Chapter 3
"O I live in the heart of the whole round world, And it all belongs to me!"
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5
THE DARING PRINCE
A daring prince, of the realm Rangg Dhune, Once went up in a big balloon
That caught and stuck on the horns of the moon, And he hung up there till next day noon-- When all at once he exclaimed, "Hoot-toot!" And then came down in his parachute.
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A DUBIOUS "OLD KRISS"
Us-folks is purty _pore_--but Ma She's waitin'--two years more--tel Pa He serve his term out. Our Pa he-- _He's in the Penitenchurrie_!
Now don't you never _tell_!--'cause _Sis_, The _baby_, _she_ don't know he is.-- 'Cause she wuz only four, you know, He kissed her last an' hat to go!
Pa alluz liked Sis best of all Us childern.--'Spect it's 'cause she fall "When she'uz ist a _child_, one day-- An' make her back look thataway.
Pa--'fore he be a burglar--he's A locksmiff, an' maked locks, an' keys, An' knobs you pull fer bells to ring, An' he could ist make _anything_!--
'Cause our Ma say he can!--An' this Here little pair o' crutches Sis Skips round on--Pa maked _them_--yes-sir!-- An' silivur-plate-name here fer her!
Pa's out o' work when Chris'mus come One time, an' stay away from home, An' 's drunk an' 'buse our Ma, an' swear They ain't no "Old Kriss" anywhere!
An' Sis she alluz say they wuz A' Old Kriss--an' she alluz does. But ef they is a' Old Kriss, why, When's Chris'mus, Ma she alluz cry?
This Chris'mus _now_, we live here in Where Ma's rent's alluz due ag'in-- An' she "_ist slaves_"--I heerd her say She did--ist them words thataway!
An' th'other night, when all's so cold An' stove's 'most out--our Ma she rolled Us in th'old feather-bed an' said, "To-morry's Chris'mus--go to bed,
"An' thank yer blessed stars fer this-- We don't _'spect_ nothin' from Old Kriss!" An' cried, an' locked the door, an' prayed, An' turned the lamp down.... An' I laid
There, thinkin' in the dark ag'in, "Ef _wuz_ Old Kriss, he can't git in, 'Cause ain't no chimbly here at all-- Ist old stovepipe stuck frue the wall!"
I sleeped nen.--An' wuz dreamin' some When I waked up an' morning's come,-- Fer our Ma she wuz settin' square Straight up in bed, a-readin' there
Some letter 'at she 'd read, an' quit, An' nen hold like she's huggin' it.-- An' diamon' ear-rings she don't _know_ Wuz in her ears tel I say so--
An' wake the rest up. An' the sun In frue the winder dazzle-un Them eyes o' Sis's, wiv a sure- Enough gold chain Old Kriss bringed to 'er!
An' _all_ of us git gold things!--Sis, Though, say she know it "_ain't_ Old Kriss-- He kissed her, so she waked an' saw Him skite out--an' it wuz her Pa."
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A SONG OF SINGING
Sing! gangling lad, along the brink Of wild brook-ways of shoal and deep, Where killdees dip, and cattle drink, And glinting little minnows leap! Sing! slimpsy lass who trips above And sets the foot-log quivering! Sing! bittern, bumble-bee, and dove-- Sing! Sing! Sing!
Sing as you will, O singers all Who sing because you _want_ to sing! Sing! peacock on the orchard wall, Or tree-toad by the trickling spring! Sing! every bird on every bough-- Sing! every living, loving thing-- Sing any song, and anyhow, But Sing! Sing! Sing!
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THE JAYBIRD
The Jaybird he's my _favorite_ Of all the birds they is! I think he's quite a stylish sight In that blue suit of his: An' when he' lights an' shuts his wings, His coat's a "cutaway"-- I guess it's only when he sings You'd know he wuz a jay.
I like to watch him when he's lit In top of any tree, 'Cause all birds git wite out of it When _he_ 'lights, an' they see How proud he act', an' swell an' spread His chest out more an' more, An' raise the feathers on his head Like it's cut pompadore!
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A BEAR FAMILY
Wunst, 'way West in Illinoise, Wuz two Bears an' their two boys: An' the two boys' names, you know, Wuz--like _ours_ is,--Jim an' Jo; An' their _parunts'_ names wuz same's, All big grown-up people's names,-- Ist _Miz_ Bear, the neighbers call 'Em, an' _Mister_ Bear--'at's all. Yes--an' Miz Bear scold him, too, Ist like grown folks _shouldn't_ do!
Wuz a grea'-big river there, An', 'crosst that, 's a mountain where Old Bear said some day he'd go, Ef she don't quit scoldin'so! So, one day when he been down The river, fishin', 'most to town, An' come back 'thout no fish a-tall, An' Jim an' Jo they run an' bawl An' tell their ma their pa hain't fetch' No fish,--she scold again an' ketch Her old broom up an' biff him, too.--
An' he ist cry, an' say, "_Boo-hoo_! I _told_ you what I 'd do some day'." An' he ist turned an' runned away To where's the grea'-big river there, An' ist _splunged_ in an' swum to where The mountain's at, 'way th'other side, An' clumbed up there. An' Miz Bear _cried_-- An' little Jo an' little Jim-- Ist like their ma--bofe cried fer him!-- But he clumbed on, _clean out o' sight_, He wuz so mad!--An' served 'em right!
Nen--when the Bear got 'way on top The mountain, he heerd somepin' flop Its wings--an' somepin' else he heerd A-rattlin'-like.--An' he wuz _skeerd_, An' looked 'way up, an'--_Mercy sake!_--
It wuz a' Eagul an' a SNAKE! An'-sir! the Snake, he bite an' kill' The Eagul, an' they bofe fall till They strike the ground--_k'spang-k'spat!_-- Wite where the Bear wuz standin' at! An' when here come the Snake at him, The Bear he think o' little Jim An' Jo, he did--an' their ma, too,-- All safe at home; an' he ist flew Back down the mountain--an' could hear The old Snake rattlin', sharp an' clear, Wite clos't behind!--An' Bear he's so All tired out, by time, you know, He git down to the river there, He know' he can't _swim_ back to where His folks is at. But ist wite nen He see a boat an' six big men
'At's been a-shootin' ducks: An' so He skeerd them out the boat, you know, An' ist jumped in--an' Snake _he_ tried To jump in, too, but failed outside Where all the water wuz; an' so The Bear grabs one the things you row The boat wiv an' ist whacks the head Of the old Snake an' kills him dead!--
An' when he's killed him dead, w'y, nen _The old Snake's drownded dead again_! Nen Bear set in the boat an' bowed His back an' rowed--an' rowed--an' rowed-- Till he's safe home--so tired he can't Do nothin' but lay there an' pant An' tell his childern, "Bresh my coat!" An' tell his wife, "Go chain my boat!" An' they're so glad he's back, they say "They _knowed_ he's comin' thataway To ist surprise the dear ones there!" An' Jim an' Jo they dried his hair
An' pulled the burrs out; an' their ma She ist set there an' helt his paw Till he wuz sound asleep, an' nen She tell' him she won't scold again-- Never--never--never-- Ferever an' ferever!
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SOME SONGS AFTER MASTER SINGERS
I
SONG
[W.S.]
With a hey! and a hi! and a hey-ho rhyme! O the shepherd lad He is ne'er so glad As when he pipes, in the blossom-time, So rare! While Kate picks by, yet looks not there. So rare! so rare! _With a hey! and a hi! and a ho!_ _The grasses curdle where the daisies blow!_
With a hey! and a hi! and a hey-ho vow! Then he sips her face At the sweetest place-- And ho! how white is the hawthorn now!-- So rare!-- And the daisied world rocks round them there. So rare! so rare! _With a hey! and a hi! and a ho!_ _The grasses curdle where the daisies blow!_
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II
TO THE CHILD JULIA
[R.H.]
Little Julia, since that we May not as our elders be, Let us blithely fill the days Of our youth with pleasant plays. First we'll up at earliest dawn, While as yet the dew is on The sooth'd grasses and the pied Blossomings of morningtide; Next, with rinsed cheeks that shine As the enamell'd eglantine, We will break our fast on bread With both cream and honey spread; Then, with many a challenge-call, We will romp from house and hall, Gypsying with the birds and bees Of the green-tress'd garden trees. In a bower of leaf and vine Thou shalt be a lady fine Held in duress by the great Giant I shall personate. Next, when many mimics more Like to these we have played o'er,
We'll betake us home-along Hand in hand at evensong.
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III
THE DOLLY'S MOTHER
[W.W.]
A little maid, of summers four-- Did you compute her years,-- And yet how infinitely more To me her age appears:
I mark the sweet child's serious air, At her unplayful play,-- The tiny doll she mothers there And lulls to sleep away,
Grows--'neath the grave similitude-- An infant real, to me, And _she_ a saint of motherhood In hale maturity.
So, pausing in my lonely round, And all unseen of her, I stand uncovered--her profound And abject worshipper.
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IV
WIND OF THE SEA
[A.T.]
Wind of the Sea, come fill my sail-- Lend me the breath of a freshening gale And bear my port-worn ship away! For O the greed of the tedious town-- The shutters up and the shutters down! Wind of the Sea, sweep over the bay And bear me away!--away!
Whither you bear me, Wind of the Sea, Matters never the least to me: Give me your fogs, with the sails adrip, Or the weltering path thro' the starless night-- On, somewhere, is a new daylight And the cheery glint of another ship As its colors dip and dip!
Wind of the Sea, sweep over the bay And bear me away!--away!
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V
SUBTLETY
[R.B.]
Whilst little Paul, convalescing, was staying Close indoors, and his boisterous classmates paying
Him visits, with fresh school-notes and surprises,-- With nettling pride they sprung the word "Athletic," With much advice and urgings sympathetic Anent "Athletic exercises." Wise as Lad might look, quoth Paul: "I've pondered o'er that 'Athletic,' but I mean to take, before that, Downstairic and outdooric exercises."
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VI
BORN TO THE PURPLE
[W.M.]
Most-like it was this kingly lad Spake out of the pure joy he had In his child-heart of the wee maid Whose eerie beauty sudden laid A spell upon him, and his words Burst as a song of any bird's:--
A peerless Princess thou shalt be, Through wit of love's rare sorcery: To crown the crown of thy gold hair Thou shalt have rubies, bleeding there Their crimson splendor midst the marred Pulp of great pearls, and afterward
Leaking in fainter ruddy stains Adown thy neck-and-armlet-chains Of turquoise, chrysoprase, and mad Light-frenzied diamonds, dartling glad Swift spirts of shine that interfuse As though with lucent crystal dews That glance and glitter like split rays Of sunshine, born of burgeoning Mays When the first bee tilts down the lip Of the first blossom, and the drip Of blended dew and honey heaves Him blinded midst the underleaves. For raiment, Fays shall weave for thee-- Out of the phosphor of the sea And the frayed floss of starlight, spun With counterwarp of the firm sun-- A vesture of such filmy sheen As, through all ages, never queen Therewith strove truly to make less One fair line of her loveliness. Thus gowned and crowned with gems and gold, Thou shalt, through centuries untold, Rule, ever young and ever fair, As now thou rulest, smiling there.
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OLD MAN WHISKERY-WHEE-KUM-WHEEZE
Old Man Whiskery-Whee-Kum-Wheeze Lives 'way up in the leaves o' trees. An' wunst I slipped up-stairs to play In Aunty's room, while she 'uz away; An' I clumbed up in her cushion-chair An' ist peeked out o' the winder there; An' there I saw--wite out in the trees-- Old Man Whiskery-Whee-Kum-Wheeze!
An' Old Man Whiskery-Whee-Kum-Wheeze Would bow an' bow, with the leaves in the breeze, An' waggle his whiskers an' raggledy hair, An' bow to me in the winder there! An' I 'd peek out, an' he'd peek in An' waggle his whiskers an' bow ag'in, Ist like the leaves'u'd wave in the breeze-- Old Man Whiskery-Whee-Kum-Wheeze!
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An' Old Man Whiskery-Whee-Kum-Wheeze, Seem-like, says to me: "See my bees A-bringin' my dinner? An' see my cup O' locus'-blossoms they've plum' filled up?" An' "_Um-yum, honey!_" wuz last he said, An' waggled his whiskers an' bowed his head; An' I yells, "Gimme some, won't you, please, Old Man Whiskery-Whee-Kum-Wheeze?"
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LITTLE-GIRL-TWO-LITTLE-GIRLS
I'm twins, I guess, 'cause my Ma say I'm two little girls. An' one o' me Is _Good_ little girl; an' th'other 'n' she Is _Bad little girl as she can be!_ An' Ma say so, 'most ever' day.
An' she's the _funniest_ Ma! 'Cause when My Doll won't mind, an' I ist cry, W'y, nen my Ma she sob an' sigh, An' say, "Dear _Good_ little girl, good-bye!-- _Bad_ little girl's comed here again!"
Last time 'at Ma act' thataway, I cried all to myse'f awhile Out on the steps, an' nen I smile, An' git my Doll all fix' in style, An' go in where Ma's at, an' say: _"Morning to you, Mommy dear_! _Where's that Bad little girl wuz here_? _Bad little girl's goned clean away_, _An' Good little girl's comed back to stay."_
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A GUSTATORY ACHIEVEMENT
Last Thanksgivin'-dinner we Et at Granny's house, an' she
Had--ist like she alluz does-- Most an' best pies ever wuz.
Canned _black_ burry-pie an' _goose_ Burry, squshin'-full o' juice; An' _roz_burry--yes, an' plum-- Yes, an' _churry_-pie--_um-yum_!
Peach an' punkin, too, you bet. Lawzy! I kin taste 'em yet! Yes, an' _custard_-pie, an' _mince!_
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An'--I--_ain't_--et--no--pie--since!
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CLIMATIC SORCERY
When frost's all on our winder, an' the snow's All out-o'-doors, our "Old-Kriss"-milkman goes A-drivin' round, ist purt'-nigh froze to death, With his old white mustache froze full o' breath.
But when it's summer an' all warm ag'in, He comes a-whistlin' an' a-drivin in Our alley, 'thout no coat on, ner ain't cold, Ner his mustache ain't white, ner he ain't old.
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A PARENT REPRIMANDED
Sometimes I think 'at Parents does Things ist about as bad as _us_--
Wite 'fore our vurry eyes, at that! Fer one time Pa he scold' my Ma 'Cause he can't find his hat; An' she ist _cried_, she did! An' I Says, "Ef you scold my Ma Ever again an' make her cry, Wy, you sha'n't _be_ my Pa!" An' nen he laugh' an' find his hat Ist wite where Ma she said it's at!
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THE TREASURE OF THE WISE MAN
O the night was dark and the night was late, And the robbers came to rob him; And they picked the locks of his palace-gate, The robbers that came to rob him-- They picked the locks of his palace-gate, Seized his jewels and gems of state, His coffers of gold and his priceless plate,-- The robbers that came to rob him.
But loud laughed he in the morning red!-- For of what had the robbers robbed him?-- Ho! hidden safe, as he slept in bed, When the robbers came to rob him,-- They robbed him not of a golden shred Of the childish dreams in his wise old head-- "And they're welcome to all things else," he said, When the robbers came to rob him.
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