Chapter 2

Whenever Auntie moves around Her dresses make a curious sound. They trail behind her up the floor, And trundle after through the door.

HAPPY THOUGHT

The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.

THE COW

The friendly cow all red and white, I love with all my heart; She gives me cream with all her might, To eat with apple-tart.

She wanders lowing here and there, And yet she cannot stray, All in the pleasant open air, The pleasant light of day;

And blown by all the winds that pass And wet with all the showers, She walks among the meadow grass And eats the meadow flowers.

MY BED IS A BOAT

My bed is like a little boat; Nurse helps me in when I embark; She girds me in my sailor's coat And starts me in the dark.

At night, I go on board and say Good-night to all my friends on shore; I shut my eyes and sail away And see and hear no more.

And sometimes things to bed I take, As prudent sailors have to do; Perhaps a slice of wedding-cake, Perhaps a toy or two.

All night across the dark we steer; But when the day returns at last, Safe in my room, beside the pier, I find my vessel fast.

THE LAND OF NOD

From breakfast on through all the day At home among my friends I stay, But every night I go abroad Afar into the Land of Nod.

All by myself I have to go, With none to tell me what to do-- All alone beside the streams And up the mountain-side of dreams.

The strangest things are there for me, Both things to eat and things to see, And many frightening sights abroad Till morning in the Land of Nod.

Try as I like to find the way, I never can get back by day, Nor can remember plain and clear The curious music that I hear.

FAIRY BREAD

Come up here, O dusty feet! Here is fairy bread to eat Here in my retiring room, Children, you may dine On the golden smell of broom And the shade of pine; And when you have eaten well, Fairy stories hear and tell.

KEEPSAKE MILL

Over the borders, a sin without pardon, Breaking the branches and crawling below, Out through the breach in the wall of the garden, Down by the banks of the river, we go.

Here is the mill with the humming of thunder, Here is the weir with the wonder of foam, Here is the sluice with the race running under-- Marvelous places, though handy to home!

Sounds of the village grow stiller and stiller, Stiller the note of the birds on the hill; Dusty and dim are the eyes of the miller, Deaf are his ears with the moil of the mill.

Years may go by, and the wheel in the river Wheel as it wheels for us, children, to-day, Wheel and keep roaring and foaming for ever-- Long after all the boys are away.

Home from the Indies and home from the ocean, Heroes and soldiers we all shall come home; Still we shall find the old mill wheel in motion, Turning and churning that river to foam.

You with the bean that I gave when we quarreled, I with your marble of Saturday last, Honored and old and all gaily appareled, Here we shall meet and remember the past.

WINTER-TIME

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed, A frosty, fiery sleepy-head; Blinks but an hour or two; and then, A blood-red orange, sets again.

Before the stars have left the skies, At morning in the dark I rise; And shivering in my nakedness, By the cold candle, bathe and dress.

Close by the jolly fire I sit To warm my frozen bones a bit; Or with a reindeer-sled, explore The colder countries round the door.

When to go out, my nurse doth wrap Me in my comforter and cap; The cold wind burns my face, and blows Its frosty pepper up my nose.

Black are my steps on silvery sod; Thick blows my frosty breath abroad; And tree and house, and hill and lake, Are frosted like a wedding-cake.

LOOKING-GLASS RIVER

Smooth it slides upon its travel, Here a wimple, there a gleam-- O the clean gravel! O the smooth stream!

Sailing blossoms, silver fishes, Paven pools as clear as air-- How a child wishes To live down there!

We can see our colored faces Floating on the shaken pool Down in cool places, Dim and very cool;

Till a wind or water wrinkle, Dipping marten, plumping trout, Spreads in a twinkle And blots all out.

See the rings pursue each other; All below grows black as night, Just as if mother Had blown out the light!

Patience, children, just a minute-- See the spreading circles die; The stream and all in it Will clear by-and-by.

The SUN'S TRAVELS

The sun is not a-bed, when I At night upon my pillow lie; Still round the earth his way he takes, And morning after morning makes.

While here at home, in shining day, We round the sunny garden play, Each little Indian sleepy-head Is being kissed and put to bed.

And when at eve I rise from tea, Day dawns beyond the Atlantic Sea; And all the children in the West Are getting up and being dressed.

THE LAMPLIGHTER

My tea is nearly ready and the sun has left the sky; It's time to take the window to see Leerie going by; For every night at teatime and before you take your seat, With lantern and with ladder he comes posting up the street.

Now Tom would be a driver and Maria go to sea, And my papa's a banker and as rich as he can be; But I, when I am stronger and can choose what I'm to do, O Leerie, I'll go round at night and light the lamps with you!

For we are very lucky, with a lamp before the door, And Leerie stops to light it as he lights so many more; And O, before you hurry by with ladder and with light, O Leerie, see a little child and nod to him to-night!

FOREIGN CHILDREN

Little Indian, Sioux or Crow, Little frosty Eskimo, Little Turk or Japanee, O! don't you wish that you were me?

You have seen the scarlet trees And the lions over seas; You have eaten ostrich eggs, And turned the turtles off their legs.

Such a life is very fine, But it's not so nice as mine: You must often, as you trod, Have wearied _not_ to be abroad.

You have curious things to eat, I am fed on proper meat; You must dwell beyond the foam, But I am safe and live at home.

Little Indian, Sioux or Crow, Little frosty Eskimo, Little Turk or Japanee, O! don't you wish that you were me?

THE MOON

The moon has a face like the clock in the hall; She shines on thieves on the garden wall, On streets and fields and harbor quays, And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees.

The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse, The howling dog by the door of the house, The bat that lies in bed at noon, All love to be out by the light of the moon.

But all of the things that belong to the day Cuddle to sleep to be out of her way; And flowers and children close their eyes Till up in the morning the sun shall arise.

THE HAYLOFT

Through all the pleasant meadow-side The grass grew shoulder-high, Till the shining scythes went far and wide And cut it down to dry.

These green and sweetly smelling crops They led in wagons home; And they piled them here in mountain-tops For mountaineers to roam.

Here is Mount Clear, Mount Rusty-Nail, Mount Eagle and Mount High;-- The mice that in these mountains dwell, No happier are than I!

O what a joy to clamber there, O what a place for play, With the sweet, the dim, the dusty air, The happy hills of hay!

FAREWELL TO THE FARM

The coach is at the door at last; The eager children, mounting fast And kissing hands, in chorus sing: Good-bye, good-bye, to everything!

To house and garden, field and lawn, The meadow-gates we swang upon, To pump and stable, tree and swing, Good-bye, good-bye, to everything!

And fare you well for evermore, O ladder at the hayloft door, O hayloft where the cobwebs cling, Good-bye, good-bye, to everything!

Crack goes the whip, and off we go; The trees and houses smaller grow; Last, round the woody turn we swing: Good-bye, good-bye, to everything!

A THOUGHT.

It is very nice to think The world is full of meat and drink, With little children saying grace In every Christian kind of place.

SINGING

Of speckled eggs the birdie sings And nests among the trees; The sailor sings of ropes and things In ships upon the seas.

The children sing in far Japan, The children sing in Spain; The organ with the organ man Is singing in the rain.

NORTH-WEST PASSAGE

GOOD NIGHT

When the bright lamp is carried in, The sunless hours again begin; O'er all without, in field and lane, The haunted night returns again.

Now we behold the embers flee About the firelit hearth; and see Our faces painted as we pass, Like pictures, on the window-glass.

Must we to bed indeed? Well then, Let us arise and go like men, And face with an undaunted tread The long black passage up to bed.

Farewell, O brother, sister, sire! O pleasant party round the fire! The songs you sing, the tales you tell, Till far to-morrow, fare ye well!

II. SHADOW MARCH

All round the house is the jet-black night; It stares through the window-pane; It crawls in the corners, hiding from the light, And it moves with the moving flame.

Now my little heart goes a-beating like a drum, With the breath of Bogie in my hair, And all round the candle the crooked shadows come, And go marching along up the stair.

The shadow of the balusters, the shadow of the lamp, The shadow of the child that goes to bed-- All the wicked shadows coming, tramp, tramp, tramp, With the black night overhead.

III. IN PORT

Last, to the chamber where I lie My fearful footsteps patter nigh, And come from out the cold and gloom Into my warm and cheerful room.

There, safe arrived, we turn about To keep the coming shadows out, And close the happy door at last On all the perils that we past.

Then, when mamma goes by to bed, She shall come in with tip-toe tread, And see me lying warm and fast And in the Land of Nod at last.

TO MY MOTHER

You, too, my mother, read my rhymes For love of unforgotten times, And you may chance to hear once more The little feet along the floor.

GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION

The following key explains the symbols which are used in the vocabulary of "A Child's Garden of Verses," to indicate the pronunciation of the words. It is based upon the 1901 edition of Webster's International Dictionary.

[=a] as in f[=a]te.

[+a] as in pref´ [+a]ce.

[)a] as in [)a]dd.

[:a] as in f[:a]r.

[.a] as in gr[.a]ss.

[a:] as in [a:]ll.

[=e] as in [=e]ve.

[+e] as in [+e]-vent´.

[)e] as in [)e]nd.

[~e] as in h[~e]r.

[=i] as in [=i]ce.

[)i] as in p[)i]n.

[=o] as in r[=o]w.

[+o] as in [+o]-bey´.

[)o] as in n[)o]t.

[^o] as in l[^o]rd.

[=u] as in [=u]se.

[+u] as in [+u]-nite´.

[)u] as in [)u]p.

[^u] as in f[^u]rl.

[u:] as in r[u:]de.

[=y] as in fl[=y].

[)y] as in pit´[)y].

[=oo] as in m[=oo]n.

ou as in out.

oi as in oil.

[n=] = ng as in i[n=]k.

th as in this.

Certain vowels, as _a_ and _e_, when obscured, are italicized.

A WORD LIST

The definitions given in this list indicate the meanings of the words as used in "A Child's Garden of Verses."

_adorned_ ([.a] dôrnd´). Made beautiful.

_adventure_ ([)a]d v[)e]n´ t[+u]r). Venture; go in search of exciting experiences.

_alert_ ([.a] l[~e]rt´). Watchful; quick.

_anchored_ ([)a]n´ k[~e]rd). Held safely.

_ancient_ ([=a]n´ shent). Earlier; old.

_apes_ ([=a]ps). Animals similar to monkeys, but of a higher type.

_appareled_ ([)a]p p[)a]r´ [)e]ld). Dressed; clothed.

_arrant_ ([)a]r´ rant). Shameless.

_Babylon_ (B[)a]b´ [)y] lon). A celebrated city of Asia, now in ruins.

_balusters_ (b[)a]l´ [)u]s t[~e]rz). The rail which guards the side of a staircase.

_bazaar_ (b[.a] zär´). In the far East, a market place where goods are for sale.

_bewildering_ (b[+e] w[)i]l´ d'r[)i]ng). Excitement; embarrassment.

_billows_ (b[)i]l´ l[=o]z). Great waves.

_Bogie_ (b[=o]´ g[)y]). Goblin; bugbear.

_breach_ (br[=e]ch). Break; opening.

_broom_ (br[=oo]m). A plant from the twigs of which brooms are made.

_caravan_ (k[)a]r´ [.a] v[)a]n). A large company traveling together.

_cockatoos_ (k[)o]k´ [.a] t[=oo]z´). A bird of the parrot family.

_counterpane_ (koun´ t[~e]r p[=a]n´). A coverlet for a bed.

_crocodile_ (kr[)o]k´ [.=o] d[=i]l). A reptile which grows to the length of 16 or 18 feet, and lives in the large rivers of Africa, Asia, and America.

_Crow_ (kr[=o]). The name of a tribe of Indians.

_Crusoes_ (kr[u:]´s[=o]z). Men like the hero of De Foe's great novel, "Robinson Crusoe."

_curious_ (k[=u]´ r[)i] [)u]s). Strange.

_dale_ (d[=a]l). Valley.

_deserted_ (d[+e] z[~e]rt´ [)e]d). Forsaken; abandoned.

_diet_ (d[=i]´ [)e]t). Food.

_Dog_ (d[)o]g). One of the two ancient constellations lying south of the zodiac, known as Canis Major and Canis Minor, or the Greater Dog and the Lesser Dog.

_Egyptian_ ([+e] j[)i]p´ shan). A native of Egypt.

_emperors_ ([)e]m´ p[~e]r [~e]rz). The rulers of empires.

_estate_ ([)e]s t[=a]t´). Condition; state.

_flamingo_ (fl[.a] m[)i][n=]´ g[+o]). A large bird, usually red or pink in color.

_foreign_ (f[)o]r´ [)i]n). Strange; distant.

_gabies_ (g[=a]´ b[)i]z). Simpletons; dunces.

_Great Wall_ (gr[=a]t w[a:]l). Fifteen hundred miles in length, built in 215 B. C., along the north frontier of China. It is the most gigantic work of defense ever made by man.

_Grenadier_ (gr[)e]n´ [.a] d[=e]r´). One of a company attached to each regiment, taking post on the right of the line, and wearing a peculiar uniform.

_harbor_ (här´ b[~e]r). Station for rest and safety.

_haunted_ (hänt´ [)e]d). Frequented by ghosts.

_hearty_ (härt´ [)y]). Bold; active.

_Highland bonnet_ (h[=i]´ land b[)o]n´ n[)e]t). A closely woven, seamless wool cap worn by the Highland Scotchman.

_Hunter_ (h[)u]nt´ [~e]r). A constellation representing a centaur (a monster, half man and half horse) drawing a bow. It is called the Archer.

_increases_ ([)i]n kr[=e]s´ [)e]z). Grows.

_jungles_ (j[)u][n=]´ g'lz). Heavy growths of brushwood, grasses and vines, so dense as to hardly be penetrated.

_lea_ (l[=e]). A grassy field.

_leaden_ (l[)e]´ 'n). Made of lead.

_Leerie_ (l[+e]r´ [)i]). The lamplighter.

_Malabar_ (m[)a]l´ a bär´). A district in British India.

_man-devouring_ (m[)a]n´-d[+e] vour´ [)i]ng). Man-eating.

_Mars_ (märz). One of the planets of the solar system. It gives a very red light.

_marten_ (mär´ t[)e]n). One of several species of swallows.

_martial_ (mär´ shal). Military; warlike; brave.

_marvelous_ (mär´ v[)e]l [)u]s). Wonderful; strange.

_minaret_ (m[)i]n´ [.a] r[)e]t). A high, slender tower attached to a mosque.

_moil_ (moil). Labor; toil.

_mosque_ (m[)o]sk). A Mohammedan church or place of religious worship.

_notion_ (n[=o]´ sh[)u]n). An idea.

_nursery_ (nûrs´ [~e]r [)y]). The children's room.

_palanquin_ (p[)a]l a[n=] k[+e]n´). An enclosed carriage about four feet long, carried on the shoulders of four men by means of two long poles. It is used in India and China.

_perils_ (p[)e]r´ [)i]lz). Dangers.

_pier_ (p[=e]r). Landing place.

_pillage_ (p[)i]l´ l[+a]j). Plunder; that which is taken from another by force.

_pirate_ (p[=i]´ r[+a]t). A robber on the high seas.

_Plough_ (plou). The group of stars commonly called the Dipper.

_prudent_ (pr[u:]´ dent). Cautious; careful; sensible.

_pursue_ (pûr s[=u]´). Follow; chase.

_quays_ (k[=e]z). Wharfs; landing places.

_rear_ (r[=e]r). The division of an army that marches behind the main body to protect it.

_sages_ (s[=a]j´ [)e]z). Wise men.

_scythe_ (sïth). An instrument for mowing grass and grain.

_sedately_ (s[+e] d[=a]t´ l[)y]). Calmly; quietly.

_Sioux_ (s[=oo]). Certain tribes of Indians.

_sire_ (s[=i]r). Father; the head of the family.

_sleepsin-by_ (sl[=e]p´ ¦ s[)i]n-b[)y]´). The land of sleep.

_sluice_ (sl[=u]s). A passage made for water to pass through, fitted with a gate.

_squadron_ (skw[)o]d´ r[)u]n). A number of vessels under command of one officer.

_star of the sailor_. The North Star.

_sweep_ (sw[=e]p). As found in "Travel," meaning chimney-sweep.

_trundle_ (tr[)u]n´ d'l). Roll along.

_undaunted_ ([)u]n d[=a]nt´ [)e]d). Fearless; brave.

_unduly_ ([)u]n d[=u]´ l[)y]). In an extreme manner.

_uniform_ ([=u]´ n[)i] fôrm). Soldier's dress.

_wary_ (w[=a]´ r[)y]). Carefully watching; cautious.

_wearied_ (w[=e]´ r[)i]d). Grown tired.

_weir_ (w[=e]r). A dam in a river used to raise the water back of it.