine has not;
He could give his bride a palace –
Mine, a cot;
Her’s comes home beneath the starlight –
Ne’er cares she;
Mine comes in the purple twilight,
Kisses me,
And prays that He who turns life’s sands
Will hold his loved ones in His hands.

Mrs. Lofty has her jewels,
So have I;
She wears her’s upon her bosom,
Inside I;
She will leave her’s at Death’s portal,
By and bye;
I shall bear my treasure with me
When I die,
For I have love and she has gold –
She counts her wealth – mine can’t be told.

She has those who lover her – station,
None have I;
But I’ve one true heart beside me –
Glad am I;
I’d not change it for a kingdom,
No not I;
God will weigh it in His balance,
Bye and bye,
And the difference define
‘Twift Mrs. Lofty’s wealth and mine.

Buffalo Times