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A CHILD'S GARDEN
OF
VERSES
BY
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
NEW YORK
THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY
PUBLISHERS
^v
Copyright, 1918- By THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY
OCT 15 1918
CONTENTS
A Child's Garden of Verses
CHAPTER PAGE
I. Bed in Summer 7
II. A Thouf?ht 8
III. At the Sea-side 9
IV. Young Night Thou.^ht 10
V. Whole Duty of Children .... 11
VI. Rain 12
VII. Pirate Story 13
VIII. Foreign Lands 14
IX. Windy Nights 16
X. Travel 17
XI. Singing 19
XII. Looking Forward 20
XIII. A Good Play 21
XIV. Where go the Boats? 22
XV. Auntie's Skirts 23
XVI. The Land of Counterpane .... 24
XVIL The Land of Nod 25
XVIII. My Shadow ^
XIX. System 28
XX. A Good Boy 29
XXI. Escape at Bedtime 30
XXII. Marching Song 31
CONTENTS
CHAPTER TAQE
XXIII. The Cow 32
XXIV. Happy Thought 33
XXV. The Wind 34
XXVI. Keepsake Mill 35
XXVII. Good and Bad Children .... 37
XXVIII. Foreign Children 39
XXIX. The Sun's Travels 40
XXX. The Lamplighter , 41
XXXI. My Bed is a Boat 42
XXXII. The Moon 43
XXXIII. The Swing 44
XXXIV. Time to Rise 45
XXXV. Looking-glass River 46
XXXVI. Fairy Bread ....... 48
XXXVII. From a Railway Carriage .... 49
XXXVIII. Winter-Time 50
XXXIX. The Hayloft 52
XL. Farewell to the Farm 53
XLI. North-west Passage 54
The Child Alone
I.
II. III. IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
The Unseen Playmate 57
My Ship and I 59
My Kingdom 60
Picture-Books in Winter .... 62
My Treasures 64
Block City 65
The Land of Story-Books , , . . 67
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
PAGE
VIII. Armies in the Fire . . . . o c 69 IX. The Little Land 71
Garden Days
I. Night and Day 74
II. Nest Eggs 77
III. The Flowers 79
IV. Summer Sun 80
V. The Dumb Soldier 82
VI. Autumn Fires 84
VII. The Gardener 85
VIII. Historical Associations .... 87
A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES
BED IN SUMMER
In winter I get up at night And dress by yellow candle-light, in summer, quite the other way, I have to go to bed by day.
I have to go to bed and see The birds still hopping on the tree, Or hear the grown-up people's feet Still going past me in the street.
And does it not seem hard to you, When all the sky is clear and blue, And I should like so much to play, To have to go to bed by day?
A child's garden of verses
II.
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.
A child's garden of verses
III.
AT THE SEA-SIDE.
When I was down beside the sea A wooden spade they gave to me To dig the sandy shore.
My holes were empty Hke a cup.
In every hole the sea came up,
Till it could come no more.
A child's garden of verses
IV.
YOUNG NIGHT THOUGHT.
All night long and every night, When my mama puts out the light, I see the people marching by, As plain as day, before my eye.
Armies and emperors and kings, All carrying different kinds of things. And marching in so grand a way. You never saw the like by day.
So fine a show was never seen At the great circus on the green; For every kind of beast and man Is marching in that caravan.
At first they move a little slow, But still the faster on they go, And still beside them close I keep Until we reach the town of Sleep.
10
A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES
V.
WHOLE DUTY OF CHILDREN.
A CHILD should always say what's true And speak when he is spoken to, And behave mannerly at table; At least as far as he is able.
11
A child's garden of verses
VI. RAIN.
The rain is raining all around, It falls on field and tree,
It rains on the umbrellas here, And on the ships at sea.
12
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UP INTO THE CHERRY TREE,
WHO SHOULD CLIMB BUT LITTLE ME?"
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A child's garden of verses
VII. PIRATE STORY.
Three of us afloat in the meadow by the swing, Three of us aboard in the basket on the lea.
Winds are in the air, they are blowing in the spring, And waves are on the meadow like the waves there are at sea.
Where shall we adventure, to-day that we're afloat, Wary of the weather and steering by a star?
Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat.
To Providence, or Babylon, or off to Malabar?
Hi ! but here's a squadron a-rowing on the sea — Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar !
Quick, and we'll escape them, they're as mad as they can be, The wicket is the harbour and the garden is the shore.
13
A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES
VIII.
FOREIGN LANDS.
Up into the cherry tree Who should climb but little me? I held the trunk with both my hands And looked abroad on foreign lands.
I saw the next door garden lie, Adorned with flowers, before my eye, And many pleasant places more That I had never seen before.
I saw the dimpling river pass And be the sky's blue looking-glass, The dusty roads go up and down With people tramping in to town.
If I could find a higher tree Farther and farther I should see, To where the grown-up river slips Into the sea among the ships,
u
A child's garden of verses
To where the roads on either hand Lead onward into fairy land, Where all the children dine at five, And all the playthings come alive.
15
A child's garden of verses
IX.
WINDY NIGHTS.
Whenever the moon and stars are set,
Whenever the wind is high, All night long in the dark and wet,
A man goes riding by. Late in the night when the fires are out, Why does he gallop and gallop about.''
Whenever the trees are crying aloud, And ships are tossed at sea,
By, on the highway, low and loud, By at the gallop goes he.
By at the gallop he goes, and then
By he comes back at the gallop again.
16
A child's garden of verses
X.
TRAVEL.
I SHOULD like to rise and go Where the golden apples grow ; — Where below another skj Parrot islands anchored lie, And, watched by cockatoos and goats, Lonely Crusoes building boats; — Where in sunshine reaching out Eastern cities, miles about. Are with mosque and minaret Among sandy gardens set. And the rich goods from near and far Hang for sale in the bazaar ; — Where the Great Wall round China goes, And on one side the desert blows. And with bell and voice and drum, Cities on the other hum ; — Where are forests, hot as fire. Wide as England, tall as a spire, 17
A child's garden of verses
Full of apes and cocoa-nuts And the negro hunters' huts ; — Where the knotty crocodile Lies and blinks in the Nile, And the red flamingo flies Hunting fish before his eyes ; — Where in jungles, near and far, Man-devouring tigers are. Lying close and giving ear Lest the hunt be drawing near, Or a comer-by be seen Swinging in a palanquin ; — Where among the desert sands Some deserted city stands. All its children, sweep and prince, Grown to manhood ages since, Not a foot in street or house. Not a stir of child or mouse. And when kindly falls the night. In all the toAvn no spark of light. There I'll come when I'm a man With a camel caravan; Light a fire in the gloom Of some dusty dining room ; See the pictures on the walls, Heroes, fights and festivals; And in a corner find the toys Of the old Egyptian boys.
18
A child's garden of verses
XI.
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.
19
A child's garden of verses
XIL
LOOKING FORWARD.
When I am grown to man's estate I shall be very proud and great, And tell the other girls and boys Not to meddle with my toys.
20
A child's garden of verses
XIII.
A GOOD PLAY.
We built a ship upon the stairs All made of the back-bedroom chairs, And filled it full of sofa pillows To go a-sailing on the billows.
We took a saw and several nails, And water in the nursery pails ; And Tom said, "Let us also take An apple and a slice of cake ;" — Which was enough for Tom and me To go a-sailing on, till tea.
We sailed along for days and days. And had the very best of plays ; But Tom fell out and hurt his knee. So there was no one left but me.
21
A CHILD S GARDEN OF VERSES
XIV. WHERE GO THE BOATS?
Dark brown is the river,
Golden is the sand. It flows along for ever,
With trees on either hand.
Green leaves a-floating.
Castles of the foam. Boats of mine a-boating —
Where will all come home?
On goes the river
And out past the mill.
Away down the valley, Away down the hill.
Away down the river,
A hundred miles or more,
Other little children
Shall bring my boats ashore.
22
A child's garden of verses
XV.
AUNTIE'S SKIRTS.
Whenever Auntie moves around, Her dresses make a curious sound ; They trail behind her up the floor, And trundle after through the door.
23
A child's garden of verses
XVI.
THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE.
When I was sick and lay a-bed, I had two pillows at my head, And all my toys beside me lay To keep me happy all the day.
And sometimes for an hour or so I watched my leaden soldiers go, With different uniforms and drills. Among the bed-clothes, through the hills ;
And sometimes sent my ships in fleets All up and down among the sheets ; Or brought my trees and houses out. And planted cities all about.
I was the giant great and still That sits upon the pillow-hill, And sees before him, dale and plain, The pleasant land of counterpane.
24
A child's garden of verses
XVII.
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-sides 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.
25
A child's garden of verses
XVIII. MY SHADOW.
I HAVE a little shadow that goes in and out with
me, And what can be the use of him is more than I can
see. He is very, very like me from the heels up to the
head ; And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my
bed.
The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to
grow — Not at all like proper children, which is always very
slow; For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber
ball. And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him
at all.
26
A child's garden of verses
He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to
play, And can only make a fool of me in every sort of
way. He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can
see; I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks
to me!
One morning very early, before the sun was up,
I ros«e and found the shining dew on every butter- cup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy- head.
Had stayed at home behind mfe and was fast asleep in bed.
27
A child's garden of verses
XIX.
SYSTEM.
Every night my prayers I say, And get my dinner every day ; And every day that I've been good, I get an orange after food.
The child that is not clean and neat, With lots of toys and things to eat, He is a naughty child, I'm sure — Or else his dear papa is poor.
28
THE FRIENDLY COW ALL RED AND WHITE, I LOVE WITH ALL MY HEART."
eaK12T3a2
A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES
XX.
A GOOD BOY.
I WOKE before the morning, I was happy all the day, I never said an ugly word, but smiled and stuck to play.
And now at last the sun is going down behind the wood. And I am very happy, for I know that I've been good.
My bed is waiting cool and fresh, with linen smooth and
fair. And I must off to sleepsin-by, and not forget my
prayer.
I know that, till to-morrow I shall see the sun arise, No ugly dream shall fright my mind, no ugly sight my eyes.
But slumber hold me tightly till I waken in the dawn, And hear the thrushes singing in the lilacs round the lawn.
29
A child's garden of verses
XXI.
ESCAPE AT BEDTIME.
The lights from the parlour and kitchen shone out
Through the blinds and the windows and bars ; And high overhead and all moving about,
There were thousands of millions of stars. There ne'er were such thousands of leaves on a tree,
Nor of people in church or the Park, As the crowds of the stars that looked down upon me.
And that glittered and winked in the dark.
The Dog, and the Plough, and the Hunter, and all,
And the star of the sailor, and Mars, These shone in the sky, and the pail by the wall
Would be half full of water and stars. They saw me at last, and they chased me with cries,
And they soon had me packed into bed; But the glory kept shining and bright in my eyes,
And the stars going round in my head.
30
A child's garden of verses
XXII.
MARCHING SONG.
Bring the comb and play upon it!
Marching, here we come! Willie cocks his highland bonnet,
Johnnie beats the drum.
Mary Jane commands the party,
Peter leads the rear ; Feet in time, alert and hearty,
Each a Grenadier!
All in the most martial manner
Marching double-quick ; While the napkin like a banner
Waves upon the stick !
Here's enough of fame and pillage,
Great commander Jane ! Now that we've been round the village.
Let's go home again.
31
A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES
XXIII.
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.
32
A child's garden of verses
XXIV.
HAPPY THOUGHT.
The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.
33
A child's garden of verses
XXV.
THE V^IND.
I SAW you toss the kites on high And blow the birds about the sky ; And all around I heard you pass, Like ladies' skirts across the grass — O wind, a-blowing all day long, O wind, that sings so loud a song!
I saw the different things you did, But always you yourself you hid. I felt you push, I heard you call, I could not see yourself at all —
O wind, a-blowing all day long, O wind, that sings so loud a song!
O you that are so strong and cold, O blower, are you young or old? Are you a beast of field and tree. Or just a stronger child than me?
O wind, a-blowing all day long,.
O wind, that sings so loud a song!
34
A child's garden of verses
XXVI. 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 — Marvellous 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 of the boys are away. 35
A child's garden of verses
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 quarrelled, I with your marble of Saturday last.
Honoured and old and all gaily apparelled. Here we shall meet and remember the past.
36
A child's garden of verses
XXA^I.
GOOD AND BAD CHILDREN.
Children, j^ou are very little, And your bones are very brittle ; If you would grow great and stately. You must try to walk sedately.
You must still be bright and quiet, And content with simple diet; And remain, through all bewild'ring, Innocent and honest children.
Happy hearts and happy faces, Happy play in grassy places — That was how, in ancient ages. Children grew to kings and sages.
But the unkind and the unruly, And the sort who eat unduly. They must never hope for glory — Theirs is quite a different story! 37
A child's garden of verses
Cruel children, crying babies, All grow up as geese and gabies, Hated, as their age increases, By their nephews and their nieces.
38
A child's garden of verses
XXVIII.
FOREIGN CHILDREN.
Little Indian, Sioux or Crow,
Little frosty Eskimo,
Little Turk or Japance,
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 ?
39
A child's garden of verses
XXIX.
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.
W^hile 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.
40
A child's garden of verses
XXX.
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 !
41
A child's garden of verses
XXXI.
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.
42
A child's garden of verses
XXXII.
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 harbour 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.
43
A child's garden of verses
XXXIII. THE SWING.
How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue? Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do !
Up in the air and over the wall.
Till I can see so wide. Rivers and trees and cattle and all Over the countryside —
Till I look down on the garden green, Down on the roof so brown —
Up in the air I go flying again. Up in the air and down !
44
A child's garden of verses
XXXIV.
TIME TO RISE.
A BIRDIE with a yellow bill Hopped upon the window sill, Cocked his shining eye and said: "Ain't you 'shamed, you sleepy-head !"
45
A child's garden of verses
XXXV.
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 coloured faces Floating on the shaken pool Down in cool places, Dim and very cool ;
Till a wind or water wrinkle,
Dipping martin, plumping trout. Spreads in a twinkle And blots all out. 46
A child's garden of verses
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 bj-and-by.
i7
A child's garden of verses
XXXVI. FAIRY BREAD.
Come up here, O dusty feet!
Here is fairy bread to eat. Here is 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.
48
A child's garden of verses
XXXVII.
FROM A RAILWAY CARRIAGE.
Faster than fairies, faster than witches, Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches ; And charging along like troops in a battle, All through the meadows the horses and cattle : All of the sights of the hill and the plain Fly as thick as driving rain; And ever again, in the wink of an eye. Painted stations whistle by.
Here is a child who clambers and scrambles,
All by himself and gathering brambles ;
Here is a tramp who stands and gazes ;
And there is the green for stringing the daisies!
Here is a cart run away in the road
Lumping along with man and load;
And here is a mill and there is a river:
Each a glimpse and gone for ever!
49
A child's garden of verses
XXXVIII.
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.
50
A child's garden of verses
Black are my steps on silver sod; Thick blows my frosty breath abroad And tree and house, and hill and lake, Are frosted like a wedding-cake.
51
A child's garden of verses
XXXIX. 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 waggons 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!
52
A child's garden of verses
XL.
FAREWELL TO THE FARM.
The coach is at the door at last ; The eager children, mounting fast And kissing hands, in chorus sing: Good-bje, 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!
53
A child's garden of verses
XLI. NORTH-WEST PASSAGE.
I. 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 !
54
A child's garden of verses
2. 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 the 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.
55
A child's garden of verses
3. In Port.
Last, to the chamber where I He 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 l^'ing warm and fast And in the Land of Nod at last.
56
THE CHILD ALONE I.
THE UNSEEN PLAYMATE.
When children are playing alone on the green, In comes the playmate that never was seen. When children are happy and lonely and good, The Friend of the Children comes out of the wood.
Nobody heard him and nobody saw, His is a picture you never could draw, But he's sure to be present, abroad or at home, Wlien children are happy and playing alone.
He lies in the laurels, he runs on the grass. He sings when you tinkle the musical glass ; Whene'er you are happy and cannot tell why, The Friend of the Children is sure to be by!
He loves to be little, he hates to be big, 'Tis he that inhabits the caves that you dig; 'Tis he when you play with your soldiers of tin That sides with the Frenchmen and never can win,
57
THE CHILD ALONE
'Tis he, when at night you go off to your bed, Bids you go to your sleep and not trouble your head ; For wherever they're lying, in cupboard or shelf, 'Tis he will take care of your playthings himself!
58
THE CHILD ALONE
II. MY SHIP AND I.
O it's I that am tlie captain of a tidy little ship, Of a ship that goes a-sailing on the pond;
And my ship it keeps a-turning all around and all about ;
But when I'm a little older, I shall find the secret out How to send my vessel sailing on beyond.
For I mean to grow as little as the dolly at the helm,
And the dolly I intend to come alive; And with him beside to help me, it's a-sailing I shall go, It's a-sailing on the water, when the jolly breezes blow
And the vessel goes a divie-divie-dive.
O it's then you'll see me sailing through the rushes and the reeds.
And you'll hear the water singing at the prow; For beside the dolly sailor, I'm to voyage and explore. To land upon the island where no dolly was before,
And to fire the penny cannon in the bow.
59
THE CHILD ALONE
III.
MY KINGDOM.
Down by a shining water well I found a very little dell,
No higher than my head. The heather and the gorse about In summer bloom were coming out,
Some yellow and some red.
I called the little pool a sea; The little hills were big to me;
For I am very small. I made a boat, I made a town, I searched the caverns up and down.
And named them one and all.
And all about was mine, I said. The little sparrows overhead.
The little minnows too. This was the world and I was king; For me the bees came by to sing,
For me the swallows flew. 60
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O IT'S I THAT AM THE CAPTAIN OF A LITTLE SHIP, OF A SHIP THAT GOES A-SAILING ON THE POND."
aKl2l3:i3
THE CHILD ALONE
I played there were no deeper seas, Nor any wider plains than these,
Nor others kings than me. At last I heard my mother call Out from the house at evenfall,
To call me home to tea.
And I must rise and leave my dell. And leave my dimpled water well,
And leave my heather blooms. Alas ! and as my home I neared, How very big my nurse appeared,
How great and cool the rooms!
61
THE CHILD ALONE
IV.
PICTURE-BOOKS IN WINTER.
Summer fading, winter comes — Frosty mornings, tingling thumbs, Window robins, winter rooks. And the picture story-books.
Water now is turned to stone Nurse and I can walk upon; Still we find the flowing brooks In the picture stor^^-books.
All the pretty things put by. Wait upon the children's eye. Sheep and shepherds, trees and crooks, In the picture story-books.
We may see how all things are Seas and cities, near and far. And the flying fairies' looks. In the picture story-books. 62
THE CHILD ALONE
How am I to sing your praise, Happy chimney-corner days, Sitting safe in nursery nooks, Reading picture story-books?
63
THE CHILD ALONE
MY TREASURES.
These nuts, that I keep in the back of the nest Where all my lead soldiers are lying at rest, Were gathered in autumn by nursie and me In a wood with a well by the side of the sea.
This whistle we made (and how clearly it sounds !) By the side of a field at the end of the grounds. Of a branch of a plane, with a knife of my own, It was nursie who made it, and nursie alone !
The stone, with the white and the yellow and grey. We discovered I cannot tell how far away; And I carried it back although weary and cold, For though father denies it, I'm sure it is gold.
But of all my treasures the last is the king. For there's very few children possess such a thing; And that is a chisel, both handle and blade. Which a man who was really a carpenter made.
64
THE CHILD ALONE
VI.
ni OCK CITY.
What are you able to build with your blocks? Castles and palaces, temples and docks. Rain may keep raining, and others go roam, But I can be happy and building at home.
Let the sofa be mountains, the carpet be sea,
There I'll establish a city for me:
A kirk and a mill and a palace beside.
And a harbour as well where my vessels may ride.
Great is the palace with pillar and wall, A sort of a tower on the top of it all, And steps coming down in an orderly way To where my toy vessels lie safe in the bay.
This one is sailing and that one is moored: Hark to the song of the sailors on board! And see on the steps of my palace, the kings Coming and going with presents and things ! G5
THE CHILD ALONE
Now I have done with it, down let it go! All in a moment the town is laid low. Block upon block lying scattered and free, What is there left of my town by the sea?
Yet, as I saw it, I see it again, The kirk and the palace, the ships and the men, And as long as I live and wher'^'er I may be, I'll always remember my town by the sea.
66
THE CHILD ALONE
VII.
THE LAND OF STORY-BOOKS
At evening when the lamp is lit, Around the fire my parents sit; They sit at home and talk and sing, And do not play at anything.
Now, with my little gun, I crawl All in the dark along the wall, And follow round the forest track Away behind the sofa back.
There, in the night, where none can spy. All in my hunter's camp I lie. And play at books that I have read Till it is time to go to bed.
These are the hills, these are the woods, These are my starry solitudes; And there the river by whose brink The roaring lions come to drink. 67
THE CHILD ALONE
I see the others far away As if in firelit camp they lay, And I, like to an Indian scout, Around their party prowled about.
So, when my nurse comes in for me, Home I return across the sea, And go to bed with backward looks At my dear land of Story-books.
68
THE CHILD ALONE
VIII.
ARMIES IN THE FIRE.
The lamps now glitter down the street Faintly sound the falling feet; And the blue even slowly falls About the garden trees and walls.
Now in the falling of the gloom The red fire paints the empty room: And warmly on the roof it looks, And flickers on the backs of books.
Armies march by tower and spire Of cities blazing, in the fire ; — Till as I gaze with staring eyes, The armies fade, the lustre dies.
Then once again the glow returns ; Again the phantom city burns ; And down the red-hot valley, lo ! The phantom armies marching go !
69
THE CHILD ALONE
Blinking embers, tell me true Where are those armies marching to, And what the burning city is That crumbles in your furnaces !
70
THE CHILD ALONE
IX.
THE LITTLE LAND.
When at home alone I sit
And am very tired of it,
I have just to shut my eyes
To go sailing through the skies —
To go sailing far away
To the pleasant Land of Play ;
To the fairy land afar
Where the Little People are ;
Where the clover-tops are trees,
And the rain-pools are the seas,
And the leaves like little ships
Sail about on tiny trips ;
And above the daisy tree
Through the grasses, High o'erhead the Bumble Bee
Hums and passes.
In that forest to and fro I can wander, I can go ; See the spider and the fly. And the ants go marching by Carrying parcels with their feet Down the green and grassy street.
71
THE CHILD ALONE
I can in the sorrel sit
Where the ladybird alit.
I can climb the jointed grass,
And on high See the greater swallows pass
In the sky, And the round sun rolling by Heeding no such things as I.
Through that forest I can pass Till, as in a looking-glass, Humming fly and daisy tree And my tiny self I see, Painted very clear and neat On the rain-pool at my feet. Should a leaflet come to land. Drifting near to where I stand. Straight I'll board that tiny boat Round the rain-pool sea to float. Little thoughtful creatures sit On the grassy coasts of it; Little things with lovely eyes See me sailing with surprise. Some are clad in armour green — (These have sure to battle been!) — Some are pied with ev'ry hue. Black and crimson, gold and blue; Some have wings and swift are gone ;- But they all look kindly on. 72
THE CHILD ALONE
When my eyes I once again Open, and see all things plain: High bare walls, great bare floor; Great big knobs on drawer and door Great big people perched on chairs, Sitching tucks and mending tears. Each a hill that I could climb, And talking nonsense all the time —
O dear me.
That I could be A sailor on the rain-pool sea, A climber in the clover tree, And just come back, a sleepy-head, Late at night to go to bed.
78
GARDEN DAYS
I. NIGHT AND DAY.
When the golden day is done, Through the closing portal,
Child and garden, flower and sun, Vanish all things mortal.
As the blinding shadows fall
As the rays diminish. Under evening's cloak, they all
Roll away and vanish.
Garden darkened, daisy shut. Child in bed, they slumber —
Glow-worm in the highway rut. Mice among the lumber.
In the darkness houses shine. Parents move with candles;
Till on all, the night divine Turns the bedroom handles.
74
GARDEN DAYS
Till at last the day begins
In the east a-breaking, In the hedges and the whins
Sleeping birds a-waking.
In the darkness shapes of things, Houses, trees and hedges,
Clearer grow; and sparrow's wings Beat on window ledges.
These shall wake the yawning maid;
She the door shall open — Finding dew on garden glade
And the morning broken.
There my garden grows again
Green and rosy painted. As at eve behind the pane From my eyes it fainted.
Just as it was shut away.
Toy-like, in the even, Here I see it glow with day
Under glowing heaven.
Every path and every plot,
Every bush of roses. Every blue forget-me-not
Where the dew reposes, 75
GARDEN DAYS
"Up!" they cry, "the day is come On the smiling valleys:
We have beat the morning drum; Playmate, join your allies!'*
76
GARDEN DAYS
11.
NEST EGGS.
Birds all the sunny day
Flutter and quarrel Here in the arbour-like
Tent of the laurel.
Here in the fork
The brown nest is seated; Four little blue eggs
The mother keeps heated.
While we stand watching her,
Staring like gabies, Safe in each egg are the
Bird's little babies.
Soon the frail eggs they shall Chip, and upspringing
Make all the April woods Merry with singing.
77
GARDEN DAYS
Younger than we are, O- children, and frailer,
Soon in blue air they'll be, Singer and sailor.
We, so much older, Taller and stronger.
We shall look down on the Birdies no longer.
They shall go flying With musical speeches
High overhead in the Tops of the beeches.
In spite of our wisdom And sensible talking.
We on our feet must go Plodding and walking.
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GARDEN DAYS
in.
THE FLOWERS.
All the names I know from nurse : Gardener's garters, Shepherd's purse, Bachelor's buttons. Lady's smock, And the Lady Hollyhock.
Fairy places, fairy things, Fairy woods where the wild bee wings. Tiny trees for tiny dames — These must all be fairy names!
Tiny woods below whose boughs Shady fairies weave a house ; Tiny tree-tops, rose or thyme, Where the braver fairies climb !
Fair are grown-up people's trees, But the fairest woods are these; Where, if I were not so tall, I should live for good and all.
79
GARDEN DAYS
IV.
SUMMER SUN.
Great is the sun, and wide he goes Through empty heaven without repose ; And in the blue and glowing days More thick than rain he showers his rays.
Though closer still the blinds we pull To keep the shady parlour cool, Yet he will find a chink or two To slip his golden fingers through.
The dusty attic, spider-clad, He, through the keyhole, maketh glad ; And through the broken edge of tiles, Into the laddered hayloft smiles.
Meantime his golden face around He bares to all the garden ground, And sheds a warm and glittering look Among the ivy's inmost nook.
80
GARDEN DAYS
Above the hills, along the blue, Round the bright air, with footing true, To please the child, to paint the rose, The gardener of the World, he goes.
81
GARDEN DAYS
THE DUMB SOLDIER.
When the grass was closely mown, Walking on the lawn alone, In the turf a hole I found And hid a soldier underground.
Spring and daisies came apace; Grasses hide my hiding place; Grasses run like a green sea O'er the lawn up to my knee.
Under grass alone he lies. Looking up with leaden eyes, Scarlet coat and pointed gun. To the stars and to the sun.
When the grass is ripe like grain, When the scythe is stoned again, When the lawn is shaven clear, Then my hole shall reappear. 82
GARDEN DAYS
I shall find him, never fear, I shall find my grenadier; But for all that's gone and come, I shall find my soldier dumb.
He has lived, a little thing, In the grassy woods of spring; Done, if he could tell me true. Just as I should like to do.
He has seen the starry hours And the springing of the flowers And the fairy things that pass In the forests of the grass.
In the silence he has heard Talking bee and ladybird, And the butterfly has flown O'er him as he lay alone.
Not a word will he disclose, Not a word of all he knows. I must lay him on the shelf. And make up the tale myself.
83
GARDEN DAYS
VI.
AUTUMN FIRES.
In the other gardens And all up the vale,
From the autumn bonfires See the smoke trail!
Pleasant summer over
And all the summer flowers, The red fire blazes,
The grey smoke towers.
Sing a song of seasons !
Something bright in all! Flowers in the summer,
Fires in the fall!
84
GARDEN DAYS
VII.
THE GARDENER.
The gardener does not love to talk, He makes me keep the gravel walk; And when he puts his tools away, He locks the door and takes the key.
Away behind the currant row Where no one else but cook may go. Far in the plots, I see him dig. Old and serious, brown and big.
He digs the flowers, green, red, and blue, Nor wishes to be spoken to. He digs the flowers and cuts the hay, And never seems to want to play.
Silly gardener! summer goes. And winter comes with pinching toes, When in the garden bare and brown You must lay your barrow down.
85
GARDEN DAYS
Well now, and while the summer stays, To profit by these garden days O how much wiser you would be To play at Indian wars with me!
86
GARDEN DAYS
VIII.
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
Dear Uncle Jim, this garden ground That now you smoke your pipe around, Has seen immortal actions done And valiant battles lost and won.
Here we had best on tip-toe tread, While I for safety march ahead, For this is that enchanted ground Where all who loiter slumber sound.
Here is the sea, here is the sand. Here is simple Shepherd's Land, Here are the fairy hollyhocks, And there are Ali Baba's rocks.
But yonder, see ! apart and high. Frozen Siberia lies ; where I^ With Robert Bruce and William Tell, Was bound by an enchanter's spell.
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