Chapter 2
The yellow kernels, oh, see them grow White as cotton or flakes of snow! _Pop! Pop!_ O-ho, how they frolic and fly about And turn themselves suddenly inside out! _Pop-pop-poppetty! Pop-pop-pop!_ The popper's full and we'll have to stop; Pile the bowl with the tempting treat, Children, come, it is time to eat!
THE RASH LITTLE SPARROW
Rash little sparrow Up in the nest; Feathers not long enough, Wee wings not strong enough! Poor little sparrow! Poor little breast!
WHAT IF?
When I see the new moon lightly Through cloud ripples slip, Then I'm sure that shining brightly It's a fairy ship!
What if in it we were sailing Far and far away, With a wake of silver trailing, Till the golden day?
Why, we'd fly back home together Safely from the sky, For the moon's a fairy feather When the sun is high!
EASTER EGGS
Seven little nests of hay We have made, for Easter day Is to-morrow, and you know We must have them ready, so When the Rabbit comes she'll see We expected her, that we Children tried our very best Each to make the nicest nest.
One is in the lilac-bush, Near the ground--last year a thrush Built a nest there--let me see, Two are by the apple-tree, In the clover--that makes three-- One beside the playhouse door, --Three plus one, that must be four-- Two are in the tulip-bed-- Was it seven that I said? Oh, yes! six I've counted, and One is in our pile of sand.
* * * * *
Come and see! Oh, hurry, hurry! For the Rabbit, kind and furry, Has been here again and laid Eggs in every nest we made! Purple, orange, red, and blue, Pink and green and yellow, too, Like a bunch of finest flowers Ever seen, and all are ours! And oh, _look!_ What _do_ you think! Here our names are in white ink, All spelled nicely so we know Just where every egg should go! Is it not surprising, quite, How well Easter Rabbits write?
THE BIRDS' BATH
In our garden we have made Such a pretty little pool, Lined with pebbles neatly laid, Filled with water clean and cool.
When the sun shines warm and high Robins cluster round its brink, Never one comes flying by But will flutter down to drink.
Then they splash and splash and splash, Spattering little showers bright All around, till off they flash Singing sweetly their delight.
NOVEMBER MORNING
A tingling, misty marvel Blew hither in the night, And now the little peach-trees Are clasped in frozen light.
Upon the apple-branches An icy film is caught, With trailing threads of gossamer In pearly patterns wrought.
The autumn sun, in wonder, Is gayly peering through This silver-tissued network Across the frosty blue.
The weather-vane is fire-tipped, The honeysuckle shows A dazzling icy splendor, And crystal is the rose.
Around the eaves are fringes Of icicles that seem To mock the summer rainbows With many-colored gleam.
Along the walk, the pebbles Are each a precious stone; The grass is tasseled hoarfrost, The clover jewel-sown.
Such sparkle, sparkle, sparkle Fills all the frosty air, Oh, can it be that darkness Is ever anywhere!
THE RUNAWAY
A frantic clatter of horses' feet! A runaway's coming down the street! Flurry, scurry, Children, hurry! Drop your playthings! Quick! don't wait! Run and get within the gate! Push the baby in the door, Scramble in yourselves before --_Whoa! Whoa!_ There they go! Pell-mell rushing, snorting, quaking, Wagon rumbling, harness breaking, Frightened so they cannot know Everybody's shrieking "_Whoa!_" O my, don't cry! Whiz, bang, they've galloped by! No one hurt, but horses dashed Round a post and wagon smashed! Dear me! Dear me! When a runaway we see, Children, too, must run, oh, fast! Run and hide as it goes past!
LOST!
"Peep! Peep! Peep!" Poor little chick! Little cry so weak and small, Meadow grass so tall and thick, And the clover tufts so tall!
Little heart in sore distress, Longing for the mother wing; Through the weedy wilderness Searching for its sheltering!
THE QUEEN'S PAGE
Once I was a little page To a May-day queen, And I wore a little coat Made of Lincoln green.
Oh, the queen was beautiful! And she had a bright Crown of golden cuckoo-buds And violets blue and white.
On the step beside her throne I sat very still, Ready, as a page should be, To obey her will.
And before us little girls, Each with garlands gay, Round a May-pole danced and sang Almost all the day.
OUR TREE-TOAD
Grandfather says the tree-toad, That to our yard has come, Is just a little wee toad No bigger than his thumb!
And that his coat's so queer it Can turn from green to blue! Whatever color's near it, Why, that's its color, too!
And then Grandfather snickers And says, "Would you suppose He climbs with little stickers On all his little toes?
"And don't you wish your toes now Were fixed like his? For, see, Right up the elm he goes now And sticks tight to the tree!"
"But then," he says, "O dear me! If all the little boys Could _screech_ as loud, I fear me There'd be a dreadful noise!"
IN THE WATER-WORLD
Down among the water-weeds, Darting through the grass, Round about the tasseled reeds, See the minnows pass! See the little turtles there, Hiding, half asleep, Tucked in tangled mosses where Tiny crayfish creep!
Watch the trailing grasses string Strands of purple shells That the lazy ripples ring, Sweet as silver bells; Watch the sunshine sift and drift Down the eddy whirls, Whence the laden whiteweeds lift Loads of blossom pearls;
While the limpid shadows slip Softly in between, And the pussy-willows dip Lightly in the green Of the mocking trees that grow Down the water-sky, Flecked with fleecy clouds that blow Where the reed-birds fly.
Oh, such marvels manifold Fill the summer stream, Such enticing things untold Through the ripples gleam, If you could a moment turn Into what you wish, Would it not be fun to be Yonder little fish?
WHO WAS IT?
Of course I've heard the moon's green cheese, But will somebody tell me, please, Who was it took so big a bite There's scarcely any left to-night?
VISITING DAY
I'll wear the striped skirt that trails, And you the flowered one, And we will take our parasols And walk out in the sun.
We'll leave our dolly-carts at home, For ladies, when they call, Must not have children with them, no, That would not do at all.
And I'll be "Mrs. Wilkinson," And you'll be "Mrs. Brown," And we will call and call and call On every one in town!
A VALENTINE TO CATHERINE
If you will be my True-Love, I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll ask a little bluebird To sing a song to you.
When first you see a violet And softly pricking through The garden-bed come crocuses And golden tulips, too,
Then watch! for he'll be coming, The little bird of blue; He'll sing, "I love you, Sweetheart, It's true, true, true!"
FIREFLIES
Look! Look down in the garden how The firefly lights are flitting now! A million tiny sparks I know Flash through the pinks and golden-glow, And I am very sure that all Have come to light a fairy ball, And if I could stay up I'd see How gay the fairy folks can be!
THE RAINY DAY
Let's sail all day, away, away To the splendid Spanish Main And the sultry seas of the Caribbees And skies that never rain!
As pirates bold with bags of gold And cutlasses and things, We'll pack doubloons and silver spoons In chests with iron rings.
And these we'll carry and secretly bury In cannibal isles afar; Like Captain Kidd, when they're safely hid We won't tell where they are.
Let's sail all day, away, away To the splendid Spanish Main And the sultry seas of the Caribbees --But at night sail home again!
THE FIRST RED-BIRD
I heard a song at daybreak, So honey-sweet and clear, The essence of all joyous things Seemed mingling in its cheer.
The frosty world about me I searched with eager gaze, But all was slumber-bound and wrapped In violet-tinted haze.
Then suddenly a sunbeam Shot slanting o'er the hill, And once again from out the sky I heard that honied trill.
And there upon a poplar, Poised at its topmost height, I saw a little singer clad In scarlet plumage bright.
The poplar branches quivered, By dawn winds lightly blown, And like a breeze-swept poppy-flower The red-bird rocked and shone.
The blue sky, and his feathers Flashed o'er by golden light, Oh, all my heart with rapture thrilled, It was so sweet a sight!
THE WEATHER-VANE
Turn, turn, when pelting rain Rushes down the window-pane; Turn, turn, and turn again When the sun shines, weather-vane!
Fie! Fie! to always be Emblem of uncertainty! Followed by the restless sea, Changeful moons may wax and wane, Yet the moons and sea-tides, too, Constant are compared to you! Fickle still you must remain Long as winds blow, weather-vane!
THE SWAN
Stately swan, so proud and white Glistening in the morning light, Come and tell me is it true That a snow-white swan like you, Guided by bright golden chains In his beak for bridle reins, Once upon a time from far Fabled lands where fairies are Brought a magic boat wherein Rode the brave knight Lohengrin?
Stately swan, so proud and white Glistening in the morning light, If you only wore a gold Harness, like that swan of old, And if trailing in your wake Sailing on the silver lake Was a boat of magic and You could float to fairy-land, Then I'd jump in and begin Traveling like Lohengrin!
BABY'S BAKING
So, so, spade and hoe, Little pile of sand; See it turning into dough In the baby's hand!
Little pie with crimpy crust, Set it in the sun; Sugar it with powdered dust, And bake it till it's done.
A SURE SIGN
When you see upon the walk Circles newly made of chalk, And around them all the day Little boys in eager play Rolling marbles, agates fine, Banded, polished, red as wine, Marbles crystal as the dew, Each with rainbows twisted through, Marbles gay in painted clay, Flashing, twinkling in your way, When the walk has blossomed so, Surely every one must know None need wonder who has heard Robin, wren, or Peter-bird; Sure the sign as song or wing, It is spring!
ANOTHER SURE SIGN
When pink-cheeked on every hand Little girls are seen to stand Turning skipping ropes,--_swish-swash!_-- While their laughing playmates run Jumping over,--oh, what fun!-- _Swish-swash! Swish-swash!_ Two and two now, see them dash! _One, two, one, two,_ Round they scamper, safely through, _Swish-swash!_ such merry skipping, _One, two,_--some one is tripping! Ah, she's out now and must pay Turning rope while others play! See the bobbing golden curls, Little skirts in rhythmic swirls Rising, falling, to the beat Of the little skipping feet! When these pretty sights appear, It is surely very clear April's here!
THE ROBIN'S BATH
A flash and flicker of dripping wings, A wet red breast that glows Bright as the newly opened bud The first red poppy shows, A sparkle of flying rainbow drops, A glint of golden sun On ruffled feathers, a snatch of song, And the robin's bath is done.
THE FROSTED PANE
When I wakened, very early, All my window-pane was pearly With a sparkling little picture traced in lines of shining white; Some magician with a gleaming Frosty brush, while I was dreaming, Must have come and by the starlight worked through all the quiet night.
He had painted frosty people, And a frosty church and steeple, And a frosty bridge and river tumbling over frosty rocks; Frosty mountain peaks that glimmered, And fine frosty ferns that shimmered, And a frosty little pasture full of frosty little flocks.
It was all touched in so lightly And it glittered, oh, so whitely, That I gazed and gazed in wonder at the lovely painted pane; Then the sun rose high and higher With his wand of golden fire Till, alas, my picture vanished and I looked for it in vain!
THE FIRST SNOW
The snow! the snow! Whoop! Hooray! Ho! Ho! Plunge in the deep drifts and toss it up so! Rollick and roll in the feathery fleece Plucked out of the breasts of the marvelous geese By the little old woman who lives in the sky; Have ever you seen her? No, neither have I!
GRANDFATHER KNOWS
Grandfather says of all things The silliest he's heard Is that some children call things They've never seen, "absurd!" And have their doubts of true things, And won't believe, because They say, "If you but knew things, There _is_ no Santa Claus!"
Grandfather says he _knows_ him, And sees him every year, And Santa often shows him The playthings he brings here; He says, too, Santa told him If any girls and boys Laugh at and won't uphold him, They'll not get any toys!
SLEIGH-BELLS
Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle! Happy winter-time! Baby's eyes a-twinkle, Hear the sleigh-bells chime!
Each one rings a merry Ting-a-ling-a-ling! For a sleigh-bell fairy Hides inside to sing.
See them quake and quiver, Up and downward tossed, Seems as if they shiver In the nipping frost!
Shiver into laughter, Jolly little elves! Till we laugh thereafter, Merry as themselves!
THE RED-BIRD
Swept lightly by the south wind The elm-leaves softly stirred, And in their pale green clusters There straightway bloomed a bird!
His glossy feathers glistened With dyes as richly red As any tulip flaming From out the garden bed.
But ah, unlike the tulips, In joyous strain, ere long, This red-bird flower unfolded A heart of golden song!
WILD BEASTS
I will be a lion And you shall be a bear, And each of us will have a den Beneath a nursery chair; And you must growl and growl and growl, And I will roar and roar, And then--why, then--you'll growl again, And I will roar some more!
WHEREFORE WINGS?
Heigho, sparrow! Reckless of the rain; When chill the cheerless wind grows, Chirping might and main! Is it naught, then, when the rose Blows again?
Beating, sleeting on your draggled coat! Surely, 'tis enough to drown Any happy note Nestling in that downy brown Little throat.
Ah me, sparrow! Had I but your power, Think you in the freezing sleet I would waste an hour? --I'd sing my sweetest to a sweet Orange flower!
BASKING
Frosty winter chased away By the blessed sun, Down upon the garden walks Basking has begun.
Oh, the happy, happy heat! How the pulses stir, How it warms the hearts beneath Little coats of fur!
Oh, the happy pussy-cats! Days to doze and doze, And what pleasant dreams they dream Only pussy knows.
WITH A MAY-BASKET FOR BABY AGNES
Peach-buds to meet thee, Robins to greet thee, Hey, little Sweetheart! and May morning, hey! Sunbeam and sing time, Bluebird and wing time, This time is kiss time for sweethearts, I say!
Dearest, God bless thee, Fold and caress thee, Unto thy cradle may good fairies fly! Fortune be fair for thee, This is my prayer for thee, Lullaby, little one, hush-a-by-bye!
So for a love now Token thereof now, Sweet, see this tiny May-basket I bring; Posies to play with, Pinks to be gay with, Dear little baby of sunshine and spring!
THE LITTLE NEST
A little picture haunts me; It comes and comes again; It is a tiny bird's-nest, All ragged from the rain.
It clings within a birch-tree Upon the moorland's edge, Between the barren branches, Above the swaying sedge.
The sky is gray behind it, And when the north winds blow, The birch-tree bends and shivers, And tosses to and fro.
I wonder, does it haunt them, The birds that flew away? And will they come to seek it, Some sunny summer day?
I wonder, does some redbreast Upon an orange-bough, Still picture it as plainly As I can see it now?
Ah me! I would forget it, Yet still, with sense of pain, I see this little bird's-nest Within the driving rain.
CHRISTMAS CANDLES
When the Christ-child comes again Softly down the street to-night, Twinkling through the window pane Let our candles shed their light.
Though the clouds are dark above And the golden stars are dim, We can tell Him of our love If we set a light for Him.
Oh, the blessed Christ-child dear, In His robe of shining white, Let our candles give Him cheer As He passes by to-night!
A SONG OF THE CHRISTMAS-TREE
We can tell Him of our love If we set a light for Him.
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the Christmas-tree With its glory and glitter and mystery! Its twinkling candles that bud and bloom Like strange bright flowers in the darkened room, Its glistening gold and silver balls, Its candy canes and its blue-eyed dolls, The sugary fruits it bears,--for oh, Where else do such wonderful sweetmeats grow?-- Its tasseled horns and its pop-corn strings And all its myriad marvelous things! O-ho! and ah-ha! And a hip hurrah! For our dear and beautiful tree, because It grew in the gardens of Santa Claus
And he brought it here in his reindeer sleigh From ever and ever so far away! _So, children, come, let us make a ring And all clasp hands as we dance and sing To the blessed tree and the blessed night When the Christ-child walks in the candles' light!_
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the Christmas-tree That Santa Claus brought to you and me! He cut it down with a silver axe-- There's a tree in each of his million packs!-- And carried it safely over the snow And down our chimney and here, you know; Its golden cobwebs that glint and gleam He took from a lovely Christmas dream And tangled them over it till, behold, It shines like the fabled Fleece of Gold!
Oh, Santa Claus, here's A thrice three cheers For garlands green and berries of red, And mistletoe clustering overhead, For the joy of our Christmas festival! But our beautiful tree, it is best of all! _And circling still in a merry ring We'll still clasp hands as we dance and sing To the blessed tree and the blessed night When the Christ-child walks in the candles' light!_
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the Christmas-tree! And look, O look to its tip and see The feathery slim fir leaves and where, In the topmost boughs, is the image fair Of the Christ-child nestling amid the green And the little brown cones that peep between!
And high above Him glittering bright A gold star sparkles with golden light, And we children think, as we gaze on them, Of the wonderful Star of Bethlehem, Of the lovely Star And the Kings who far, Oh, far, came seeking a Babe and brought Their love and worship to Him they sought, And made Him gifts, as the gifts we make With loving hearts for that Baby's sake. _Oh, come, come all, and join the ring! Let all clasp hands as we dance and sing To the blessed tree and the blessed night When the Christ-child walks in the candles' light!_
OUR KITTENS
Our kittens have the softest fur, And the sweetest little purr, And such little velvet paws With such cunning little claws, And blue eyes, just like the sky! (_Must_ they turn green, by and by?) Two are striped like tigers, three Are as black as black can be, And they run so fast and play With their tails, and are so gay, Is it not a pity that Each must grow into a cat?
IN JULY
Let us find a shady wady Pretty little brook; Let us have some candy handy, And a picture-book.
There all day we'll stay and play and Never mind the heat, While the water gleaming, streaming, Ripples round our feet.
And we'll gather curly pearly Mussel-shells while bright Frightened minnows darting, parting, Scurry out of sight.
What if, what if,--heigho! my oh!-- All the "ifs" were true, And the little fishes wishes, Now, what would you do?
A VALENTINE TO A LITTLE CHILD
Dear heart, on this thrice-blessed day, An thou my sweetheart be, The rose of love shall bide alway Upon the red-rose tree.
And in the garden of my heart So ceaselessly shall shine, The little birds will know thou art Mine own true Valentine.
And I will bid them wing and sing To all good winds that blow, That to thy little feet they bring All blessings, even so.
And o'er thy cradle I will coax, By every lucky charm, The friendship of the fairy folks To fold thee from all harm.
So may they hover round thy head And gently thereupon, As doth the April sunshine, shed Most gracious benison.
And all fair gifts that Fortune hath, I'll pray she promise these, And that she loose about thy path All sweet influences.
Then here's a kiss! and there's a kiss! And kisses, one, two, three! I seal them in the folds of this, And speed them unto thee!
ZIP!
When we went to drive the cows home Down the lane to-day, There was such a funny bunny Jumped across the way!
All we saw as he ran past us, Faster than a quail, Was his snow-white fuzzy-wuzzy Little cotton tail!
A LITTLE CAROL
Welcome, little Brother! Lowly, holy One! Hail thee, Virgin Mother, More than any other Blessed in thy Son!
Child, since the poor manger Once thou didst not scorn, Rest thee, little Stranger, Folded from all danger, In our hearts new-born!
Nestle thus, we pray thee, In our love's caress; Fain we are to pay thee Worship, and obey thee, Babe, and Prince no less!
SONG
Honey-dew drippity-drops for a feast, Dreams of delight when the feasting has ceased, Poppy and rose, Drain them and doze; This is a song that the butterfly knows.
THE THREE CANDLES
When the Christmas-tide drew nigh, On a shelf three candles bright, Two were red and one was white, Waited for who came to buy.