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 COPYRIGHT DEPOSre 
 
VERSES 
 
 By Marjorie Dyrenforth 
 
 CHICAGO 
 NINETEEN HUNDRED AND TEN 
 
COPYRIGHT 
 
 NINETEEN HUNDRED AND TEN 
 
 BY 
 
 MARJORIE DYRENFORTH 
 
 ©CU259243 
 

 OIo My Brother 
 
THIS EDITION, PRIVATELY PRINTED 
 IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 
 NINETEEN HUNDRED AND TEN, 
 IS LIMITED TO FIFTY COPIES. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 To Father and Mother 7 
 
 The Beacon 8 
 
 The Joy of Living 10 
 
 A New Year's Greeting 11 
 
 To Katharine 12 
 
 Rosamond 13 
 
 A Suffragette 14 
 
 Grannie's Knitting 15 
 
 The Betrothal 16 
 
 Spring Song 20 
 
 The Easter Bonnet 21 
 
 Mackinac Woods 22 
 
 Twilight at Mackinac 23 
 
 An October Day 24 
 
 The Season's End 25 
 
 Snow-Flakes 26 
 
 A Christmas Card 27 
 
 The Man in the Moon 28 
 
 Sing a Song of Happiness 29 
 
 To A Miniature 30 
 
 In Arcady 31 
 
 The Wind-Flower 32 
 
 Sonny 34 
 
 The Chaperon Speaks 35 
 
 In My Lady's Chamber 36 
 
 Speaking of Incubators 39 
 
 A Hut on the Mountain 40 
 
 The Daffodil 41 
 
 LOCHINVAR Up TO DaTE 42 
 
 A Token 43 
 
 An Acceptance 44 
 
CONTENTS— Continued 
 
 Regrets 45, 
 
 An Invitation 46' 
 
 To THE Bride 47 
 
 Retribution 48 
 
 The Morning Star 50- 
 
 Dew-Fall 51 
 
 By-Lo 52- 
 
 An Idle Lay 53, 
 
 Dorothy Trott and the Spider 54 
 
 Tommy Love joy 55 
 
 Angelica Milde 56 
 
 Naughty Billy 57 
 
 Lullaby Land 58 
 
 The Manx Cat 59. 
 
 The Village Cobbler 6o' 
 
 When Miss Helen Goes A-Walking 61 
 
 Heart o' Mine 62 
 
 Evensong 64. 
 
 Margins of the Day 65 
 
 Au Revoir 66' 
 
Q 
 
 To Father and M other 
 
 TO FATHER AND MOTHER. 
 On Their Wedding Anniversary, 
 
 OUR wedded years have numbered now 
 The total sum of three and twenty. 
 May Fate continue to endow 
 You both with blessings rich, in plenty. 
 
 As Nature lays her green aside 
 
 For softer shades of brown and yellow, 
 
 So may you gradually glide 
 
 Within life's twilight, soft and mellow. 
 
 And in this haven may you rest, 
 
 Long sheltered from all stormy weather ; 
 
 Possessing that of all most blest — ■ 
 A life of harmony together. 
 
T h e Beacon 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 rsTnlHOSE humble dwelling crowns the rocks. 
 
 lyj Of Borough-by-the-Sea? 
 
 ■JkJI Whose garden is it, edged with box, 
 So gay with phlox and hollyhocks, 
 And barred to whomsoever knocks? 
 'Tis that of Myra Lea. 
 
 The sun has sunk beyond the hill 
 
 With lingering regret. 
 The weary birds have ceased to trill, 
 The air is turning damp and chill, 
 And yonder lamp which gilds the sill 
 
 Projects her silhouette. 
 
 Unlike the village maids was she, 
 
 So simple, poor and plain. 
 She went her way, her heart as free 
 As was her birth from pedigree ; 
 No suitor had poor Myra Lea, 
 
 No lover in her train, 
 
 Until at length there crossed the bar 
 
 Of Borough-by-the-Sea, 
 A vagrant vessel from afar, 
 Among whose crew a popular 
 And careless, serenading tar 
 
 Made love to Myra Lea. 
 
T h e Beacon 
 
 The village cronies glanced askance 
 Upon so strange a sight, 
 
 And gossiped on the circumstance ; 
 
 But Myra, blessed with ignorance, 
 
 Advanced among them in a trance, 
 Unconscious of their slight. 
 
 Thus April gave the reins to May, 
 
 As Nature doth decree. 
 Yet ere there dawned the wedding day 
 The townsfolk murmured in dismay, 
 For lo! the ship had sailed away 
 
 From Borough-by-t he-Sea. 
 
 For many years yon lamp has burned, 
 
 A beacon o'er the sea. 
 And all the while yon soul has yearned. 
 Whose eyes as yet have not discerned 
 The ship which never more returned 
 
 To faithful Myra Lea. 
 
The Joy of Living 
 
 THE JOY OF LIVING. 
 
 IIS the gladness, 
 Not the sadness, 
 
 I Of this world should be reviewed. 
 
 Would each writer 
 Saw the brighter 
 Side, through glasses rosy-hued. 
 Let the cheerful 
 Buoy the tearful, 
 And the strong aid those who fall. 
 For the blessedness of giving 
 Is the blissfulness of living 
 To us all. 
 
 lO 
 
A New Yearns Greeting 
 
 A NEW YEAR'S GREETING 
 
 lATHER Time, throughout the ages. 
 Regularly turns the pages 
 
 I Of his volume. So again 
 
 A year is spent and nineteen ten 
 Appears upon a snowy leaf, 
 In prospect long, yet all too brief 
 Wherein to hold 
 Things manifold 
 Which one has planned to do. 
 And now this calendar is o'er. 
 And nineteen ten is at the door, 
 I wish there may be many more, 
 Replete with happiness, in store 
 For you. 
 
 II 
 
To Katharine 
 
 TO KATHARINE 
 
 LESSINGS on thee, little maid, 
 
 With face so fair and eyes so blue, 
 
 And lips upon which Nature laid 
 
 A touch of cherry's ripest hue. 
 The saucy dimples come and go 
 And play about thy dainty chin; 
 A glimpse of coquetry they show, 
 Sweet Katharine. 
 
 12 
 
Rosamond 
 
 ROSAMOND 
 
 H" IROM out the twilit sky there fell 
 
 Twin stars as azure as the bell 
 , I In yonder dell. 
 
 And all the rosy-tinted morn 
 Of sunbeams, golden as the corn, 
 
 Was gently shorn: 
 So Fate decreed, that eyes and hair 
 Might be beyond compare. 
 
 The varied charms of every flower 
 Most reverenced in Nature's bower 
 
 Became her dower: 
 While jewels of the purest kind — 
 Chaste meditations, intertwined, 
 
 Instilled her mind. 
 Thus Nature touched but to adorn — 
 And Rosamond was born. 
 
 13 
 
A S u f/r a g e t t e 
 
 A SUFFRAGETTE 
 
 B] 
 
 LD King Sol arose one day, 
 
 Glanced o'er the world and far away, 
 When suddenly, high in the sky, 
 
 Fair Mistress Moon did he espy. 
 
 "What ho! What ho!" the monarch cried: 
 "Am I by Mistress Moon defied? 
 What! I, the ruler of the sky? — 
 How dares she thus my might defy?" 
 
 But Mistress Moon for Sol cared naught ; 
 She cared not what he said nor thought ; 
 But dozed, clad in her silver sheen. 
 As though King Sol she ne'er had seen. 
 
 Then old King Sol more angry grew. 
 And round about his sunbeams threw. 
 He vowed he'd melt fair Mistress Moon 
 In hottest rays of blazing noon. 
 
 The sunbeams shot to no avail; 
 
 The pale moon grew no whit more pale; 
 
 So Sol gave up in sheer despair. 
 
 And drove his chariot through the air. 
 
 And thus the mistress won the fight ; 
 She's in the sky from morn till night: 
 No matter how the monarch scolds, 
 She knows her rights — her rights she holds. 
 
 14 
 
Grannie's Knitting 
 
 S 
 
 GRANNIE'S KNITTING 
 
 R ANNIE'S sitting with her knitting 
 By the window, in her chair, 
 In and out the needles flitting, 
 
 Barely pausing in the air. 
 
 All is cosy, bright and rosy 
 
 From the glowing grate near by. 
 
 Grannie feels a trifle dozy — 
 
 Shuts her eyes, and breathes a sigh. 
 
 Soon she's stirring; all unerring 
 Up she takes her work again. 
 
 And the sticks are fairly whirring. 
 Making up the time they've lain. 
 
 15 
 
T h e 'Betrothal 
 
 THE BETROTHAL 
 
 (( 
 
 S 
 
 EE, Lotta, thy lover is coming this way, 
 Whilst there thou art dreamily sitting. 
 He's bringing the ring with him now, I 
 aare say; 
 
 So hasten to meet him 
 And tenderly greet him. 
 My dear, in a manner befitting." 
 
 Thus spoke Lotta's mother, the forester's wife, 
 From the kitchen where, bent on her labor, 
 She skillfully handled her ladle and knife. 
 The dainties preparing 
 With effort unsparing, 
 Nor pausing while greeting a neighbor. 
 
 Tomorrow the feast of betrothal was due, 
 And the air of the cottage was festive. 
 The larder was teeming with viand and brew ; 
 Yet Lotta, the bride. 
 And the forester's pride, 
 Was secretly, plaintively restive. 
 
 As Lotta, bewitching, in modest array, 
 
 One morn had sat busily churning, 
 A handsome young huntsman had paused on 
 his way ; 
 
 And shyly she laughed 
 When he drank in a draught 
 Of the milk to an early returning. 
 
 16 
 
The 'Betrothal 
 
 The heart of the maiden would flutter anew 
 
 With gladness whene'er she perceived him; 
 While he grew more ardent with each 
 interview, 
 
 Protesting devotion, 
 With tender emotion — 
 And trustingly Lotta believed him. 
 
 Then followed long days when he never 
 returned 
 To the maiden whose love he had taken — 
 Who wearily waited and constantly yearned. 
 While bitterly grieving 
 At slowly conceiving 
 Herself to be coldly forsaken. 
 
 Now, Forester Fritz and the miller were gay 
 
 At the pleasing result of their scheming; 
 (For Lotta had always been used to obey) 
 While Otto, enchanted 
 At having supplanted 
 All rivals, with rapture was beaming. 
 
 The day of betrothal was dismally gray. 
 And damp with the falHng of showers. 
 The cottage was gay with abundant display 
 Of pewter and plate, 
 Never used but for state, 
 And sweet with the odor of flowers. 
 
 17 
 
The "Betrothal 
 
 With many a taper, as darkness advanced, 
 
 The cottage was brilliantly lighted. 
 The villagers came and both feasted and 
 danced, 
 
 With many a toast 
 To the hostess and host 
 And the couple whose troths had been 
 plighted. 
 
 Within all was merry and bright, while the 
 night 
 Grew wilder with crashes of thunder. 
 The heavens were rent by forked flashes of 
 Hght — 
 
 When abruptly a shout 
 From the darkness without 
 Brought all to a standstill in wonder. 
 
 "Who's there?" cried the forester. "Enter, I 
 pray ; 
 The more the more welcome and cheery." 
 *T," came the reply, "have mistaken my way. 
 For the castle I'm bound, 
 But I've ridden around 
 In a maze through the storm till I'm weary." 
 
 "'Tis My Lord!" in amazement the forester 
 cried ; 
 "The betrothed of her Highness! Believe: 
 me, 
 
T h e Betrothal 
 
 Your Lordship should bide for the storm to 
 subside" — 
 
 "Nay, Forester, nay; 
 I must speed on my way ; 
 Long since had they thought to receive me." 
 
 The villagers clustered to watch him depart, 
 
 Applauding the pledge he was keeping; 
 But Lotta retired with tumultuous heart 
 To her chamber, where, prone. 
 By the casement, alone, 
 She gazed at him, blinded with weeping. 
 
 19 
 
spring Song 
 
 SPRING SONG 
 
 B' lET cheer 
 Banish tear, 
 , I And bid smiles reappear, 
 
 For the sunbeams have kissed 
 Every vestige of mist 
 From the morn, and the robins are caroling 
 clear 
 In the tops of the trees. 
 While the soft southern breeze 
 Is heralding widely that springtime is here. 
 Rejoice 
 Every voice. 
 And as buoyantly sing 
 As the robins are singing a welcome to spring. 
 
 20 
 
T^ h e Easter Bonnet 
 
 ^ 
 
 THE EASTER BONNET 
 
 OST bewitching Easter bonnet! 
 Pink, with roses strewn upon it; 
 Frilled and laced, 
 And satin-faced — 
 Quickly she prepared to don it. 
 
 Clearly her determination 
 Was to own the fair creation; 
 
 Yet she tried 
 
 Her scheme to hide 
 With an air of hesitation. 
 
 Suddenly — he'll not deny it — 
 When he saw her archly try it, 
 
 Then and there 
 
 And scarce aware, 
 He had plead that he might buy it. 
 
 21 
 
M a c k i n a c Wo o d s 
 
 MACKINAC WOODS 
 
 fTTJlHERE shall we wander? 
 k i J Where fancy leads, 
 iui^l Afar off yonder 
 
 Where no one heeds. 
 
 Along the trail where 
 
 The woods are deep, 
 
 And balsam-steeped air 
 
 Induces sleep. 
 
 The shades are longer 
 As on we go; 
 The scent is stronger, 
 And, ere we know. 
 Our steps grow slower. 
 Our eyelids lower. 
 As, breeze caressed. 
 The balsams o'er us 
 Breathe low, in chorus, 
 A drowsy "Rest." 
 
 22 
 
Tw i I i g h t at Ma c k i n a c 
 
 TWILIGHT AT MACKINAC 
 
 D 
 
 HE west is aglow at the kiss of the sun; 
 The indolent sails that went roaming 
 Come lazily home, now the day is done 
 To anchor at length in the gloaming. 
 
 The birds are at vespers high up in the trees ; 
 
 The balsams are crooning a blessing; 
 The water, now brushed by the breath of the 
 breeze , 
 
 Is dimpling beneath its caressing. 
 
 The lights of the harbor gleam one by one ; 
 
 The glow with the gloaming is blending; 
 And over the world, now the dusk is done, 
 
 The shadow of night is descending. 
 
 23 
 
An October Day 
 
 AN OCTOBER DAY 
 
 IH, the autumn leaves are flying, 
 
 And the plaintive wind is sighing, 
 
 I For the late October day is damp and 
 
 dreary ; 
 But we care not what the weather be 
 When gathered here together we 
 
 Draw closer to the fire, 
 While the flames leap higher, higher, 
 And the atmosphere within is warm and 
 cheery. 
 
 24 
 
The S e a s n ^ s End 
 
 THE SEASON'S END 
 Youth 
 
 lUTUMN is heralding Hallowe'en 
 
 Hasten today, welcome tomorrow. 
 I Harvest is ripe and the blast is keen — 
 Hasten today, welcome tomorrow. 
 Life is the veriest merriest thing! 
 What are the joys which the morrow will 
 
 bring ? 
 Winter and snow and so-ho! we sing — 
 Hasten today, welcome tomorrow. 
 
 Age 
 
 Autumn is heralding fall o' year — 
 
 Linger today, tomorrow is sorrow. 
 
 Winter of life is now drawing near — 
 
 Linger today, tomorrow is sorrow. 
 
 Leaves as they fall are as lives that are spent, 
 
 Sapped of their strength, seared, useless and 
 
 rent. 
 The summit is gained; begun the descent — 
 Linger today, tomorrow is sorrow . 
 
 25 
 
Snow -flakes 
 
 SNOW-FLAKES 
 
 IHE wintry wind went racing 
 Over mountain, over wold, 
 
 I And the many mortals facing 
 
 It were shivering with cold ; 
 When a little spirit overhead 
 Wrapped snugly in its featherbed 
 Looked down upon the world and said: 
 "Now why not spare 
 A bit and share 
 Our comforts with them all down there?" 
 
 And so 
 The featherbeds went overflowing, 
 
 Andlo! 
 The mortals said that it was snowing! 
 
 26 
 
A Christmas Card 
 
 A CHRISTMAS CARD 
 
 IING a song of Christinas time — 
 Mistletoe and Hollyberry! 
 
 I Lend an ear unto my rhyme, 
 
 Bidding you be very merry ; 
 Trusting the ensuing year 
 May fulfill each wish most dear, 
 Adding to it every cheer 
 And rejoicing — 
 Hereby voicing 
 All my wishes, most sincere. 
 
 27 
 
The Man in the Moon 
 
 THE MAN IN THE MOON 
 
 rrrrjlHAT a placid old man is the man in the 
 Li J moon — 
 
 lAJI Heigh-ho! Isn't it so? 
 He goes sailing along in his silver balloon 
 While the clouds scurry round in a weird 
 
 rigadoon 
 To the restless, tempestuous wind's shrilly- 
 tune — 
 
 Heigh-ho ! 
 
 His inscrutable mien is sedately serene — 
 
 Heigh-ho! Isn't it so? 
 As he lazily sails on his endless routine, 
 Unconcerned, though the elements fiercely 
 
 convene ; 
 A prince paramount of his lofty demesne — 
 
 Heigh-ho ! 
 
 28 
 
i n g a Song of Happiness 
 
 SING A SONG OF HAPPINESS 
 
 rralHEREFORE sit a-grieving 
 I '.'J When a thing goes wrong? 
 lumi Though vexations come, they 
 
 Never Hnger long. 
 So 
 
 Look upon the bright side 
 
 And sing another song ; 
 
 What's the use of worrying 
 
 When Httle things go wrong ? 
 
 Some are prone to ponder 
 Why mishaps befall; 
 Some are wont to wonder 
 Why they live at all. 
 
 So 
 To them who sing of sorrow, 
 Whose days are dull and gray, 
 Sing a song of happiness 
 And drive their care away. 
 
 29 
 
To a M iniature 
 
 TO A MINIATURE 
 
 nHOU bit of ivory incased in gold, 
 With muslin fichu, filmy cap so sheer; 
 I A reminiscence of the days of old: 
 That slender, oval face, with blue eyes clear, 
 Which fain would speak, yet leave words still 
 
 untold ; 
 Framed by rich auburn tresses, falling low 
 On slender snow, white throat and muslin fold^ 
 With tendrils clinging to the classic brow. 
 The satin cheek is as the damask rose, 
 Embellished by the tender flush of youth; 
 And in each feature of that artless pose 
 Appear incarnate, purity and truth: 
 Yet now those mobile lips have ceased to move 
 Which erstwhile framed and uttered words of 
 
 love. 
 
 30 
 
In A r c a d y 
 
 IN ARCADY 
 
 
 
 CHANCED upon an avenue 
 
 Where Love and Youth were playing; 
 Youth hearkening as Love did woo, 
 Instinctively obeying. 
 Entranced, 
 I glanced, 
 And then advanced, 
 The brighter for delaying. 
 
 31 
 
The JVind' Flower 
 
 THE WIND-FLOWER 
 
 I WIND came up from out the sea, 
 And, rustling through a glade, 
 
 I Espied a wee anemone 
 
 A-growing there beneath a tree, 
 And nestling in its shade. 
 
 "Ah! pretty flower, ah! gentle flower," 
 
 Quoth he, with pleasing grace, 
 "Why dost thou lie there hour by hour, 
 When I might take thee to a bower 
 
 More suited to thy face?" 
 
 "Thou art most kind, oh gracious Sir, 
 
 And yet I greatly fear 
 That should I from this hollow stir 
 Into the world's great busy whir, 
 
 I'd pine within the year." 
 
 "That shouldst thou not," the bold wind said; 
 
 And flattered her, and sighed; 
 Then, failing thus, he softly plead. 
 Until her heart with pity bled. 
 
 And blushing she complied. 
 
 Alas ! again the wind blew past 
 
 Within the very hour; 
 His passing fancy could not last. 
 And so unto the earth he cast 
 
 The tender little flower. 
 
 32 
 
Th e IVi n d - Flower 
 
 Ah, woe is me! ah, woe is me!" 
 
 The stricken blossom cried; 
 "I should have stayed at home with thee, 
 Thou sheltering and kindly tree." 
 
 And then she smiled and died. 
 
 33 
 
Sonny 
 
 SONNY 
 
 m 
 
 E'S my only little sonny; 
 
 And the sweetest ever born. 
 Just as sweet as clover honey 
 
 And as sunny as the morn. 
 
 Sunny curls and sunny smile, 
 Dancing dimples that beguile, 
 Coming, going all the while — ■ 
 Sunbeams every one. 
 
 Soon my little one must grow; 
 Curls and dimples both must go. 
 Oh, that I might keep him so — 
 Just a little son! 
 
 34 
 
The Chaperon Speaks 
 
 THE CHAPERON SPEAKS 
 
 B 
 
 OURTEENTH day of February! 
 Maids and bachelors be wary 
 When a certain subtle fairy 
 Launches forth his darts. 
 
 Some, as I've heard tell, deride him; 
 Some, as well, have quite defied him; 
 One and all we've ne'er espied him 
 Practicing his arts. 
 
 For elusive is this fairy. 
 Airy, wary, arbitrary. 
 So take care lest he ensnare ye 
 In his game of Hearts. 
 
 35 
 
m 
 
 I n M y L a d y ^ s Chamber 
 
 IN MY LADY'S CHAMBER 
 
 {My Lady (dronvsily) 
 
 PEN the casement, Anne, that I 
 May bathe mine eyes in morning dew 
 And lend mine ears unto the cry 
 
 Of the bHthesome thrush in yonder yew. 
 Tire-ivoman {thronjoing open the casement) 
 
 Your Ladyship, the morn is fair; 
 
 The thrushes sing where the yew tree sighs, 
 
 And the garden roses scent the air. 
 
 Will your Ladyship be pleased to rise? 
 
 My Lady {^wearily) 
 
 Ah me! my head doth sorely ache, 
 So leave me, Anne, you need not wait. 
 Methinks I did too early wake. 
 Go fetch my dish of chocolate. 
 
 Tire-ivoman {lingering) 
 
 My Lady, straightway do I go. 
 And yet might I make bold to say 
 My Lord hath wandered to and fro 
 Since faintest flush of break o' day. 
 
 My Lady {petulantly) 
 
 An' think you that I wish to know 
 
 In what strange way my Lord doth spend 
 
 His valuable time ? Nay — go, 
 
 And seek your forward ways to mend! 
 
 36 
 
In My Lady's Chamber 
 
 Tire-iuoman {aside) 
 
 La! Here's a pretty pot o' fish! 
 
 My Lord in grievance down below— 
 
 My Lady here with ne'er a wish 
 
 His Lordship's whereabouts to know. 
 
 , , ... . . V (exit) 
 
 My Lady {sohloquiztng) 
 
 Ah, heaven! Wherefore did I leave 
 My parents' roof for such as this! 
 Where I am left alone to grieve 
 Whilst he doth gaUivant, I wis. 
 
 I'll not submit — I'll not remain — 
 I'll hie me thither with but Anne! 
 His pleading shall be all in vain. 
 I will not hearken to the man. 
 
 {ivistfully) 
 
 The morn doth scarce appear so fair 
 As Anne remarked on looking out. 
 But, hist ! — a step upon the stair — 
 I wonder what my Lord's about! 
 
 (eagerly) 
 
 Mayhap he thinks me still asleep! 
 Perchance'tis he upon the stair! 
 In truth I'll through the key-hole peep 
 And note his Lordship unaware. 
 
 'Tis nearing now my very door — 
 La, what a most uncertain state! 
 'Tis here — Anne! Ah, you fearful bore — 
 Nay, I'll not taste the chocolate! 
 
 37 
 
In My L a d y' s Chamber 
 
 Tire-iuoman (coaxingly) 
 
 Come, take, I pray your Ladyship, 
 
 A morsel of this Hght repast. 
 
 Of chocolate but take a sip 
 
 To break your Ladyship's long fast. 
 
 My Lord {ivithout) 
 
 Egad! Will not my Lady eat? 
 Come hither, Anne, present her this. 
 
 My Lady 
 
 Ah, heaven! how my heart doth beat — 
 Is aught, Anne, with my robe amiss? 
 
 Tire-ivoman 
 
 Your Ladyship, my Lord hath sent, 
 To tempt your dainty appetite, 
 These berries, trusting you have spent 
 A restful, quite unwakeful night. 
 
 My Lady (joyfully) 
 
 Oh, Anne, you saucy minx, away! 
 Nor stand thus lingering to prate! 
 Arrange this curl and this — but nay ! 
 I'll have my Lord no longer wait. 
 
 My Lord (entering) 
 
 My lady-love! Ay, verily 
 
 'Tis love which overcometh wrath. 
 
 Come — don thy gown and stroll with me 
 
 A-down the dew-kissed garden path. 
 
 Curtain. 
 
 38 
 
speaking of Incubators 
 
 SPEAKING OF INCUBATORS 
 
 B] 
 
 LD Mother Plymouth Rock affirms : 
 While incubators "do," 
 They cannot scratch about for worms 
 As Mother does for you. 
 
 They're popular, as I've heard tell, 
 These queer new-fangled things ; 
 
 And yet withal they can't excel 
 Your mother's ample wings. 
 
 39 
 
A Hunt on the Mountain 
 
 A HUT ON THE MOUNTAIN 
 Written in 1900 
 
 m 
 
 IGH up on the mountain side, covered 
 with vines, 
 Stands the hut where the wood-cutters 
 bide ; 
 Where at length they tramp wearily home 
 through the pines 
 To sit watching the coming evetide. 
 
 The housewife in apron and cap makes the 
 broth. 
 
 While the men tell their stories outside ; 
 The table she spreads with a snowy white cloth 
 
 For the meal of the still eventide. 
 
 The hut now is cold and deserted and still ; 
 
 No longer it glows 'mid the pines : 
 No longer lie crumbs for the birds on the sill — 
 
 But still it stands, covered with vines. 
 
 40 
 
The Daffodil 
 
 THE DAFFODIL 
 Written in 1901 
 
 The Child 
 
 fa 
 
 RETTY little daffodil, 
 
 Growing on the grassy hill, 
 
 Oh, just let me gather thee — 
 
 Thou'rt so sweet and fresh to see. 
 
 The Flower 
 
 Prithee, little maiden dear, 
 Do not pluck me, for I fear 
 That I should be cast away 
 Ere there dawned another day. 
 
 41 
 
Loch invar Up to Date 
 
 LOCHINVAR UP TO DATE 
 
 H! Albert Clarke Raleigh's come out of 
 
 the west, 
 I Like young Lochinvar, a fair lady his- 
 quest ; 
 And save Cupid's arrows, he weapons had 
 
 none ; 
 He came all unarmed, and he came all alone, 
 To carry off Jessie McCutcheon afar, 
 To the mounts of Montana, this young 
 Lochinvar. 
 
 So boldly he entered the Binderton hall, 
 Among bridesmen and kinsmen, and brothers. 
 
 and all. 
 So stately his form and so charming her face 
 That never a hall such a couple did grace. 
 The bride, with a smile, tossed her shower 
 
 bouquet. 
 And amid a rice hailstorm they hastened away. 
 
 One touch to her hand and one word in her ear,. 
 When they reached the hall door, and the 
 
 motor stood near. 
 So light to the tonneau the lady he swung. 
 So light to the cushions beside her he sprung. 
 "She is won — we are gone over bank, bush and 
 
 scaur 
 On our honeymoon journey!" quoth young 
 
 Lochinvar. 
 
 42 
 
A Token 
 
 A TOKEN 
 
 D 
 
 In 
 
 HE wine shop in the ancient rue Conde 
 Resounded with a merry, motley throng, 
 Assembled there to while the hours away 
 ow debauchery with wine and song. 
 
 Presiding at the counter, old Marie 
 Gazed sullenly upon the sordid scene 
 Of low carousal, carnal revelry, 
 No smile upon her sour and jaded mien. 
 
 A woman passed, and from her arms a child 
 
 Gazed innocently on the revelry; 
 
 Then, from its throne, turned back and 
 
 sweetly smiled 
 Upon the hardened face of old Marie. 
 
 And she, who in long years had never smiled. 
 Acknowledged then the tribute of a child. 
 
 43 
 
An Acceptance 
 
 AN ACCEPTANCE 
 
 D 
 
 N pleasant contemplation 
 I accept your invitation 
 For the afternoon of Tuesday on the 
 twenty-first of May. 
 
 With decided trepidation 
 I shall polish up my wits. 
 For the witty 
 Of the city 
 Will be gathered on that day. 
 Then all haste to my dress-maker, 
 With materials to take her, 
 For a special new creation — 
 Let us only hope it fits ! 
 
 44 
 
1(^e g r e t s 
 
 REGRETS 
 
 Homeward bound on the S. S. Graf Waldersee 
 Reply to J. W.'s "Tea-party invitation." 
 
 previous engagement forces me to stay 
 away. 
 I Believe me, I am quite as disappointed 
 
 as can be. 
 Perhaps, if I'm invited, I will come some other 
 
 day, 
 Behind the ventilator, on the upper deck to 
 tea. 
 
 Your vis-a-vis 
 M. D. 
 
 45 
 
13 
 
 An Invitation 
 
 AN INVITATION 
 {Mackinac) 
 
 ENNET Hall— 
 
 With keen anticipation, 
 I extend this invitation 
 To you all. 
 
 As the day is bleak and dreary, 
 And there's nothing much to do; 
 
 Come and help me make it cheery 
 With a cup of tea or two. 
 
 There's a chance it may be other 
 Than a tea — don't know as yet; 
 
 All arrangements left to Mother — 
 But do come, and don't forget. 
 
 46 
 
the Bride 
 
 TO THE BRIDE 
 
 BAN Cupid hath a passion, 
 In his quaint, capricious fashion, 
 I For the subtle role of go-between, nor 
 
 will he be denied. 
 
 Thus through him is love requited, 
 Troths are plighted, hearts united. 
 Here's a tribute then to Cupid, and a health 
 unto the Bride ! 
 
 47 
 
Retribution 
 
 RETRIBUTION 
 Or The Selfish Owl 
 
 IHE owl glanced up at the wet round moon 
 And "Tu-whit!" quoth he, 
 
 _J ^' 'Tis plain to see 
 
 That a storm is brewing; 'twill be here soon; 
 So I'll shelter me 
 In yon hollow tree." 
 
 Two owlets came to the hollow tree. 
 
 "Pray, do not say 
 
 That we may not stay," 
 They plead, but the old owl cried "Tu-whee!" 
 
 And turned them away 
 
 Without delay. 
 
 The heavens blackened, the wild wind blew, 
 
 The lightning flashed 
 
 And the thunder crashed. 
 But the old owl chuckled and cried "Tu-whoo!" 
 
 All unabashed 
 
 As the Furies lashed. 
 
 And the owlets wandered to and fro. 
 
 While the owl in glee 
 
 From the hollow tree 
 Laughed as he watched them turn to go. 
 
 And "Tu-whit!" quoth he, 
 
 Right merrily. 
 
 48 
 
'Retribution 
 
 Quoth the owl "Tu-whoo! and glad am I 
 
 That I sheltered me 
 
 Thus thoughtfully!" 
 When a flaming bolt from the storm-swept sky 
 
 Struck suddenly 
 
 At the hollow tree. 
 
 When the storm had passed, and through a 
 haze 
 
 The moon shone bright 
 
 On a peaceful night, 
 The little owlets came to gaze 
 
 On the sorry sight 
 
 Of the old owl's plight. 
 
 49 
 
The M r n i n g Star 
 
 THE MORNING STAR 
 
 nMPATIENT, worn, fatigued, I lie from 
 want of rest, 
 I Tossing upon my bed when sleep has 
 
 ceased: 
 Riding delirious upon a billow's crest. 
 
 When, lo! I look into the brightening east, 
 And there I see, high in the heavens afar, 
 Shining, glorious, the morning star. 
 
 I raise myself. I look with joy upon the light ; 
 
 How peaceful and how still the planet seems ! 
 My lids grow heavy with the restful sight ; 
 
 I slowly drift into the land of dreams. 
 
 Yet still I seem to see in heaven afar. 
 
 Shining, beauteous, the morning star. 
 
 50 
 
T> ew - Fall 
 
 DEW-FALL 
 
 shadow's fallen on the sun, 
 And on a cheek a tear 
 ^ Lies dew4ike, now the day is done, 
 And slumber time is near. 
 
 The zephyr with its sobbing sigh 
 Comes whispering at the pane, 
 
 And breathes a tender lullaby, 
 Then steals away again. 
 
 The moon is full of misty tears ; 
 
 The stars are bUnking, too; 
 And o'er the drowsy world appears 
 
 A coverlet of dew. 
 
 Come, cuddle down and snuggle down, 
 
 For slumber time is here; 
 And Sleepy Town will smooth the frown 
 
 And dry away the tear. 
 
 51 
 
By - L 
 
 BY-LO 
 
 D 
 
 WI LIGHT is here and the wee stars show- 
 Heigh-ho, sing by-lo — 
 Wee weary eyehds are drooping low — 
 Heigh-ho, sing by-lo — 
 Someone I know is ready to go 
 Off to the garden where fantasies grow; 
 Hush-a-by, rock-a-by, isn't it so? 
 Heigh-ho, sing by-lo — 
 
 The Dream-boat we'll take with its phantom 
 crew — 
 
 Heigh-ho, sing by-lo — 
 You and Mother, dear, just we two — 
 
 Heigh-ho, sing by-lo — 
 Then off we will sail on the Sea of Dew 
 Till the shores of Dreamland come to view; 
 Hush-a-by, rock-a-by, isn't it true? 
 
 Heigh-ho, sing by-lo. 
 
 52 
 
An Idle Lay 
 
 AN IDLE LAY 
 
 C3 
 
 HILE I lay idly whiling 
 
 Sunny springtime hours away- 
 For the hammock was beguiling 
 
 And the day was one in May- 
 
 Oh, I might have written many 
 Things — the thoughts were in my head- 
 But I never finished any 
 For — I went to sleep instead. 
 
 53 
 
Dorothy T r o t t and the Spider 
 
 DOROTflY TROTT AND THE SPIDER 
 
 IS 
 
 ISS Dorothy Trott, 
 
 In her pink polkadot, 
 Was up in the attic at play, 
 When she gave a great scream, 
 For down from a beam 
 A spider was making his way. 
 "Ah — ha!" said the spider, 
 "I'll sit down beside her 
 As I sat by Miss Muffet one day!" 
 But Miss Dorothy Trott 
 Said, "Well, I guess not!" 
 And the spider was killed right away. 
 
 54 
 
Tommy L o v e j o y 
 
 TOMMY LOVEJOY 
 
 HH, Tommy Love joy 
 Was an angel-faced boy 
 Who always said "Please" and "No, 
 
 thank you." 
 
 Whose mother was never — 
 That is, hardly ever — 
 Compelled to say, "Mind, or I'll spank you!" 
 His heart was so kind 
 That one day he confined 
 His dog in the closet to whimper. 
 "Because he will shout 
 With joy to get out," 
 Said Tommy Lovejoy with a simper. 
 
 55 
 
Angelica M tide 
 
 ANGELICA MILDE 
 
 NGELICA Milde 
 
 Was a credulous child 
 Immune from all effort to joke her; 
 Whose father preferred 
 To bridge whist, I have heard, 
 
 m 
 
 The older diversion of poker. 
 
 One morning while shaking 
 Her poor little quaking 
 
 Angora, she cried "What a pity! 
 It simply won't come. 
 And 'twas such a big sum 
 
 That Daddy put into the kitty." 
 
 56 
 
Naughty Billy 
 
 NAUGHTY BILLY 
 
 IHE time our rector came to tea 
 He ate up all the angel food, 
 
 And Billy was so mad that he 
 
 Just up and hollered "Hully Gee! 
 
 There ain't a single bit for me!" 
 
 And Pa said, "Silence! Don't be rude!" 
 
 And then there was an awful scene, 
 
 'Cause Pa was mad and Ma was sad; 
 
 But Billy hid behind the screen, 
 
 And, "What's the difference between 
 
 Them two?" he said to Mr. Green. 
 
 "Why, Ma's madame and Pa's d n mad. 
 
 And Mr. Green was shocked, and then 
 He never came to tea again. 
 
 57 
 
Lullaby Land 
 
 LULLABY LAND 
 
 HH, Lullaby Land is a wonderful place; 
 The trees are all trimmed with a spun 
 I sugar lace ; 
 
 There are ginger-bread houses with candy- 
 cane lanes, 
 And for common conveyances, rocking-chair 
 
 trains. 
 The jungles are brimful of animals rare, 
 And the king of them all is an old Teddy Bear. 
 
 So, ho! for the mystical, air-castled shore 
 Of Lullaby Land with its fairy folk-lore. 
 Where merry old Santa Claus rules his domain 
 In the principal highway called Evergreen 
 
 Lane. 
 Away on the trail, for it's not very far 
 If you follow the tail of a wee shooting star. 
 
 58 
 
T h e Manx Cat 
 
 THE MANX CAT 
 
 lOOR tailless pussy cat ! if I 
 Were only very rich, 
 
 The very first thing I would buy 
 
 Would be for you a switch; 
 And where your tail should grow, I'd try 
 The little switch to hitch — oh, my ! 
 But what a pretty pussy cat 
 You'd be if I could just do that ! 
 
 59 
 
The Village Cobbler 
 
 THE VILLAGE COBBLER 
 
 HE cobbler plies, with a tick-tack-too, 
 His magic tools on the leathern shoe, 
 And pulls his needle through and through 
 With worthy industry, 
 
 Till candle lighting time draws near, 
 
 And shining stars through the dusk appear, 
 
 When work is done and all is cheer 
 
 A merry merry man is he. 
 
 D 
 
 60 
 
When Miss Helen Goes J-PFa I k ing 
 
 WHEN MISS HELEN GOES A-WALKING 
 Written in 1900 
 
 ca 
 
 HEN Miss Helen goes a-walking, 
 You can hear the people talking 
 Of her figure, and her grace, 
 And her pretty oval face. 
 
 When she walks without her mother 
 
 All the lads can see no other. 
 
 Quick they whisper, ''Here she comes!" 
 And bring forth their sugar plums. 
 
 If at one she glances kindly. 
 Back he crowds the others blindly. 
 Bliss with her to stroll and talk 
 When Miss Helen goes to walk. 
 
 6 1 
 
Heart o * M i n e 
 
 HEART O' MINE 
 
 IHE mother bird is cooing all her little ones 
 to rest 
 
 I 'Neath the swaying hemlock branches, 
 
 in the lofty-hanging nest. 
 And the evening zephyr, crooning, rocks it 
 
 gently to and fro, 
 While the glow worms in the darkness light 
 their lanterns down below. 
 
 Hush-a-by, 'tis slumber time 
 
 Heart o' mine. 
 Close each eye for there's the chime, 
 
 Heart o' mine, 
 Of the curfew tolling eight 
 Oh, the sandman's very late, 
 But we have not long to wait. 
 
 Heart o' mine. 
 
 The starlit world is silent and the dew is on the 
 
 lea; 
 The tardy moon is peering cautiously above 
 
 the sea; 
 And the fireflies are flitting to the crickets' 
 
 serenade, 
 While the lonely owl is roaming in the dark, 
 
 deserted glade. 
 
 62 
 
Heart o' Mine 
 
 Hush-a-bye, 'tis slumber time, 
 
 Heart o' mine. 
 Close each eye for there's the chime, 
 
 Heart o' mine, 
 Of the curfew tolling eight— 
 Oh, the sandman's very late ! 
 But we have not long to wait, 
 
 Heart o' mine. 
 
 63 
 
Evensong 
 
 EVENSONG 
 
 IHE lady moon is sailing on her way 
 Among the clouds of gray. 
 
 I The little stars are blinking wearily 
 
 At you and me. 
 Come, close your eyes and hear the crickets' 
 song. 
 They too will sleep ere long. 
 And every little bird is in its nest, 
 At rest, at rest. 
 
 The low wind lisps a drowsy lullaby 
 
 And wafts the night owl's cry. 
 The evening mists are falling stealthily 
 
 O'er land and sea. 
 Come, close your eyes and journey toward the 
 shore 
 Of Dreamland folk and lore. 
 The moon will guide you by her silver light — 
 Good-night, good-night! 
 
 64 
 
M a r g i n s of the 'Day 
 
 MARGINS OF THE DAY 
 
 IHE dawn has come, as o'er the heavens a 
 rosy Hght 
 
 I Steals lovingly, dispelling one by one 
 
 The truant stars, last vestige of a waning 
 night, _ 
 Proclaiming to the world a day begun. 
 
 The dusk has come, as from the fading dome 
 of sky 
 The sun drops hidden in a bank of cloud. 
 The silver moon appears, at first but pale and 
 shy, 
 And darkness wraps the world as in a 
 shroud. 
 
 6s 
 
m 
 
 A u R e V i r 
 
 AU REVOIR. 
 
 E mourn not the leaves in the fall of the 
 year, 
 For we know, 
 
 Though the snow 
 Bids them vanish, that lo! 
 Ere long with the robin's song they will appear^ 
 
 And thus will it be with our halcyon hours, - 
 For although 
 We all go 
 Divers ways, oh! I know 
 We shall all meet again with the bloom of the 
 lowers. 
 
 66 
 
iAH 10 ISIO 
 
One copy del. to Cat. Div.