A POCKETFUL OF Dr^CTITC ABBIE FARWELL BROWN 1 V/Olll/O . /77 ypT y:PT -^^ j:pt ^i r Class /^S3^/>2. Book J2M.^& CopghtN". /?J)^ COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. afabic jFartocII Proton A POCKETFUL OF POSIES. Illustrated. i2mo, Ji.oo, 7iet. INTHE DAYSOFGIANTS. Illustrated. i2mo, Ji.io, ttet. Postage n cents. THE BOOK OF SAINTS AND FRIENDLY BEASTS. Illustrated, izmo, $1.25. THE LONESOMEST DOLL. Illustrated. Sq. 1 2 mo, 85 cents, fiet. Postage 10 cents. HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO. Boston and New York I LIKE TO GO A-PADDLING (page 92) A POCKETFUL OF POSIES BY ABBIE FARWELL BROWN ILLUSTRATED BY FANNY Y. CORY BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY (SCfte RiDccjjitJc jgrejas, CambriDBe 1902 THE LIBRARY OF CONnRESS, Twj Copite RECtiivEC OCT. V:.^ 1902 CopyntoHT EKTRv OLASS a XXa No 1 COPY 8, 1^^ .nil- li ■■ ■■- COPYRIGHT, 1902, BY ABBIE FARWELL BROWN- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Publisfied October, igo2 V To make a gift for Mother My little rhymes I took, And more than any other I love this little Book. They are not wise nor witty, Oil, they are very small ! But she will think them pretty, Because I made them all. From one end to the other, Wherever yon may look, The Book belojigs to Mother: Dear Mother, take the Book. CONTENTS An Excuse Spring Patchwork Morning Glories An Adventure The Candy Lion A Mistake . The Fairy Book Oh, Mother! YacJiting . Caf s-Cradle . Poor Dimple . Fairies .... Ballad of the Little Page About Names Jack-in-the-Box Naughty Tulip Who trimmed the Leaves ? A Family Reunio7i S. P. C. T.T . . The Sailor . The Telephone . Vegetarians . Signs . . . . V 3 4 6 7 9 10 II 13 15 17 19 21 23 28 30 32 34 36 39 40 42 44 46 The Flower School A Romance Cinderella Nojisense . The Primrose Fourth of July Gossip . Theology . The Pummy. Ink . Friends Riddles . A Riddle The Cloud At the Zoo . The Frog . Little Brothers Tell-Tail . A Music Box Speaking a Piece In the King's Garden The Moon-Matt The Suave Crocodile The Plausible Goat The Alphabet Tree Clothes Cornfield City The Menagerie Sky Matches Papa Away VI The Spoiled Violin . . 88 Sand- Wells 91 Wading on the Beach . 92 Snow-White Ships 94 Rain . . 96 Summer Thanks .... 98 . 100 Hammocks ..... lOI Brave Knights .... . 102 The Difference .... 103 The Dandelioti Ghost . 104 Vanity 106 . 107 Bobby and Big Brother go to walk 108 Stories ..... . no The Band 112 Suppose ..... . 113 After Vacation .... 114 . 116 My Dryad 117 Learning to play . 119 Points of View .... 120 The Chrysajithemum . 122 The Greedy Pincushion 123 Sunset ..... . 126 Kitty s Picture .... 127 . 128 The Thennometer . 130 . 131 My Nose 133 Vll My Mamma Biittons Market Day Winter Butterflies Katrinas Tales The Policeman Boys In Sampler Times Christmas Snow . The Wise Book The Son of Brave Sir Guy In the Kitchen . The Baby Lion The Electric Light . Slumber Song Prayer of a Tired Child A Blessing . 135 136 137 139 142 143 144 145 147 149 150 151 158 159 161 162 164 165 The courtesy of various publishers permits a number of these rhymes to be reprinted from the " St. Nicho- las," "The Youth's Companion," "The Churchman," "The Congregationalist," "The Independent," " Little Folks," " The Brown Book," and " The Woman's Home Companion." vui LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE I like to go a-paddling (page 92) Frontispiece I've been so very near them ... 22 / waited many hours, I think . . 66 I play I am that bird with wifigs . .102 Taught the first little girl how to sing . 162 A POCKETFUL OF POSIES AN EXCUSE FROM Bed to Dreamland is as far The As up into the farthest star ; night So one of course is sometimes late express To breakfast when it comes at eight. For though the train like lightning goes, And reaches there before one knows, Return It takes much longer to come back, Because the Dreams get on the track. trip And though the sleep-train toots and yells, ^^^"S- dong ^ And though one hears the jang of bells, Q^f The Dreams won't hurry : so it seems up ! As if you ought to blame the Dreams ! t t t SPRING PATCHWORK Patch- work quilt IF I could patch a coverlet From pieces of the Spring, What dreams a happy child would have Beneath so fair a thing ! April colors A centre of the dear blue sky, A bordering of green, With patches of the yellow sun All chequered in between. Many shades of green Bright ribbons of the silky grass Laced prettily across, With satin of new little leaves. And velvet of the moss. Chintz squares In every corner, violets, Half-hidden from the view. With many-flowered squares betwixt, Of pinky tints and blue ; 4 Of flossy silk and gossamer, Of tissue and brocade ; A warp of rosy morning mist, A woof of purple shade. All kinds of material Embroideries of little vines, And spider-webs of lace, With tassels of the alder tied At each convenient place. All kinds of trimnnnz With gold-thread I would sew the seams, Gold-thread And needles of the pine ; pine-needles. Oh, never child in all the world ''^^7himble Would have a quilt like mine ! t t t MORNING GLORIES BEFORE I open drowsy eyes, ^^ The little Morning Glories rise To climb their ladders green and tall, That lean upon the garden wall. They long to reach the top and find Up What sights are hidden there behind ; But never one can climb so high, They always fail, and this is why : They woke so early in the day, Up That, as the morning wears away, They droop all sleepy-eyed ; you see, I know, — it is the same with me. Their heads begin to nod and swing, Down They cannot climb, they cannot cling. Asleep they tumble off, and then They must begin to climb again. 6 AN ADVENTURE ONCE when I was in Cookie Land A-many miles away, I went to take a sailing trip Upon the Ice-Cream Bay. A little trip for fim The boat it was an apple pie, With ginger-snaps for sails ; But oh ! A currant storm arose, And cream-puffs grew to gales ! The Boat Danger ! The sea ran high in jelly rolls, The breakers dashed whipped cream Upon the stern, rock-candy coast, I thought I 'd have to scream ! The Storm The candy mast fell with a whack, The pie-crust cracked in two, The sauce-y waves came rushing in, I thought, — "What shall I do ? " 7 Ship- wrecked It floats I found a life preserver then, A doughnut fat and round, And stuck my head right through the hole, I knew I 'd not be drowned. Saved ! So then I swam, and swam, and swam, Out in the Custard Sea ; Until a floating island came, Convenient as could be. Six years And there upon that dessert isle I lived six years or more, elapse Until I 'd eaten all the place. And thought I 'd go ashore. Home again So first I ate the Custard Sea, And next the Ice-Cream Bay ; Then on the sugar sand I crossed. It was the nicest way. t t t THE CANDY LION A CANDY Lion 's very good, Because he cannot bite, Nor wander roaring for his food. Nor eat up folks at night. Harmless ami sweet- tempered But though it 's very nice for me. It 's not so nice for him ; For every day he seems to be More shapeless and more slim. Fades away somehow And first, there 's no tail any more ; And next, he has no head ; And then, — he 's just a candy Roar, And might as well be dead. t t t Why! Why, So You eat Him up Valentine not A MISTAKE THERE came a little Valentine, The Postman brought it here, Big capitals all in a line Spelled out my name, quite clear. The cover is of lacy stuff, With pretty flowers and birds, And underneath are plain enough These lovely printed words : — " Dear Maiden, will you not be mine. As I am thine f Thy Valentitie." Oh, there is some mistake, I fear, It can't belong to me, ^^^ Although the Postman brought it here. For I 'm a boy, you see ! lO THE FAIRY BOOK WHEN Mother takes the Fairy Book And we curl up to hear, 'T is " All aboard for Fairyland ! " . Which seems to be so near. Just before bed For soon we reach the pleasant place Of Once Upon a Time, When birdies sing the hour o' day. And flowers talk in rhyme ; 7ve travel instead Where Bobby is a velvet Prince, And where I am a Queen ; Where one can talk with animals, And walk about unseen ; to Fairy Land Where Little People live in nuts. And ride on butterflies, And wonders kindly come to pass Before your very eyes ; II where strange things , , Where candy grows on every bush, all And playthings on the trees, ^"^^ . And visitors pick basketfuls time As often as they please. It is the nicest time of day — Deal' ^^ • Though Bedtime is so near, — Book ! When Mother takes the Fairy Book And we curl up to hear. t t t OH MOTHER OH Mother ! I went out to float Upon the lily-petal boat ; But Bull Frog splashed the water in, And spoiled my gown of rosy-thin ! Oh Mother, oh ! If you were I, Now would you play with Butterfly ? He stole the whole of Clover's sweet, And gave me not one bit to eat ! Oh, jiaughty . Oh, mean ! Oh Mother ! When I went to walk Along the tiger-lily stalk. The Daisies bent together, so, And laughed about my hat, I know ! Oh, spiteful ! Oh Mother ! I lay down to sleep, But Caterpillar came a-creep, And tickled me to make me stir. Oh Mother ! Won't you punish her ? 13 Oh, horrid ! Oh, shockmg ! Oh Mother ! When I went to wade Among the dew-drops in the shade, The pop-eyed Beetle stared so wide I had to run away and hide ! Oh, the wretch ! Oh Mother ! Cricket winked his eye At me as I was passing by, And when I spoke a scathing word, He only rubbed his wings and chirred ! t YACHTING A BUTTERFLY yacht is the boat for me, With velvety sails afurl, ^^"'S^ ^, ■' of the Tacking o'er waves of an endless sea, Btitterfly Caught in the drift and whirl. ^^^^ I '11 sail from the harbor of Mignonette To the port of the Red-Red-Rose, And stop at the quay of the Violet, When the breeze from the nor' -wood blows. But when the wind is sweet-sou'-sweet I '11 beat to the Clover strand. And load a cargo of honey to eat On my voyage to Lilac Land. I '11 drift as far as ever I please, . Perhaps to the farthest star. For there is no end to the ^Ether seas Nor anywhere reef or bar. 15 But when the Snow-time comes with a shock, For butterfly yachts too chill, We '11 lie for repairs in a cocoon dock, Till Spring comes over the hill. t CAT'S-CRADLE OH, Flitterkin and Flutterby, Why do you run to me and cry ? And why do you come home so late ? You naughty fays to make me wait ! " Fairies late ! " Oh, Elf-mamma, we broke the rule ; We played cat's-cradle in the school. We saw a skein of spider thread Caught on a grass-blade overhead ; It was so soft and silky fine. About our fingers it would twine. We crissed and crossed it so and so, From hand to hand it slipped, you know, From me to him it went, and then From him to me came back again ; For, if you play the game aright, There is no end from morn till night. Mischief school ! We had forgotten everything Except cat's-cradle, when a ring 17 Master Owl Punished ! From teacher's hare-bell made us jump, For Master Owl upon his stump Had opened great big eyes so wide And round our mushroom desk had spied. Oh, Master Owl is very stern ! He said we could not play and learn, He took away our silken thread And gave us copy-books instead. He set us on two toadstools high, — Your Flitterkin and Flutterby ! — And made us stay long after school, Because, Mamma, we broke the rule. t t t POOR DIMPLE OH, Tiptoe ! Have you heard the news ? Oh, shall I laugh or cry ? The news. Poor Dimple ! Yes, we both were there, Were Thistledown and I. Yes, we were playing hide-and-seek, And Thistledown was it, Then Dimple found a whirly-shell Which brother Snail had quit. The game. Oh, Dimple thought the whirly-shell The nicest place to hide ; Hidden. He squeezed his plumpness through the door And curled him up inside. Oh, Thistledown spied high and low, But he was hid too well. At last I heard a little cry Come faintly from the shell. 19 Help! " Help, Thistledown ! Help, Gauzy wing 1 " Boo-hoo / Poor Dimple cried, — *' Boo-hoo ! I can't get out, I am too stout ; Oh, dear! What shall I do?" What to do? We could not help him. Tiptoe dear, Not anybody could, Though all the little fairies came A-flitting from the wood. Poor Dimple Poor Dimple was too roly-round, He fitted oh, so well ! He could not even turn about Inside the whirly-shell. must grow lean. So there poor Dimple weeps and fasts. For he can eat no more. Till he undimples long enough To wriggle through the door. It t t FAIRIES I'VE seen the grasses swaying, I 've seen the rose ajar, Where Fairies had been playing, And were not hidden far. So near I 've seen the blue-bells tinkling. Just rung by tiny hands, I 've seen the dew-drops twinkling, New-shed from fairy wands. and yet I 've seen the leaflets shiver Where tired wings sought rest, And flower-petals quiver Where little feet had pressed. so far, I've seen a toadstool waver That lately sheltered one. And lily pads a-quaver. The fairy voyage done. 21 r ve been so very near them, where the I've felt them close at hand, Yet never see nor hear them, — I cannot understand ! Fairies How can they be so sprightly ? Why should they be so shy ? I always say politely, — " Coo ! It is only I." And so they need not worry ; are I And yet they never wait ; However I may hurry, I always come too late ! t t t I'VE BEEN SO VERY NEAR THEM BALLAD OF THE LITTLE PAGE IT was a little, little Page, Was brought from far away To bear the great Queen's velvet train Upon her bridal day. He comes His yellow curls were long and bright, His page's suit was blue, With golden clasps at neck and knee, And ruffles fair and new. to court And faith ! He was the smallest page The court had ever known, His head scarce reached the topmost step That led unto the throne. a very And ah ! 'T was but a little lad Had never been before So many leagues from kin and friends. And from his father's door. 23 little Pase all alone. And oh ! 'T was but a little child, Who never yet, I wis, Had stolen lonely to his bed Without a mother's kiss. He has no friends and is He had not seen the noble Queen, Of whom his heart had fear ; He knew no friend at court to give A welcome of good cheer. It was the busy eve before The fair Queen's wedding day. The palace hummed with revelry, And every one was gay. Each vassal had his task to do. So none the time could spare To soothe a weeping little Page Whose mother was not there. very homesick and Far in a big and gloomy room Within the castle-keep, The little Page lay all alone And wept, and could not sleep. The little Page lay all alone ; He hid his head and cried 24 Until it seemed his aching heart Would burst his little side. The chamber door was set ajar. And one was passing by Who heard the little Page's sobs, And then his piteous cry. A white hand rested on the latch And pushed the heavy door, A Lady glided o'er the sill, And crossed the chamber floor ; A Lady tall and sweet and fair, In bridal white she stepped ; She stood beside the Page's bed, And asked him why he wept. He sobbed aloud about a "kiss," Of " mother " and his " home ; " He wished the Queen had called no page, He wished he had not come, For she was such a stern great Queen, He was afraid, he said ; And he was lost and lonely there In that big, gloomy bed. 25 afraid. He weeps and some one comes to comfort him. So he goes to sleep. Morning, dressed in beautiful clothes, The Lady softly bent her down And kissed him on the Hps ; She smoothed his yellow silken curls With tender finger tips. The tears stood in her gentle eyes ; " Poor little lad ! " she said, And cuddled him within her arms, While kneeling by the bed. The Lady held him close and warm, And sang the child to sleep. While at her nod the waiting maids A silent watch did keep. Now when the morning smiled again, The little Page awoke ; They clad him in a suit of white, A velvet cap and cloak, With crystal buckles on his shoes ; They led him to the Queen, All lovely in her bridal gear. The fairest ever seen. he But he was such a tiny Page He trembled and looked down ; 26 He dared not look upon her face For fear to see her frown. waits Lo ! Then he heard a soft voice say, — " Oh, little Page, draw near ! Is one who sings to sleep so sound A Queen for child to fear ? " upon He raised his eyes and lo ! the Bride Looked on the Page and smiled, And then he knew his Queen had played ^^^^ ^"^'^ At nurse-maid for a child. Then well he graced the wedding feast, And bore her velvet train. And at his dear Queen's side thenceforth Was never sad again. and is no longer a/raid. t L' The are ABOUT NAMES EUCANTHEMUM VULGARE" — oh, you have a long name, too, You poor dear little Daisy ! I can sympathize with you. littler Does not your head feel heavy with that dread- ful name to hold, they ^nd don't you feel, Leucanthemum Vulgare, very old ? I do, when people call me by the name they think is sweet, And love to murmur over, — " Gladys Con- stance Marguerite." And then, when you 've been naughty, does your daisy-mother say, — " Leucanthemum Vulgdre ! " in a stern reproach- ful way ? I know about it, Daisy, for mamma has often said, — 28 " Now, Gladys Constance Marguerite, go right the longer upstairs to bed ! " And then I know I 'm very bad, for that 's my punish-name ; Oh, Daisy dear, do you suppose all mothers do the same ? But I love best to think of you as Daisy, for you see That 's my pet name, the very same my friends have given me. And we are twinnies, are we not ? For both of us have woes, — names they About our long, long punish-names, — that no have. one ever knows. They may be "grand" and "dignified" and " sweet " and all the rest, But we love always — don't we } — our Daisy- names the best ! t t t JACK-IN-THE-BOX IF I was as small as your littlest doll, ^^^ And you were no bigger than me, My ! When Jack-in-the-Box with his horrible grin, His bulgy big eyes and pudgy red chin. Jumped out with a Squeak ! from the den he is in, How awfully frightened we 'd be ! Oh! Oh, I 'd try to be brave, little sister to save. But you would be scared into fits ; For you are so funny, and chubby, and small. And Jack-in-the-Box is a Giant so tall. Who catches each morning a fat little doll, And crunches its bones into bits ! His teeth are so long and so sharp and so strong ! His smile is a terrible thing ! Oh, Jack-in-the-Box has a wicked old face, 30 And down in his den is a horrible place ! My ! I am glad I am big ; he is there^ in that case ! Do you think — you darst — press on — the spring ? t t THE NAUGHTY TULIP I WISH I were a Violet," the naughty TuHp said, " I want to wear a pretty purple hat upon my pretty hat . Such a , 1 , head ; I 'm tired of the ugly one I always have to wear, I never chose a yellow hat ! Oh, dear, it is n't fair ! " She hung her little head and sulked and shook in silly grief. She sought to hide her lovely hat behind a pointed leaf ; And now, ^^^^ yN\i^xv the kindly, pleasant Sun beamed down on her and smiled. She pouted and she flouted him, the naughty Tulip-Child ! Just then, as she was whimpering, a Breeze came passing by ; 32 He heard the Tulip scolding with her pretty hat awry: at all! So then to punish her he blew^ and whisked the hat away ; And now she stands and shivers there, bare- headed, all the day ! t t t WHO TRIMMED THE LEAVES? JVori for THE leaves on every kind of tree Were once edged smoothly as could be, When God and all his Angels strove To make a world out of His love. little cherubs , But there were baby Cherubs who Had nothing in the world to do ; And so the Father sent them out To snip and scallop all about The green of tree and flower and fern Till evening, when they must return. each did his own way , fringed, some tn pointed, Then down the little Cherubs came With eager eyes of dancing flame, With chubby little fingers, too. Eager to " help " (like me and you) ; On every tree and plant alight, Like lovely birds upon a flight. With tiny shears they snipped, you see, 34 And scalloped all so busily, some in round That when the sunlit day had dimmed scallops, There scarce was left a leaf untrimmed. Then back to Heaven the babies flew, but Their wings all glistening with dew ; ^// And grown-up Angels heard them say, — helped. " Father, we too have helped, this day ! " And that is why to-day one finds Leaves of so many, many kinds. t t t All different. comes. A FAMILY REUNION THE Family once gave a Fete, And Charlie Boy was there ; But Charlie sat him down and sulked, " I do not think it 's fair ! " The other little girls and boys Charlie is Have lots and lots of cousins, not satisfied. And brothers and twin-sisters, too, By threes and fours and dozens, " But there are n't any Relatives j^ To come with me and play, and girls Except a single little girl, My cousin Rosa May." Now Charlie should have looked around to play And thought the matter out, ijutth When, surely, soon he would have found He had no cause to pout. 36 For all in Charlie's family, And chiefly of his name, Besides our Charlie Boy himself, Just hear what children came : Now, there was little Rosa first ; And grandpa's grandchild dear ; His great-great-aunt's grand-nephew's girl Was also sitting near. The cousin of his father's son ; The niece of Charlie's mother ; His auntie's child ; and the only one Of his mother's husband's brother. His second cousin once removed Had one third cousin, too. The cousin of our Charlie Boy, — Is that quite plain to you ? His grandma's husband's son-in-law Had one dear daughter there. And the child of mamma's brother-in-law Was quite as sweet and fair. The grand-niece of his father's aunt ; The grandchild of her brother ; 17 Count, Charlie, Count ! Three ? Sevettl Eight 'i Ten? Thirteen '( an unlucky number. His uncle's grandma's grandson's niece ; Dear me ! Was there another ? What, fourteen ! Really ? Yes, Charlie's father's brother's wife Had brought her little daughter. If Charlie could not play with these. Why, dearie me, he oughter ! Well then, how many children we?-e there at the Reunion ? But Charlie only sat and sulked As naughty boys will do, And whined to little Rosa May, — " What game is there for two ? " t I S. p. C. T. T. WISH the careful little girls Could make the naughty little boys animal All join a big Society one. Preventing Cruelty To Toys ! t t t THE SAILOR Ship ahoy ! LITTLE girl, O little girl, Where do you sail to-day The greeny grass is all about, I cannot see the bay. long voyage. " The greeny grass is water, sir ; I 'm sailing on the sea, I 'm tacking to the Island there Beneath the apple-tree. All aboard! " You ought to come aboard my boat, Or you will soon be drowned ! You 're standing in the ocean, Sir, That billows all around ! " A fair price. Little girl., O little girl. And must I pay a fare ? " A penny to the apple-tree, A penny back from there. 40 " A penny for a passenger, But sailors voyage free ; An Oh, will you be a sailor, sir, ^ ^ „ ' ■' ' ' seaman? And hold the sheet for me ? " t t I THE TELEPHONE WANT to talk with Clover-Bloom," Said Buttercup one day, The wish. " \ wish there was a telephone, She lives so far away, heigh-ho ! I have so much to say ! " Now Mr. Spider heard her speak As he was passing by, — The offer. « \ 'H build for you a telephone. If you will let me try, heigh-ho ! An architect am I." So then he climbed the ladder-stem, And then he spun a thread ■^^i^^^- Above the Daisies, — how they stared ! Above the Grass's head. Heigh-ho ! To Clover's house it led, 42 A silken-wire telephone ; Now Buttercup is gay For she can talk to Clover-Bloom Ended. The livelong summer day. Heigh-ho ! I can't tell what they say. t t t VEGETARIANS Plums, Lime. Beat time. Reasons for living. Currents. Pairs. OF course a Plumber dotes on plums, The Mason loves a lime, Musicians think much of the beet, When they are killing time. The Lawyer lives by raisins good, And bread-fruit needs the Baker ; But currants suit the Sailor-man, And pears the old Shoe-maker, Old dates Historians devour dates, are best. And let none go to waste ; No peace! While Soldiers do not care for peas, Grape-shot. The grape is to their taste. Palette is The palate of an Artist-man reddish. Is touched by many a hue, orange, All radish shades and oranges, greenish. And greens and olives, too. 44 The Farmer thrives on plantain fruit ; Nuts fit the Wheelwright's trade ; For Chinamen with almond eyes Rich mandarins were made. Springtime for plantitig. Wholesome Mandarins. All Jokers live on chestnuts stale, TfUs is Oh, you should see them cram ! a joke. Now, though you may not care a fig, Lettuce Which do you think I yam ? <^uess. t t t The real name ? SIGNS I THINK to-day was washing day I saw, on passing by, The Httle fairy handkerchiefs Spread on the grass to dry. There is to be a wedding soon, Cobwebs. The busy spiders spin A gauze to make the fairy bride Her veil so soft and thin. For fear that showers may descend Toadstools. The fairies have supplied Umbrellas for the wedding guests, Their finery to hide. t t t THE FLOWER SCHOOL T HE Flowers study in their beds, And all recite in rhyme ! The lesson first put in their heads Is how to tell the Thyme. t t t A ROMANCE AS Lily watched her Phlox one day, A fierce Snap-Dragon came that way. Sweet William to the rescue flew, With blade of Grass the monster slew. CINDERELLA BOUNCING BET and Black-Eyed Susan Tried to squeeze Wild Rose's shoes on ; But each found 't would pinch and nip her, That dear little Lady's Slipper. t NONSENSE THE Pansy wonders what it meant : She heard rich Marigold declare, When Ragged Robin begged a cent, — " Alas ! I have no scents to spare ! " t THE PRIMROSE THE Primrose is a prudish maid, — Of every glance she is afraid, And when the Blue-Eyed Grasses wink, She leaves abruptly, turning Pink. t t t FOURTH OF JULY THE Blossoms wake at Four o' Clock, Their little pistils all a-cock ; They blow the noisy Trumpet Flowers, Flags wave, and Blue-Bells ring for hours. t GOSSIP DANDELION, gossips say, Kissed Tulips the other day, Yet no punishment receives, For he kissed them by their leaves. t t t THEOLOGY THE Cardinal argued, with vigor and zeal, His interpretation of Solomon's Seal ; While Jack in the Pulpit was calmer and sadder. Discussing the climax of old Jacob's Ladder. t t THE PUMMY 9'Tr^ WAS in the land of burning snow A Which filled the grass with heat, The Pummy sat upon a stone To cool his blistered feet. The Pummy is about The Pummy sat upon a stone, — His eyes were full of tears, — And listened to the Glu-glu Bird, Who filled his heart with fears. big as a Bear, The Glu-glu perched upon the tree Which upside down did grow ; The roots were waving in the air, The top was in the snow. yellow with red spots ; his ears flap and " O Glu-glu Bird, lend me your wings ! " The spotted Pummy cried, "That I may fly across the snow And reach the Otherside. 55 his mouth is Big ! My I His eyes are round and green. He is a gentle, kind beast, but looks very fierce. The Glu- glti Bird is very wicked. Her beak is long and crooked. She has great red eyes and a long tail like a Peacock. " I dare not cross the burning snow Without my rubber boots ; I left them in the steamer trunk." The selfish Glu-glu hoots, — " O yellow Pummy on the stone, If I should lend my wings, How could I to my home return And get my winter things ? I want to wear my muslin gown, My gossamer and lace, I want to tie a purple veil Across my beaky face." The Pummy shed some ice-cold tears, And wiped them with his paw. " Oh, must I sit upon this stone Until a winter thaw 1 " "Not so, not so, my spotted friend," The Glu-glu bird replied, " I think the snow is creeping up And soon you will be fried ! " She squawked and flapped her tinsel wings. And flew away in glee ; 56 The Pummy wept a cup of tears, This lonesome sight to see. He wept a pailful, then a tub, He wept a little lake ; And, strange to say, the snowy heat At once began to slake. She sings like a saw-mil/. Her feathers are green and blue. With tight-shut eyes he bellowed loud And wept a sea of brine. And lo ! the snow thawed into sand All white and soft and fine. Fink legs. He sat and roared for twenty hours. Then opened wide his eyes. And when he saw the snow was gone Imagine his surprise ! He took his pocket handkerchief And stroked his whiskers down. Then trotted northward to the sea And took the boat for town. I like the Pmnmy. Glad he reached home safely. 57 INK SOME folk dip pens into the Ink, And find the thoughts they want to think. Blots. But somehow, when my pen comes out. The thoughts are scattered all about ! t t t FRIENDS HOW good to lie a little while And look up through the tree ! The Sky is like a kind big smile Bent sweetly over me. Friend Sky. The Sunshine flickers through the lace Of leaves above my head, And kisses me upon the face Like Mother, before bed. Friend Sun. The Wind comes stealing o'er the grass To whisper pretty things, And though I cannot see him pass, I feel his careful wings. Friend lVi?id. So many gentle Friends are near Whom one can scarcely see, A child should never feel a fear, Wherever he may be. 59 Many Friends besides, everywhere. RIDDLES RIDDLE whose Answer you don't know Is like a Fiddle without a Bow. A An Answer without any Riddle Is like a Bow without a Fiddle. A RIDDLE YOU need it to finish your breakfast ; Your tea must begin with it, too ; Don't have it with luncheon or dinner, You '11 have a bad spell if you do ! Think hard ! Do you spell badly ? You need it with turkey and biscuit, Two times you must have it with toast, But never with pickles or cookies Or candy, — but always with roast. You 're little ? It 's weakly and cambric. You 're big ? It is brownish and strong. 'T is doubled and bubbled in kettles ; Oh, guess it, — and don't you guess wrong ! Oh, my f Can't yoti guess now ? I like it with lots of sugar. K-e-double — to find the an- swer turn over on the next page. 6i ^^^ ^ Answer : Tea. t t t THE CLOUD THE sky is full of star-dust, It will be brighter soon ; An Angel with a little cloud Is dusting off the Moon. Dusting-day in Heaven. t t AT THE ZOO Hungry. THERE are no minutes by the clock, No hours at the Zoo, But always it is Hungry Time When Sleepy Time is through. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. And visitors who come to call Are not bid in to eat, For plainly host and hostess all Expect their guests to "treat." They rush to greet you eagerly, They strive your hand to take. But not to shake it, — no, to feel For candy or for cake. And when your final crumb is gone They sniff and turn away, But do not bid you a " good-bye," Nor beg that you will stay. 64 They have no manners at the Zoo, — At least, their ways are queer, Until the Hungry Time is through ^ And Sleepy Time is near. t t t THE FROG I see the Frog. AS I was walking by the pond I spied a monster Frog. He stared at me unwinkingly, And said, " Ker-chog ! " Sreet htm. " Hello, old Goggle eyes," said I, " You cannot outstare me, I '11 stay until you look away." " Ker-chog ! " quoth he. We stare. So then I stood and stared at him, He staring just the same, His funny eyes round with surprise. Ker-chog 's his name. We still stare. I waited many hours, I think, For him to turn his head ; He spoke one word, but never stirred, " Ker-chog ! " he said. 66 I WAITED MANY HOURS, I THINK " I have so many things to do, And it is late," said I, " Please look away, I cannot stay. Ker-chog, good-by." / grow tired. But Still he stared. "Well, then," I said, " I give it up, rude Frog ; I do not care for such a stare." He grinned " Ker-chog ! " He So then I turned and ran away As fast as I could go. But still he sat and jeered like that, " Ker-chog ! " I know. away. t t t LITTLE BROTHERS Like Hiawatha. Animals are not dumb ! I WISH I knew the simple words To talk with Fish and Beasts and Birds ! We call them " dumb " because they speak A tongue not English, French, or Greek ; But they are wiser far than we, And often grieve, it seems to me, Because we folk of Tailor-Land Can't answer them nor understand. We dull. Tree- top tales. Water- wonders. How pleasant it would be to stray About the woods and fields all day. Conversing with them, high and low, Of matters that one wants to know. I should learn very curious things From Brother Bird who loaned his wings To bear me up into the sky, Till never child had soared so high ! And Brother Fish would teach the maze Of ripple-paths and water-ways ; 68 Would tell me fishy tales, and show What fishermen can never know. Then Brother Beasts would make me wise Four- With secrets which a man would prize. The bigger Beasts would walk beside, And bear me when I chose to ride ; They would defend me from the foe, And teach the safest way to go. The little ones would find me food, And bring me news of bad and good ; And I should love them, oh ! so well, And they would know, for I could tell. So I should be their little King, To share their life in everything. All this I cannot do, indeed ; But it is 'most as good to read. All cuddled in some cosy nook. Of Mowgli in the Jungle Book ; Of Mowgli who, it seems to me, Is what one most would like to be ! footed fun. Big eyes ! Big teeth ! Red tongues ! But kind to me. I shall play Mowgli. t t t TELL-TAIL ? /^^^ ^^ ' ^°^ shame ! Who tied the pail V^ Upon the end of Pointer's tail ? ^^ See, Pointer is a tell-tail who Points straight, O naughty Jack, at you. t A MUSIC BOX I AM a little Music Box Wound up and made to go, And play my little living-tune The best way that I know. Tinkle- tan kle .' If I am naughty, cross, or rude The music will go wrong. My little works be tangled up. And spoil the pretty song. tinkle- tunkle ! I must be very sweet and good And happy all the day, And then the little Music Box In tune will always play. t t t tink- tank- tunk ! SPEAKING A PIECE DID you ever speak a piece and find That all the poem-words Had flown away from out your mind Like little frightened birds ? The people were so very near, Their eyes so big and round, Your voice came out so high and queer. With such a funny sound ? The platform was so long and wide, You felt so very small. You had to run away and hide And spoke no piece at all ? t t t IN THE KING'S GARDEN OH, not for long, ah, not for long, shall I be lingering A Rhyme of In the garden of the King ! " So blithely and so proudly sang the Rose ; " For My Lady found me fair, And will pluck me for her hair, And I shall go with her, where she goes." the Rose, " I care not, oh, I care not, for the King nor for the Queen, Though the fairest ever seen," Sang the Primrose from the bed across the way, " For the Poet passed along, the Primrose, And wove me in his song, And I shall live forever in his lay." The Violet beside them only drooped her head and smiled, t/i^ Violet. For she knew a little child 73 Had stolen to the corner where she grew. He had named her best of all, And fairest, though so small, And crowned her with a kiss ; but no one knew. t t THE MOON-MAN THE Man who lives up in the Moon, - Look, you will see him pretty soon ; Across his shoulder balanced there A long Lamplighter's pole he '11 bear. Just like He is the man who has to light The street-lamps of the sky, each night ; He trudges up the Milky Way Upon his rounds at close of day ; And stopping where the lamp-posts are, Out pops on each a twinkling star. the man who lights But there is soon more work for him When, in the morning, stars are dim ; Then down the long and empty street The Moon-Man trudges on his beat, And, sleepy-eyed and blinky then, Puts all the star lights out again. the lamps in our street. 75 THE SUAVE CROCODILE THERE once was a suave Crocodile, Who lived on the banks of the Nile ; Do you believe in His ways were so sweet first im- Each stranger he 'd meet Was quite taken in by his smile. THE PLAUSIBLE GOAT THERE once was a Grandfather Goat, Who thought he was able to vote ; A lost How did he behave him ? '^''^^f for The ballot they gave him somebody. Soon vanished inside of his throat ! t t t A THE ALPHABET TREE POET stood under the Alphabet tree : " Oh, what shall I do for a rhyme ? There are none lying ripe on the ground," said he, The Poet „ ^^^ J j^^^g ^,^ ^ j^^^gj. ^.Q ^y^^^ Oh, A B C D ! oh, D E F G ! Be, dee, free, glee, — I wish I could see A rhyme all mellow and soft for me." The sweet little rhymes were all hanging around, The fairest that ever were seen. Some yellow or rosy or temptingly browned ; 7% The Rhyme. " Oh, W X Y Z ! and Z, and Z ! We, wee, ye, Zee, — Aha, Zuyder Zee ! You 're the rhyme I want after all ! " chuckled he. The rhyme tumbled down upon Pegasus' nose ; It was clumsy and heavy and hard, But he gobbled it quick, — he was starved, I suppose ; And the rock hit the head of the Bard. 79 The End. " O Poetry, you 're the death of me ! Oho ! ohe ! Unfortunate me ! " And he lay down and died 'neath the Alphabet tree. t t t CLOTHES ALTHOUGH my clothes are fine and gay They should not make me vain, ptir For Nurse can take them all away, And put them on again. or Feathers Each flower grows her pretty gown, So does each little weed, Their dresses are their very own, They may be proud indeed ! Flower- clothes arc prideful. t t t CORNFIELD CITY THE streets of Cornfield City are very- straight and long, And if you miss a turning you are certain to go Where ^'°"S' am For all the lanes are just alike, and every ^^ thoroughfare Goes on and on, and does not seem to lead you anywhere. The walls of Cornfield City are very close and high, — You cannot see beyond them, you barely glimpse How ^^^ ^^y^ did I But only waving banners above you can be seen, ejiter ? FHp-flapping in a saucy way their fringe of yel- low green. The ways of Cornfield City are very strange in- deed ! 82 For there is no policeman to guide you when ^/-^gy^ you need ; do I There are no names nor numbers, there are no *^ ^"^ " signs to show Which way it was you entered, which way you ought to go. And so in Cornfield City you are certain to be lost! You turn and twist and wander where the , ^ Lost, checkered streets have crossed ; boa hoo ! But don't sit down and cry, dear, — remember ^ ^*'^-^'' what I say, Just follow out the rigJit-liand street : it is the only way ! t t t THE MENAGERIE Walk right in. OH, look at my Menagerie, And see the funny things ! They are the wildest animals, With horns and tails and wings. Don't feed The beetle is a 'Noceros, This bug 's a Buffalo, I call the mole my Elephant, — He is so big and slow. the animals. This yellow spotted lady-bug A lovely Leopard makes ; This monster fish-worm is the Boa, These caterpillars. Snakes. Free ride on the Camel! The grasshopper 's a Kangaroo (You ought to see him jump ! ) ; The snail 's a Camel, for his shell Makes such a truly hump. 84 I dared to catch a bumble-bee And keep him in a cage r, , ^ ° Dangerous ! Of morning-glory ; he 's a Lion ; Just hear him roar and rage ! The lizard is a 'Potamus, _,, , , . -r. Keep away 1 he hop-toad is a Bear ; //v7w Just look at my Menagerie, f^^^ >'opc. But not too near, — take care ! t SKY MATCHES I WONDER when the Hghtnings spark And flicker from afar, Who 's scratching matches on the dark To Hght some blown-out star ? t t t PAPA AWAY OH, it is such a long, long day Since dear Papa has gone away ! For I forgot before he went To tell him, as I truly meant, Come How very much I love him, so ho)ne, I am afraid he does not know. I wish he would come home again, So I could tell him, very plain. But when I hear his key to-night, I '11 run to meet him, hug him tight, And hold my face up for the kiss Which all day long I 've had to miss. ^^ your He 11 take me up and cuddle me, uttie And I shall sit upon his knee ; S^''^' Then I will tell him how each day I love him while he is away. 87 THE SPOILED VIOLIN Viol Family. I KNOW a little family, A family of Strings ; Viol is their ancient name, — They are the quaintest things ! Good voices, too. Their family resemblances Are very, very strong, They have n't any hands nor feet, But oh, their necks are long ! Papa and Mamma. Bass Viol is the big Papa, Who stands against the wall ; And Mother 'Cello, soft and sweet. Near by, is 'most as tall. Sister and little Brother. Next there is sister Viola (Who used to be a twin), But crowding in before them all Is little Violin. Mamma has often said to me — I 'm sure of every word — That when the grown-up people speak, I must be seen, not heard. But in the family of Strings It is not so at all, For Father only mumbles things Up there against the wall ; And Mother 'Cello's voice is low, And Viola's is thin. But always louder than the rest Talks little Violin. Seen, not heard. " Gr-r-r!'' growls Bass Viol. "■Tum-te-dumP' ''Teedlc-dee!" 'T-r-r-r, squeak-squeak ! Tra-la-la-ohf" He interrupts them when he likes ; They cannot keep him still. He runs and quavers, laughs and whines ; His voice is high and shrill. " Tra-la-la-oh, squeak-squeak ! Pr-r-r-r, zi7n, zim,zimf" No matter who was speaking first. No matter what they play. The Violin just pitches in And always has his say. If I were Violin's Papa, — Bass Viol, six feet high, — 89 Rude boy ! rd spank him, I would not let my silly son Think he was big as I. If I were Mrs. 'Cello, too, luouldn't I 'd bring him up to be you . j^ j^j^g^ well-mannered Violin, Seen and not heard — like me. t t t SAND-WELLS I MADE a picture in the sand, A great big Giant Face ; I scooped the eyes out with my hand, deep, In quite the proper place. Dig ii0W7l And then, well, well ! what do you think ? It was a great surprise : ^^^ The Giant Face began to wink, ^ggp i And tears came in his eyes ! t WADING ON THE BEACH Paddle in the wa-ter! I LIKE to go a-paddling Upon the squishy sand, And holding up my dress, to see How close I dare to stand. Cold little bare toes. A little wave curls very near, Another laps my toes. Ugh ! How the sudsy foam is cold ! Ah-oo ! How fast it goes ! Rim, run ! He is coming, quick / And then I see a great big wave Far out to sea begun. His greeny head peers up at me, He roars, " You 'd better run ! " Run, run ! He is almost here ! So then I turn and scamper back To get beyond his reach. But my ! How fast he chases me, Careering up the beach ! 92 He splashes all my petticoats As wet as wet can be, Splash f And then he slyly creeps away ; w^i^^^' And people laugh at me. - Ha-ha-ha ! " t t t SNOW-WHITE SHIPS be If only 'T^HE snow-white ships that sail the sea A Are like adventurous birds, to me. They spread their wings and fly afar To foreign lands where wonders are ; could Where gondolas ply up and down The byways of a fairy town ; Where gloomy mountain caverns hold Forgotten stores of robber gold ; Where tigers in the jungle roam, (^ And curious creatures are at home ; Where lovely castles gleam in Spain ; bird Where camels in a winding train Bear treasures from Aladdin's land Across the desert's yellow sand ; Where painted mosques with towers high Point to the magic eastern sky ; jly. Where mystic lamps turn night to day ; Where tinkling rainbow fountains play ; 94 and Where giants lived, and dragons, too. Where fairy fancies might come true ; Where everything is quaint and queer. So different from 7ioiv and here ! All tinted amethyst and gold. And nothing new, but ever old. Oh, pennies would be useless there, ^, But golden sequins are to spare, And jingling ducats buy such things niy ! As children's dreaming never brings. Oh, snow-white ships that sail the sea, Great birds, do lend your wings to me, And bear me happily some day To those bright wonders far away ! t t t RAIN rj • , TP) AIN, rain, ram ! A A- With my nose against the pane, See the little raindrops hurry, P^ Flurry-skurry in a worry ; Slip-and-sliding, drip ! Drip-and-gliding, In a never ending train. Why, O little raindrops, why Drop, j)q you tumble from your sky ? Where, O little raindrops, where ^^gp Are you hastening from there ? When, O little raindrops, when Will you let me out again ? ^'^^ Raindrops who have spoiled my day, So I cannot go and play ! Not a drop Cares to stop, 96 Seems to see _ _ , Drip-drop ! My nose and me ; Hurries past, Fast and fast ; Patter, patter, Drop-dnp ! Skip and scatter, Past my nose against the pane, — Rain, rain, rain ! t SUMMER THANKS MY heart is very happy in the pleasant sum- mer hours ; I thank the Lord who gave to us the green trees and the flowers, The silver summer echoes and the fragrant sum- Lovely mer smells, world jj^g lovely summer colors in the dingles and the dells ; But most of all I thank Him hard because He gave to me A heart to know the wonder-things I hear and smell and see. The cattle in the meadow where the brook is running clear Are happy in the summer day ; I love to watch for them them near, — They munch the grass, they sniff the air, they coolly wade and drink, 98 And in their dumb and gentle way they show their thanks, I think. But oh ! A Httle child is blessed beyond each and me / beast that lives, With heart to know and lips to thank the Lord for all He gives. L.ifC. DANDELION, TELL ME TRUE Blow once, DANDELION, tell me true, Does my Mamma need me? If I blow your fuzzy hair Thrice, and find your forehead bare, Home the charm shall lead me. blow twice, Dandelion, tell me true. Is my Mamma grieving ? Oh, I long to stay and play In the meadow, if I may. Say, must I be leaving } blow thrice. Dandelion, tell me true. Does my Mamma worry .-' Blow, and blow, and blow again ; Little fuzzies still remain, So I need not hurry ! lOO HAMMOCKS MY little hammock swings and swings, I play I am that bird with wings, ^ Who up there in the great, big tree nest. Swings in his hammock, just like me. t t t bird's- BRAVE KNIGHTS ONE had to be a " doughty Knight In brave King Edward's day, For with plate armor in a fight One could nt run away ! t t t I PLAY I AM THAT BIRO WITH WINGS One, two, THE DIFFERENCE SO many little crickets A-chirping in the sun, So many minnows in the brook, — What matter about one ? So many little birdies A-flying in the air, — If something ended one or two, Would anybody care ? So many little squirrels A-skipping in the tree, Would any Mother Squirrel miss Just one, or two, or three ? So many little boys and girls, — But what would Mother do, „„,, ' goes If some big, cruel Ogre Man he! Should eat up Me or You ? 103 three , THE DANDELION GHOST THE pretty yellow Buttercups were nodding, fast asleep, The Bees had lulled the Clover-blooms to honey dreams and deep. The Daisies each had drawn a snowy nightcap ^ on her head ; secret But nowhere slept a Dandelion, — all of them were dead. Yet looking o'er the meadow with the moonlight on the grass, I thought among the quiet flowers I saw a shadow pass. I stole across the dewy green and hid behind a tree, Then half afraid I shyly peeped to see what there might be. bctTJVCCTl All silent and asleep — but look ! There in the grass close by 104 A single little shade of gray, delaying, caught my eye. I stole on tiptoe tremblingly, and held my breath, almost. For in the silver moonlight swayed a Dandelion Ghost ! I scarcely think it saw me, for I kept so very still, Until I breathed a tiny sigh, and then I felt a chill, For quite as if my breath had blown its fragile shape in air, ^'^'\nd The little frightened ghost arose and flitted t softly — where ? Poor lonesome, wistful little thing, come straying back alone Among its sleeping sister buds, where once it too had grown ! But don't you tell the other flowers, for they might have a fright To know a little ghost had been so near them in the night. 105 Shr VANITY Vain things / I KNOW a row of Willow Trees That grow beside the brook, And in the water-mirror these Will look, and look, and look. They deserve to be bothered. How vain the silly Willows seem ! And so I love to toss Some pebbles in the glassy stream, To make the Willows cross. Ohof What ugly trees / For in the mirror, cracked and blurred, They then look bent and scarred ; I 'm glad they cannot speak a word, I think they 'd scold me hard ! All one- sided and wiggly ! They scowl and shake their heads at me, And tremble as I pass ; It only makes them seem to be More ugly in the glass. io6 c CURLS HARLES EDWARD'S hair is straight and light, ^^"'^ And — though he 's not a girl — He suffers torture morn and night To keep his hair in curl. While Dinah with the kinky wool Bewails her sorry fate, ecause no brush, nor comb, nor ] Can make her hair come straight ! Bewails her sorry fate, ^^^^ Because no brush, nor comb, nor pull t t t BOBBY AND BIG BROTHER GO TO WALK A DUET Short y^ITTER-PATTER, trotty-pegs. JT Tramps tramps tramp. Nice to have some longer legs ; legs Small, fat scamp ! Brother Jim has such a stride ! Walk with me ? patter, -^^^ •"• ^^^P "P close beside ; Well,, we HI see. ^^"^ Pitter-patter, trotty-pegs. Tramp, tramp, tramp. Brother Jim, my little legs legs Game yotmg scamp ! Some day will be long legs, too. Near fagged out ? tramp Then I '11 have a race with you ! Yes, no doubt. io8 Pitter-patter, trotty-pegs, -^"^^ Tramp, tramp, tramp. Oh, my tired little legs ! '^ walker. Poor old scamp ! Brother Jim, — please — stop a while, Bobby Tote you, so ? We have — walked — a long — long mile ! Here you go ! Tramp, tramp, tramp. Tramp, tramp, Tramp t a scaffip. T STORIES ^HEY told me why the sea is salt, I have been down to hear ; The Mermaids whispered prettily How The secret to my ear. ^''^^'^ ■ It is a quaint, enchanting tale. You will enjoy it well : " Once on a time " — oh, I forgot, I promised not to tell ! They told me why the world is round, I never knew before ; My heart is breaking with the news. How My tears bedew the floor ! Oh, melancholy state of things ! Alas ! the tale of woe ! I '11 tell you why the world is round, — Ah, but of course you know ! They told me why the sky is blue, I have been up to see ; no The winking stars nudged me aside And breathed the tale to me. fjo^, Oh fie ! how scandalous it is ! interesting! You 'd never dream it true That — no ; I cannot say the words, They would not profit you. They told me why the grass is green, I laughed until I cried ! The crickets grew hysterical, Chirped out the tale, and died. How Ah, such a funny yarn it is ! funny . You '11 scream as well as I. The grass — Ha — ha ! The grass is green, I have forgotten why. t t t Not fair ! T THE BAND HE men who tootle in the Band All look so big and fierce and grand That no one dares say, " Too much noise ! (As people do to tootling boys). t t t SUPPOSE THE Monkey has a handy tail For hanging on a tree, The Elephant a clinging trunk ; jj^ / How funny it would be, If monkeys all had trunks to cling, And quirly tails beside ! Like hammocks they could gayly swing Ha-ha ! From branch to branch so wide. " If elephants had monkey tails And played at hammocks so, — Suppose, suppose the ropes should break ! Ha-ha-ha ! I would n't stand below ! t t t AFTER VACATION Niunbers. BEFORE they had arithmetic, Or telescopes, or chalk. Or blackboards, maps, and copy-books. When they could only talk ; Geography. Before Columbus came to show The world geography. What did they teach the little boys Who went to school like me ? Grammar. There was n't any grammar then, They could not read nor spell, For books were not invented yet, (I think 't was just as well). History. There were no stupid rows of dates. Nor laws, nor wars, nor kings, Nor generals, nor victories, Nor any of those things. 114 For history had not begun, The world was very new, And in the schools I cannot see What children had to do. There could not have been much to learn, There was not much to know. 'T was fine to be a little boy ^ ' Ten thousand years ago ! Now there is always more to learn ; How history does grow ! And every year brings something new Which children ought to know. More ! But if it still goes on like this, I 'm glad I live to-day. For boys ten thousand years from now . . g . Will have no time to play ! t t t THE FIRE-CRACKER IF I could find a Fire-Cracker bigger than a house ; If I could creep inside and keep as quiet as a Pop a mouse ; If some one not suspecting me should light it with a fuse, — » „. /// I guess I 'd shoot up to the moon and get the latest news ! t t t M MY DRYAD Y little oak tree is slender and tall, '^ J^^^^ I planted it there myself by the wall, Where swiftly it grew, — even faster than I, — With its roots in the ground and its top in the sky Far over my head ; for my little oak tree. Though younger than I, can look down upon me. They say that each tree is a fair Dryad's cell, But how she first entered, that no one can tell ; She dresses in brown with a bonnet of bark. And lives all alone in the cool and the dark. I know she is there, for I often can see When gently she moves in the little oak tree. She is taller than I; she is slender, I think ; Her lips must be red, and her cheeks must be pink; 117 the little Oak Tree. Her eyes, — are they black, are they hazel, or blue? And is her hair curly ? I wish that I knew ! I wonder if she is a little like me. The Dryad who dwells in my little oak tree. I know she sees me through the chinks in her cell ; I 'm sure that she loves me and wishes me well. She seems like a sister I never have seen, — She is lonely, I know, as I often have been. Oh, some day I hope I may find out the key. And see her at last in my little oak tree. t LEARNING TO PLAY UPON a tall piano stool I have to sit and play A stupid finger exercise Do. For half an hour a day. They call it " playing," but to me It 's not a bit of fun, I play when I am out of doors, Re. Where I can jump and run. But Mother says the little birds Who sing so nicely now, Had first to learn, and practice too, Mi. All sitting on a bough. And maybe if I practice hard, Like them, I too, some day, Shall make the pretty music sound ; Fa. Then I shall call it "play." 119 w The POINTS OF VIEW HEN beating drums and tramping feet With crowds of people fill the street, Oh, how they run and push and cry To watch the soldiers passing by ! procession But though I stand on tiptoe tall, invisible, -pj^g grown-ups make a solid wall. Oh, it is very sad to be So little that one cannot see ! I hear the bands of music play, And see some banners move away. The soldiers pass and soon are gone. And I have seen not even one ! w The people must forget, I know, folk f That they were children long ago. How splendid it must feel to be So big that one can always see ! But sometimes when the grown-ups come To see my playhouse here at home, 1 20 And when I try to show the rest The things I like the very best, — Blind big The truly things one has to "play," — y^/^ / They only look around and say, " I can't see any castle there ! " Or, " Where 's the Princess ? " " How ? " and "Where?" Oh, does it not seem very queer, When I can see them plainly here, Big people who could view so well The long procession, and could tell q ^ What uniform the soldiers wore, to Can't see things on the nursery floor ? //// / How dreadful it must feel to be So big and old one cannot see ! t t t THE CHRYSANTHEMUM T ^HE yellow-haired Chrysanthemum Be -i- Looks very cross to-day ; '''^^^' She hangs her little frowzy head, And pouting seems to say, "/ wish I had nt any hair, Oh, dearie me ! I do, so there ! " I think she would not let her nurse l^ook Comb out the tangled curls ; sweet. She ought to be ashamed to see Us tidy little girls ! t t t THE GREEDY PINCUSHION THERE once was a Pincushion, ruddy and round, The 'ttovy With an appetite awful to know ; ^^f^^ He ate all the needles and pins to be found, wicked Yet only grew hungrier so. Pinaishion. Now this was not right, for they 'd stuffed him with bran Enough for a Pincushion's food, And that he should take care of the pins was Greedy, the plan, For they thought he was gentle and good. You 'd never suspect him, because he was fat, And because his expression was sweet. slv The pins sometimes stuck by their heads, which -^ were flat. But the needles he swallowed complete ! 123 old thms ! And Margery wondered as hard as could be, " What becomes of the needles and pins ? With such a nice Pincushion, I cannot see ! " And here 's where the Sequel begins. SEQUEL Here he made a mistake. The Pincushion grew all the greedier now. One morning when no one was by, He gulped down a needle, without seeing how It had a long thread in its eye. But soon Margie noticed the end of the thread. She pulled, and the needle flew wide ; Caught. " Oh," she thought, " maybe more of my needles are fed To that wicked Pincushion's inside ! " She squeezed him and thumped him and pinched him up tight, Punished. Till his features were crooked with pain ; When hundreds of needles oozed out into sight. And the pins fell about him like rain ! 124 But oh, she was angry to find on that day What the greedy Pincushion had done ; So she tore him in pieces and threw him away, And the needles and pins saw the fun. SUNSET Xints WJ^^^ ^^^^^ angels have been good, r V And night is dra^ od lets them take his co: And dabble all the sky. Wl And night is drawing nigh, ^color-box ^^^ ^^^^ them take his color-box. t t t KITTY'S PICTURE I TOOK my kitten yesterday To have her picture made. They wanted me to hold her still, Because she was afraid. The story of a Photograph. I never had my picture took, Because I always cry When it begins to stare at me, - That awful camera's eye ! My kitty wiggled all about, And stood upon her head. And I forgot the camera. Until "All done ! " they said. But when the picture came, it was The queerest thing ! You see. The kitten did n't show at all. The picture was of me ! 127 What do you suppose did it ? all out Tag goal ! T HIDE-AND-SEEK HE Sun and Moon all night and day Are playing hide-and-seek ; Ohc t7V0 ' sky blue ; -^"^ while one hunts about the world, The other comes to peek Above the low edge of the East, Then, cautiously and slow, but you. He tiptoes over to the West, And dodges down below. The goal is on the Other Side, , , , Where I can never see ; You re It, Oh, how I wish they 'd move it here. And play a game for me ! For I can only watch them hide. And see them chase and run, But never see them touch the goal, — Miss Moon or Mr. Sun. 128 Sometimes the Sun comes peeping up, A twinkle in his eye, To seek the pretty silver Moon Hid somewhere in the sky. Corning ! And when the other one is It, I see in broadest noon. Blinding, with hands before her face, And counting fast, the Moon. 'S- 10- J 5-20 Oh, will they never, never meet, And then the game be done } Or will they play forever there, Miss Moon and Mr. Sun ? I guess I don't ktwtu. t t t THE THERMOMETER Poor old fellow ! IN winter time my spirits sink, I sit down in my bulb to think ; Then people shiver and complain Until I rouse me up again. With summer how my spirits rise ! I feel like climbing to the skies. But then again the people frown And long to see me settle down. Deserves degree. So whether hot or whether cold, These silly human creatures scold ; And whether low or whether high, I cannot please, although I try. Yet were it not for me, I doubt They would have much to talk about ! t t t dreavi THE DREAM-ANGEL THE days when I am good _^ I gladly go to bed, good Because I know an Angel stands ^^ Above my head ; And in his hands he holds when A lily sweet and white, ^^^\as Which gently to and fro he waves been Through all the night. Sood! Oh, then my dreams are glad, And happily I roam With dear dream-children in the fields Of their dream home. But after naughty days. My kindly Angel stands ^^^^ Beside my bed with drooping wings And empty hands. 131 / h'e been naughty — I don't want to go to bed! No lily sweet he bears, But from his eyes, it seems. There fall the bitter, bitter tears Upon my dreams. Oh, then the night is long, And all my sleep is sad ; I have no happy dreams because My day was bad. t t t / MY NOSE I WAKEN in the morning with my Nose as cold as ice, So numb it may be frozen, which would not be very nice ! -^t??'-? But all the rest of me is snug and comfy to my ^ „^j.^ / toes, I don't feel like exploring for my frosty little Nose. Brr ! Think how cold it is up there where my poor Nose has been ! Brr ! How the nippy snippy air is trying to get in! So warm and lazy-girl I lie and wonder if he froze — That naughty, spiteful Jack Frost man — my little button Nose. 133 It seems a long, long time to wait till Mother comes to me ; I ask her if my Nose is there, and she bends ^ ^^f down to see, have. Then puts a kiss upon the end, which thaws it, I suppose. For when I wiggle it I find I really have a Nose. She shuts the window briskly, and opens wide the door. Then starts a little fire in the grate, and makes it roar. Oh ! Then she says, " You must get up," and pulls away the clo'es ; And so I have to follow up my pinky little Nose. BrrI t t MY MAMMA MY dear Mamma is good to me When I am bad as bad can be. The nicest I should n't think she 'd love me then Maimna Or be so kind to me again ; But when I 'm good she smiles once more in tJie And loves me better than before. I wonder why she likes to be So very, very good to me .'' t BUTTONS " Rich- man^ poor- man. MY Buttons say I am a " Thief " (I have exactly four), I 'd rather be a Beggar Man, A Rich Man, or a Poor. beggar- man, thief/ '■' Oh, fie! Nurse sewed the four big Buttons on, I did n't want her to, — I don't believe what Buttons tell, The leastest bit, do you ? t t t MARKET DAY PLEASE, sir, I wish a spool of beans And seven pints of silk ; Then wrap me up a bag of pins. And half a square of milk. I '11 take an ell of sausages. And thirteen gross of cream, A can of freshly laundered eggs ; Of doughnuts, just a ream. Oh, let me have a sheet of soap, And eighty grains of tea, With twenty pecks of apple pie, As boneless as can be. Office hours, II. Sg a. m. until 110071. Customers please not talk to the salesmen. I want a dozen honey, ripe, And half a foot of cheese, Then give me, sir, a yard of oil Wrapped up in paper, please. 137 No change given. Goods A box of sugar vinegar, delivered A drachm of lettuce, too. And with a cask of butter-scotch I think that this will do. next year. Please send my purchase quickly, sir, j^lll- I live upon the Hill, 01.2% -^^ ^^''^ ^"^ ^ ^^^ away, — And charge it in the bill. t t t WINTER BUTTERFLIES IN summer time the moths and things, — ^^^ about The butterflies and bugs with wings, — Sno^vflakes, Encircle the electric light That shines into my room at night. They think it is a moon, no doubt, And so they like to swarm about. I see the clouds of moving dots Upon the whiteness come like blots ; Sometimes a whirl of white-winged sparks, Like crazy punctuation marks, Comes in between the dark and me ; And then some lovely thing I see, A gauzy, soft-winged butterfly, Flicker across the blue-black sky. Beat for a moment, fluttering Against the glass its tender wing. Then drop, and drop, — like falling snow Into the darkness there below. 139 There in my bed I lie and stare, And wonder, wonder, wonder where These Httle, frail wing-spirits go, That drift across the night, like snow. But now I know ! For yesternight Through blinding snow I watched my light ; I lay and saw the storm-things drive Across the dark like shapes alive ; I watched the frantic whirls and reels, The gusty chase of snowy wheels. And swarms and moving blurs of white In through the dark make holes of light ; Sometimes a whirl of white-winged sparks Like crazy punctuation marks. Oh ! suddenly I saw them all About the brightness swarm and fall, — A cloud of cold, pale, gauzy things, A ghostly flock of ghostly wings ; And then a single flake of snow. That fluttered blindly to and fro, Flew straight up to the globe of light. And clung there, quivering and white. And melting, melting, melting fast, Till it was gone, quite gone, at last, — My butterfly's pale ghost, that flew 140 Back from the summer past, I knew, Come with the phantom down-winged swarm Back to the light to get them warm ; Snow moths and gnats and butterflies Faded from warm, bright summer skies ; Poor Httle shadow gauzy things That fluttered on their frail, pale wings Down from some cold and far-off star ! And this is what the Snowflakes are. t say KATRINA'S TALES W/iat JT- ATRIN A merely has to look X^. At some queer picture in the book, And then she never, never fails To tell me wondrous " truly " tales. Katrina says — you cannot dream How strange Katrina's stories seem ! does She cannot be so very old. Yet for a girl she must be bold, To go so far and see such sights As often meet her eyes o' nights. Katrina says — I am afraid To think of all Katrina said ! ^^^ There is no wisdom, I suppose. So great as what Katrina knows ; Strange beasts and countries, princes, kings, Giants and fairies, all those things, Katrina says — I wish I knew If all Katrina says is true. 142 THE POLICEMAN THE Judge and the Doctor, the Minister, ri^, too, Were once little fellows like me and like you ; And so was Papa and the Grocer, they say, — heard It does n't seem true, though it may be, it may. of haby But there is one person who could n't be small, I know he was never a baby at all. He was always a giant with buttons of gold, — And that 's the Policeman, so great and so bold. Policeman t t t BOYS Boys everywhere. HOW many little boys there are, In lands beyond the sea, Who would be glad to travel far, To come and play with me ! Fun in all langtiages. Oh, they would bring such queer, new games, And scores of funny toys With curious, tongue-twisting names. That please those foreign boys. American fun. How they would like the jolly fun Which I could show them here ! A day would see it just begun. Why, we could play a year ! Hard luck ! It seems too bad that steamboats ply And ships sail every day, Yet all those jolly boys and I Can never meet to play. 144 IN SAMPLER TIMES LITTLE Matilda Mary Jane, My Great-great-aunt was she ; Her sampler hangs upon the wall, Of queer embroidery. She did not spell her sampler words As I am always taught ; They sound, oh ! very different, And don't look as they ought : — A Sampler is a square of cloth embroidered with " Alle daye doth toyle ye busie Bee & i like Hy7n wil ever B.'' Things. A wreath of roses green and blue Surrounds these curious words, And two red things with yellow spots, Perhaps they may be birds. A funny little willow tree Stands up on either side, — All the Aunts had to make theffi 145 I never saw such trees as those, With leaves so long and wide. when they were little. And down below, a solemn cow With legs of blue and red Stares at a strange, fat, one-eyed sheep, With bristles on its head. I wonder, when I see those birds And that queer sheep and cow, If little girls, like other things. Were different from now } Queer . I think indeed it must be so. Or else how could it be That she, Matilda Mary Jane, Who looked so much like me, — Her picture in the library Hangs high upon the wall, — Should be, they say, my Great-great-2Mn\., When oh ! she seems so small ? t t t CHRISTMAS WHEN Mary's little Baby came On that first Christmas night, What wonders set the sky aflame, And filled the place with light ! When the Star burned. Oh, every child asleep, I know, Had dreams of joyous things. Of heavenly music, soft and low, And nearing angel-wings. over the stable, How sweet to have been one of them, Those children ever blest. Who slept so near in Bethlehem When Christ came there to rest ! where the Wise Men came For with the morn one might have crept Unto the manger bare. Where sound the little Baby slept. To leave a present there. 147 with gifts for Oh, to have seen Him in the hay the The cattle standing by, Each creature turning where He lay A loving, wistful eye ! little Oh, to have touched His little hand, '^Christ- Closed happily above Child. Some gift a child could understand, Some gift the Lord would love ! t SNOW IF snow were only sugar, How pleasant it would be To pick the lovely frosting From every bush and tree ! W/iite and sweet. We 'd skate on sugar taffy, We 'd coast on sugar hills ; And snow-drifts would be jolly To roll in, after spills ! good to eat . t t t THE WISE BOOK Is your book wise like mine ? M "Y book is very wise indeed ! As soon as I sit down to read, It opens wide upon my knee Just at the page I want to see. Oh, say, how can the book have guessed Which tale I love the very best ? t THE SON OF BRAVE SIR GUY AT daybreak rode Sir Guy away With ten stout men and bold, To join the King at Bristol Bay For war ere day were old. Sir Guy departs for battle. Young Kenneth watched the goodly show With eager, wistful eyes : " Ah, Father, prithee let me go ! " "Nay, nay," the knight replies. His son wishes to go also. " Son, thou art but a stripling page. Thou may St not join the fight : Bide, lad, and guard thy mother safe, And keep my castle right." Jlis wish denied. The bugle blew a thrilling blast ; The archers, all in green, Dashed forth ; and sadly Kenneth watched Fare7vell ! Till they no more were seen. 151 Kenneth resolves to be a man. Ht arms himself. What, ho ! Without the gate ! And then he proudly raised his head And wiped away the tears. " I too shall be a knight," he said, " Before a many years. " I will not let the women smile, Because I am but small ; I am my mother's trusty knight ; I keep my father's hall." He donned the little shirt of mail His father's grace had given. Made for the Yule-tide tilting-games, When he had bravely striven. He put his little helmet on, And girt his sword with care (The hilt was set with rubies three ; The blade was bright and bare). Now as within the armory He stood among the spears, A bugle's silver challenge rung Defiance in his ears. And lo ! Beyond the castle moat A band of spearmen gay, 152 Behind a leader huge and black, Were drawn in grim array. " Yield thee, Sir Guy ! " the Black Knight cried, " Yield castle, keep, and kin, Or I with all my bonny men Will force a passage in." The Lady Alice wrung her hands ; Her face was drawn and white, " Alack ! A castle full of maids ! " She cried. " We cannot fight ! " Then Kenneth hastened down the stair, And though his cheek was pale, His heart beat high and valiantly Beneath his shirt of mail. The siivimons. His mother affrighted. " I will protect thee, mother dear, And keep my father's hall ; Sir Guy hath left the trust with me, And I will save you all." The maids let the portcullis down. All trembling at his word. And forth he fared to face the foe, His hand upon his sword. 153 Kenneth promises pt-otection. The challenge. The Black Knight's scorn. 2hc parley. The test. " I am the champion," he cried, " For Guy of Vernon Lea ! And I will fight your bravest knight, If he will fight with me. " And this shall be the pledge of war, That, though I soon may fall, My life shall be the castle's fee. And buy the lives of all." The Black Knight sat in silence grim, Then, " If I slay thee, child, Why spare the castle I shall win, Why give my word .? " he smiled. " Thou art a knight to honor sworn, And thou wilt give thy word. I die to save my father's pride And win a squire's sword." The Black Knight lighted from his horse : " Then make thy prayer and die, For thou shalt meet the best of blades Beneath fair England's sky." The Black Knight waved his awful sword. And forward fiercely came ; 154 Then Kenneth made a little prayer And breathed his mother's name. But lo ! A short spear's length away The Black Knight sheathed his blade, And stepping back bowed gallantly, — "Enough, enough ! " he said. He seized the whistle on his chain, And blew it shrill and hard, While Kenneth stood all dazed and dumb, His sword yet raised in guard. Then from the wood ten archers green Came trooping at the call, And lo ! Sir Guy rode at the head, So debonair and tall. He lighted from his charger gray, And bent his knee before The doughty knight in armor black. And doffed the helm he wore. " Rise, brave Sir Guy," the Black Knight said, " Rise and embrace thy son, Who as thy champion this day His squire's sword hath won. 155 Hold! What now ? Sir Guy reappears. The Black Knight, " Come hither, lad, and give to me Xhe Thy ruby-hilted blade ; King. Nq shame for thee to yield thy sword Unto the King," he said. Then Kenneth fell upon his knee : " Oh, pardon. Sire ! " he cried, " That I, a page, should challenge thee, All for my father's pride ! " " Nay, lad, but it was nobly done, Kenneth And thou hast borne the test praised. Thy father put upon his son. At my will and behest. *' For he hath told me of thy prayer To squire him to the war. And how that thou wert all too young To go so fast and far. " Yet I have said, ' Though but a page, The son of brave Sir Guy Must wear a knightly heart ; ' and who Hath proved the truth but I ? Joy of " Then rise, young Kenneth, take thy sword Kemieth. And follow after me, 156 Thy King commands thee to the war, Sir Guy's esquire to be. And bear thee ever from to-day As nobly in the fight ; fhg So soon thou 'It win thy golden spurs, promise. Thy King will dub thee knight," t IN THE KITCHEN THE Kitten purrs, all in a heap ; The Kettle, too, purrs drowsily. And Cook, beside the fire asleep. Is purring loudest of the three ! t t t THE BABY LION I WANT a Baby Lion ! I saw one at the show, No bigger than a puppy dog ; But surely he will grow. So nice and woolly. I let him lick my fingers, I stroked him on the head, And I was brave as anything, The Lion Tamer said. Rough tongue, like a crash towel. We need a little Lion At home in Mother's house, To frighten off the Burgulars As Kitty does a mouse. A new watch-dog. When they began to burgle He 'd give a dreadful Roar-r-r-r ! And then they 'd see his yellow eyes Come glaring 'round the door. 159 My! How frightened they'd be ! And if they did n't scamper Burnilar ^^ quick as quick could be, my Lion He 'd eat up every Burgular IS after ^ p^^^ ^^.^^^ ^-^^ ^^^^^g ^^ ^^ you . t t t THE ELECTRIC LIGHT I CANNOT always see the moon, Nor yet the stars who keep Like a A tender, watchful eye upon My bed while I 'm asleep. ''^' But always through the rain or snow, However black the night, bright^ How comforting to feel the glow Of my electric light ! ' It is not wonderful nor rare, But it is very dear, sleepless Like Mother's love and Father's care, Because it is so near. ^^^' t t t w SLUMBER SONG 'HO taught the first little girl how to sing? I know, I know ! The dear little birdies that come in the spring, j^ They whistled and twittered on frolicsome wing. And caroled her stories of each living thing ; They taught her to sing, I know. Who taught the first little girl how to play ? I know, I know ! The pink little blossoms all hidden away every- Beneath the brown mosses, so roguish and gay. They played hide-and-seek with her every day ; They taught her to play, I know. Who taught the first little girl how to dance } I know, I know ! She saw how the butterflies flutter and glance, 162 TAUGHT THE FIRST LITTLE GIRL HOW TO SING And the tall Lady Grasses retreat and advance ; ^ody. She watched little Columbine caper and prance ; They taught her to dance, I know. Who taught the first little girl how to rest ? I know, I know ! The good little birds flutter back to the nest, Good- And each pretty flower-bud knows it is best night I To sleep when the sun drowses into the west ; They taught her to rest, I know. t t t I am a tired Lamb. PRAYER OF A TIRED CHILD o ^UR Father, hear a tired child, Who has forgot her prayer, And cannot find the words of it, Which wander everywhere. You used to carry in your arms The lambkins dumb and white. Who had grown weary of their play, And stumbled in the night. I also am your little lamb, little Who has no word to pray. Dear Father, will you bear me too Along the darkling way .-* t t t A BLESSING NOW may the Fairies good and bright, Who never sleep the long, long night. Play ring-around your little bed, And kiss their blessings on your head ! Electrotyped atid prmted by H, O. Heug;hton &* Co. Cambridge, Mass., U.S. A. OCT 24 1902 018 602 318 3 9