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Boys and Girls

<hr class="full" /> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/cover.jpg" height-obs="550" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /></div> THE VERSES OF JAMES W. FOLEY {i}  {ii}  {iii}  <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_frontis.jpg" height-obs="550" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">SONG OF SUMMER DAYS </div> </div> <div class="bbox"> <h1>BOYS AND GIRLS</h1> <hr /> <big>THE VERSES OF JAMES W. FOLEY</big> <hr /> <ANTIMG src="images/colophon.png" width="100" alt=""/> <hr /> NEW YORK E·P·DUTTON & COMPANY PUBLISHERS </div> {iv}  COPYRIGHT, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1910, 1911 BY JAMES W. FOLEY ——— COPYRIGHT, 1913 BY E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY THE·PLIMPTON·PRESS NORWOOD·MASS·U·S·A· {v}  TO MY WIFE {vi}  {vii}  <h2>CONTENTS</h2> <table border="0" cellpadding="02" cellspacing="0" summary=""> <tr><td> </td><td class="rt">PAGE</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap"> {viii} Away</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">3</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Reciprocity of Smiles</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">5</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Domestic Ripple</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">7</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Adams’s Boys</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">9</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Billy Peeble’s Christmas</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">11</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Way He Used to Do</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">16</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Boy’s Vacation Time</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">18</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Boy’s Choice</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">20</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Discouraged Kindergartner</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">22</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Delusion of Ghosts</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">24</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Story of Self-Sacrifice</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">25</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Lost Child</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">28</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Doughnutting Time</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">30</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Modern Miracle</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">32</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Nervoustown</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">34</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Song of Summer Days</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">36</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">What Mother Doesn’t Know</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">37</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">So Lonesome Now</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">39</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Little Love Story</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">41</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">On a Noiseless Fourth</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">43</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Conscious Ignorance</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">45</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Playtime of Bachelor Bill</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">47</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">How Henry Blake Knows</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">49</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Land of Blow Bubbles</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">50</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Gingercake Man</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">52</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Lonesome</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">54</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Garden of Play</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">57</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">We Ain’t Scared of Pa</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">59</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Pearl of Price</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">61</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">{ix} Dear Little, Queer Little Man</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">63</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Girl of Mine</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">65</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Chums</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">67</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Lost Boy</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">69</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Lines to a Baby Girl</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">71</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Little Mischefuss</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">73</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Travels of Mortimer Brown</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">75</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Adventurers Three</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">77</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">When They Love You So</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">79</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Somebody Did</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">81</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Waders</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">83</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Prisoned Pupil</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">85</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Prayer for Jimmy Banks</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">87</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Child’s Christmas Prayer</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">89</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Henry Blake’s Chum</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">91</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Once Upon a Time</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">93</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Way to School</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">95</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Present for Little Boy Blue</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">97</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Evolution of an Adoption</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">99</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Some Girls that Mamma Knew</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">101</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Gone</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">103</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Neighbor’s Boys</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">104</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Quiet Afternoon</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">106</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Ownerless Toys</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">108</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Stranger</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">110</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">In Vacation Time</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">112</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Bereaved</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">114</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Two Little Maids</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">117</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A New Christmas Carol</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">118</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Reconciliation of Pa</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">120</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A World without Care</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">122</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Right After School</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">124</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Plea for Old Friends</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">127</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Boyville Cadets</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">129</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Little Boy I Know</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">132</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Asleep at the Circus</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">135</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Barriers</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">137</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Plaint of the New Doll</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">139</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Child’s Almanac</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">141</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Loser</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">143</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Back to School</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">146</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Disenchantments</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">148</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Rainy Night</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">150</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Kitchen Miracles</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">152</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Jim Brady’s Big Brother</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">154</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Scapegoat</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">156</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Tragedy of Center Field</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">158</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">In Swimming</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">161</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">An Unusual Chum</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">163</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">And Just Then</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">164</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Afterwards</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">167</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Circus Day</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">168</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Tour of a Smile</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">170</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">When Grandpa Plays</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">172</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Parted Ways</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">175</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Message Home</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">177</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Lullaby</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">180</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Disguising Toil</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">182</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Little Girl with the Curls</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">185</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">My Wonderful Dad</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">187</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Remembrances, Bill</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">190</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Bereavement</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">192</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">In Childhood Time</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">194</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Don’t</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">196</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Extinguished</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">198</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Uncheered Hero</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">199</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Old Hallowe’en Friends</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">201</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Refuge in Distress</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">203</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Lost Heart</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">205</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Verses of a Little Child</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">208</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Golden Days in Slowville</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">210</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Heart of a Child</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">213</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">The Strenuous Life</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">214</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Song of Motherhood</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">216</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Youth</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">218</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">After the Years</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">220</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Verse to Memory</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">222</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Lest I Forget</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">224</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">{x} Echo of a Song</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">226</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Lovers’ Lane</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">228</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Daddy Knows</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">230</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">To Children at the Hearth</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">232</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">A Toast to the Small Boy</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">234</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">An Adventurous Day</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">236</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="smcap">Poem of the Foragers</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">238</td></tr> </table> {xi} <h2>ILLUSTRATIONS by Reginald Birch</h2> <table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" summary=""> <tr><td valign="top">Song of Summer Days</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">Frontispiece</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">The Adams’s Boys</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">facing page 10</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Billy Peeble’s Christmas</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">14</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">A Modern Miracle</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">32</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">A Little Love Story</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">42</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">The Gingercake Man</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">52</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">The Waders</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">84</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">A Prayer for Jimmy Banks</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">88</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Once Upon A Time</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">94</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">The Neighbor’s Boys</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">104</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Asleep at the Circus</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">136</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">In Swimming</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">162</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">The Parted Ways</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">176</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Lullaby</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">180</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Verses of a Little Child</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">208</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Lover’s Lane</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">228</td></tr> </table> {xii}  {1}  {2}  {3}  <h1>BOYS AND GIRLS</h1> <h2>AWAY</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> “I WON’T be long,” the Little Boy said, As he clattered him down the stair, And found him a hat for his curly head And called to a dog somewhere. Then off like a flash down the shady lane With a whistle and cry and song; And back to us ever it came again: “I won’t be gone very long.” </div> <div class="stanza"> “I won’t be long,” the Little Boy said, As we saw him among the trees, His eyes all bright and his cheeks all red, A friend of the birds and bees; Then through the hedges and out of the gate, For naught in the world goes wrong With a boy of six or seven or eight— “I won’t be gone very long.” </div> <div class="stanza"> “I won’t be long,” the Little Boy said, “I’m just going out to play.” And the curly dog barked and the two of them sped Over the clover away. He waved us a kiss with a little brown hand{4} And cries rose from here and there, For oh, but a boy does understand A dog and the open air! </div> <div class="stanza"> “I won’t be long,” the Little Boy said, “Don’t wait any supper—you see, I’ll just have a bowl of milk and bread And my dog he will eat with me.” Then he swung his hat on its tangled string Till the curly dog wagged his tail And romped and played like a boy in spring And barked him a comrade’s hail. </div> <div class="stanza"> “I won’t be long,” the Little Boy said— Oh, Mother of him, don’t cry! The leaves come green again, yellow and red, And the years and the years go by. But sometime he’ll come, as we’ve seen him do, With the bark of a dog and a song, For it must be true—oh, it must be true That he’ll not be gone very long! {5}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE RECIPROCITY OF SMILES</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SOMETIMES I wonder why they smile so pleasantly at me, And pat my head when they pass by as friendly as can be; Sometimes I wonder why they stop to tell me How-d’-do, And ask me then how old I am and where I’m going to; And ask me can I spare a curl and say they used to know A little girl that looked like me, oh, years and years ago; And I told Mamma how they smiled and asked her why they do, So she said if you smile at folks they always smile at you. </div> <div class="stanza"> I never knew I smiled at them when they were going by, I guess it smiled all by itself and that’s the reason why; I just look up from playing if it’s any one I know And they most always smile at me and maybe say Hello; And I can smile at any one, no matter who or where,{6} Because I’m just a little girl with lots of them to spare; And Mamma said we ought to smile at folks, and if you do Most always they feel better and they smile right back at you. </div> <div class="stanza"> And when so many smile at me and ask me for a curl It makes me think most everybody likes a little girl; And once when I was playing and a man was going by He smiled at me and then he rubbed some dust out of his eye, Because it made it water so, and said he used to know A little girl up in his yard who used to smile just so; And then I asked why don’t she now and then he said “You see—” And then he rubbed his eye again and only smiled at me. {7}</div> </div></div> <h2>A DOMESTIC RIPPLE</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SOME days my Pa is thist so cross ’At Ma, she snaps him off an’ said: “I guess your father must ’a’ got Up on th’ wrong side of th’ bed.” An’ ’en Pa says he’d like to eat Thist bread, he would, in peace once more; An’ Ma, she bu’sts out cryin’ nen An’ Pa goes out an’ slams th’ door— An’ ’en I git a spankin’! </div> <div class="stanza"> Thist ’fore he gits his breakfast, Pa He never hardly speaks to us, An’ Ma, she says it shames her so T’ have him go an’ make a fuss Before th’ girl. Pa, he don’t care, An’ ’en he says—“Th’ girl be——!” An’ Ma says—“Oh, t’ think he’d swear Before his child!” Th’ door gits slammed— An’ ’en I git a spankin’! </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’en, ’em days, th’ littlest things I do ’ll almost drive her wild, An’ she says “Goodness sakes alive! Was ever such another child?” An’ she says: “Do run out an’ play!” An’ thist when I git started, nen{8} She hollers right at me this way: “Willyum! You march right in again!” An’ ’en I git a spankin’! </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ Pa, he don’t come home to lunch ’Cuz Ma, she says he’s too ashamed To face her after such a scene An’ says she surely can’t be blamed For Pa’s mean, ugly, hateful ways, An’ Ma ain’t got no heart to eat, Nen, thist ’cuz I want honey on My bread, er jam, er sumpin sweet— Why nen I git a spankin’! </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’en, along ’bout supper time Pa sneaks in thist th’ easiest You ever see; an’ nen he looks For Ma; an’ she’s th’ freeziest ’At ever was. An’ Pa, he’s got Some candy an’ he says he’s ’shamed, An’ fin’ly Ma says mebbe she Was also partly to be blamed, An’ ’en ’at ends my spankin’! {9}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE ADAMS’S BOYS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> THE Adams’s children, they just romp and play And fall out of trees in the carelessest way, And might break their legs from the way that they fall, But they get up laughing and not hurt at all, ’Cause boys’ bones are soft, so their grandfather said; And John Quincy Adams, he stands on his head And drinks from a dipper, and all over town The boys will tell you how he drinks upside down. </div> <div class="stanza"> The Adams’s children, they make enough noise In the yard where they live for three times as much boys, And sometimes they laugh and you hear it as clear As can be up to Tinker’s and way over here; And they’ve got a dog which is almost the same As the rest of the boys and will play every game, And bark all the time, and he makes so much noise He’s just like the rest of the Adams’s boys. </div> <div class="stanza"> The Adams’s children, they go out to ride On a pony of theirs, with them all three astride, And the boy up in front makes him kick up and then The boy way behind, he gets thrown off again;{10} And the Adams’s pony, he looks just as though He’s trying to laugh when the others laugh so; It looks like a laugh, but he can’t make a noise Like the dog or the rest of the Adams’s boys. </div> <div class="stanza"> The Adams’s children, they go out to play And sometimes their mother don’t see them all day, But she never frets, ’cause the world is too small, So she said, for three boys to get lost in it all. And sometimes she listens outdoors and she hears The laughing and barking way over to Geer’s, Which is most half a mile, and she smiles, because then She knows they’ll be home when they’re hungry again. </div> <div class="stanza"> The Adams’s children, they get on as though They were three great chums and not brothers, you know; And folks like to hear them, when they’re going past, With the big one ahead and the little one last. They’ve always got playmates of their very own, And don’t have to do chores or to study alone, And everything seems to be three times the fun For the Adams’s children as though there’s just one! </div> </div></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_010fp.jpg" height-obs="518" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">THE ADAMS’S BOYS </div> </div> {11} <h2>BILLY PEEBLE’S CHRISTMAS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> BILLY Peeble, he ain’t got no parents—never had none, ’cause When he’s borned he was an orfunt; an’ he said ’at Santa Claus Never didn’t leave him nothin’, ’cause he was a county charge, An’ the overseer told him that his fambly was too large To remember orfunt children; so I ast Ma couldn’t we Have Bill Peeble up to our house, so’s to see our Christmas tree. An’ she ast me if he’s dirty; an’ I said I guessed he was, But I didn’t think it makes no difference with Santa Claus. </div> <div class="stanza"> My his clo’es was awful ragged! Ma, she put him in a tub An’ she poured it full of water, an’ she gave him such a scrub ’At he ’ist set there an’ shivered; an’ he told me afterwurds ’At he never washed all over out to Overseer Bird’s! ’En she burned his ragged trousies an’ she gave him some of mine;{12} My! she rubbed him an’ she scrubbed him till she almost made him shine, Nen he ’ist looked all around him like he’s scairt for quite a w’ile, An’ even w’en Ma’d pat his head he wouldn’t hardly smile. </div> <div class="stanza"> ’En after w’ile Ma took some flour-sacks an’ ’en she laid ’Em right down at the fireplace, ’ist ’cause she is afraid Santa Claus ’ll soil the carpet when he comes down there, you know; An’ Billy Peeble watched her, an’ his eyes stuck out—’ist so! ’En Ma said ’at in the mornin’ if we’d look down on the sacks ’At they’d be ’ist full of soot where Santa Claus had made his tracks; Billy Peeble stood there, lookin’! An’ he told me afterwurds He was scairt he’d wake right up an’ be at Overseer Bird’s. </div> <div class="stanza"> Well, ’en she hung our stockin’s up an’ after w’ile she said: “Now, you an’ Billy Peeble better go right off to bed, An’ if you hear a noise tonight, don’t you boys make a sound,{13} ’Cause Santa Claus don’t never come with little boys around!” So me an’ Billy went to bed, an’ Billy Peeble, he Could hardly go to sleep at all—’ist tossed an’ tossed. You see We had such w’ite sheets on the bed an’ he said afterwurds They never had no sheets at all at Overseer Bird’s. </div> <div class="stanza"> So we ’ist laid an’ talked an’ talked. An’ Billy ast me who Was Santa Claus. An’ I said I don’t know if it’s all true, But people say he’s some old man who ’ist loves little boys An’ keeps a store at the north pole with heaps an’ heaps of toys W’ich he brings down in a big sleigh, with reindeers for his steeds, An’ comes right down the chimbly flue an’ leaves ’ist what you needs. My! he’s excited w’en I told him that! An’ afterwurds He said they never had no toys at Overseer Bird’s. </div> <div class="stanza"> I’m fallin’ pretty near asleep w’en Billy Peeble said: “Sh-sh! What’s that noise?” An’ w’en he spoke I set right up in bed Till sure enough I heard it in the parlor down below, An’ Billy Peeble, he set up an’ ’en he said: “Le’s go!{14}” So we got up an’ sneaked down stairs, an’ both of us could see ’At it was surely Santa Claus, ’ist like Ma said he’d be; But he must heard us comin’ down, because he stopped an’ said: “You, Henry Blake an’ William Peeble, go right back to bed!” </div> <div class="stanza"> My goodness, we was awful scairt! An’ both of us was pale, An’ Billy Peeble said up stairs: “My! Ain’t he ’ist a whale!” We didn’t hardly dare to talk and got back into bed An’ Billy pulled the counterpane clear up above his head, An’ in the mornin’ w’en we looked down on the flour-sacks, W’y sure enough we saw the soot where he had made his tracks, An’ Billy got a suit of clothes, a drum, an’ sled an’ books, Till he ’ist never said a word, but my! how glad he looks! </div> <div class="stanza"> ’En after w’ile it’s dinner time an’ Billy Peeble set Right next to Pa, an’ my! how he ’ist et an’ et an’ et! Till he ’ist puffed an’ had to leave his second piece of pie </div> </div></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_014fp.jpg" width-obs="513" height-obs="325" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">BILLY PEEBLE’S CHRISTMAS </div> </div> {15} <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> BECAUSE he couldn’t eat no more. An’ after dinner, w’y, Ma dressed him up in his new clo’es, an Billy Peeble said He’s sorry he’s an orfunt, an’ Ma patted Billy’s head, W’ich made him cry a little bit, an’ he said afterwurds Nobody ever pats his head at Overseer Bird’s. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ all day long Pa looked at Ma an’ Ma she looked at him, Because, Pa said ’at Billy looked a little bit like Jim ’At was my baby brother, but he died oncet, years ago, An’ ’at’s w’y Billy Peeble makes my mother like him so. She says ’at Santa brought him as a present, ’ist instead Of little Jim ’at died oncet. So she ’ist put him to bed On Christmas night an’ tucked him in an’ told me afterwurds ’At he ain’t never goin’ back to Overseer Bird’s. {16}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE WAY HE USED TO DO</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SOMETIMES when I come in at night And take my shoes off at the stair, I hear my Pop turn on the light And holler: “William, are you there?” And then he says: “You go to bed— I knew that stealthy step was you.” And I asked how and then he said: “’Cause that’s the way I used to do.” </div> <div class="stanza"> Sometimes when I come home at six O’clock and hurry up my chores, And get a big armful of sticks Of wood and bring it all indoors, My Pop he comes and feels my head And says: “You’ve been in swimmin’—you!” When I asked how he knew, he said: “’Cause that’s the way I used to do.” </div> <div class="stanza"> Sometimes before a circus comes, When I’m as willing as can be To do my chores, and all my chums They all take turns at helping me, My Pop, he pats ’em on the head And says: “You like a circus, too?” When I asked how he knew, he said: “’Cause that’s the way I used to do.{17}” And lots of times when he gets mad Enough to whip me and declares He never saw another lad Like I am—well, at last he spares Me from a whipping and he lays His rawhide down: “I can’t whip you For that, although I should,” he says, “’Cause that’s the way I used to do.” {18}</div> </div></div> <h2>A BOY’S VACATION TIME</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> HAIL, that long-awaited day When, the school books laid away, All the thoughts of merry youngsters turn from pages back to play! Done with lesson and with rule, Done with teacher and with school, Stray the vagrant hearts of childhood to the tempting wood and pool! </div> <div class="stanza"> Who will tell in rune and rhyme Of the glory and the grime In the dusty lanes and byways of a boy’s vacation time? Hark, the whistle and the cry That is piping shrill and high From the chorus of glad youngsters trooping riotously by! </div> <div class="stanza"> Say, did sun e’er brightly shine As when, with his rod and line Tramps the barefoot lad a-fishing, and the water clear and fine? Sweet the murmur of the trees, And what glory now he sees In the chatter of the wild birds and the buzz of bumble-bees!{19} </div> <div class="stanza"> Hear the green woods cry and call, Through the Summer to the Fall, “We are waiting, waiting, waiting, with a welcome for you all!” Hear the lads take up the cry, With an echo, shrill and high: “We are coming, coming, coming, for vacation time is nigh!” </div> <div class="stanza"> How the skies are blue and fair, How the clover scents the air With a witchery of fragrance that is delicate and rare! How the blossoms bud and blow, And the great waves flood and flow In the ocean of boy happiness, like billows, to and fro! </div> <div class="stanza"> Ah, my heart goes back and sighs When the piping calls and cries From the hearts of merry youngsters like a song of triumph rise! And I would that rune and rhyme Might be splendid and sublime In my heart to tell the story of a boy’s vacation time! {20}</div> </div></div> <h2>A BOY’S CHOICE</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I’D ruther take a w’ippin’ ’an a scoldin’ any day, ’Cuz a w’ippin’ makes you tingle, but you go right out an’ play, An’ after w’ile you’re over it an’ ’en at dinner, w’y, Your mother’s awful sorry an’ she brings a piece of pie An’ says she hates to do it, ’cuz it hurts her ’ist as bad As it does anybody w’en she w’ips her little lad. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’en at night she kisses you an’ puts you into bed An’ tucks the covers in an’ says you’re Mamma’s Turly-head, An’ my! she’s ’ist so lovely! An’ she sits beside of you ’Ist ’cuz she feels so sorry over w’at she had to do. An’ ’en she leaves the candle burn an’ says for you to call If you want anything from her, an’ you ain’t scairt at all! </div> <div class="stanza"> But w’en you get a scoldin’ she don’t never bring you pie, Becuz you’ll surely break her heart; an’ ’en she starts to cry;{21} An’ my! you feel so sorry, an’ you wisht she wouldn’t, ’cuz It shows you how you’ve grieved her an’ how turble bad you wuz. An’ all day long she never smiles; an’ w’en you go to bed She never leaves the candle burn or calls you Turly-head. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ sometimes you see big, w’ite things a-lookin’ at your bed, ’At makes you scairt an’ pull the covers up above your head, An’ ’en you s’pose how would you feel if Mamma wuz to die, An’ biumby you feel so bad ’at you ’ist start to cry. So w’en she looks at you so hurt an’ talks to you ’at way— I’d ruther take a w’ippin’ ’an a scoldin’ any day! {22}</div> </div></div> <h2>A DISCOURAGED KINDERGARTNER</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> ’IS mornin’ mamma told me ’At I mus’ be awful dood, ’Tuz I’m startin’ on my schooldays An’ I promised her I would. But I’m awful much ’iscouraged ’Tuz I tried so hard to det All the lessons teacher gave me, But I tant read yet! </div> <div class="stanza"> My! it’s awful long till dinner, An’ I couldn’t hardly wait Wen I dot done wif my letters An’ I wrote ’em on my slate, An’ I’m ’shamed to tell my mamma ’At I dess she’ll have to let Me go back again tomorrow, ’Tuz I tant read yet. </div> <div class="stanza"> She’ll be awful disappointed, ’Tuz I’ve been there half a day, An’ she’ll think I didn’t study Or it wouldn’t be that way. But I don’t s’pose I tan help it, An’ it does no dood to fret, ’Tuz I’ve been to school all mornin’ An’ I tant read yet.{23} </div> <div class="stanza"> I dess our teacher’s stupid, ’Tuz she didn’t seem to care W’en I went right up an’ told her Were she’s sittin’ in her chair, ’At I’m awful much ’iscouraged An’ my Mamma she would fret ’Tuz I’ve been to school all mornin’ An’ I tant read yet. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’en she started laughin’, It’s as true as I’m alive, An’ ast how old I am, an’ ’en I told her half past five, An’ ’en she tame an’ tissed me, ’Tuz my eyes are dettin’ wet, An’ told me not to worry ’Tuz I tant read yet. </div> <div class="stanza"> I dess if she had Mother Goose She’d be ’isturbed herself, If she ’ud go an’ det it Down f’m off th’ lib’ry shelf, An’ ’en w’en it is open, I dess she’s apt to fret If she’s been to school all mornin’ An’ she tant read yet! {24}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE DELUSION OF GHOSTS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SOMETIMES when I got to do errands at night An’ th’ moon is all dark an’ th’ ain’t any light, An’ th’ wind, when it blows, makes a shivery sound, An’ everything seems awful still all around; Sometimes when a hoot-owl goes “Woo-oo-oo-oo!” My legs feel so funny; I’m all goose-flesh, too. An’ maybe I’m startled when I hear it call, But I ain’t a bit scairt; I’m thes’ nervous, that’s all. </div> <div class="stanza"> Oncet me an’ Joe Simpson wuz walkin’ one night A’ past th’ old graveyard, an’ saw somethin’ white ’Et looked like a ghost, standin’ right in th’ road, An’ my, Joe wuz scairt! ’Cuz he said ’et he knowed It wuz surely a ghost; an’ I wisseled, becuz When you wissel you scare ’em; an’ all that it wuz Wuz a great, big, white cow; an’ it thes’ walked away, An’ I wuzn’t no more scairt ’n if it wuz day! </div> <div class="stanza"> ’Cuz I don’t b’lieve in ghosts, an’ I’d thes’ as lieve go A’ past any graveyard an’ walk awful slow, An’ wissel, an’ sit on th’ top of th’ fence, ’Cuz th’ ain’t any ghosts if you got any sense. An’ when we saw that big white thing by th’ road ’Et Joe wuz so scairt of, I wuzn’t. I knowed All th’ time it’s no ghost. I wuz nervous becuz I knowed what it wuzn’t, but not what it wuz! {25}</div> </div></div> <h2>A STORY OF SELF-SACRIFICE</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> POP took me to the circus ’cause it disappoints me so To have to stay at home, although he doesn’t care to go; He’s seen it all so many times, the wagons and the tents; The cages of wild animals and herds of elephants; This morning he went down with me to watch the big parade, He was so dreadful busy that he oughtn’t to have stayed, He said he’d seen it all before and all the reason he Went down and watched it coming was because it’s new to me. </div> <div class="stanza"> Then we walked to the circus grounds and Pop he says: “I guess You want a glass of lemonade, of course,” and I says: “Yes.” And he bought one for each of us, and when he drank his he Told me he drank it only just to keep me company; And then he says, “The sideshow is, I s’pose, the same old sell, But everybody’s goin’ in, so we might just as well.” He said he’d seen it all before, and all the reason he Went in and saw it was because it was all new to me.{26} </div> <div class="stanza"> Well, by and by we both came out and went in the big tent, And saw the lions and tigers and the bigges’ elephant With chains on his front corner and an awful funny nose That looks around for peanuts that the crowd of people throws; And Pop, he bought some peanuts and it curled its nose around Until it found most every one that he threw on the ground; He said he’d seen it all before, and all the reason he Stayed there and threw ’em was because it was all new to me. </div> <div class="stanza"> Well, then the band began to play the liveliestest tune, And Pop, he says he guessed the show would open pretty soon; So we went in the other tent, and Pop, he says to me: “I guess we’ll get some reserved seats so you will surely see.” And then some lovely ladies came and stood there on the ground, And jumped up on the horses while the horses ran around; Pop said he’d seen it all before, and all the reason he Looked at the ladies was because it was all new to me.{27} </div> <div class="stanza"> Well, finally it’s over, but a man came out to say That they’re going to have a concert, and Pop said we’d better stay; He said they’re always just the same and always such a sell, But lots of folks was staying and he guessed we might as well. Then by and by we’re home again, and Mamma wants to know What kind of circus was it, and Pop said, “The same old show,” And said he’d seen it all before and all the reason he Had stayed and seen it all was ’cause it’s all so new to me. {28}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE LOST CHILD</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I ’MEMBER when they cut my curls not very long ago, Because they looked just like a girl’s, and I’m a boy, you know; I used to wear ’em awful long, and once my Pa, he said, It’s time I had my curls cut off and wore short hair instead; Because I’m big enough for that; and then they took the shears And snipped my curls off one by one right close up to my ears, But every time a curl came off, my Mother, she just hid Her face a little bit and cried. I wonder why she did! </div> <div class="stanza"> And after while she picked one up and held it in her hand With something shining in her eyes I didn’t understand; She petted it as if it was a little boy or girl, And acted fond of it when it was nothing but a curl. And after while they’re all cut off and down there on the floor, And I looked much more like a boy than I had been before,{29} But there was something in her eyes she tried and tried and tried To brush away, but still it came. I wonder why she cried. </div> <div class="stanza"> And after while I’m all trimmed off, and then my Pa, he said, I’m not a baby any more, but I’m a boy instead, And he is awful proud of me, and then my Ma, she smiled And said we found a boy that day and lost a little child; So I said I would hunt for him and bring him back but then She said she was afraid that he would not come back again; And picked the curls I had all up from off the floor and hid Them in her bureau drawer and cried. I wonder why she did. {30}</div> </div></div> <h2>DOUGHNUTTING TIME</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> WUNST w’en our girl wuz makin’ pies an’ doughnuts—’ist a lot— We stood around with great, big eyes, ’cuz we boys like ’em hot; An’ w’en she dropped ’em in the lard they sizzled ’ist like fun. An’ w’en she takes ’em out it’s hard to keep from takin’ one. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’en she says: “You boys’ll get all spattered up with grease, An’ biumby she says she’ll let us have ’ist one apiece; So I took one for me an’ one for little James McBride, The widow’s only orfunt son ’at’s waitin’ there outside. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ Henry, he took one ’ist for himself an’ Nellie Flynn, ’At’s waitin’ at the kitchen door an’ dassent to come in Becuz her mother told her not, an’ Johnny, he took two, ’Cuz Amy Brennan likes ’em hot, ’ist like we chinnern do. </div> <div class="stanza"> ’En Henry happened ’ist to think he didn’t get a one{31} For little Ebenezer Brink, the carpet beater’s son, Who never gets ’em home becuz he says he ain’t quite sure But thinks perhaps the reason wuz his folkses are too poor. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’en I give my own away to little Willie Beggs ’At fell way down his stairs one day an’ give him crooked legs, ’Cuz Willie always seems to know w’en our girl’s goin’ to bake, He wouldn’t ast for none-oh, no! But, my! he’s fond of cake. </div> <div class="stanza"> So I went back an’ ’en I got another one for me Right out the kettle, smokin’ hot an’ brown as it could be, An’ John, he got one, too, becuz he give his own to Clare, An’ w’en our girl, she looked, there wuz ’ist two small doughnuts there! </div> <div class="stanza"> My! She wuz angry w’en she looked an’ saw ’ist them two there, An’ says she knew ’at she had cooked a crock full an’ to spare, She says it’s awful ’scouragin’ to bake an’ fret an’ fuss, An’ w’en she thinks she’s got ’em in the crock they’re all in us! {32}</div> </div></div> <h2>A MODERN MIRACLE</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> ONCE w’en I’m sick th’ doctor come An’ ’en I put my tongue ’way out, An’ he says, “H-m-m! Nurse, get me some Warm water, please.” An’ in about A minute, w’y, she did an’ ’en He put a glass thing into it An’ ’en he wiped it off again An’ put it in my mouth a bit. </div> <div class="stanza"> ’En after w’ile he took it out An’ held it up w’ere he could see, An’ ’en he says, “H-m-m! ’Ist about Too high a half of a degree.” An’ ’en Ma asked him if I’m bad An’ he says “Nope!” ’ist gruff an’ cross ’An says “W’y you can’t kill a lad, An’ if you do it ain’t much loss!” </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’en she’s mad an’ he ’ist bust Out laughin’ an’ he says, “Don’t fret, He’s goin’ t’ be all right, I trust. W’y he ain’t even half dead yet.” An’ ’en he felt my pulse, ’at way, An’ patted me upon my head An’ says “There ain’t no school today, ’Cuz one of th’ trustees is dead!” </div> </div></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_032fp.jpg" height-obs="516" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">A MODERN MIRACLE </div> </div> {33} <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> AN’ my, I’m awful sorry w’en He told me that. An’ ’en he said “He’ll be all right by noon.” An’ ’en He went away. An’ Ma says “Ned, How do you feel?” An’ ’en, you know, Since Doctor told me that, somehow, I’m awful sick a while ago, But, my! I’m almost well right now! {34}</div> </div></div> <h2>NERVOUSTOWN</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> OH, there’s never a noise in Nervoustown; Not the cry of a youngster; and up or down There’s never a cheer or a whistle shrill; Just silence, like that of the grave, so still; The horses trot with a muffled tread, But the place seems lonesome and drear and dead, For a cloth-bound head and a nervous frown Are all you may see in Nervoustown. </div> <div class="stanza"> Sh-h! you must walk with noiseless tread For there’s many a hot and aching head; The doors are closed and the blinds are down, For it must be dark in Nervoustown. And you mustn’t whistle or shout or cheer Or slam the doors! Oh, dear! Oh, dear! Lest a cloth-bound head and a terrible frown Poke out at you from Nervoustown. </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh, there’s never a person there but goes On the very tip of his tippy-toes; Nor ever a lad has heard at all Of follow-my-leader or rude baseball; It’s much as your life is worth to yell, The flowers can’t grow for the camphor-smell; While a big policeman, up and down, Cries “Sh-h!” through the streets of Nervoustown.{35} </div> <div class="stanza"> And a little boy, who didn’t know, Once years and years and years ago, Gave three loud, lusty cheers one day For something or other, I can’t say, And they snipped his head off—Oh! Oh! Oh! With big, red, rusty shears, you know, And cloth-bound heads bobbed up and down With gladness all through Nervoustown. </div> <div class="stanza"> But, oh, it’s gloomy in Nervoustown, With the doors tight shut and the blinds all down, Where the frightened lad his whole life goes On the very tips of his tippy-toes, Where the hens don’t cluck and the birds don’t sing, And even the church bells dare not ring Lest a cloth-bound head with a terrible frown Poke out at them from Nervoustown. {36}</div> </div></div> <h2>SONG OF SUMMER DAYS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SING a song of hollow logs, Chirp of cricket, croak of frogs, Cry of wild bird, hum of bees, Dancing leaves and whisp’ring trees; Legs all bare and dusty toes, Ruddy cheeks and freckled nose, Splash of brook and swish of line, Where the song that’s half so fine? </div> <div class="stanza"> Sing a song of summer days, Leafy nooks and shady ways, Nodding roses, apples red, Clover like a carpet spread; Sing a song of running brooks, Cans of bait and fishing hooks, Dewy hollows, yellow moons, Birds a-pipe with merry tunes. </div> <div class="stanza"> Sing a song of skies of blue, Eden’s garden made anew, Scarlet hedges, leafy lanes, Vine-embowered sills and panes; Stretch of meadows, splashed with dew, Silver clouds with sunlight through, Cry of loon and pipe of wren, Sing and call it home again. {37}</div> </div></div> <h2>WHAT MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SOMETIMES w’en I got to pile wood in the yard, ’Ist wringin’ with sweat ’cuz I’m workin’ so hard, An’ see all the neighbors’ boys startin’ to fish, I can’t hardly work any more, an’ I wish ’At I wuz a-goin’ an’ ’en right away I run an’ ast Ma if I can’t go today, An’ she says to me ’en: “Johnny Jones, you can run Off an’ fish ’ist as soon as your work is all done. </div> <div class="stanza"> You must work while you work, You must play while you play An’ ’en you’ll be happy for many a day.” An’ mebbe it’s so, But my goodness! to go With the boys ’at’s gone fishin’!—I guess she dunno! </div> <div class="stanza"> Sometimes w’en I got to hoe garden an’ hear The boys playin’ ball in the next lot, so near I hear ’em all cheerin’ an’ see ’em all score, I can’t hardly stand it to hoe any more. So ’en I ast Ma if I can’t go an’ play An’ promise to hoe twict as much the next day, But she says to me ’en: “Johnny Jones, you can run Off an’ play ’ist as soon as your work is all done.{38} </div> <div class="stanza"> You must work while you work, You must play while you play An’ ’en you’ll be happy for many a day.” An’ mebbe it’s so, But, my goodness! to hoe W’en you hear ’em a-playin’!—I guess she dunno. </div> <div class="stanza"> Sometimes w’en the snow gets all piled up so deep On the walk ’at she tells me to go out an’ sweep It all off, an’ Sam Russell comes by with his sled, My broom ’at I’m usin’ gets heavy as lead. An’ I can’t hardly sweep, an’ I ast Ma if I Can’t go out a-slidin’ an’ sweep by an’ by, But she says to me ’en: “Johnny Jones, you can run Off and slide ’ist as soon as your work is all done. </div> <div class="stanza"> You must work while you work, You must play while you play An’ ’en you’ll be happy for many a day.” An’ mebbe it’s so, But to have to sweep snow W’en the boys are a-slidin’!—I guess she dunno. {39}</div> </div></div> <h2>SO LONESOME NOW</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> OVER t’ Henry Murray’s, why, They always had lots an’ lots o’ pie, An’ toy automobiles an’ v’locipedes An’ walkin’ toys, like a fellow reads About sometimes, but he seldom sees, An’ swings out under th’ big oak trees, An’ childurn a-playin’ on every bough— But my! It is turrible lonesome now. </div> <div class="stanza"> Over t’ Henry Murray’s, why, His mother an’ father ’ist seemed t’ try An’ see if they couldn’t get some new toys For Henry an’ all of us other boys ’At played with him; an’ she used t’ make Th’ dandiest currant an’ raisin cake, An’ boys ’ist flocked there like flies, somehow— But my! It is turrible lonesome now. </div> <div class="stanza"> Over’t Henry Murray’s, why, His mother ’ud see you goin’ by An’ ast you why you didn’t come an’ play With Henry an’ all of his toys, some day. An’ every Christmas she’d have a tree With presents, th’ finest you ever see, An’ nobody got forgot, somehow— But my! It is turrible lonesome now.{40} </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ over t’ Henry Murray’s, why, We boys ’ist look while we’re goin’ by, An’ see all his toys layin’ there outside. Once Big Bill Skinner broke down an’ cried An’ says he don’t care—it was ’ist too bad, ’Cause Henry was all of th’ boy they had. An’ th’ swings ’ist hang from th’ big oak bough bough— An’ my! It is turrible lonesome now. {41}</div> </div></div> <h2>A LITTLE LOVE STORY</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SHE understands. I do not need to go And tell her she is all the world to me. I never speak a word to let her know I will be faithful till Eternity, But when, upon the way to school, she sees Me come with two red apples in my hands And hears me say: “Please, Sally Jane, take these,” It is no wonder that she understands. </div> <div class="stanza"> Or when she sees me at the old front gate With my new sled right after the first snow, And from her window calls to me to wait Until she asks her Mother can she go, I do not need to tell her why I come In my fur cap with mittens on my hands, For even if my feelings make me dumb She looks at me and then she understands. </div> <div class="stanza"> Or if she whispers something when in school, As children are quite often apt to do, Forgetting all about the teacher’s rule, And teacher says to Sally: “Was that you?” Why then I see how scared she is and rise Up in my seat and hold up both my hands And take the blame—she looks into my eyes eyes— I do not need to speak—she understands.{42} </div> <div class="stanza"> Or if she has the measles so I dare Not go up to her house, but I can look In through the window and she sees me there, And if I bring a dandy story book And leave it on the fence post where the nurse Can come and take it in, and if my hands Have written, “Dear, I hope you’ll be no worse,” I do not need to speak—she understands. </div> <div class="stanza"> I do not need to tell her how I feel— She only has to watch the things I do; She knows my heart is true to her as steel, And if it rains or if the sky is blue I wait for her to walk to school with me, And carry all her school-books in my hands, And I am just as happy as can be, And so is she—because she understands. </div> </div></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_042fp.jpg" height-obs="518" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">A LITTLE LOVE STORY </div> </div> {43} <h2>ON A NOISELESS FOURTH</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> ON a noiseless street stood a crackerless lad with a screechless fife and a headless drum, Venting his glee in a voiceless shout, as a blareless band, all still and dumb, Came down the length of the avenue, and a bugle corps blew a noteless blare, While a screechless rocket with noiseless hiss cut a fireless path through the silent air. The blareless band played a soundless tune and the crackerless lad gave a voiceless shout As the rippling folds of the unfurled flag from the upheld standard fluttered out. “Hurrah!” he cried with a voiceless cry, put forth from his lips in a speechless way. “Hurrah for the guns of Lexington and the noiseless Independence Day!” </div> <div class="stanza"> Then far away down the village street a smokeless gun belched a soundless roar, A popless cracker fizzless died, and the band played a blareless tune once more; The clickless guns of the village guards with a thudless sound dropped on the ground. The marshal left his neighless horse, and the voiceless mob ranged all around;{44} A fizzless pinwheel silent whirred, and the drum corps joined in a tootless screech, The lips of the village speaker moved in the tongueless strains of a wordless speech. Then a graceless benediction fell, and the crackerless lad, in a voiceless way, Gave a soundless shout for Bunker Hill and the noiseless Independence Day. </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh, the pulseless thrill of the noiseless guns and the tootless fifes and the headless drums, The heartless joy of the crackerless lad, as the soundless pageant noiseless comes Down the village street, and the sightless glow of the hissless rocket’s fireless glare With noiseless swish from the silent earth through the measureless breadth of the lightless air! But a fingerless youth of the olden time, when crackers popped and cannons roared, Looked on the scene with much disgust and the look of a lad who is greatly bored; And he cried aloud—’twas the only sound that was heard, not made in a voiceless way: “Dog-gone the guns at Bunker Hill and the noiseless Independence Day!” {45}</div> </div></div> <h2>CONSCIOUS IGNORANCE</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I’M only ’ist a little girl, An’ w’en I want to play An’ Mamma says don’t go outside Our yard this livelong day, An’ w’en some other girls ’ey come An’ pester me to go, It may be wrong, but I’m so young, How does she s’pose I know? </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’en w’en she goes out sometimes An’ says: “Now go to bed At eight o’clock this very night,” I ’member what she said. But w’en the mantel clock strikes eight An’ I don’t want to go, It may be wrong, but I’m so young, How does she s’pose I know? </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ w’en she says: “Now, don’t go near The cookie jar this day,” I want some cookies awful much An’ try to stay away. But all the time I’m hungry for Some cookies, an’ I go— It may be wrong, but I’m so young, How does she s’pose I know?{46} </div> <div class="stanza"> I’m only ’ist a little girl Not more ’n six years old, An’ my, I always try to do E’zactly as I’m told. But w’en I make ’ist one mistake, My Ma ought not to go An’ punish me, ’cause I’m so young, How does she s’pose I know? {47}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE PLAYTIME OF BACHELOR BILL</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> OUR Uncle Bill’s a bachelur, an’ it’s an awful shame, ’Cuz he knows stories about bears an’ knows ’em all by name. An’ growls ’ist like a really one an’ makes you think a bear Is underneath th’ table, but of course it isn’t there. An’ when he takes you on his knee he talks ’ist like a book An’ after w’ile your eyes get big an’ you’re a-scairt to look W’en he says: “Nen a bear come out an’ ’ist went Boo-oo-oo!” Becuz you almost think a bear is really after you. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’en he plays wild Indian an’ hides himself somewheres W’ile we look in th’ corners an’ behind th’ parlor chairs, An’ peek in th’ dark closets an’ p’tend we’re on a scout Till after w’ile he makes a whoop an’ ’en comes rushin’ out ’Ist like he’s on th’ warpath; an’ us chinnern run upstairs An’ hide in Mamma’s closet an’ he makes us think ’at bears{48} Are comin’ in to get us an’ he growls ’ist like he’s one, An’ my! we’re turble scairt an’ yet it’s awful lots o’ fun. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’en he is a pirate an’ he makes us chinnern play At we are in a shipwreck an’ th’ crew is cast away Upon a desert island w’ere his treasure chest is hid, An’ we are only sailors an’ his name is Captain Kidd. An’ w’en we hear him comin’ he ’ist roars an’ ’en we run, ’Cuz he has broomsticks for a sword an’ pokers for a gun, An’ after w’ile he kills us all but it don’t hurt, an’ w’en He sails away in his big ship we come to life again. </div> <div class="stanza"> ’En after w’ile our Mother comes an’ taps him on th’ head, An’ says it’s time for bears an’ scouts an’ things to be in bed, An’ leads us chinnern all upstairs an’ maybe if we keep Right still she’ll let th’ candle burn until we go to sleep. ’En after w’ile our Uncle Bill comes up to say good-night, An’ see how snug an’ warm we are an’ all tucked in so tight, An’ ’en he kisses us good-night an’ ’en his eyes ’ist blur: I guess we make him sorry ’at he is a bachelur! {49}</div> </div></div> <h2>HOW HENRY BLAKE KNOWS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> DON’T you dast kill a toad, Henry Blake says, for true As your’re born it’ll rain right away if you do. For Henry Blake says oncet some boys ’at he knowed Were goin’ a-fishin’ an’ one killed a toad, An’ it all clouded up an’ it got just as black, An’ it thundered an’ lightninged before they got back Till they were awful scairt. He says he dunno why, But he thinks toads has somethin’ t’ do with the sky. An’ Henry Blake showed Us th’ place in th’ road Where the boys went an’ kilt him an’ that’s how he knowed. </div> <div class="stanza"> Henry Blake says if you just split a bean An’ put half of it on a wart when it’s green, An’ throw half of it between midnight an’ dawn In a cistern somewhere, why, your wart’ll be gone Just as soon as it rots. Henry Blake says it’s true ’Cuz a friend of his showed him a bean cut in two That took off a big wart, an’ th’ half was all black An’ Henry Blake says that it never came back. An’ Henry’s friend showed Him th’ cistern he throwed The other half into an’ that’s how he knowed! {50}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE LAND OF BLOW BUBBLES</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> HIS curls are like rings of red gold on his head, His lips are as red as a cherry, His cheeks are as round as an apple, and red, His eyes full of mischief and merry. His heart is as pure as a snowflake in air, A fig for the whole of his troubles! For he’s my Boy Careless—you’ve seen him somewhere, And he lives in the land of Blow Bubbles! </div> <div class="stanza"> Now he’s riding a stick that is legless and dead, Through the lanes and across the sere stubbles, For a stick is a horse with four legs and a head In that magic boy land of Blow Bubbles! He bears at his side a sword cut from a lath, With a big wooden gun on his shoulder, And woe to the wild beast that crosses his path For never a huntsman was bolder. </div> <div class="stanza"> Now down from his steed leaps Boy Careless in haste, He drops on one knee in the stubbles, For stubbles are woods full of wild beasts, all chased To their death by the boys in Blow Bubbles! His musket he brings to his shoulder and shoots, The sound of it echoes and doubles, For a make-believe gun kills the make-believe brutes In that magic boy land of Blow Bubbles.{51} </div> <div class="stanza"> Then out from the forest a savage all red With blood-curdling yell leaps to battle, A thrust from the big wooden sword—he is dead With a most melancholy death-rattle. Then up from the ground lifts Boy Careless his horse, And back o’er the all-trackless stubbles, For it’s many a mile to his cabin, of course, In the magic boy land of Blow Bubbles. </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh, joy to the lad in his make-believe ride With the make-believe gun on his shoulder, With the make-believe sword cut from lath at his side, And a sigh from the heart that is older! A whistle for Care from the harp of his lips, A fig for the whole of his troubles, When he’s off like the wind on his make-believe trips In the magic boy land of Blow Bubbles! {52}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE GINGERCAKE MAN</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> THE Gingercake man was a lump of brown dough Till a great rolling pin was run over him, so! To flatten him out, and he lay there so thin, His bones almost popped through the holes in his skin; They sifted him over with flour and spice, And made him some eyes with two kernels of rice, And took some dried currants, the biggest and best, To make him some buttons for closing his vest. </div> <div class="stanza"> The Gingercake man wabbled this way and that, When they seeded a raisin and made him a hat That was stuck on his head in the jauntiest way, For a Gingercake man is not made every day. They stuck in some cloves for his ears; yes, indeed! And made him some teeth out of caraway seed, And when he was finished they buttered a pan— The biggest they had—for the Gingercake man. </div> <div class="stanza"> Then into the oven they put him to bake Until he was hard and could stand and not break His legs when he stood; and they set him to cool Until all the children should come home from school. And oh, the delight and the wonder and glee, When mother invited the children to see, </div> </div></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_052fp.jpg" width-obs="517" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">THE GINGERCAKE MAN </div> </div> {53} <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> ALL sifted with sugar and out of the pan, The good-natured face of the Gingercake man. </div> <div class="stanza"> But alas and alas! ’Tis a short life and sweet Is the Gingercake man’s—for they ate off his feet, They broke off his arms with the hungriest zest, And picked all the buttons from out of his vest; They nibbled his legs off and ate up his hat, And everything edible went just like that, Till the cloves and the kernels of rice you may scan As all that is left of the Gingercake man! {54}</div> </div></div> <h2>LONESOME</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SAY, little boy, be friends with me and I’ll be friends with you; And I won’t never tell on you, no matter what you do. It’s awful lonesome over here and, goodness, but it’s hard To have your mother say that you must play in your back yard. There’s lots of daisies where I am, and butterflies as bright As anything you ever saw, and I just saw one light; Perhaps you’d catch it in your cap if I would help you to— Come over and be friends with me and I’ll be friends with you. </div> <div class="stanza"> I’m all the children we have got—I’m lonesome as can be, I wish you wouldn’t be afraid to come and play with me. I don’t care if your face ain’t clean or if your clothes are torn, I didn’t have no clothes at all the time that I was born. We got ripe apples on our trees and I will boost you so That you can get some if you come, and when it’s time to go{55} We’ll fill your cap and pockets full to take home. Don’t you see I’m willing to be friends with you if you’ll be friends with me? </div> <div class="stanza"> I’ve got a lot of wooden toys, as fine as they can be, But I want something that’s alive to run around with me, And play wild Indians and bears, and if you’ll come and play Perhaps my Mamma ’ll let me come and play with you some day. We’ve got some dandy hollow trees, the finest anywheres, And one of us can hide in them when we are playing bears, And growl just like he’s awful cross, and all the time you know It’s only make-believe, of course, but then it scares you so. </div> <div class="stanza"> I wish you’d come and play with me. I’ve got a jumping-jack I’ll give you for your very own to keep when you go back, And you can ride my v’locipede most all the afternoon And blow some bubbles with my pipe and play with my balloon.{56} I’ve got an awful lot of toys and I will let you play That they are yours as much as mine for all the time you stay, I’m all the boys my folks have got. I’m lonesome as can be, Come on, and I’ll be friends with you if you’ll be friends with me. {57}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE GARDEN OF PLAY</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> OUT in the Garden of Childhood gay Romp three glad youngsters with merry cries, Startling the birds with their boisterous play, Lightheart and Laughter and big Brighteyes. Ever you see them and hear them there, Morning or evening or blossomy noon, And oh, but the Garden of Youth is fair, And oh, but the years of it pass too soon! </div> <div class="stanza"> Over the Garden arch cloudless skies, (Ah, but the skies of all Youth are blue!) Lightheart and Laughter and big Brighteyes Find in each nook something rare and new. Cool is the shade of the coaxing trees, Bidding them hide from the sun at noon, And oh, but what glorious days are these, And oh, but the hours of them pass too soon! </div> <div class="stanza"> Rare is the Garden with fragrant flowers (Ah, but the flowers of Youth are fair!) Garlands they weave of the golden hours, Sweet with the song of the birds in air. Splashed all the earth with a rosy light, Light of the sun at its splendid noon, And oh, but the sunshine of Youth is bright, And oh, but the light of it dies too soon!{58} </div> <div class="stanza"> Sweet to mine ears from the Garden gay Echo their calls and their merry cries, Startling the birds with their boisterous play, Lightheart and Laughter and big Brighteyes. Dips the red sun to its shadowed west, These are the years of mine afternoon, And oh, but the years of my youth were best, And oh, but the joy of them passed too soon! {59}</div> </div></div> <h2>WE AIN’T SCARED O’ PA</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> US boys ain’t scared o’ Pa so much, He only makes a noise, An’ says he never did see such Onmanageable boys. But when Ma looks around I see Just somethin’ long an’ flat An’ always make a point to be Some better after that. </div> <div class="stanza"> Pa promises an’ promises, But never does a thing; But what Ma says she does she does, An’ when I go to bring Her slipper or her hair brush when She says she’ll dust my pants, I think I could be better then If I had one more chance. </div> <div class="stanza"> Pa always says nex’ time ’at he Will have a word to say, But Ma she is more apt to be A-doin’ right away; Pa turns around at us an’ glares As fierce as he can look, But when we’re out o’ sight, upstairs, He goes back to his book.{60} </div> <div class="stanza"> Ma doesn’t glare as much as Pa Or make as big a fuss, But what she says is law is law, And when she speaks to us She’s lookin’ carelessly around F’r somethin’ long an’ flat, And when we notice it, we’re bound To be good after that. </div> <div class="stanza"> So we ain’t scairt o’ Pa at all, Although he thinks we are; But when we hear Ma come an’ call, No difference how far We are away we answer quick, An’ tell her where we’re at, When she stoops down and starts to pick Up somethin’ long an’ flat! {61}</div> </div></div> <h2>A PEARL OF PRICE</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SHE isn’t worth a fortune and she hasn’t any stocks, Her wealth is all in little shoes and pinafores and frocks. In little rings of curling hair and big blue, laughing eyes, In leaves and grass and buds and flowers and bees and butterflies. But when she comes in tired from play and crawls upon my knee She’s worth a hundred millions to her mother and to me. </div> <div class="stanza"> She sits among her dolls and toys and doesn’t seem to care If wealth is all in rosy cheeks and locks of curly hair. She toddles up to me and like an artful fairy clips A coupon bearing love from off the sweetness of her lips. And when she puts her arms around my neck and goos in glee, She’s worth uncounted millions to her mother and to me. </div> <div class="stanza"> And when she’s in her crib at night and daintily tucked in,{62} The wealth of Croesus couldn’t buy the dimple in her chin, And as she blinks her roguish eyes to play at peek-a-boo, She chuckles me a fortune with each archly spoken goo. And though she has no fortune, I am sure you will agree, She’s a fortune, more than money, to her mother and to me. {63}</div> </div></div> <h2>DEAR LITTLE, QUEER LITTLE MAN</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> DEAR little, queer little man, With his hair all a tumble of curls, With a light in his eyes Like the blue of the skies When the dawn’s rosy banner unfurls! Sweet little, fleet little man, Who fills all the house with his toys, Whose laugh has the truth Of the heart of his youth: A toast to the health of our boys! </div> <div class="stanza"> Dear little, queer little man, With a big, paper cap on his head, And a sword at his side As he gets up to ride On his hobby-horse, gaudy and red! Play, little, gay little man; Fill all of the house with your noise, For, oh, it were ill If your laughter were still! A toast to the laughter of boys! </div> <div class="stanza"> Dear little, queer little man, With dreams of the future to be, When he shall grow tall And shall care for us all,{64} His mother, his sister and me! Brave little, grave little man, With thoughts, like his youth, incomplete, But bearing the seed That shall blossom and lead To manhood all gracious and sweet. </div> <div class="stanza"> Dear little, queer little man, Whose heart is so boyish and pure, May the sweetness and truth That are flowers of youth Through all of your being endure! Play, little, gay little man; Fill all of the house with your noise, For, oh, what so sweet As the pattering feet And the echoing laughter of boys? </div> <div class="stanza"> Dear little, queer little man, The light of the dawn’s rosy beams Be evermore spread On your dear, curly head, And truth to your innocent dreams! Blest little, best little man, God keep you as pure as the truth That lingers and lies In the light of your eyes: Long life to the heart of your youth! {65}</div> </div></div> <h2>GIRL OF MINE</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> OH, her frock is crisp and white, And her hair is curled up tight To her roguish little head, just like an aureole of light. Not a heart but she could win With the ribbon at her chin And her cheeks that have such very little merry dimples in. </div> <div class="stanza"> Ah, the laughter in her eyes, And the wonder and surprise As she toddles through the waving grass in search of butterflies; And the flowers nod and sway In their love of her and say By their homage as she passes she’s a fairer flower than they. </div> <div class="stanza"> Ah, the sweetness and the grace In her radiant little face As she scampers through the sunlight in her airy, fairy race; How the roguish laughter trips From the gateway of her lips Like the lilting of the robin through the leafy bough that slips.{66} </div> <div class="stanza"> And the birds in branches high Seem to join her merry cry, And to chirp a fearless greeting as she gaily toddles by; And so light her footsteps fall That the clover blossoms call: “See! She stepped on us in passing but we’re scarcely bruised at all!” {67}</div> </div></div> <h2>CHUMS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> HE lives acrost the street from us An’ ain’t as big as me; His mother takes in washin’ ’cuz They’re poor as they can be; But every night he brings his slate An’ ’en I do his sums, An’ help him get his lessons straight, ’Cuz him an’ me is chums. </div> <div class="stanza"> His clo’es ain’t quite as good as mine, But I don’t care for that; His mother makes his face ’ist shine, An’ I lent him a hat. An’ every mornin’, ’ist by rule, W’en nine o’clock it comes, He takes my hand an’ goes to school, ’Cuz him an’ me is chums. </div> <div class="stanza"> Nobody better plague him, too, No matter if he’s small, ’Cuz I’m his friend, for tried and true, An’ ’at’s th’ reason all Th’ boys don’t dare to plague him, ’cuz I ’ist wait till he comes, An’ he walks close to me, he does, ’Cuz him an’ me is chums.{68} </div> <div class="stanza"> He fell an’ hurt hi’self one day Th’ summer before last, An’ ’at’s w’at makes him limp ’at way An’ don’t grow very fast. So w’en I get a piece of pie, Or maybe nuts or plums, I always give him some, ’cuz I Get lots—an’ we are chums. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ w’en it’s nuttin’ time, we go, An’ I climb all th’ trees, ’Cuz he can’t climb—he’s hurt, you know— But he gets all he sees Come droppin’ down, an’ my! he’s glad; An’ w’en th’ twilight comes He says w’at a fine time he had, ’Cuz him an’ me is chums. </div> <div class="stanza"> But my! his mother’s awful queer; ’Cuz w’en we’re home again, She wipes her eye—a great, big tear— An’ says: “God bless you, Ben! Th’ Lord will bless you all your days W’en th’ great Judgment comes.” But I say I don’t need no praise, ’Cuz him an’ me is chums. {69}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE LOST BOY</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> LITTLE Boy Careless has strewn his blocks From end to end of the nursery; He has broken the top of the gaudy box That held sliced animals—My, Ah Me! His wooden soldiers are seamed and scarred From battle with him, and his jumping-jack Is lodged half-way from a blow too hard, Nor all of my coaxing will get him back. </div> <div class="stanza"> Little Boy Careless has split his drum And bent the tube of his screeching fife Till all of its martial airs are dumb, And the doll that squeaked has lost her life From a mallet blow on her waxen head, And none of her sister dolls knows or cares How the sawdust in her is strewn and spread From the bedroom door to the hall downstairs. </div> <div class="stanza"> Little Boy Careless has gone away And Big Boy Hopeful has come to me, The toys that were scattered here yesterday Are stored up there in the nursery. The broken drum and the jumping-jack, The waxen doll in her crib alone, Nor Little Boy Careless will e’er come back To scatter the toys by his years outgrown.{70} </div> <div class="stanza"> And ah, but the heart of me aches and cries For the Little Boy Careless to come and play, The light of the dawn in his big, brown eyes, With the toys that are gathered and laid away. The Big Boy Hopeful will come to pine For the world out there and will yearn to go, But the Little Boy Careless was mine, all mine, And that is the reason I loved him so! {71}</div> </div></div> <h2>LINES TO A BABY GIRL</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> OH, she has such a way with her! I stay with her And play with her, Her cheeks are round and dimpled and Her eyes are Heaven’s blue; My life is spent quite half with her, I laugh with her And chaff with her, Till she looks up with laughing eyes, And all she says is “Goo!” </div> <div class="stanza"> Sometimes I try to walk with her, I talk with her And rock with her; She knows some way my love for her Is tender and is true. And so I sit and speak with her And seek with her The cheek of her To brush with little kisses and Quite all she says is “Goo!” </div> <div class="stanza"> She toddles in to share with me My chair with me; Her air with me Is that of queen imperious, My heart her subject true.{72} Upon the floor she lies with me And tries with me To rise with me When romping time is over, and She looks up and says “Goo!” </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh, she is such a part of me, The heart of me, And art of me Could not express my love for her, So tender and so true; She is the treasure blessed of me, Heart’s guest of me, The best of me, This little baby girl of me Who looks up and says “Goo!” {73}</div> </div></div> <h2>LITTLE MISCHEFUSS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SOMEBODY went and broke my doll, an’ let her sawdust out On Mamma’s floor an’ my! there’s sawdust scattered all about! Dess scandalous! An’ bien by my Mamma’ll come an’ say: “I see ’at Little Mischefuss has been around today!” </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ sometimes w’en th’ sugar bowl’s lef’ open, she says ’en: “I dess ’at Little Mischefuss has been around again!” An’ my! I’m awful much surprised! an’ ast how does she know, But she dess says a little bird flew in an’ told her so! </div> <div class="stanza"> One time somebody went, she did, and broke my jumpin’-jack An’ Mamma says: “I see ’at Little Mischefuss is back.” An’ w’en somebody spilled p’eserves right on the pantry shelf She says: “I see ’at Mischefuss has tried to he’p herself!” </div> <div class="stanza"> One day somebody tored my dress an’ en she says: “I see At Little Mischefuss is dess as busy as can be!{74}” An’ my! I’m awful much surprised an’ ast how does she know, But she dess says a little bird flew in an’ told her so! </div> <div class="stanza"> Somebody frowed my blocks out doors an’ ’en ’ey dot all wet An’ all peeled off tuz why it rained an’ Mamma says she bet ’At Little Mischefuss is back from Topsyturvytown An’ mus’ be hidin’ in th’ house or else somew’eres aroun’. </div> <div class="stanza"> Oncet Mamma’s goin’ t’ spank her w’en she catches her, an’ so I ast her not to tuz she’s dess a little girl, you know, An’ don’t know any better ’an t’ plague an’ pester us, Till she dess laughs, tuz why she says I’m Little Mischefuss! {75}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE TRAVELS OF MORTIMER BROWN</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> THIS is the story of Mortimer Brown Who went for his mother some errands in town, Who was told he must come back as quick as he could And as earnestly promised his mother he would. He went down the front steps full three at a time And swung on the gate, for the swinging was prime. </div> <div class="stanza"> He teetered on all the loose boards in the walk And met Jimmy Brady and sat down to talk; He climbed up the trunk of a big tree that stands Not so far from his home, and he swung with both hands. He passed the cow pasture and stopped for a stroll, Climbed the fence and turned twice on the very top pole. </div> <div class="stanza"> Then he turned a few handsprings all through the long grass And sat on the fence to watch Peter Bates pass With a big flock of sheep, and he got himself chased By the biggest black ram and he fell in his haste Down the bank of the brook and he sat there about Half an hour in the sun till his clothes were dried out. He laid off his coat since the day was so hot And chose a bypath through the strawberry plot;{76} He gathered some berries to eat on his way Till alarmed by the watch-dog’s deep, ominous bay. Then he followed a rabbit as far as he could Until it was lost in the depth of a wood, And marked a bee tree so to find it again When he and Jim Brady should visit Beech Glen. So tired then he was that he sat down to rest And he fell sound asleep with his coat and his vest </div> <div class="stanza"> Spread under his head, when the rumble of wheels On the road waked him up and he saw Elmer Beals Driving by in the lane and he climbed up beside On a big load of squashes and had a fine ride, And helped lead the horses to water as soon As they both reached the town in the late afternoon. And then, oh, alas! The long list Mother wrote Of the things he should get had dropped out of his coat, </div> <div class="stanza"> So he bought some stick candy and cookies—he knew Of the things she would need they must surely be two, And munching them sadly the whole of the way Back homeward he wondered what Mother would say. I wonder if ever in country or town You have known such a lad as this Mortimer Brown? {77}</div> </div></div> <h2>ADVENTURERS THREE</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I KNOW a little sailor who has never been to sea, But walks the deck of our back porch as bold as he can be. He never shows a sign of fear when in the stoutest gale, Nor ever lost a ship, although he never reefed a sail. I’ve heard him send his crew aloft when fearful tempests blew, But though I’ve searched the rigging oft, I never saw the crew. I’m sure he is a sailor, for his mother showed to me His clothes, such as the sailors wear when they go forth to sea. </div> <div class="stanza"> I know a little hunter who has never fired a gun, But roams about our orchard with a painted wooden one; A hunter of such prowess that he hasn’t left a bear, A tiger or an animal of that description there. I know he used to see them, for I’ve seen him creep and crawl, And finally destroy one that I never saw at all. I’m sure he was a hunter, for I saw his buckskins spread Just as a plainsman leaves them—on the foot-board of his bed.{78} </div> <div class="stanza"> I know a little soldier who has never been to war, But wears a splendid uniform, all buttoned down before. I’ve seen him drill in our back yard a dozen times a day, I’ve seen him march and counter in a military way. I’ve heard him shout commands with all a captain’s dignity, But though I’ve searched the lawn, I never saw his company. I’m sure he was a soldier, for I saw the clothes he wore Last night beside his bed, when he had finished with the war. </div> <div class="stanza"> Sometimes he gets a wetting when the seas are very high, And has to have his sailor clothes hung on the line to dry, So he becomes a soldier and upon a march he goes, And what he is this moment quite depends upon his clothes. He never shoots a lion when he wears a sailor suit, Or walks the deck in buckskins, which he only wears to shoot, And never thinks of drilling or of marching off to war Unless he wears his uniform with buttons down before. {79}</div> </div></div> <h2>WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> ONE time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’en my Ma, she rubs my head ’Ist burnin’ hot, an’ ’en her chin ’Ist shivers an’ she says: “Poor Ned! His little hands so white an’ thin!” An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ by and by my Aunty comes An’ says when I get well why she Don’t care if I have twenty drums, An’ she will buy a sled for me. An’ my big sister’s goin’ t’ buy A really pony ’ist as quick As ever doctor says ’at I Am well again from bein’ sick.{80} </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ even our old hired man Comes in an’ stays a while with me, Whenever doctor says he can, ’Ist kind an’ gentle as can be, ’Cuz once he had a boy, an’ ’en He had th’ fever an’ ’at’s why He’s awful kind to me an’ when He sees me, why he starts t’ cry. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ even teacher comes to see Me on her way from school, an’ ’en She says it won’t be hard for me When I come back to school again. ’Cuz she won’t make my lessons long, Or keep me after school; an’ she ’Ist wants me to get well an’ strong An’ ’en she stoops an’ kisses me. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’at’s th’ way you really know How much they love you, when your head ’Ist burnin’ up an’ you can’t go Nowheres except to stay in bed. An’ even if you’re awful bad An’ hot with fever, why, you know, It makes you feel ’ist sweet an’ glad Becuz they all ’ist love you so. {81}</div> </div></div> <h2>SOMEBODY DID</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SOMEBODY stood up right on top of a chair An’ reached in the cooky-jar, way, way up there, W’en nobody’s lookin’ an’ Mamma’s asleep, An’ all of us chinnern wuz playin’ Bo-peep Now’eres near the pantry; an’ tryin’ to get Some cookies, an’ someway the jar got upset, An’ my! it ’ist busted all over the floor. But John, he ain’t scairt; an’ he rapped on the door, W’ile all of us chinnern we runned off an’ hid, An’ ’en he says: “Ma, see w’at Somebody did!” </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ all of us chinnern we runned off an’ hid, ’Cuz we don’t know who done it—but Somebody did! </div> <div class="stanza"> Somebody crawled up in the big leather chair By the lib’ary table w’at stood over there W’en we wuz a-playin’ now’eres near the ink An’ Mamma was sewin’—an’ w’at do you think? Somebody upset it and knocked it, ’ist Chug! Right off’n the table an’ down on the rug, An’ my! it ’ist busted an’ runned everyw’eres. But John, he ain’t scairt; an’ he runned right upstairs, W’ile all of us chinnern we runned off an’ hid, An’ ’en he says: “Ma, see w’at Somebody did!{82}” </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ all of us chinnern we runned off an’ hid, ’Cuz we don’t know who done it—but Somebody did! </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ wunst w’en the kitchen wuz all scrubbed so clean, The floor wuz ’ist shiny as ever you seen, An’ we wuz all playin’ outdoors in the street, Somebody went in with the muddies’ feet An’ tracked it all over the floor, ’ist a sight; An’ my! when we seen it we ’ist shook with fright, ’Cuz none of us chinnern went near it all day. But John, he ain’t scairt; an’ he went right away, W’ile all of us chinnern we runned off an’ hid, An’ ’en he says: “Ma, see w’at Somebody did!” </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ all of us chinnern we runned off an’ hid, ’Cuz we don’t know who done it—but Somebody did! {83}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE WADERS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> THE queerest things rained down all over our street, With long legs, like spiders, and muddy brown feet; They must have rained down, for I saw them all run Through puddles and mud ere the shower was done. They’re some sort of Waders, and all over town Through pools and deep gutters they splash up and down, Bareheaded, barelegged, barefooted and wet, The Waders of Frogpond—I hear them splash yet. </div> <div class="stanza"> The rain fell in torrents, the gutters’ deep tides Were black, and the rain barrels ran o’er their sides, The frothy white waters whirled from the eavespout, But with the first lull all the Waders came out. They danced in the frogponds, they sounded the streams In gutters and made the air shrill with their screams, They rolled up their dresses and trousers and dashed Through mud, froth and water, and waded and splashed. </div> <div class="stanza"> And forth with the Waders came all kinds of dogs, Came sailors with bark boats, came navies of frogs. Came big rubber boots on such tiny brown legs, Came floating armadas of cans and half-kegs;{84} Came long poles for sounding, came all sorts of crafts, Unseaworthy boxes made over to rafts, I wonder if ever in my life again I’ll see so much gladness come down with the rain. </div> <div class="stanza"> They must have rained down, for a minute ago The frogpond was dry and deserted, you know; There wasn’t a Wader, a dog or a craft, A pair of gum boots, a bark boat or a raft; The eave’s but done dripping, scarce dry is the spout, When lo, all the navy of Waders is out! The pond’s full of ships as the old Spanish Main. Who’d think so much fun could come down with the rain? </div> </div></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_084fp.jpg" height-obs="520" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">THE WADERS </div> </div> {85} <h2>THEN THE PRISONED PUPIL</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SHE kept him aftur skool when awl the burds Were singen swetely in the woods an wurds Kood not deskribe his sufferens. the air Was full uv blossums an the urth was fare Ecksept to himm. becaws he did not no His jogafy she wood not let him go An when he hurd us cloas the dore the teers Rolld down his cheeks an he livd menny yeers In just a singul owr. it was like sum Old torchure ur sum krewel marturdum. </div> <div class="stanza"> How kood he study when he noo that we Were goen gayly homewurd glad an free Wile he was kept a prizzuner becaws He did not no ware venna zweela was. An when he thot uv how weere ap too go In swimmen aftur skool his greef an wo Was almoast moar than he kood bare an yet She sturnly kept him thare an wood not let Him leev his seet altho he felt he must An so she bowd his spearut in the dust. </div> <div class="stanza"> An aftur wile when its too late to play She lookt at him in sutch a skornful way Az tho he was a krimminle an sed He mite go home. his proud and hotty hed{86} Was bent with greef and he went slowly owt The skoolroom dore and then lookt awl abowt Az tho releest from prizzen an the brand Uv sin on him was moar than he kood stand. An he went sloly homewurd bowd with shaim O liburtey the krimes dun in thi naim. {87}</div> </div></div> <h2>A PRAYER FOR JIMMY BANKS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> DEAR Lord, excuse Jim Banks and me For hitting Aunty Griggs when we Threw snowballs at the cat, because We did not know where Aunty was! </div> <div class="stanza"> Jim Banks and me are sorry, Lord, For, drawing Teacher on the board, And after what we got, we do Not need more punishment from you! </div> <div class="stanza"> Excuse Jim Banks especially, Because his mother’s dead and he Just heard of you the other day And is too bashful yet to pray! </div> <div class="stanza"> But you would like him if you knew Jim Banks as well as we all do. And if you have some clothes to spare Remember him, for he’s quite bare! </div> <div class="stanza"> He says old shoes will help him some, And some worn pants; and he will come Most any night, but where he stays He earns his keep by working days!{88} </div> <div class="stanza"> And if there is an angel there Who might like him and you can spare, Would you mind telling this to him And see what he can do for Jim? </div> <div class="stanza"> And Jimmy’s hat is straw and old, You know the weather’s pretty cold, And Jimmy’s ears stick out into The weather, and his nose gets blue! </div> <div class="stanza"> Dear Lord, please do the very best You can for him! I’ve got a vest And sweater on the closet shelf That I am going to give myself! </div> <div class="stanza"> And beg your pardon, Lord, and pray My soul to keep; and Jimmy may Be President some day, and then We’ll all be proud of him. Amen! </div> </div></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_088fp.jpg" width-obs="513" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">A PRAYER FOR JIMMY BANKS </div> </div> {89} <h2>A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS PRAYER</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> DEAR Lord, be good to Santa Claus, He’s been so good to me; I never told him so because He is so hard to see. He must love little children so To come through snow and storm; Please care for him when cold winds blow And keep him nice and warm. </div> <div class="stanza"> Dear Lord, be good to him and good To Mary Christmas, too. I’d like to tell them, if I could, The things I’m telling you. They’ve both been very good to me, And everywhere they go They make us glad;—no wonder we All learn to love them so. </div> <div class="stanza"> Please have him button up his coat So it will keep him warm; And wear a scarf about his throat If it should start to storm. And when the night is dark, please lend Him light if stars are dim, Or maybe sometimes you could send An Angel down with him.{90} </div> <div class="stanza"> Please keep his heart so good and kind That he will always smile; And tell him maybe we will find And thank him after while. Please keep him safe from harm and keep Quite near and guard him when He’s tired and lays him down to sleep. Dear Lord, please do! Amen. {91}</div> </div></div> <h2>HENRY BLAKE’S CHUM</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> HENRY Blake’s chum he had awful red hair, And most of his clothes were too small; And often and often he wore his feet bare Until it was late in the fall. But he would just whistle as though he had shoes, Was never discouraged or glum; And most any boy would be sorry to lose A fellow like Henry Blake’s chum. </div> <div class="stanza"> Henry Blake’s chum, he knew all about trees, And woodticks and crickets and birds, And all of the things that a boy really sees But can’t always tell them in words; And he knew where fish were the most apt to bite, And when the first blackberries come, And how to catch birds in a trap when they light— No wonder he’s good for a chum. </div> <div class="stanza"> Henry Blake’s chum, he had rabbits for pets, And crows that he taught how to speak, And dogs that will haul you, and he often gets A new dog or two every week. And often he crawls up and catches a frog Between his first finger and thumb, Where it may be sitting alone on a log; And my! Henry’s proud of his chum!{92} </div> <div class="stanza"> Henry Blake’s chum, he knew all about flowers And always could tell you their name, And didn’t mind thunder or lightning or showers Because he said it’s all the same So long as you’re barefoot and haven’t much clothes. And he knew how partridges drum, And whistled just like a Bob White’s whistle goes— No wonder he’s somebody’s chum. </div> <div class="stanza"> Henry Blake’s chum, he came up from the farm, And my! he was awful ashamed In school not to know the big bone in your arm Or what the equator was named. But when it came recess we all stood about And waited until he would come, And he told us things we had never found out— And my! Henry’s proud of his chum! {93}</div> </div></div> <h2>ONCE UPON A TIME</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> ONCE upon a time rare flowers grew On every shrub and bush we used to see; The skies above our heads were always blue, The woods held secrets deep for you and me; The hillsides had their caves where tales were told Of swart-cheeked pirates from a far-off clime, When cutlases were fierce and rovers bold— Don’t you remember?—Once upon a time. </div> <div class="stanza"> Once upon a time from sun to sun The hours were full of joy—there was no care, And webs of gaudy dreams in air were spun Of deeds heroic and of fortunes fair; The jangling schoolhouse bell was all the woe Our spirits knew, and in its tuneless chime Was all the sorrow of the long ago— Don’t you remember?—Once upon a time. </div> <div class="stanza"> Once upon a time the witches rode In sinister and ominous parade Upon their sticks at night, and queer lights glowed With eery noises by the goblins made; And many things mysterious there were For boyish cheeks to pale at through the grime That held them brown; and shadows queer would stir— Don’t you remember?—Once upon a time.{94} </div> <div class="stanza"> Once upon a time our faith was vast To compass all the things on sea and land That boys have trembled o’er for ages past, Nor ever could explain or understand, And in that faith found happiness too deep For all the gifted tongues of prose or rime, And joys ineffable we could not keep— Don’t you remember?—Once upon a time. </div> </div></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_094fp.jpg" height-obs="514" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">ONCE UPON A TIME </div> </div> {95} <h2>THE WAY TO SCHOOL</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> FIVE minutes chasing butterflies Way over, off the road; Five minutes watching Willie Price Do tricks with his pet toad; Five minutes helping Gibbsie get His pig back in the pen— I wonder if it’s school-time yet? I guess I’m late again. </div> <div class="stanza"> I think I lost a little time Because I walked so slow Where Johnny Watkins lost a dime A day or two ago. It’s underneath the leaves somewhere, And Johnny feels so blue That I just stopped a minute there Because he asked me to. </div> <div class="stanza"> And then it rained a little bit, And Dominick McPhee Had his straw hat and had to sit Under a good thick tree, Or else he’d get it spoiled and get The top all swelled. You see, A straw hat is not safe to wet— His kind, especially.{96} </div> <div class="stanza"> And after we had saved his hat From getting spoiled for him, A big woodpecker came and sat Upon a rotten limb; And Johnny said when they’re about, Somebody told the boys, You see a lot of worms come out To see what makes the noise. </div> <div class="stanza"> So then we boys all stayed about A couple minutes more, In hopes to see the worms come out Which he was rapping for; But after he went b-r-r-r! and b-r-r-r! A while, he flew away, And Johnny said he guessed there were No worms at home that day. </div> <div class="stanza"> So then we hurried up, and ran As fast as we could run, To get there just as school began. And just when it’s begun I had to run back to the tree To get my slate and rule; And yet the teacher cannot see Why boys are late for school. {97}</div> </div></div> <h2>A PRESENT FOR LITTLE BOY BLUE</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> OUR Neighbor, he calls me his Little Boy Blue Whenever he goes by our yard; And he says, “Good-morning” or “How-do-you-do?” But sometimes he winks awful hard. I guess he don’t know what my name really is, Or else he forgot, if he knew; And my! You would think I am really part his— He calls me his Little Boy Blue! </div> <div class="stanza"> Our Neighbor, he told me that Little Boy Blue Once stood all his toys in a row, And said, “Now, don’t go till I come back for you”— But that was a long time ago. And one time, at Christmas, when I had a tree, He brought me a sled, all brand-new, And smiled when he said it was partly for me And partly for Little Boy Blue. </div> <div class="stanza"> Our Neighbor, he’s not going to have any tree, So he says the best he can do Is try to get something to partly give me And partly give Little Boy Blue, Because, if he’s here, it would make him so glad, And he said he knew it was true That ever and ever so many folks had A boy just like Little Boy Blue.{98} </div> <div class="stanza"> Our Neighbor, he calls me his Little Boy Blue, And said he would like to help trim Our tree when it came—he would feel that he knew It was partly for me and for him. He said he would fix it with lights and wax flowers, With popcorn and berries—you see, He’d like to come over and help to trim ours— He’s not going to have any tree! {99}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE EVOLUTION OF AN ADOPTION</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> HE’S ’ist a little orfant boy W’at goes to school with me; An’ ain’t got any parents ’cuz His folks is dead, you see. An’ w’en he sees my toys an’ things— My, but his eyes ’ist shine; An’ he ain’t got no marbles, so I give him half of mine. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ once it’s orful stormy w’en It’s noon an’ he can’t go Back where he works for board an’ clo’es To get his lunch, an’ so I had some san’wiches an’ things ’At he thought was ’ist fine, An’ ’cuz he didn’t have no lunch I give him half of mine. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ once w’en we went down to fish He come along with me, An’ w’en we’re there says he ’ist wish ’At he could fish. You see He’s orful poor an’ brought a pole But didn’t have a line, An’ w’en I saw how bad he felt I give him half of mine.{100} </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ one time I ’ist told my Ma How he don’t have much fun ’Cuz he ain’t got no Ma or Pa Or Aunt or any one. An’ ’en I told her how I thought ’At it would be ’ist fine ’Cuz he ain’t got no mother if I’d give him half of mine. </div> <div class="stanza"> He ain’t my brother, really true, He’s ’ist an orfant, so My Ma she took him, ’cuz she knew He had no place to go. I’m awful glad we got him an’ My Pa thinks it ’ist fine— He didn’t have no mother, so I give him half of mine. {101}</div> </div></div> <h2>SOME GIRLS THAT MAMMA KNEW</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> MY Mamma says ’at once ’ere was A little girl she knew Who went an’ cried, an’ ’ist because— Because she wanted to; An’ w’ile her face was all askew The wind changed, so they say, An’ Mamma told me ’at it’s true, Her face ’ist staid ’at way! An’ w’en she told me ’at, w’y nen I said I’ll never cry again. </div> <div class="stanza"> My Mamma said ’at once she heard A little girl like me Tell ’ist one fib, an’ says, my word! Her Mamma looked to see W’ere was her tongue, an’ goodness me! Her mouth was ’ist all bare, An’ w’ere her tongue ’ud ought to be There wasn’t any there! An’ w’en she told me ’at, w’y nen I said I’ll never fib again! </div> <div class="stanza"> My Mamma knew a little girl ’At used to run away W’en her dear mother ’d start to curl Her hair; an’ one fine day{102} Some gypsies took her off, somehow, An’ stole her from her home, An’ my! Her hair is awful now, ’Cause gypsies never comb! An’ since she told me ’at, w’y nen I never runned away again! </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ never don’t make fun, she says, Of folks ’at’s blind or lame, Or got red hair or warts, unless You want to be the same. ’Cause lots of times it happens so, An’ surely if you do, You never, never, never know What’s going to happen you. An’ since she told me ’at, w’y nen I never don’t make fun again. {103}</div> </div></div> <h2>GONE</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> HE fell in a puddle and muddied his dress, He struck little Bob with a hammer, I guess; He cut sister’s curls with a big pair of shears And left ragged edges down over her ears; He muddied the floor that was just scrubbed so clean, He lighted a match near the canned gasoline, He broke all his soldiers and smashed all his toys, And yet we forgave him, for boys will be boys. </div> <div class="stanza"> He singed the cat’s whiskers and cut off its tail And then turned it loose with its discordant wail; He dropped bread and jelly upon a big chair And thought of it only when Aunty sat there; He sheared the pet poodle one midwinter day, His father is frantic, his mother is gray, His Aunt and his Grandma protest at his noise, And then all forgive him, for boys will be boys. </div> <div class="stanza"> He clamors for cookies, for jelly and jam, He shuts ne’er a door, but he gives it a slam, He dabbles in paint, be it red, blue or green, He loves to play hob with the sewing machine; And then—well, he’s gone into trousers and vests, For years must be passing and time never rests, And some day we look at a picture—and then We wish—strange it is—that we had him again. {104}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE NEIGHBOR’S BOYS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SOMEBODY shot our cat’s eye out, An’ stole our gate an’ just about Scared Aunt Sophia Jane to death So’s she could hardly get her breath, By puttin’ on some sheets, all white, ’At just gave her a turble fright, An’ who on earth do you suppose Put on them big, white ghostes’ clothes An’ made that turble screechy noise?— The neighbor’s boys! </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ every night it’s dark, you know, Somebody plays some tick-tack-toe On folkeses’ windows what’s a-scared, An’ just as if they never cared If they get caught or not, an’ when You’re gone to bed they come again Until you’re just so nervous you Don’t hardly know just what to do; An’ who makes such a scary noise? The neighbor’s boys. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’en somebody tears your clothes An’ skins your face an’ hurts your nose Until it bleeds, an’ then your Ma Says ’at she never, never saw </div> </div></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_104fp.jpg" width-obs="532" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">THE NEIGHBOR’S BOYS </div> </div> {105} <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SUCH heathen youngsters, an’ they come An’ break your sled an’ pound your drum Until it busts, an’ wont go ’way, It ain’t no matter what you say, An’ they’re the ones ’at break your toys— The neighbor’s boys. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ my, it’s funny, ’cause, you know You ain’t the only ones ’at’s so. ’Cause all the next door neighbors say It seems e’zactly the same way, An’ when their boys gets hurted so’s It gives ’em turble bloody nose, An’ some one shoots their cat’s eye out, An’ plays tick-tack, they know about Who does it an’ who makes the noise— The neighbor’s boys! {106}</div> </div></div> <h2>A QUIET AFTERNOON</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> MY Mamma, she did go to call about an hour ago, An’ said if I ain’t bad at all an’ stayed at home with Flo, Which is the maid that cooks for us, she’d bring me something good, But if I’m one bit misschefuss she didn’t think she would. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ my! I’m still, ’ist like a mouse. I never went outdoors, But ’ist sat down, inside the house, an’ took her bureau drawers An’ emptied ’em ’ist one by one, an’ w’en they’re emptied ’en I ’ist looked through what’s there for fun an’ put ’em back again! </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’en I found the nicest ink, an’ one of ’em was red, An’ one was black an’ ’en I think I spilt some on the bed, But my! I wiped it up, ’ist so, an’ sopped it with a quilt So clean you wouldn’t hardly know it’s ever once been spilt.{107} </div> <div class="stanza"> Well, ’en I looked up on the shelf an’ found her scissors there An’ got ’em down all by myself an’ cut off all my hair, ’Tuz I don’t think it’s nice for girls like me ’at’s almost through First reader to wear such a curls like Mamma makes me do. </div> <div class="stanza"> ’En Flo gave me some bread and jam, ’tuz I ’ist cried and cried ’Ist tuz I’m hungry now, I am, an’ ’en I went inside, An’ maybe I did let it lay around the room somewhere, ’Tuz Flo came in to watch me play and squoshed it on a chair. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ after while I wish my Ma would ’ist come back, she would, ’Tuz my, I’m gettin’ drefful tired of simply bein’ good. My eyes, ’ey’re ’ist so full of sand an’ heavy, ’ist like lead, Oh-oh! I dess it’s Sleepyland! I dess I’ll go to bed! {108}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE OWNERLESS TOYS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> OUR Uncle Bill’s attic is half full of toys, With some that are almost brand-new; He’s got things up there for most all kinds of boys From ten years old clear down to two. And one day he gave me some books from up there Like boys had a long time ago; And I asked if the boy they belong to would care, But he just sort of smiled and said no. </div> <div class="stanza"> Sometimes we would go in his attic to play And find such a lot of fine things, A whole lot of picture books all piled away And tops that were wound up with strings. And Uncle Bill told us to use what was there Just as if it was ours, and we’d go, But we’d ask if the boy they belong to would care, And he just sort of smiled and said no. </div> <div class="stanza"> And my! There were sleds with their runners all rust, And five or six good pairs of skates, Some old-fashioned toys that were covered with dust, And fishlines and schoolbooks and slates,{109} Which Uncle Bill told us we fellows might share, But always put back when we go; And we thought that the boy they belong to might care, But he just sort of smiled and said no. </div> <div class="stanza"> And the boy they belong to, I guess, was away. At least, we all thought he must be; For all through the house they could hear us at play, But he never came up there to see. And we would pile everything back up with care And ask Uncle Bill when we’d go If the boy they belong to would know we’d been there, But he just sort of smiled and said no. </div> <div class="stanza"> Our Uncle Bill’s attic is half full of toys, Some old ones and some almost new; He’s got things up there for most all kinds of boys From ten years old clear down to two. And often when we boys go up there to play We ask Uncle Bill when we go If the boy they belong to will be back that day, And he smiles sort of sad and says no. {110}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE STRANGER</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SERIOUS-minded little maid, Wondering and half afraid, Half inclined to speak with me, Half disposed to let me be; Hesitating yet, and shy, Half a twinkle in your eye, Half in doubt and half in fear, Staying neither far nor near. </div> <div class="stanza"> How I wonder what you see With those eyes that question me; What the instinct bids you know If I may be friend or foe; Fawnlike, full of grace and sweet, Ready with fast-flying feet In the orchard’s deepest shade To find cover, little maid. </div> <div class="stanza"> Grave and curious little lass, Like a wild bird in the grass, Still intently watching me, With your wings half spread, to see If my smile bodes good or ill, Willing to make friends and still Undecided if to stay Here and near or fly away.{111} </div> <div class="stanza"> Serious-minded little maid, When, with smiles and unafraid, O’er the lawn you come to me, Stranger to you though I be, When your curious eyes have tried Soul with mine and, satisfied, Looked still into mine and smiled, Blessed am I, little child. </div> <div class="stanza"> Blessed am I to be just Worthy of your childish trust, More than conqueror of kings When the wild bird of your wings Bids you fly not forth but see Something tender, kind, in me; Oh, the gladness you have laid At my heart’s gate, little maid! {112}</div> </div></div> <h2>IN VACATION TIME</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> THERE’S a hole in his hat with the hair sticking through, And a toe that peeps out from a hole in his shoe; There’s a patch in his trousers, a darn in his hose, And a freckle that tilts on the bridge of his nose; But oh, in his heart there’s the glimmer and shine Of a sun that I wish could be shining in mine. </div> <div class="stanza"> There’s a smudge on his face that is dusty and dark, But a song in his heart like the song of a lark; There’s a rent in his coat where the lining shows through, But the whistle he tunes to the wild bird is true; And, oh, in his heart, with a sparkle like wine, Is a gladness I wish could be sparkling in mine. </div> <div class="stanza"> There’s an imp in his hair that may keep it awry, But a twinkle so rare in the blue of his eye; There’s an uneven slant of his trousers, made fast With a nail through their tops, for a button won’t last; But deep in his heart lies a spring cool and fine Of good cheer that I wish could be bubbling in mine.{113} </div> <div class="stanza"> There’s a tan on his cheek where the flush of health glows, And the skin has all peeled from the tip of his nose; His pockets are bulged with tops, marbles and strings, With jack-knives and other uncountable things; But the brooks and the woods bring a music divine To his ears that I wish they were bringing to mine. {114}</div> </div></div> <h2>BEREAVED</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> GUESS he must be awful old; we had him years and years, And he’s so old the ends were worn all off of both his ears. He couldn’t hardly eat, because his teeth were all worn out, And all his legs got stiff, so he could hardly drag about. One day he lay down by the house, right near the cellar door, And gasped and gasped for breath, until he couldn’t any more; So I went out and patted him, and when he heard me call He looked at me and wagged his tail, which died the last of all. </div> <div class="stanza"> My! he was black and curly once, when he was new and young, And he would open up his mouth at us and curl his tongue, Just like he laughed, and play with us; and he would go into The creek, and bring our hats to us, or anything we threw. In winter we would hitch him up, and he would haul our sled,{115} And walk or trot or run with it, or anything we said; So when he wagged his tail at me I laid him right beside The cellar door, and then I went behind the barn and cried. </div> <div class="stanza"> He was a friend of all the boys, and when they came to play He’d wag his tail and bark and look at them the smartest way; And he’d pretend to bite at them and nip their pants, but he Would never bite, ’cause he was just as kind as he could be. And Henry Watson looked at him beside the cellar door, And said, “He’ll never haul us boys on our sled any more.” He turned his ears back straight and nice; he liked him awful well; Because he had tears in his eyes, and then a big one fell. </div> <div class="stanza"> So after while we got a spade, and Billy Gibson came, And Tommy Dean and Eddie Brink, and they all felt the same. We dug some turf up in the yard, right underneath a tree, And laid him in and left him there, all covered carefully;{116} It was an awful solemn day for all of us, for though He’d got worn out and couldn’t eat, we boys all liked him so; And Eddie Brink, he didn’t think the Lord would really care If we boys sang a hymn for him and said a little prayer. </div> <div class="stanza"> My! it was awful sad that day! And Tommy said he thought We wouldn’t play that afternoon, because he’d rather not. And Mamma made some nice ice-cream, which cheered us up, but when We wanted her to eat she said she couldn’t eat just then. And Amy Robbins heard of it, and brought some leaves and flowers To scatter over him, because he was a friend of ours; And I told her I patted him, and when he heard me call He looked at me and wagged his tail, which died the last of all. {117}</div> </div></div> <h2>TWO LITTLE MAIDS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> LITTLE Miss Nothing-to-do Is fretful and cross and so blue, And the light in her eyes Is all dim when she cries And her friends, they are few, Oh, so few! Her dolls, they are nothing but sawdust and clothes, Whenever she wants to go skating it snows, And everything’s criss-cross, the world is askew! I wouldn’t be Little Miss Nothing-to-do Now, true, I wouldn’t be Little Miss Nothing-to-do Would you? </div> <div class="stanza"> Little Miss Busy-all-day Is cheerful and happy and gay And she isn’t a shirk For she smiles at her work And she romps when it comes time for play. Her dolls, they are princesses, blue-eyed and fair, She makes them a throne from a rickety chair, And everything happens the jolliest way, I’d rather be Little Miss Busy-all-day, Hurray, I’d rather be Little Miss Busy-all-day, I say. {118}</div> </div></div> <h2>A NEW CHRISTMAS CAROL</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> COME, children, I’ll tell you a wonderful tale, I learned it one night in a dream; The snow lay all white and the full moon shone pale, The housetops about were agleam; I’d fallen asleep in my big easy chair, I heard a gruff voice in my ear, I knew that Saint Nicholas surely was there And listened to see what I’d hear. </div> <div class="stanza"> “Come, follow with me,” were the first words he said, “I’m off for my Palace of Snow; I’ve emptied my pack of each doll, toy and sled, It’s time for old Santa to go. But, Oh, I’ve a treat waiting for me tonight, I’ve planned it for years in my mind; Come, follow with me, while the moon is still bright”— I rose and we sped like the wind. </div> <div class="stanza"> We flew like a flash to the Palace of Snow, By hilltop and valley and plain, Nor ever I will be permitted, I know, To make such a journey again; And there in the warmest and cosiest nook{119} He bade me sit down while he dressed In robes of rich scarlet and said to me: “Look! Here come the Child Hosts of the Blest.” </div> <div class="stanza"> A flash of his eye and my wonderment grew, A word and a wave of his rod, Forth came Orphan Annie and Little Boy Blue, And Wynken and Blynken and Nod. With Alice from Wonderland, blue-eyed and fair, Tom Tucker—Jack Horner with him, And Oh, at the last, can you guess who was there?— Poor Topsy and Dear Tiny Tim! </div> <div class="stanza"> He spread out his arms and they passed one by one, Each laden with treasures and toys, And never or ever a night of such fun Was passed by such girls and such boys; Nor ever will Annie be orphan with him, He told me, and Little Boy Blue Came back from the shadows all misty and dim, So glad that the toy dog was true. </div> <div class="stanza"> And always and always he’ll keep them with him, He told me, through all of the years, Poor Topsy and Alice and Dear Tiny Tim, And Topsy will know no more tears. But tales of them all he will bring Christmas night, The brightest and sweetest and best, That our boys and girls may know joy and delight From Santa’s Child Hosts of the Blest! {120}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE RECONCILIATION OF PA</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> MY Pa, he’s disappointed tuz I ain’t a boy. ’At is He ain’t now but he used to was. He likes me tuz I’m his An’ buys me lots of toys an’ things; but w’en I first begun Ma said he’s awful fond of boys an’ ’ist wished I was one. But now he don’t care any more, tuz I’m growed up so nice He likes me better ’n before, an’ there ain’t any price ’At you could offer him for me an’ he would take it, tuz I’m so much nicer, don’t you see, ’an my Pa thought I was. </div> <div class="stanza"> W’en I’m come first my Mamma said ’at he ’ud ruther I ’Ud been a boy the stork ’ud brought; she says she don’t see w’y, Tuz she ’ist thinks ’at little girls are awful nice, an’ w’en You wash ’eir face an’ brush ’eir turls, ’ey’re nicer ’n ever ’en. But he is disappointed tuz at first he didn’t know How rilly truly nice I was; but w’en I came to grow{121} He wouldn’t take the world for me, so he told Ma, ’ist tuz I’m so much nicer, don’t you see, ’an my Pa thought I was. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ my Ma says ’at if I grow up ’ist so nice an’ sweet As I am now, my Pa ’ll know ’at stork was hard to beat; An’ he won’t never wish again ’at I’m a boy, ’ist tuz He’ll know how sweet I am, an’ ’en he’s glad I’m w’at I was; Tuz boys are awful nice at first, ’at is, you think they are, An’ w’en they’re big they’re ’ist the worst! An’ girls is better far, An’ Ma says if you want ’em sweet, ’ist sweet as sweet can be, You’ll find it awful hard to beat a little girl like me. {122}</div> </div></div> <h2>A WORLD WITHOUT CARE</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> THERE’S a song that is sweet And a whistle that’s clear; There’s a dog at his feet And another one near; There’s a fish in the brook And a line that is whirled, There’s a worm on a hook— All is well with the world. </div> <div class="stanza"> There’s a rock that has slipped From the bank to the brink, There’s a hat that is dipped In the brook for a drink; There’s a line that is cast Where an eddy is swirled, There’s a fat perch caught fast— All is well with the world. </div> <div class="stanza"> There’s a heartful of joy And a handful of fish, There’s a satisfied boy Glad as gladness could wish; There are leaves green and cool Where the fat perch is curled, There are more in the pool— All is well with the world.{123} </div> <div class="stanza"> There’s an angler come home At the close of the day, There’s a chirp in the gloam Of a whistle so gay, There’s a monster near-caught Where the foam danced and curled, There’s a meal piping hot— All is well with the world. {124}</div> </div></div> <h2>RIGHT AFTER SCHOOL</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I KNOW where’s the happiest Kingdom in all of the world I have seen, No bigger than Grandfather’s orchard, and all of it’s grassy and green, It has but a few dozen people, the happiest youngsters alive, ’Tis ruled by a Princess of seven, and one little soldier of five; There’s one little crown made of daisies and one little sword made of tin, And one little drum that goes rolling betimes with a terrible din; You’d think that a war was beginning by all of the noise that is made, When, really, it’s only the army declaring itself on parade. </div> <div class="stanza"> In all of the bounds of the Kingdom there isn’t a book or a chore; The reign of the Princess begins when the schoolday is over at four; Her castle with turrets and towers is right near a big apple tree. It isn’t a visible castle, but if you were there you could see;{125} And if you should chance to be looking that way when the proud Princess comes, You’d see a bold soldier go marching and hear a fierce rattle of drums, You’d see loyal subjects and happy, with no thought of table or rule, You’d want to belong to the Kingdom—the Kingdom of Right-After-School! </div> <div class="stanza"> It’s really a well-behaved people—they put by their slates and their books And have little use for an army except as a matter of looks; But nobody dares say addition, division, subtraction—if you Should mention a one of these subjects the tin sword would run you right through! But you can say swinging or jumping or follow-my-leader, nor fear You break any law of the country—and if from your window you hear A chorus of voices or laughter, when evening grows twilit and cool, You’ll know ’tis the music they make in the Kingdom of Right-After-School! </div> <div class="stanza"> There’s not a sad heart in the Kingdom, nor ever or ever a tear, And all of the sorrows of schooldays are lost or forgotten in here;{126} The make-believe fairies go singing with songs that are wondrously sweet; The green turf is flecked with white dresses and patters with fast-flying feet; It’s just between School’s-Out and Teatime—an hour or so of the day, And often I see them there crowning with daisies the Princess of Play; Then some one calls: “Supper-time, children!”—when evening grows twilit and cool. It fades from my sight till tomorrow—the Kingdom of Right-After-School! {127}</div> </div></div> <h2>A PLEA FOR OLD FRIENDS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I WAS fond, indeed, of Paul Revere, In the days of my earlier age, And the picture of him stands out clear From the old school reader page; And I’ve seen the light in the belfry tower, I’ve heard the hoof beats, too, But, alas! alas! in an evil hour, They say it’s all untrue! </div> <div class="stanza"> And Barbara Frietchie—all these years, From guileless boyhood down, I’ve seen the flag and heard the cheers In far off Fredericktown; And I’ve seen Jackson lift his hat And bid his troops march on, But now, alas! they tell me that Is a dreamer’s tale, and gone! </div> <div class="stanza"> And oft at night, as though ’t were real, I’ve heard the flame’s wild roar, I’ve seen Jim Bludso hold the wheel Till the last galoot’s ashore; I thought the better of men for it, And of duty to die or do, But some wise men, of little wit, Say none of the tale is true.{128} </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh, leave me the ride of Paul Revere And the story of Fredericktown! The nozzle agin’ th’ bank—so clear From guileless boyhood down! Leave me the curfew that was not rung, Leave them for me and you; And let more songs like these be sung, Though none of the tales be true! {129}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE BOYVILLE CADETS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> HARK! What is that clatter and patter of feet? The Boyville Cadets are half-way up the street! They march two by two, a most bloodthirsty horde, Led by Captain Tom Jones, with a big wooden sword. They’re mostly barelegged and coatless and brown, A make-believe army from all parts of town, With guns on their shoulders all whittled from lath, And woe to the foeman who crosses their path. </div> <div class="stanza"> Bob Brown has a fife and Bill Blake has a drum. See now in what martial procession they come; Jim Dobbs waves the flag with victorious flirt, A long willow pole with a red woolen shirt. And Corporal Brownlegs, he squints down the line: “Attention! Right shoulder! Guide right!” Oh, it’s fine To know you’ve no troubles, no worries, no debts, And march down the street with the Boyville Cadets! </div> <div class="stanza"> Now Sergeant Big Freckles cries, “Hep! Hep!” and “Hep!” To see that the army keeps right perfect step. And General Red Hair reins up with great force, To shout some command from his make-believe horse.{130} Then Captain Tom Jones gives a formal salute, And rests his big sword on the toe of his boot, For woe to the foe that harasses or frets The solid platoon of the Boyville Cadets! </div> <div class="stanza"> Then Corporal Barefoot is ordered to scout For bloodthirsty redskins, and look all about. They march, single file, through the thick-growing trees, For favorite haunts of the red men are these. Far off in the woods, is an ear-splitting shout. Alas! ’Tis the death-cry of Barefoot, the scout! And now all the air rings with war-whoops and cries; Bang! bang! go the laths, and the red savage dies! </div> <div class="stanza"> A hand-to-hand fight, and the battle is done; In the orchard the redskins lie dead, every one. But, oh, woe is me! For all gory and red Lies Barefoot, the scout, by the red men struck dead! The Boyville Cadets lift him out of the dirt; They wrap him about with the old woolen shirt; And then, with drums muffled and heads sadly bowed, They bear him back home, with the flag for a shroud. </div> <div class="stanza"> Then General Red Hair, in orders, gives thanks To all of his soldiers, and bids them break ranks.{131} For out of the distance he hears a shrill call: “Tom! Joe! Bill! Jim! Children! Why, where are you all?” Then Barefoot, the scout, to his life is restored, And Captain Tom Jones hides his big wooden sword; For there’s wood to be split and there’s water to get In the dull private life of the Boyville Cadet. {132}</div> </div></div> <h2>A LITTLE BOY I KNOW</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> A LITTLE boy I used to know, from whom I’ve been away, Oh, very many years, took me upon a trip today. It seemed so ood to be with him, and he was glad to be Companion, guide, and friend until the journey’s end with me. I quite forgot my cares with him, nor could I well be sad, As long as he was at my side, for he was blithe and glad, And oh, the merry songs he sang, the tunes he whistled clear That I had half forgotten till he sang and whistled here! </div> <div class="stanza"> By many a winding stream we went, and many a limpid brook, Where oft he bade me stop and cast a line and fishing hook Until we drew a struggling fish from out some eddy deep, And once upon the bank we lay and both fell fast asleep.{133} By clover meadows sweet we strayed, where cow bells tinkled far, Deep in the woods where hollow logs and darting squirrels are, And here and there he bade me stop till he would climb a tree To shake a limb and rattle down some nuts for him and me. </div> <div class="stanza"> Down many a shady lane we walked, through some familiar land, Where dreams of faces long forgot arose on every hand; We saw a cottage by the road, and in the kitchen door A woman with the sweetest face—a glimpse and nothing more. And as she vanished from our sight I saw the teardrops shine In both his eyes, and I could feel the tears well up in mine; He plucked his shabby sleeve to brush the teardrops from his eye And whispered, “I saw Mother there!” and I said, “So did I!” </div> <div class="stanza"> And there were spreading apple trees where oft he bade me lie Upon the grass and watch the clouds that swept across the sky.{134} He lent me many a dream to dream—of fame and love and truth, Such dreams as Fancy stores within the Treasureheart of Youth! Ofttimes we found a sparkling spring and lay upon the brink Our lips laved with its bubbling stream, to drink and drink and drink; And oh, the joys we two renewed, and oh, the hum of bees, The songs of birds, the violets and treasures such as these! </div> <div class="stanza"> A little boy I used to know, a lad of nine or ten, Took me a journey glad today—I hope he’ll come again To take my hand and walk with me where golden sunshine gleams, To lead me by familiar ways and lend me all his dreams! To keep me near the hopes we had, to whistle merry tunes, To find me dawns like those we knew and sunny afternoons; A little boy his Mother loved!—a lad of nine or ten; Perhaps you’ve known and walked with him—I hope he comes again! {135}</div> </div></div> <h2>ASLEEP AT THE CIRCUS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> NOW the last roasted peanut is swallowed, The last clown has gone on parade; The last sugared popcorn been followed By sips of the last lemonade. His eyes, once so big, that shone brightly Through all of the glad afternoon, Are shut, and his fingers close tightly And cling to his gaudy balloon. </div> <div class="stanza"> The last acrobat’s been applauded, And shuffled his way from the mat; The last bareback rider’s been lauded; The clown, with his sugar-loaf hat, Has gone with his powder and spangles; The diver has made his last leap; And here in my arms are brown tangles Of curls, and a boy fast asleep. </div> <div class="stanza"> One sticky hand rests on my shoulder, One holds fast the gaudy balloon, That shrinks, and before it’s much older Will fade like the glad afternoon. His dreams, it may be, of the maddest Of somersaults, recklessly hurled; The tiredest, sleepiest, gladdest And stickiest lad in the world!{136} </div> <div class="stanza"> And oh, but the spangles were splendid! And oh, but the music was grand! The side-splitting clown laughter blended With soul-stirring airs by the band, Till naught of the glad marvel lingers Save what in his dreams he may keep, As he clasps his balloon with close fingers And rests in my arms, fast asleep. </div> <div class="stanza"> And so from these joys without number, Ere aught of the glitter was gone, He went to his dream-laden slumber, Where on plays the music, and on. For him all the revel is maddest, For him not a flag has been furled, The tiredest, sleepiest, gladdest And stickiest lad in the world! </div> </div></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_136fp.jpg" width-obs="518" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">ASLEEP AT THE CIRCUS </div> </div> {137} <h2>THE BARRIERS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SCRUB out his freckles, ’twas Nature who gave ’em; Silence his whistle and comb out his hair, Muffle his footsteps, for People—Lord save ’em em— Want something noiseless and soulless and fair; Bleach out the spots where the Summer sun kissed him, Still all the tunes and the bird calls he knew, Then, when he’s boy no more, who could resist him? Sun and the Wind, here’s a lesson for you. </div> <div class="stanza"> Sun and the Wind and the freshness of showers, How could you tempt him to revel and roam Past the long hedges and through the wild flowers? Did you not know it would cost him a home? Did you not know when the gay bluebird glistened Up on the bough and with wonder he rose, Rose with his heart beating glad, as he listened, Did you not know it would freckle his nose? </div> <div class="stanza"> Hide your heads, Daisies, that wave over yonder, Gleam in the sunlight and dance by the creek, You bade him leave the pale shadow and wander— Did you not know he might freckle his cheek?{138} You, too, the larks through the green meadows winging, Did you not tempt him with glad song and free? Why did you not let him learn through your singing He would be outcast through following thee? </div> <div class="stanza"> Heartless blackberries, you led him from shelter; Nuts, without shame, you did bid him to climb; Butterflies bright, that he chased helter-skelter, Have you no shame for the depths of your crime? What if the heart of him beats but the truer, What if the soul of him still sweeter grows, What if the eyes of him sparkle the truer, Do you not see you have freckled his nose? </div> <div class="stanza"> Scrub out the freckles—oh, well, doesn’t matter; Maybe they’ll wash out with plentiful tears; Muffle his footsteps, that no boyish patter Rise to offend supersensitive ears; Bid him not whistle the songs the fields taught him, Let him be pale, still, anaemic, and thin, Teach him and bleach him, and when you have got him Thoroughly colorless, let him come in! {139}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE PLAINT OF THE NEW DOLL</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> WE dot a doll to our house; It tum on Trissmus day; It wuzn’t hangin’ on a tree; It tum some uzzer way; ’Ey wouldn’t let me play wiz it, ’Ey said ’at it might fall; En so it laid ’ere all day long En squall en squall en squall. </div> <div class="stanza"> ’E funniestes’ ’ittle sing, Espeshully fer a doll; En Mamma told me wen it tum It wuzn’t dressed at all; ’Ey only let me take one peek, I ast ’em if I tould ’Es press to see if it would squeak Like my own dolly would. </div> <div class="stanza"> En ’en ’ey laughed en laughed en laughed, En wouldn’t tell me why; I dess tant ’magine why ’ey laughed, It ain’t no use t’ try; En how ’ey fussed en fussed en fussed En I dess almos’ all ’E uncles en ’e aunts I dot Tum in to see ’at doll.{140} </div> <div class="stanza"> En ’en ’ey laughed en Papa laughed ’Es like a silly boy; I never saw growed up folks make Such fuss about a toy. I dess I dot mos’ fifteen dolls, ’E nices’ ever wuz, En never tissed one half as much As my own Papa does. </div> <div class="stanza"> I dess ’ey’ve everyone fordot ’At I’m ’eir little dirl; ’Ey haven’t changed my dress today, My hair’s all out of turl; ’Ey’s tandy on my face an’ hands, I don’t look nice at all, ’Ey’ve everyone fordotten me Fer dess a nasty doll! </div> <div class="stanza"> I wis’ ’et I tould det it onct; I’d frow it all about, En knock it—so! En slap it—so! En shake its sawdust out; En ’en w’en ’ey saw how it looked I dess know ’ey’d all be Ez dlad ez tould be ’ess t’ have One little dirl—like me! {141}</div> </div></div> <h2>A CHILD’S ALMANAC</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> MY Mamma says ’at w’en it rains ’Ey’re washin’ Heaven’s window-panes An’ careless angels ’ist do fill ’Eir pails too full an’ ’atway spill Some water down on us. ’At’s w’y It rains some days w’en maybe I Would like to play. An’ ’en she says It’s ’ist ’em angels’ carelessness ’At makes ’em raindrops fall ’at way At picnics an’ on circus day. </div> <div class="stanza"> My Mamma says ’at w’en it snows ’Ey’re angels pickin’ geese, she knows, An’ ’stead o’ usin’ ’em t’ stuff ’Eir pillow cases, ’ey ’ist puff An’ blow an’ don’t clear up ’eir muss Till all ’em feathers fall on us. An’ she says ’ey ’ist pick ’atway ’Cuz ’ey want geese f’r Tris’mus day, An’ ’at’s w’y ’ere’s ’e mostes’ snow Right close t’ Tris’mus time, you know. </div> <div class="stanza"> My Mamma says w’en wind ’ist roars An’ blows, ’at’s w’en ’e angels snores, But w’en it lightnings, she says, w’y, ’Ey’re scratchin’ matches on ’e sky.{142} An’ w’en it rumbles ’bove our heads ’Ey’re movin’ furniture an’ beds Up ’ere, an’ cleanin’ house an’ shakes ’Eir moth balls out an’ ’at’s w’at makes It hail. An’ weather, she ’ist ’clares Is ’ist w’at angels does upstairs. {143}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE LOSER</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> THE sun withheld its light that day; that night the stars were dim; The portent of the earth and sky was ominous for him; There was no gladness in the world; the fields held no delight; The day of all his joys dissolved and melted into night; He rubbed his pitching arms and felt the muscles rise and fall; He wondered what the cruel fate that lost the game of ball; He wandered idly by the brook, forsaken and alone, To be a hero nevermore, unsung, unwept, unknown. </div> <div class="stanza"> ’Twas only yesterday he was the idol of the team! Those cheers and loud hurrahs he heard—could they have been a dream? They called him Tim the Tiger then! Small boys by scores he saw To bear his glove, his coat, his shoes, with gratitude and awe. With joy they saw his arm laid bare—that mighty arm and brown That wound itself about his head and mowed the batsmen down;{144} And when he went upon the field, the mighty cheer for him Showed how their hopes of victory were all bound up in Tim! </div> <div class="stanza"> It was but yesterday he bore the laurels on his brow, But who, alas! is there so low to do him honor now? His heart swells, bursting in his chest; the heart so bruised and sore; Could he but go back on the field and pitch that game once more! The tears fall from his eyes like rain, the hot and angry tears, No sorrow has he known like this in all his fifteen years; How will he meet the Tigers now? How look intothe eyes Of those who staked their all on him and saw him lose the prize? </div> <div class="stanza"> To school he walks secluded ways where once with pride he strode, With awestruck youngsters all about, the middle of the road; Far from the madding crowd he stands upon the playground there His honors fallen like the leaves in Autumn’s frosty air;{145} A humble Tiger is he now, and small boys pass him by With cruel sneers where once he heard the cheers ring shrill and high; And Reddy Blake, the Cyclone Curve, is pitcher forthe team, While he’s but the somnambulist of a quick-vanished dream! {146}</div> </div></div> <h2>BACK TO SCHOOL</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> FELL in the creek twice yesterday! Slipped and slid from a load of hay, Stepped on a stone and bruised my toe; Hardly walk ’cause I’m blistered so; Hit my knee till it’s blue and black, Sat in the sun and burned my back When I went to swim, but my, I’m glad! Best vacation I ever had. </div> <div class="stanza"> Slid off the old red barn last week. Wind all gone so I couldn’t speak When they laid me in upon the bed And put cold water on my head. Got poison-ivy on my legs When I went in the weeds to look for eggs; But I’ve had more fun since I don’t know when! Hate to go back to school again. </div> <div class="stanza"> Burned my hands till they’re awful sore When the calf ran out of the big barn door And I tried to hold the rope and fell Most twenty feet down the old dry well. Lost my hat that was almost new, In the great big lake, when the high wind blew; And my pants are torn from many a climb, But I never had such a summer-time.{147} </div> <div class="stanza"> Ate poison berries by the creek Till they thought I’d die, I felt so sick; But they gave me ipecac to take, And it cured up all my stomach-ache! Got stung by bees, but I got stung best When I started home with a hornet’s nest, And I all swelled up; but I’m gone down now, And it’s all in a boy’s life, anyhow! </div> <div class="stanza"> Nose all peeled till it’s red and rough, Hands all brown, but I’m awful tough From the exercise, and I’m big and strong, ’Cause I hoed in a corn-field all day long. And my uncle said that I might stay For harvest-time, and he’d give me pay; And I’d like to stay, but I have to go Back home to school, ’cause my Ma said so. {148}</div> </div></div> <h2>DISENCHANTMENTS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> HERE is the brook where the bold pirates ferried, Swashbuckling wretches, cold-blooded, unkind; Here is the tree where vast treasure was buried, Doubloons we dug for but never could find. How things have changed since these waters were riven, Splashed with our paddles and churned into foam! Since the dark nights when the pickaxe was driven Where the lost treasure lay under the loam! </div> <div class="stanza"> Here is the wood with its fastness unbounded, Whence the red savage stole noiselessly out, Warning us not till his warwhoop was sounded, Leaving us scalped on the greensward about. How things have changed from the steed and the stirrup, Flintlock and tomahawk whittled from lath, Where our blood ran there’s no fluid but syrup From the sap maples along our war path! </div> <div class="stanza"> Here is the plain where our scouts reconnoitred, Crawling and creeping through morass and glade, Sighting some bloodthirsty savage who loitered Near by the scene of some scalp-lifting raid.{149} How things have changed since the red deer went leaping, Since came the bison by hundreds to browse, Silent the plain where our brave scouts went creeping, Save for the lowing of far distant cows. </div> <div class="stanza"> Here is the cave where our clans were assembled, Guarded by sentries, nor traitor could reach; Ghostly and tomb-like, where heroes dissembled Blood-chilling fears in their boldness of speech. Bruce had a refuge here, Wallace lay wounded, Hallowed its clammy walls, safe its retreat, Once ’twas a labyrinth, gloomy, unsounded, ’Tis but a gravel pit, just off the street. </div> <div class="stanza"> How things have changed in the years since we knew them, Pirate and redskin and treasure and clan; Men walk beside them and past them and through them, Giving no heed that our blood there once ran; Making no sign for the struggles that swept them, Flintlock and scalplock, raid, warfare, and strife, How things have changed since we cherished and kept them! All of the romance has gone out of life! {150}</div> </div></div> <h2>A RAINY NIGHT</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> ’BOUT eight o’clock first night that we Were down at the academy ’Twas awful rainy out, and so We both of us stayed in, you know; But we could hear the wind and rain Come splashing on the window-pane; And after while, why, Henry Stout Put up the curtain and looked out, And said, “My! Ain’t she coming down! I wish I was in Beaverstown.” </div> <div class="stanza"> And then nobody spoke at all, Just listened to the rain-drops fall; And Henry sniffled up his nose Because he had a cold, I s’pose. And then he said, “I wonder how Our folks are getting on by now.” And I said, “Oh, I guess all right. My! Ain’t it rainy out to-night!” And Henry gave a great big sigh And swallowed hard—and so did I. </div> <div class="stanza"> And then he said, “My! Such a noise! I guess there’s lots of homesick boys Around tonight.” And I said, “Oh,”— Just careless like—“Oh, I don’t know.{151}” And then he said, “I guess Jim Brown Is glad he stayed in Beaverstown And didn’t have to come down here.” And I said, “Do your eyes feel queer? I got a speck in mine, I guess, They water so.” And he said, “Yes.” </div> <div class="stanza"> And then he looked and tried to smile, And we kept still for quite a while, And heard it rain; and then he said, “I s’pose our folks are gone to bed And sound asleep by now, I guess.” And then I swallowed and said, “Yes.” So then we both got into bed And heard it rain; and then he said, “My! Ain’t she just a-pouring down! I wish I was in Beaverstown.” {152}</div> </div></div> <h2>KITCHEN MIRACLES</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> IN Aunt Amelia’s kitchen there are many wonders done, Such miracles are wrought as never seen beneath the sun: A pumpkin from the garden—just a yellow sphere that lies Beneath her skilful handling ripens quickly into pies; The corn grows into fritters, you must marvel at the change; The apples change to dumplings in the glowing kitchen range She waves her hands above it, and the milk is cottage cheese. You merely watch her, and you see such miracles as these. </div> <div class="stanza"> She finds it easy, quite, to make blueberries into rolls; And eggs are changed to omelets above the glowing coals; And sometimes when she’s fixing the materials for pies She turns cider into mince-meat right before your very eyes!{153} Sometimes she makes a currant roll—you would not think she could— Or makes a peach turn over, or does something just as good; But she says quite the hardest task that ever she has found Is, when she has her boys at tea, to make these things go ’round! {154}</div> </div></div> <h2>JIM BRADY’S BIG BROTHER</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> JIM Brady’s big brother’s a wonderful lad, And wonderful, wonderful muscles he had; He swung by one arm from the limb of a tree And hung there while Jim counted up forty-three Just as slow as he could; and he leaped at a bound Across a wide creek and lit square on the ground Just as light as a deer; and the things he can do, So Jimmy told us, you would hardly think true. </div> <div class="stanza"> Jim Brady’s big brother could throw a fly ball From center to home just like nothing at all; And often while playing a game he would stand And take a high fly with just only one hand; Jim Brady showed us where he knocked a home run And won the big game when it stood three to one Against the home team, and Jim Brady, he showed The place where it lit in the old wagon road! </div> <div class="stanza"> Jim Brady’s big brother could bat up a fly That you hardly could see, for it went up so high; He’d bring up his muscle and break any string That you tied on his arm like it wasn’t a thing! He used to turn handsprings, and cart-wheels, and he Could jump through his hands just as slick as could be, And circuses often would want him to go And be in the ring, but his mother said no.{155} </div> <div class="stanza"> Jim Brady’s big brother would often make bets With boys that he’d turn two complete summersets From off of the spring-board before he would dive, And you’d hardly think he would come up alive; And nobody ever who went there to swim Could do it, but it was just easy for him; And they’d all be scared, so Jim said, when he’d stay In under and come up a half mile away. </div> <div class="stanza"> Jim Brady’s big brother, so Jim said, could run Five miles in a race just as easy as one. Right often he walked on his hands half a block And could have walked more if he’d wanted to walk! And Jimmy says wait till he comes home from school, Where he is gone now, and some day, when it’s cool, He’ll get him to prove everything to be true That Jimmy told us his big brother could do! {156}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE SCAPEGOAT</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> IF anybody comes in late To dinner and don’t shut the gate, Or doesn’t sweep the porch, or go Right out and shovel off the snow, Or bring in wood or wipe his feet, Or leave the woodshed nice and neat— It’s me! </div> <div class="stanza"> If anybody doesn’t think To carry out the cow a drink, Or tracks mud on the kitchen floor, Or doesn’t shut the cellar door, Or leaves the broom out on the stoop, Or doesn’t close the chicken coop— It’s me! </div> <div class="stanza"> If anybody doesn’t bring The hammer in, or breaks a thing, Or dulls the axe, or doesn’t know What has become of so-and-so That’s lost for maybe six weeks past, If anybody had it last— It’s me!{157} </div> <div class="stanza"> If anything is lost or gone, They’ve got some one to blame it on; I get the blame for all the rest Because I am the little-est; And if they have to blame some one For what is or what isn’t done— It’s me! {158}</div> </div></div> <h2>A TRAGEDY OF CENTER FIELD</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> HE muffed the fly that lost the game; he never did before; The boys don’t think he’ll ever be light-hearted any more. Our captain didn’t say a word; he just picked up his bat And started home with downcast head—what words could equal that? Nobody spoke on our whole side, or didn’t even ask How Stubby came to muff the fly. Bud Hicks picked up his mask And sighed an awful sorry sigh. Stub Weeks is not the same— Our boys don’t think he ever will, because he lost the game. </div> <div class="stanza"> Nobody asked him to explain. They couldn’t understand How Stubby dropped it when he had the ball right in his hand. It sailed from Pudgy Williams’ bat and soared just like a bird To center field where Stubby was. Nobody hardly stirred Because it was so critical, but Bud Hicks gave a shout,{159} He knew a fly in center field was just as good as out When Stubby Weeks was under it. And then he gave a cry Of agony too great for words when Stubby muffed the fly. </div> <div class="stanza"> Our boys all slowly walked away, and even Red Blake’s team Were too surprised to cheer because it seemed just like a dream. And over there in center field Stub Weeks was dreaming, too, As though he was Napoleon and this was Waterloo. The blow was such an awful one he acted sort of stunned, And then he walked in from the field expecting to be shunned Forevermore by all his friends. His throat was hoarse and dry; We knew his heart was broken then because he muffed the fly. </div> <div class="stanza"> He saw us all pick up our things and walk away, and then The awful stain upon his name came back to him again. He thought of how it should have been—the loud hurrahs and cheers, And leaned against the back-stop fence and drenched it with his tears,{160} Till all the boys felt sorry then, and told him not to mind Because the sun was in his eyes and must have made him blind. But weeks and weeks have passed since then—his heart is awful sore, Our boys don’t think he’ll ever be light-hearted any more! {161}</div> </div></div> <h2>IN SWIMMING</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> ’IST boys—th’ kind you used t’ know, What-d’-y’-call-him, So-and-so An’ What’s-His-Name—an’ every one ’Ist full o’ health an’ out for fun. No meanness in a one of us, ’Ist brown an’ strong an’ mischievous, ’Cuz that’s th’ way ’at boys all grow— ’Ist boys—th’ kind you used t’ know. </div> <div class="stanza"> ’Ist boys—th’ kind you used t’ be. What! Never climbed an apple tree An’ shook ’em down? Why, Mister, you— You never was a boy, real true. I’ll bet ’at you was mischievous As you could be. You’re foolin’ us ’Cuz you can’t help but see ’at we Are boys—’ist like you used t’ be. </div> <div class="stanza"> Of course we ought t’ be at school, But my! The water’s nice an’ cool An’ when it calls you, w’y, you ’ist Can’t be a real boy an’ resist. An’ say! We caught a fish down there ’Most two feet long—right close t’ w’ere You’re standin’ now. Now don’t you see We’re boys—’ist like you used t’ be?{162} </div> <div class="stanza"> Say, you ain’t goin’ t’ tell our Ma ’At you was passin’ by an’ saw Us swimmin’ here. W’y, Mister, you Won’t never feel right if you do. Don’t be a tattle-tale! W’y, say, If you should give us boys away You couldn’t never bear to see A boy—’ist like you used t’ be. </div> <div class="stanza"> Come on, now! You ain’t goin’ t’ tell On us. I know it, ’ist as well As anythin’. You wouldn’t hurt Her feelin’s ’ist t’ do us dirt. You won’t? Thanks, Mister. You’re a brick. We’re goin’ home, Sir, pretty quick. It’s awful fine here, ’cuz, y’ see, We’re boys—’ist like you used t’ be. </div> </div></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_162fp.jpg" width-obs="526" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">IN SWIMMING </div> </div> {163} <h2>AN UNUSUAL CHUM</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> HENRY Blake’s father goes fishing with him, And goes in the creek so’s to teach him to swim; He talks to him just like they’re awful close chums And sometimes at night he helps Henry do sums; And once he showed Henry how he used to make A basket by whittling a peach stone and take The bark off of willows for whistles although He hadn’t made one since a long time ago. </div> <div class="stanza"> Henry Blake’s father is just like his chum, And when he goes fishing he lets Henry come; He fixes two seats on the bank of the brook And shows Henry how to put frogs on his hook; And sometimes he laughs in the jolliest way At some little thing that he hears Henry say, And dips up a drink in his hat like you do When only just boys go a-fishing with you. </div> <div class="stanza"> Henry Blake’s father will take him and stay Somewhere in the woods for a half holiday And wear his old clothes and bring home a big sack Of hick’ries and walnuts to help Henry crack; And sit on a dead log somewhere in the shade To eat big sandwiches his mother has made; And Henry Blake’s father, he don’t seem as though He’s more than his uncle, he likes Henry so! {164}</div> </div></div> <h2>AND JUST THEN</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> DON’T you remember when the ship, the pirate ship, that flew The black flag with the gleaming skull, in the fierce gale that blew, Went on the rocks? I think it was upon the Spanish Main; The sails were torn to tatters and there fell a driving rain, The air was pierced with cries of fear, shocks followed upon shocks, “Come, man the lifeboats,” called the mate, “the ship is on the rocks!” And just when lightnings rent the air and all the sky was red, Your mother said, “You’ve read enough, my boy! It’s time for bed!” </div> <div class="stanza"> Don’t you remember when the score stood six to six, until The very ending of the game and every heart stood still? The Red Sox pitcher took his place, while not a watcher stirred, A hit, a pass, an error and a runner got to third. Don’t you remember, as you read, you almost heard the crack{165} As bat met ball and you could feel cold chills go down your back? And just as you had but a page to find which players led, Your mother said, “You’ve read enough, my boy! It’s time for bed!” </div> <div class="stanza"> Don’t you remember when Wild Bill and Deadshot Dick, the scout, Were prisoned in the rocky cave with redskins all about, With all their ammunition gone, nor food to eat, as they Had been a thousand times before, but always got away? The war-whoops rang out fierce and shrill. Said Dick, “I have a plan; We will escape or sell our lives as dearly as we can.” And just as you turned o’er the page to see what plans they’d lay, The clock struck nine—your mother came and took the book away. </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh, Captain Kidd, it seemed to me when you went on the rock You always timed the hour of it to be at nine o’clock! And Dick, the scout, the redskins came and fell on you with rage Just when my boyhood bed time came and I turned down the page!{166} And Spike, the wizard of the slab, who mowed the batsmen down Like blades of grass, the hero of the little country town, You seemed to time the crisis of your fiercest game, someway, At nine o’clock, when Mother came and took the book away! {167}</div> </div></div> <h2>AFTERWARD</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I’M glad I was always so good to her; I was just up there in the nursery Picking up things—you know—that were Left strewn about as carelessly As a child will do when she’s called from play; I picked them up with a mist and blur In my eyes, and I laid them all away— I’m glad I was always so good to her. </div> <div class="stanza"> And many’s the picture that came to me, That came to me o’er a Teddy bear Or a doll or a whole tin infantry Arrayed in a battle column there; Picture on picture of girls and girls (One year and two years and three) that were; Of pinafores and blue frocks and curls— I’m glad I was always so good to her. </div> <div class="stanza"> Dreams on dreams and they ride me down, Column and phalanx, and voices call; And grasses grow green and come sere and brown, And leaves bud, blossom and blow and fall; She had been six now—and seven—and ten— So tall—and so tall—how fair they were, How fair they were and they would have been, Those lost ones—I’m glad I was good to her. {168}</div> </div></div> <h2>CIRCUS DAY</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> IF you’re waking call me early, call me early, Mother dear. I think at 4 o’clock A.M., the circus will be here; If it was any other day ’twould take an awful shock To rouse me from my little bed before quite 8 o’clock; You needn’t mind my breakfast, for I’ll be in dreadful haste, And if I see the cars unload I’ll have no time to waste; Perhaps they’ll wash the cages, Ma, and I’ll be there to see The men take off the sideboards from the whole menagerie. </div> <div class="stanza"> If you’re waking call me early, call me early, Mother dear, Because the place where it unloads is full two miles from here; I’d faint without my breakfast if ’twas any other day, But I’ll be strong enough, I think, to run quite all the way; The boys I know will all be there; ’twill be a wondrous sight To see the elephants led out before it’s hardly light; And hear the lions roar, which makes goose pimples when you hear— If you’re waking, call me early, call me early, Mother dear.{169} </div> <div class="stanza"> If you’re waking call me early, call me early, Mother dear, No matter if you whisper it I’ll be quite sure to hear; If I was being waked to turn the wringer it would be A good deal harder job, of course, for you to waken me; But I will leave my stockings on and put my shirt in place, And if I’m rushed for time I will not need to wash my face; And in the early morning light you’ll see me leaving here About three minutes after four, so call me, Mother dear. </div> <div class="stanza"> If you’re waking, call me early, call me early, Mother dear; I will not yawn and rub my eyes and ask if morning’s here; I will not pull the covers up as I have done before And ask you if I cannot sleep just half an hour more; I’ll jump right out of bed as soon as ever you may call And be all dressed and down the stair and gone out through the hall Before you say Jack Robinson—the circus will be here At 4 o’clock, so call me early, early, Mother dear! {170}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE TOUR OF A SMILE</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> MY papa smiled this morning when He came down stairs, you see, At Mamma; and when he smiled, then She turned and smiled at me; And when she smiled at me, I went And smiled at Mary Ann, Out in the kitchen and she lent It to the hired man. </div> <div class="stanza"> So then he smiled at someone, who He saw, when going by; Who also smiled and ere he knew Had twinkles in his eye; So he went to his office then And smiled right at his clerk, Who put some more ink on his pen And smiled back from his work. </div> <div class="stanza"> So when his clerk went home he smiled Right at his wife, and she Smiled over at their little child As happy as could be; And then their little child, she took The smile to school, and when She smiled at teacher from her book, Teacher smiled back again.{171} </div> <div class="stanza"> And then the teacher passed on one To little James McBride, Who couldn’t get his lessons done, No matter how he tried; And Jamesy took it home and told How teacher smiled at him When he was tired and didn’t scold, But said, “Don’t worry, Jim!” </div> <div class="stanza"> And when I happened to be there That very night to play, His mother had a smile to spare Which came across my way; And then I took it after while Back home, and Mamma said: “Here is that very self-same smile Come back with us to bed!” {172}</div> </div></div> <h2>WHEN GRANDPA PLAYS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I DON’t know what makes Grandpa tired; he’s hardly done a thing Except to put some hammocks up and help us children swing; He only came an hour ago, and we’ve been here all day. He says we’re most too much for him and thinks he’ll hardly stay; He just played drop-the-handkerchief and blind man’s buff, but he Says, My! we’ve got him out of breath and tired as he can be. He says it’s most too much for him to play leap-frog and ball, But we have been here all day long, and we’re not tired at all! </div> <div class="stanza"> He started to play hide and seek, and first he had to blind And then he ran with all his might to see who he could find, And Tommy Watkins beat him in from there behind a tree, Till Grandpa had to give it up and say, “All’s out’s in free!{173}” And then he sat down on a stump and said he’s tired to death. He had to hold his sides a while till he could catch his breath. He said he’d like to shake a tree and make some apples fall, But he’s too tired, and we boys here are hardly tired at all! </div> <div class="stanza"> He only ran in under once when we were in the swing, And then he had to rest because he’s tired as everything; And once he showed us how to climb a great, tall tree, but when He only got a few feet up he slid right down again. He said he used to climb a tree, oh, very, very tall And sit across a branch way up and never tire at all, But now he’s out of practice, and his legs won’t stay around The trunk, and he feels safer when he stays down on the ground! </div> <div class="stanza"> And sometimes when he goes back home and holds us by the hand, All wringing wet and out of breath, our Ma says “Goodness, Land! I think you are the youngest boy of all the boys in sight.” But Grandpa rubs his legs and arms and limps and says “Not quite!{174}” And sometimes in the parlor, why, he says he was so strong When he was just a boy they used to take him right along To lift the heavy things and do the hardest work, you know, But now us boys ’ll tire him out in just an hour or so! {175}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE PARTED WAYS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I USED to know a little lad, A youngster of thirteen, Who wasn’t very good or bad, But somewhere in between. He had such freckles on his nose As your nose seems to bear; Indeed, I’d almost think that those Were some he used to wear. </div> <div class="stanza"> He used to have an old straw hat All frazzled at the brim, Indeed, I’d almost think that that Came down to you from him. And he had such a dog as now Barks joyfully along With you—it makes me wonder how It could have lived so long. </div> <div class="stanza"> And in his heart he held such song As fell upon my ear, And echoed through the shadows long When you came whistling near; So when at twilight, dawn or noon This overture you bring, It seems to be the very tune This other lad would sing.{176} </div> <div class="stanza"> And he had pockets bulged with things By which he set much store, With knives and marbles, tops and strings And half a hundred more; I see your pockets emptied now, Your things cast up with care, Until they seem to be, somehow, His treasures you have there. </div> <div class="stanza"> I know not where it was or when, But with his heart of song He went and came not back again, And took his dreams along; So some day in a little while He’ll wave a sun-browned hand. And leave you with his cheery smile— And you will understand. </div> </div></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_176fp.jpg" width-obs="516" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">THE PARTED WAYS </div> </div> {177} <h2>A MESSAGE HOME</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SAY, Little Boy, ’twixt dawn and dusk who treads such devious ways, I wish you would remember me to all your sunny days; For once they were such friends of mine; so bid them my good cheer And say you saw an old, old friend, who holds them very dear; Remember me to those cool paths, that led by fields and streams, Where what were my songs now are yours and what were mine your dreams; Just say you saw an old, old friend, who wanted you to tell Them all he sent them love and cheer and wished them always well. </div> <div class="stanza"> And, Little Boy, if you should lie beneath some spreading tree, Be good enough to say it has remembrance sweet from me; For once it used to cover me with shade so thick and cool And bid me lie and rest and dream as I came home from school;{178} And when you romp with comrade boys at noontime, Lad, I pray, Remember me to all of them and to the games they play; And let no games too humble be, no youngsters be too small To know an old, old friend sends love and blessings to them all. </div> <div class="stanza"> Remember me to all your dreams, to rose and bush and stem, To days too short to hold your joys, remember me to them; To all your secrets deep and vast, of things that are and were And are to be, half-whispered in the twilight’s dusk and blur; Just say an old friend, long away, but still remembering Would have them know his heart is full of memories that bring Delight to bygone fellowships, and he would have you tell Them all he sends them love and cheer, and wishes them so well! </div> <div class="stanza"> For, over land and over sea the hearts of us that fare Swell with the messages they bid the homebound comrade bear;{179} And over days and over years have I fared forth and so I bid you bear my greetings, Lad, to all the joys you know. Remember me to all the hearts and hopes and dreams and deeds, Bear blessings of mine everywhere the path of boyland leads; Just say you saw an old, old friend, who wanted you to tell The joys and boys of youth he loved and wished them always well. {180}</div> </div></div> <h2>LULLABY</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SLEEPY little, creepy little goblins in the gloaming With their airy little, fairy little faces all aglow, Winking little, blinking little brownies gone a-roaming Hear their rustling little, bustling little footfalls as they go; Laughing little, chaffing little voices sweetly singing In the dearest little, queerest little baby lullabies, Creep, creep, creep! Time to go to sleep! Baby playing ’possum with his big, brown eyes! </div> <div class="stanza"> Cricket in the thicket with the oddest little chatter Sings his prattling little, rattling little, tattling little tune, Fleet the feet of tiny stars go patter, patter, patter, As they scamper from the heavens at the rising of the moon; Beaming little, gleaming little fire flies go dreaming To the dearest little, queerest little baby lullabies, Creep, creep, creep! Time to go to sleep! Baby playing ’possum with his big, brown eyes! </div> </div></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_180fp.jpg" width-obs="500" height-obs="349" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">LULLABY </div> </div> {181} <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"></div> <div class="stanza"> Quaking little, shaking little voices all a-quiver In the mushy little, rushy little, reedy, weedy bogs, Droning little, moaning little chorus by the river In the joking little, croaking little cadence of the frogs, Eerie little, cheery little glowworms in the gloaming Where the clover heads like fairy little night caps rise, Creep, creep, creep! Time to go to sleep! Baby playing ’possum with his big, brown eyes! {182}</div> </div></div> <h2>DISGUISING TOIL</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> WHEN I was just a little boy and sent to cut the weeds, I played myself a hero bold and given to mighty deeds; I played myself an armored knight, my scythe a broadsword keen, The weeds an army of my foes come marching o’er the green; I laid my good broadsword about, they broke and ran pell-mell, At every stroke some stubborn lout and his retainers fell. And when I told them of my play, with lusty shouts and glee, The neighbor boys brought scythes and fell to cutting weeds for me. </div> <div class="stanza"> When I was just a little boy and sent to cut the wood, I played myself a frontier scout, six feet in buckskin stood; I played the red men swarmed about and all the timbers laid Must be quick hewed and fashioned for an old frontier stockade; Quick fell my axe with flashing blade, for all about I heard{183} The war-whoop of the warriors who in the thicket stirred. And when I told them of my play, with lusty strokes and cry, The neighbor boys fell to and wrought my woodpile brimming high. </div> <div class="stanza"> When I was just a little boy and sent to scrub the walk With hose and broom, I used to play it was the good ship Hawk Or Hornet, Spider or Whatnot, afire far out at sea, Nor help at hand where’er I looked, to windward or to lee; And how I fought the tongues of flame that swept by stern and bow! The clouds of smoke that rolled above—I almost see them now! And when I told them of my play, with many a lusty shout, The neighbor boys plied hose and broom to put the fire out. </div> <div class="stanza"> And when I had to shovel snow I led’ some hardy band Of undismayed discoverers, in far-off Arctic land; With stores and goods and blubber, too, all buried deep below The mark that I had left beneath some good six feet of snow;{184} And almost famished, there I dug, full knowing I should find At last the goodly stores of stuff that we had left behind. And when I told them of my play, with many a lusty shout, The neighbor boys plied willing spades and helped me dig them out. {185}</div> </div></div> <h2>LITTLE GIRL WITH THE CURLS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> LITTLE girl with the curls, and the passionless eyes, With your heart that is pure as the cool springs that rise In the green of the hills, and with cheeks that are fair And unsoiled of the world as the snowflake in air, With your dreams that are sweet and that always come true, Little girl with the curls, here’s a blessing for you. </div> <div class="stanza"> Little girl with the curls and with grace that is sweet From the toss of your head to your fast-flying feet, With the light in your eyes that is brimming with truth And the straightforward gaze that’s the glory of youth, With your smiles that are glad and your days that are fair, Here’s a blessing as rich as the gold of your hair. </div> <div class="stanza"> Little girl with the curls and the kisses as light As the butterfly’s kiss of the flower in its flight, With your heart all atune to the beauties you see, With the song of your days sweet as music can be, With your peace like the pardon of heaven unfurls, Here’s a blessing for you, little girl with the curls.{186} </div> <div class="stanza"> And Oh, be the days of thy trial as far From the deeps of the sea as the snowy peaks are! And Oh, be thy heart in its singing atune, Thy skies be but blue with the splendors of June. So bless thee and keep thee and spare thee—with pearls Be thy days strung through life, little girl with the curls. {187}</div> </div></div> <h2>MY WONDERFUL DAD</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> MY Daddy, he lived in a wonderful house, and he played with such wonderful boys; They were neighbors of his; and the attic they had was a storehouse of wonderful toys; He slept every night in a wonderful bed, with a tick that his grandmother made From the feathers of geese that she picked all herself, and so soft he was almost afraid He would sink out of sight when he got into bed; he could look from his window right out And see where the vines used to bring him sweet flowers just by crawling along up the spout; And he could look over and see where the woods and the squirrels and birds used to be. He must have had wonderful times where he lived from the way that he tells them to me! </div> <div class="stanza"> My Daddy, he caught the most wonderful fish—there were thin ones and fat ones and round, And some were so long that their tails when he walked would be dragging right down on the ground; He scraped off their scales on a log that he had at the woodpile, and said he would know That log just as well if he saw it today, although that was a long time ago.{188} He used to dig worms of a wonderful size—he has never seen any like those Since he was grown up; and on Saturdays he wore a wonderful old suit of clothes And a hat that an uncle of his had forgot, for on Friday he did all his sums, And Saturday always he went off somewhere with his one or two wonderful chums. </div> <div class="stanza"> My Daddy, he lived in a wonderful place when he was a twelve-year-old lad, For no matter what kind of a day it might be there was always some fun to be had. He learned how to swim in a wonderful creek, where all of the whole summer long The water was warm, and the springboard they had it was springy and slippery and strong. And on the way home they found berries to eat, and he said he remembers them well, And it didn’t seem nearly a mile to back home, for there always was something to tell That took up the time both for him and his chums, and sometimes they came home a new way, And always all summer they had it all planned what to do on the next Saturday. </div> <div class="stanza"> My Daddy, he said he could go back there now and could take me as straight as a string To all of the wonderful places he knew—where the first flowers came in the spring;{189} Where you almost were sure to catch fish in the brook—where the nuts would come dropping in fall; Where the most berries were on the way to back home—he is sure he remembers them all. He knows where the squirrels were most apt to be, and the lane where the hay wagon comes; And said he’d find names in the bark of a tree that were cut there by him and his chums Twenty-five years ago, and the log where they sat when they found the big garter-snake curled. My Daddy, he must have had wonderful times in the splendidest place in the world! {190}</div> </div></div> <h2>REMEMBRANCES, BILL</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I WONDER if you still remember them, Bill, The fresh morning glories that crept up the sill And nodded at us when the night time was gone And curtains thrown open to let in the dawn; The light over there, and the edge of the sun That blazed on the hill when the day was begun, The air on our cheeks and the sparkle of dew, Our hearts and our hopes like the day that was new. </div> <div class="stanza"> I wonder if you still remember them, Bill, The way of a thousand delights up the hill, Through lanes and by hedges, where orchards were sweet, And clover dews healing the woes of bare feet; The chatter of squirrels, the rattle of leaves, The round, yellow pumpkins, the wind-tattered sheaves, The shade that was deep and lent splendor to dreams And lips that were laved by the bubbles of streams. </div> <div class="stanza"> I wonder if you still remember them, Bill, The times when the cup of all nature would spill Its gladness for us, when the days overflowed With the laughter of playtime, and far down the road{191} Were milestones all marked by delights jointly shared, To set off the days where adventure’s steps fared; Nor ever a secret but innocence knew, The heart of youth hallowed and joy bubbled through. </div> <div class="stanza"> I wonder if you still remember them, Bill, The times in the twilight, on hedgerow and hill When we whistled homeward, upon the old road With hearts full of gladness that quite overflowed; The pillows where nestled two tangles of hair, The joy-freighted dreams, with a left-over share For the dawn of the morrow—a thread that was pearled With jewels of joy that were strung ’round our world. </div> <div class="stanza"> I wonder if you still remember them, Bill, Our vows to the future we thought to fulfill; Our day dreams to cherish, our faith to endure, Through trials how bitter our hearts to keep pure; No gladness of living but we two would share— The lanes and the byways are wondrously fair, But somehow the voices grow tuneless and still— I wonder if you still remember them, Bill. {192}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE BEREAVEMENT</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> WE’RE all alone, ’ist Pop an’ me, ’Cuz Mamma’s gone away somew’eres T’ stay the longest time; an’ we Are all alone; an’ Pop ’ist stares A-past me an’ he never hears Me when I ast w’ere she could be, An’ both his eyes are full o’ tears W’en we’re alone, ’ist Pop an’ me. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ after w’ile I ast him w’y She don’t come back; but he don’t know; An’ ’en some way he starts t’ cry Till I say, “Please, Pop, don’t cry so.” An’ put my arms part way around His neck an’ hug him, ’ist cuz we Are lonesome; he don’t make a sound; An’ we’re alone, ’ist Pop an’ me. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ he ’ist hugs me up so tight An’ sez my Mamma’s gone so fur She won’t come back, but sez we might ’Ist some day, maybe, go to her. An’ I ast w’y can’t we go now ’Cuz we’re so lonesome here; but he Don’t seem to hear me ast, somehow, An’ we’re alone, ’ist Pop an’ me.{193} </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’en I ’ist fergit she’s gone An’ think it’s almos’ time fur her T’ come an’ put th’ supper on, But w’en Pop’s eyes are all a blur I ’member ’at’s she’s gone away, An’ can’t git supper; Pop sez he Ain’t hungry, an’ I ain’t, I say; An’ we’re alone, ’ist Pop an’ me. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ ’en Pop rocks me in his lap An’ rubs my head, ’ist soft an’ kind, An’ asts me if I’ll take a nap If he pulls down th’ parlor blind. An’ in a little w’ile I fall Asleep an’ he ’ist rocks; but he Don’t never go t’ sleep at all, An’ we’re alone, ’ist Pop an’ me. {194}</div> </div></div> <h2>IN CHILDHOOD TIME</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> HARK! I hear the happy laughter that from children’s voices rings, Swelling out like some vast golden harp with half a thousand strings, Every one vibrating grandly in an ecstatic acclaim, In a medley of sweet melodies that set the birds to shame; On the harp of childhood’s happiness each note rings clear and true, For the heart is pure and perfect and each quivering string is new, And it tells and swells like bells afar that ring and rhyme and chime The sweetest music ever told in note or tune or time. </div> <div class="stanza"> When the heart is growing older and the harp of laughter rings, There’s a false note clashing somewhere in the swelling of the strings; There’s a chord that strikes imperfect, where some sorrow echoes through The melody, and grief has warped the strings to strains not true. Sometimes there’s brilliant music that rings from an empty heart, But it’s not the melodious laughter of the child, that knows no art,{195} But just flows full and free, for Nature’s teachings, undefiled, Make music that is heart-true in the sweet voice of a child. </div> <div class="stanza"> Could I gather every note that floats and rings and swells and tells The gladness of the child’s heart, true as any chime of bells May tell the passing hour, and fashion them into a song, ’Twould thrill and fill the air with melody as though a throng Of seraphim, as tinkling cymbals struck the twinkling stars In heaven’s perfect music, where no din or discord mars, And a myriad strings would mingle in a melody sublime, The rhyme and chime of laughter gathered from all Childhood’s Time. {196}</div> </div></div> <h2>DON’T</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> A HUNDRED times a day I hear His mother say: “Don’t do that, dear!” From early morn till dusk ’tis all “Don’t do that, dear!” I hear her call From the back porch and front and side As though some evil would betide Unless she drummed it in his ear: “Don’t do that, dear! Don’t do that, dear!” </div> <div class="stanza"> If he goes out and slams the door; “Don’t do that, dear!” and if the floor Is newly scrubbed and he comes near; “Don’t do that, dear!” is all I hear. If he comes romping down the stairs; “Don’t do that, dear!” and if he wears No coat, but hangs it somewhere near, She sees and says: “Don’t do that, dear!” </div> <div class="stanza"> If he goes shinning up a tree: “Don’t do that, dear!” If he should be Astride a roof I know I’ll hear Her call to him: “Don’t do that, dear!” His life is all “Don’t this,” “Don’t that,” “Don’t loose the dog,” “Don’t chase the cat,” “Don’t go,” “Don’t stay,” “Don’t there,” “Don’t here,” “Don’t do that, dear!” “Don’t do that, dear!{197}” </div> <div class="stanza"> Sometimes he seems to me as still As any mouse until a shrill “Don’t do that, dear!” falls on the air And drives him swift away from there. So when he finds another spot: “Don’t do that, dear!” and he says: “What?” And she replies and cannot say say— But—“Well, don’t do it, anyway!” {198}</div> </div></div> <h2>EXTINGUISHED</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> THE boy stood on the burning deck, whence all but him had fled”— When Tommy Gibbs stood up to speak he had it in his head, But when he saw the schoolroom full of visitors, he knew, From his weak knees and parching tongue, the words had all fled, too. </div> <div class="stanza"> “The boy stood on the burning deck”—a second time he tried, But he forgot about the boy, or if he lived or died; He only knew the burning deck was something nice and cool Beside the rostrum where he stood that awful day in school. </div> <div class="stanza"> “The boy stood on the burning deck”—he felt the flames and smoke. His tongue was thick, his mouth was dry, he felt that he would choke. And from the far back seats he heard a whisper run about: “Come back here, Tom, and take your seat. They’ve put the fire out!” {199}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE UNCHEERED HERO</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> TIM Brooks he studies awful hard And faithful all the year, But goes out in the school house yard And never gets a cheer; And Billy Gibbs, he shirks and frets— He hates to work at all— But you should hear the cheer he gets Because he hits the ball. </div> <div class="stanza"> Tim Brooks he always leads his class And gets his lessons done; But Billy Gibbs lets hours pass Just thinking up some fun; But no one cheers and throws his hat And says: “Hurrah for Tim!” But when Bill Gibbs goes up to bat The boys all cheer for him. </div> <div class="stanza"> Bill Gibbs he suffers awful pain When he comes to recite; He cannot do his sums again Or get his grammar right; Then teacher calls on Timmy Brooks And points to him with pride, But when we play a game she looks And cheers for Bill outside.{200} </div> <div class="stanza"> Sometimes Tim Brooks he sees the game And watches Bill at bat, He gets excited just the same And cheers and throws his hat; But when he has his sums in school And Bill is watching him, Bill quite forgets the Golden Rule And never cheers for Tim. </div> <div class="stanza"> I guess I’d rather be like Tim Than Billy Gibbs, but when The boys outside are cheering him It sounds quite pleasant then; And it must sometimes seem quite hard To study all the year, And go out in the school house yard But never get a cheer! {201}</div> </div></div> <h2>OLD HALLOWE’EN FRIENDS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> OHO! Mr. Ghost, with your raiment of white, Come to frighten me out of my wits in the night! With your eyes flaming forth like two coals and your breath Bearing fire that would scare a poor mortal to death; With your rows of great teeth grinning widely at me And your loose-hanging gown flapping under the tree In the orchard out there—Oh! I know how you’re made, And the youngsters who made you, so I’m not afraid. </div> <div class="stanza"> Oho! Mr. Ghost, I am waiting for you; You’re an old friend of mine, both trustworthy and true; For that big head of yours that near gave me a fright Was in somebody’s pumpkin patch only last night. And out of my window not two hours ago I saw your head scooped out by Bill, Jack, and Joe; And I saw you stuck up on the end of a lath Before you were stationed right here in my path. </div> <div class="stanza"> Oho! Mr. Ghost, with your garments so fine! I know what became of that sheet on the line In the neighbor’s back yard, newly washed and alone, It is hiding that lath that you use for backbone.{202} And the candle that burned in the kitchen last night Lights those cavernous eyes that near gave me a fright; Indeed, you are made from such odds and such ends That I feel we’re the warmest of very old friends. </div> <div class="stanza"> And those sepulchral groans you are making at me, I know whence they come—from that big apple tree That is right behind you—I have heard them before; They were begging for cake at the side kitchen door. So you see, Mr. Ghost, with your pumpkin and lath, With your candle and sheet, when I came up the path I heard a boy chuckle up there in the tree, And that is the reason you can’t frighten me! {203}</div> </div></div> <h2>A REFUGE IN DISTRESS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> A FELLOW’s father he looks wise Of office work and such, But when it comes to things like what A boy wants, he ain’t much. For when it comes to cuts or warts Or stone bruise on your toes, A fellow’s father don’t know, but A fellow’s mother knows. </div> <div class="stanza"> A fellow’s father he looks wise And says: “A-hem! A-hem!” But when it comes to cakes and pies, What does he know of them? He knows the price of wheat and rye And corn and oats, it’s true, But if you get the leg ache, why, He don’t know what to do. </div> <div class="stanza"> And if you burned your back the time That you went in to swim, And want some stuff to heal it, why, You never go to him, Because he doesn’t know a thing About such things as those, But you just bet, and don’t forget, A fellow’s mother knows.{204} </div> <div class="stanza"> And if your nose is sunburned, till It’s all peeled off, and you Go to him for some healin’ stuff, He don’t know what to do. He’s just as helpless as can be, But when a fellow goes And asks his mother, why, you see, A fellow’s mother knows. </div> <div class="stanza"> A fellow’s father knows a lot, But it ain’t any use, So if a fellow’s really got The leg ache or a bruise, Or if there’s anything he wants He gets right up and goes And asks his mother, for, you see, A fellow’s mother knows. {205}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE LOST HEART</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> BACK among the trees and trellises, along the leaf-strewn lane, Sitting on the bank of the mill stream and dreaming dreams again, Drinking water sweet as nectar from the bucket at the well, In the orchard’s leaf and silence, watching windfalls as they fell, Trying here, at five and thirty, just to be a boy again, To recall the joys of boyhood and forget the cares of men; But I listen to a lesson in the twitter of the wren: When the boy’s heart turns to man’s it never throbs the same again. </div> <div class="stanza"> Once the sun marks noon of lifetime, once the morning steals away, Once the shadows growing shorter and then fall the other way, Once the play time ends at manhood, once the frolicking is done, Once the face is turned from dawning to the setting of the sun, You may sit among the flowers that you plucked and threw away, Turn the leaves of Time all backward, try to read them as you may,{206} You may kindle fires of Memory, you may sit and watch the flame, But there’s something changed within you that can never be the same. </div> <div class="stanza"> You may lay aside the burden of your troubles as you will, But the bent and sunken shoulders tell the story to you still; The story of the troubles and the trials that are sealed From the simple hearts of children, and to men alone revealed. The sorrow dulls, the sigh is stilled, the sore hearts soothed are, The smarting wound is healed again, but always leaves a scar, The fire of youth burns only once, and dies in its dead flame, The simple heart of boyhood that can never be the same. </div> <div class="stanza"> So I sit among the trellises and trees and wonder why: Clear the air as in my boyhood and as blue the unflecked sky, Full the leaves as ever blowing, sweet the bird songs and as free, But the boy’s heart that throbbed to them is untuned and dead in me.{207} There’s a longing, longing, longing, speaking in a deep-drawn sigh, For the heart that throbbed in boyhood, cloudless as the azure sky; For the heart that was the sunlight and the air—that tongue nor pen Can ever paint or picture—that I cannot know again. {208}</div> </div></div> <h2>VERSES OF A LITTLE CHILD</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> NEVER care as she lies asleep, Dear little lassie with red-brown hair; Angels of Light a sweet vigil keep, Keep for the little one slumbering there. Never a dream as she lies so still, Never a dream but of Fairyland, Fairyland and the flowers that fill Her bed, and the lilies within her hand. </div> <div class="stanza"> Never a tear as she lies at rest, Now or ever or evermore; Never a sorrow to bruise her breast, Ever the gladness of fairylore. Never the rough way to bruise her feet, Never or ever a discord sound, Only the murmur of music sweet, And the laughing of Cherubim, all around. </div> <div class="stanza"> Never a sigh from the silent lips, For the dollies all carefully laid away; Only the music of laughter slips Out of the realm of the sunlit day. Never or ever a thought or care, For the little hat with its flowered wreath, Bearing a vision of red-brown hair Flying in tangled curls beneath. </div> </div></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_208fp.jpg" width-obs="516" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">VERSES OF A LITTLE CHILD </div> </div> {209} <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"></div> <div class="stanza"> Dead? Ah, no! She is just asleep, Asleep where the dreams and daisies are; Angels of Light a sweet vigil keep, Keep in the light of a twinkling star. Asleep, and the odors of flowers fill Her bed, and the lilies within her hand; Asleep, and the whispering angels still Her sighs with the dreams of Fairyland. {210}</div> </div></div> <h2>GOLDEN DAYS IN SLOWVILLE</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> THESE are golden days in Slowville; there is gladness up and down; For they’re sticking circus posters ’round the little country town. Flaming sheets of red and yellow on its every barn and fence Tell of wonders aggregated disregardful of expense. Tell of wildernesses threaded for the fierce Bigrigmajig; Tell of jungle-beasts made captive and of marvels small and big, “In a most stupendous spectacle of splendor and renown,” Say the flaming circus posters in the little country town. </div> <div class="stanza"> They have wielded monster brushes from the dewy hours of morn, They have covered half of Jones’s barn with grandeur heaven-born; They have pictured fluffy ladies on the backs of dashing steeds, They have ornamented Slowville with a wealth of daring deeds; They have left a Ripperumptus on the back of Robbin’s fence, Captured in the wilds of Africa at marvelous expense;{211} They’ve a retinue of big-eyed lads as they move up and down When they put up circus posters in the little country town. </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh! the multicolored marvels done in wonder-rousing haste With a broad red barn for background and no means but brush and paste. “Hi, there, Jimmy! See the monkeys!” All the air is shrill with cries As the likenesses of wild beasts are upreared in gorgeous dyes; There’s the fierce Ornithorinktus and the dreadful Whatisnot, The blood-sweating Crinklawoozum and the awful Bingleswat. Tent and sideshow, flag and streamer, elephant, parade, and clown— Oh! they’re sticking circus posters ’round the little country town. </div> <div class="stanza"> These are sleepless nights in Slowville; sleepless nights and anxious days; There’s a hoarding of stray pennies got in half a hundred ways; There are lads in wonder raptured; open-mouthed, with bulging eyes, Where the marvelous menageries from gorgeous posters rise;{212} Oh! there’s glory, glory, glory in the chariots arrayed, There’s rapture in the promise of the splendorous parade; And new life has come to Slowville and is surging up and down Since they put up circus posters in the little country town. {213}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE HEART OF A CHILD</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> GIVE me thy happy heart, Oh little child! Where love springs like the sweetest flower, wild, From all its virgin soil, and radiantly Reflects its fresh, unsullied purity. </div> <div class="stanza"> Give me thy heart, that knows not heat or hate, Nor passion thrills, nor grief makes desolate, When love, lone, reigned, and Life but smiled and smiled, Give me thy spotless heart, Oh little child! </div> <div class="stanza"> Give me thine artless tongue that to deceive Knows not; but lisps to laugh and wakes to weave In whispered words diviner melody Of love than speaks in grandest symphony. </div> <div class="stanza"> Give me thine eyes that see but happiness, Nor aught of else in all the hours that bless Thy childhood time, nor any graver ray Than the glad sunshine of an endless day. </div> <div class="stanza"> Would we could cleanse our hearts and make them young, As when were sweeter chimes of childhood rung From them, and when were flowers springing wild From the untrampled soil, Oh little child! {214}</div> </div></div> <h2>THE STRENUOUS LIFE</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> THAT is your father, dear Just going out the door; Oh, he’s been living here For seven years or more! In business he’s so deep He has no time to fret With little girls, but keep Up hope—we’ll meet him yet! </div> <div class="stanza"> That is your mother, dear, Just getting in the car, She knows that you are here And also who you are! But what with clubs to meet And bridge to play, you see, With hours so short and fleet She’s turned you o’er to me. </div> <div class="stanza"> But there, my dear, don’t fret, Or let those blue eyes blur, Some time I know you’ll get Acquainted, too, with her. Why, sometimes, in the night When angels vigil keep, She asks if you’re all right And when you went to sleep!{215} </div> <div class="stanza"> I think you’d like them both, I think they’d both like you, But what with “higher growth” And many things to do They’re simply rushed to death, But there, my dear, don’t cry, If they should stop for breath We’ll meet them bye and bye. {216}</div> </div></div> <h2>A SONG OF MOTHERHOOD</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SEW, sew, sew! For there’s many a rent to mend; There’s a stitch to take and a dress to make, For where do her labors end? Sew, sew, sew! For a rent in a dress she spies, Then it’s needle and thread and an aching head And see how the needle flies! </div> <div class="stanza"> Brush, brush, brush! For there’s many a boy to clean, And start to school with a slate and rule, With a breakfast to get between. Comb, comb, comb! In the minute she has to spare, For what is so wild—unreconciled As the wastes of a youngster’s hair? </div> <div class="stanza"> Sweep, sweep, sweep! Oh, follow the flashing broom, And with towel bound her forehead round She goes from room to room. Dust, dust, dust! As down on her knees she kneels, For there’s much to do in the hour or two Of interval ’twixt meals. </div> <div class="stanza"> Bake, bake, bake! For the cookie jar piled high But yesterday in some curious way Is empty again, Oh my!{217} Stir, stir, stir, in the froth of yellow and white, For well she knows how the story goes Of a small boy’s appetite. </div> <div class="stanza"> Scrub, scrub, scrub! For the floor that was spick and span, Alas, alack! has a muddy track Where some thoughtless youngster ran. Splash, splash, splash! For the dishes of thrice a day Are piled up high to wash and dry And put on the shelves away. </div> <div class="stanza"> Patch, patch, patch! And oh for a pantaloon That would not tear or rip or wear In the course of an afternoon! Patch, patch, patch! And see how the needle flies, For a mother knows how the fabric goes Where the seat of trouble lies. </div> <div class="stanza"> Toil, toil, toil! For when do her labors end, With a dress to make and a cake to bake And dresses and hose to mend? Stew, stew, stew! Fret and worry and fuss, And who of us knows of the frets and woes In the days when she mothered us? {218}</div> </div></div> <h2>YOUTH</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> DON’T you recall when apples grew, Oh, twice as big as now? When fish, however they were few, Were monster ones somehow? When Gaines’s mill-dam made a roar As though the water hurled Were gathered in a mighty store From all the wide, wide world? </div> <div class="stanza"> Don’t you remember when the trees, The oak trees and the beech, Were lost in clouds on days like these And eyes could hardly reach Their waving tops? When noonday skies Were oh, such deeper blue? When Jack’s great bean stalk in our eyes Just grew and grew and grew? </div> <div class="stanza"> And there were bells, so more than fine, Of blue and white and red, Upon the morning glory vine That climbed up on the shed, To be a wonder and delight, So fresh and full of dew, To bud and open in a night night— I see them now—don’t you?{219} </div> <div class="stanza"> Don’t you remember when the caves Were thick and full of gloom, Where captive maidens, once, like slaves, Were chained in some damp room? When twilight rustling in the brush Was some fierce beast? A cow It was, but cows at dusk are—Hush! I think I hear one now. </div> <div class="stanza"> Come, take a little trip with me, Forget the things that fret, For you may close your eyes and see Some things that I forget. Why, I’ve seen Bluebeard’s hidden room And Cinderella’s shoe! And I have seen where violets bloom bloom— So blue! So blue! So blue! {220}</div> </div></div> <h2>AFTER THE YEARS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> WHEN you went back to the old home place had the mountain become a hill? Had the raging river your boyhood knew shrunk down to a peaceful rill? Were the monster trees in the old front yard but half of their former size? Was something gone—and you don’t know what what—from the blue of the arching skies? Was the swimming-hole but a muddy pool when once it was crystal clear? Were the apples but half as big and red as they were in that other year? </div> <div class="stanza"> When you went back to the old home place did the red barn seem so small It didn’t look like the one you’d known? Was the mighty waterfall That used to roar in your boyish ears but a little dash of spray That fell so light you could hardly hear a dozen feet away? Were the corn rows only half as long as they were in the long ago, When you measured them with aching arms and the weight of a heavy hoe?{221} </div> <div class="stanza"> When you went back to the old home place had the mill pond dwindled down? Was Main Street only a muddy track in the heart of a sleepy town? And the well that was fathoms, fathoms deep, with its wheel and creaking chain, Did it seem to you like a shrunken thing when you looked at it again? Was something gone of the bygone days, from the sod and the arch of sky That we used to see when we played as boys in the old days—you and I? </div> <div class="stanza"> Nay, Heart, the mountain rises high as it did of yore; the rill Was a river once and the boys near by see a raging river still. The well is fathoms, fathoms deep and the apples ripe and red; The sod is cool and green and soft, and the sky up overhead Is blue and clear, and the days are rare and glad as they used to be— But where is the Heart of the olden time—hast thou brought it back with thee? {222}</div> </div></div> <h2>A VERSE TO MEMORY</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> NOW Memory, like a little child, Takes me by one soft hand, By dreams of keen delight beguiled We stray through Flowerland; And like the child, sweet Memory By many a by-way strays, Plucks flowers and bears them back to me To fashion my bouquets. </div> <div class="stanza"> By many sweet, secluded ways She wanders, far or near; A rose upon my garland lays Bejeweled with a tear; The rose of some far-flown ideal, A fragrance, ah, how rare! My fingers close but to reveal The ashes crumbling there. </div> <div class="stanza"> Now tinkling laughter ripples clear As some new flower she spies, Some far-forgotten joys appear As fairy faces rise. My thoughts in revel, flower-wreathed, Heart-full, my garlands lie, While on the scented air is breathed A greeting and good-bye.{223} </div> <div class="stanza"> Come, Child, away! The frolic ends, The flower in ashes, dead; The perfume with the air that blends We’ll bear away instead. Here at the hedge we kiss and part, Some sterner duties find. Bear all the sweetness in the heart But leave the flowers behind. </div> <div class="stanza"> Thank God, thank God for Memory, Half smile and half a tear; The flowers are there eternally, And when the days are drear, In through the tangled hedge of days We wander, hand in hand, And I may dream, while Memory strays, A child is Flowerland. {224}</div> </div></div> <h2>LEST I FORGET</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> WHEN from my earliest abode in boyhood’s merry days I strode, Oh, well do I remember how my mother came—I see her now— And, standing in the old front door, repeated to me o’er and o’er: </div> <div class="stanza"> “Oh, William, don’t do this and that, and William, wear your other hat. Please, William, don’t forget my note, and William, wear your overcoat. And William, hurry on your way, or you’ll be late to school today.” And far and long as I could hear her admonitions to my ear Came floating on, repeated yet, lest I forget, lest I forget. </div> <div class="stanza"> When from my lessons, shirked or done, came homeward I at waning sun, Oh, well do I remember how my mother came—I see her now— And greeted me at that front door with admonitions o’er and o’er: </div> <div class="stanza"> “Oh, William, don’t do this and that, and wipe your feet upon the mat,{225} And do not slam the door and wake the baby, William, and please take This package down to Howe and Hatch and tell them that it doesn’t match, And don’t forget to hurry back, because the kitchen fire is slack”; And far and long as I could hear her admonitions to my ear Come floating on, repeated yet, lest I forget, lest I forget. </div> <div class="stanza"> I’m married now—at man’s estate, and yet, quite mournful to relate, My wife it is who, as before, comes with me to the new front door, And standing there, bombards me for a block or two, and o’er and o’er: </div> <div class="stanza"> “Oh, William, don’t you wet your feet, and William, don’t forget the meat, And William, don’t forget to mail my letter promptly, and don’t fail To pay the ice bill, order wood; and William, would you be so good As to stop in at Jones’s store and get a bit of ribbon for The baby’s hair?”—and so ’tis yet—lest I forget—lest I forget! {226}</div> </div></div> <h2>ECHO OF A SONG</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> TO my fancy, idly roaming, comes a picture of the gloaming, Comes a fragrance from the blossoms of the lilac and the rose; With the yellow lamplight streaming I am sitting here and dreaming Of a half-forgotten twilight whence a mellow memory flows; To my listening ears come winging vagrant notes of woman’s singing, I’ve a sense of sweet contentment as the sounds are borne along; ’Tis a mother who is tuning her fond heart to love and crooning To her laddie such a Sleepy little, Creepy little, Song. </div> <div class="stanza"> Ah, how well do I remember when by crackling spark and ember The old-fashioned oaken rocker moved with rhythmic sweep and slow; With her feet upon the fender, in a cadence low and tender, Floated forth that slumber anthem of a childhood long ago.{227} There were goblins in the gloaming and the half-closed eyes went roaming Through the twilight for the ghostly shapes of bugaboos along; Now the sandman’s slyly creeping and a tired lad half sleeping When she sings to him that Sleepy little, Creepy little, Song. </div> <div class="stanza"> I am sitting here and dreaming with the mellow lamplight streaming Through the vine-embowered window in a yellow filigree; On the fragrant air come winging vagrant notes of woman’s singing, ’Tis the slumber song of childhood that is murmuring to me; And some subtle fancy creeping lulls my senses half to sleeping As the misty shapes of bugaboos go dreamily along, All my sorrows disappearing, as a tired lad I’m hearing Once again my mother’s Sleepy little, Creepy little, Song. {228}</div> </div></div> <h2>LOVERS’ LANE</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> HOW good to remember Life’s June from September, The days that were fairer than ever again; When hearts held no sorrow to last o’er the morrow And heads were brimful of the wisdom of ten; No skies were e’er bluer, no heart was e’er truer Than mine when I waited in sunshine or rain With joy that enriched me for one who bewitched me And bade me to wait till she came down the lane. </div> <div class="stanza"> Our trysting-place gaining, my eyes they were straining Afar down the road, and my lips hummed a tune That held all the sweetness of first love’s completeness The whiles that I waited at morning and noon; For last when we parted, beloved, fond hearted, She pledged me to wait for her, sunshine or rain, And so I kept humming, I knew she was coming, A girl queen in gingham, somewhere down the lane. </div> <div class="stanza"> And there with a vision of futures Elysian I traced both our names with my toe in the dust, And not a temptation could alter my station As knight of the faithful heart, true to its trust. </div> </div></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_228fp.jpg" width-obs="505" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">LOVER’S LANE </div> </div> {229} <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> WITH ecstasy thrilling, I heard a far trilling So sweeter than bird song, and heard it again, The heart of the maiden, care-free and joy-laden, Was borne on the music I heard down the lane. </div> <div class="stanza"> Ah, who knows the story of Life and its glory, The unending bliss of the days that were then; And who knows the sweetness of first love’s completeness Who has not the wisdom of thirteen and ten? For back went a trilling to her that was spilling Its burden of gladness through all of the air, With infinite yearning her message returning To show I was true and awaited her there. </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh, hearts that are older, what secrets I told her! What dreams of the future, of grown girl and boy! For what of the weather, when two walk together The pathway to school in the heyday of joy? When hours are but measures of innocent pleasures, When days brim with gladness, as winecups to drain, When Life learns the sweetness of first love’s completeness In waiting for Her as she comes down the lane! {230}</div> </div></div> <h2>DADDY KNOWS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> LET us dry our tears now, laddie, Let us put aside our woes; Let us go and talk to daddy, For I’m sure that daddy knows. Let us take him what we’ve broken, Be it heart or hope or toy, And the tale may bide unspoken, For he used to be a boy. </div> <div class="stanza"> He has been through all the sorrows Of a lad at nine or ten; He has seen the dawn of morrows When the sun shone bright again; His own heart has been near breaking, Oh, more times than I can tell, And has often known the aching That a boy’s heart knows so well. </div> <div class="stanza"> I am sure he well remembers, In his calendar of days, When the boy-heart was December’s, Though the sun and flowers were May’s. He has lived a boy’s life, laddie, And he knows just how it goes; Let us go and talk to daddy, For I’m sure that daddy knows.{231} </div> <div class="stanza"> Let us tell him all about it, How the sting of it is there, And I have not any doubt it Will be easier to bear; For he’s trodden every byway, He has fathomed every joy, He has traveled every highway In the wide world of a boy. </div> <div class="stanza"> He will put aside the worries That his day may follow through, For the great heart of him hurries At the call for help from you. He will help us mend the broken Heart of ours or hope or toy, And the tale may bide unspoken— For he used to be a boy. {232}</div> </div></div> <h2>TO CHILDREN AT THE HEARTH</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> IT is you, my dears, and the gladness You bring to the tasks to do, Who can lessen this old world’s sadness By as much as the joy of you. It is you, my dears, and your glory Of sunshine and word and song Who can make life a sweeter story Wherever you smile along. </div> <div class="stanza"> It is you, my dears, with your beauty And freshness of mind and heart Who must offer your share of duty And play yet a nobler part. For the world, it has need of beauty And youth that is fine and new, And the call you may hear to duty Is for you, my dears—just you. </div> <div class="stanza"> It is you, my dears, that the sages Have written their counsels to, It is you, my dears, that the ages Leave legacies to—just you. And remember that every letter That Wisdom has graven through The years, so the world be better, Is for you, my dears—just you.{233} </div> <div class="stanza"> It is you who must be the bravest To fight, if the cause be true; It is you who must be the gravest In word and in deed—just you. It is you who must be the strongest To stand till the battle’s through, And you who must smile the longest And never despair—just you. </div> <div class="stanza"> It is you, my dears, and your glory Of gladness and youth and smile, Who shall help to say if the story Of life and the world’s worth while. For the years of all time have shaped us, And the lore of the Ages, too, And to say if the Truth’s escaped us Is for you, my dears—just you. {234}</div> </div></div> <h2>A TOAST TO THE SMALL BOY</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> HE knows the vagrant country roads Where sleepily they wind; He has his pockets full of toads, His smile is broad and kind; His dreams of lands and seas—who knows? His joys are never still, And whistling through the world he goes, The rugged small boy—Bill! </div> <div class="stanza"> His world is full of song and shine, His days are all his own; His nights are full of plans so fine That youngsters all have known; With all the joy that health can give His ruddy pulses thrill, And, bless me, how he loves to live, This rugged small boy—Bill! </div> <div class="stanza"> His trousers know the ample patch, His shoes gape at the toes, But see him gladly toe the scratch For any chum he knows; The heart of him is good as gold, And songs of gladness spill From his red lips, this sunny-souled And rugged small boy—Bill!{235} </div> <div class="stanza"> His scratch-scarred legs are never tired, His eyes bright-souled and starred, His heart with hopeful youth is fired, His sunny soul unscarred; The world is his, the fields, the trees, The brook, the wood, the hill, To do his will, as he may please, This rugged small boy—Bill! </div> <div class="stanza"> He knows the song of life by heart, In fancy he may weave Such dreams as make the pulses start, A King of Make-Believe; And when I speak with him I hear Truth ripple like a rill From him, and gladness and good cheer, This rugged small boy—Bill! </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh, bide thee, bide thee, overlong, Health, happiness, and youth; Be glad thy heart and light thy song And pure and clear thy truth! Nor cloud to dim thy sunny ways, Nor aught to bring thee ill, And year on year of perfect days, My rugged small boy—Bill! {236}</div> </div></div> <h2>AN ADVENTUROUS DAY</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> ONE time in vacation we boys all left town To stay in the country for Sunday; and down By Deacon Gray’s pasture a rabbit came out Right close to the highway and looked all about Until it saw us and it started to run Right down the highroad like a shot from a gun; So Billy Beggs threw off his coat and his hat And chased it till both of its ears were down flat, And, my, it just ran as if it saw a ghost, And Bill ran so fast that he caught it—almost! </div> <div class="stanza"> And under the bridge where it crosses the creek We saw some fish swimming and darting as quick As a flash in the water, and one fish would flop Himself till he almost would come to the top; So then we got down on the bridge and we tied A pin on a string and dropped it down the side With a bug on the pin, and the fishes would look While Billy Beggs wiggled the bug on the hook; And one fish was hungry and came up so close That Bill gave a jerk and he caught it—almost! </div> <div class="stanza"> And over by Skinner’s a big hawk flew by And lit on a stump that was not very high, But didn’t see us and we crawled up quite slow Through the grass to the stump with a big stone to throw;{237} And Billy Beggs said that the hawk was asleep For it never stirred once; and the grass was so deep That we got to within a few feet from the stump, And Billy Beggs peeked, and his heart gave a thump; And when he got ever and ever so close He stood up and threw and he hit it—almost! </div> <div class="stanza"> And then it got cloudy and thundered and then It lightened just awful and thundered again; It rained some big drops and we started to run To get in the barn till the shower was done; And lightning just spattered and crackled and flashed And we were all scared as could be, and we splashed All through mud and water, and then a big crack Of lightning came down and Bill Beggs hollered back From ’way up ahead, just as pale as a ghost, And said that last lightning had struck him—almost! </div> <div class="stanza"> And over by Griggs’s somebody came out And hollered to us when we’re all just about So tired we could drop, and they took us right in By the big kitchen fire ’cause we’re wet to the skin; And Mrs. Griggs gave us some blankets to wear While all of our clothes were hung over a chair; And she made some tea till she got us warmed through And then the storm stopped and the sky got all blue; And Billy Beggs told her the flash came so close That he ’membered the whole of the Lord’s Prayer—almost! {238}</div> </div></div> <h2>POEM OF THE FORAGERS</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> SCHOOL’S out, and homeward with the ebbing day They come—Tom Jones, Jim Brooks and Eddie Gray; And half a million others far or near, Not much unlike the boys I know right here; With empty dinnerpails and schoolbooks slung Across their shoulders by a strap. The tongue Of boyhood at the kitchen door gives cry: “Ma, can’t I have a doughnut, or some pie?” For, say, the appetite of boys is prime And cannot be content till suppertime. </div> <div class="stanza"> ’Tis four o’clock, and I can hear them go— A million youngsters—homeward, fast and slow; The drowsy schoolroom clock has dragged its hands Across its face until Time’s signal stands At long-awaited four—that blessed hour When schoolbooks close and teachers lose the power That despot rulers have—and flags unfurled Lead schoolboy armies to a waiting world! And up the back steps bound returning feet: “Ma, can’t I go and get a bite to eat?” </div> <div class="stanza"> School’s out—what ransacking of cooky jars! What letting down of pantry gates and bars!{239} What dipping into barrels here and there, With heads far down and feet high up in air, For Winesaps, Baldwins, Pippins! What a charge Upon the jars of jam and loaves baked large And round and brown—what a tumultuous cry: “Ma, can’t I have a little piece of pie?” And so this schoolboy army waxes fat Upon its foraged commissariat! {240}</div> </div></div> <div class="blk"> THANKS are due to the Editors of The Saturday Evening Post, The Century Magazine, The New York Times, and The Youth’s Companion, in which papers the greater number of these verses originally appeared, for permission to reprint. </div> <hr class="full" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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