Childhood Fancies
The twilight gray is falling,
Now list and you shall hear
The footsteps of the sylphid fays,--
This is their hour of cheer.
List to the gentle patter
On each wee blade of grass,
As it is bent, and back again,
Whene'er the fairies pass.
Upon the tips of grasses
They cross the meadows, lawn,
From twilight hour till dawn.
They light their myriad lanterns,
And hang them in the arch
Of blue that canopies o'erhead,
And by their light they march.
They sometimes miss a fairy,
And take a lantern down
To search for her, and mortals say;
"A fire-fly flits around."
On leaves they hang their diamonds,
Their pearls in every flower;
Their gauzy veils upon the grass,
They spread for fairy bower.
Their slender wings are hanging
On every shrub, across;
Their seats are dainty cushion-beds
Of green and springy moss.
Their shrubbery of coral
Is gray and scarlet-tipped;
Their hair upon the maize is hung
Each Summer, when 'tis clipped.
The mushroom forms their table,
Their dishes, acorn cups;
The ant-hills are their barracks high;
Their cannon, "hemlock pops."
Their scarfs of plush are lying
On ripening grape and peach;
Their sea-shells 'neath the apple trees,
Each Spring bestrew their beach.
They paint the leaves in Autumn;
They make a tiny rink
Of every puddle, fen, and dike,
And skate from nave to brink.
They brown the nuts in forests,
The burrs they open wide;
They lure the feathers from the clouds.
And pile them up, to slide.
They build along the way-side
Their fairy palisades,--
The "hoar-frost" some have christened it,--
And hold West Point parades.
They sketch upon the windows
Such pictures as no power
Of man can ever execute,
And on them pearl-dust shower.
All these and myriad fancies
That never can be told,
My childhood days so new and sweet,
In memory infold.
But mother softly whispers,
"Tis not the Fays, my dears,
Tis old Dame Nature's song of songs,
The 'Music of the Spheres.'
"List ever for it, children,
Twill bring you close to God;
Each sound but echoes Him who made,
Each motion is His nod."
* * * * *
"Waste not, want not," be your motto,--
Little things bring weal or woe;
Save the odds and ends, my children,
Some one wants them, if not you.
More
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'tause I'm Tross
Mamma, 'tause I'm tross don't whip me; I tan't help it, not a bit! 'Tis the tandy hurts my stomat, And that mates me whine and fret. Sometimes, too, I'm whipped for trossness When the trossness tomes from meat; Thint... A B C
A Stands for Alligator, B Stands for Ball, C Stands for Cat in a cream-pot, D Stands for Doll. E Stands for East, or Ellen. F Stands for Fay, G Stands for Goat, a Pen in, H Stands for Hay, I Stands f... A Baby's Faith
Our Maude was dancing with her doll, In childhood's chattering glee; A brimming bucket standing by, The maiden failed to see, And skipping, tripped; the bucket tipped; The water, cool and clear, Was rudely sway... A Smile
"SHE smiled on me, she smiled on me!" In ecstacy exclaimed A little waif in tattered gown, With form so halt and maimed. Remember, even a smile may cheer, A cup of water, bless; A kindly word, sow seeds of joy, Whose frui... An Old Saw
"If you'll break the first brake And will kill the first snake, You'll be sure to go through With what you undertake." Thus our Grandma, quaint but queenly, Taught us grand-bairns one by one; And the lesson relished keen... Ask Mother
Yes, my darling, when you question, I will answer, simple, plain, Just the Truth;--and when playmate Tells you anything again, Come to Mother, she will tell you, Yes, and tell you always true, For she knows what's low and si... Baby Pearl
Now listen while I tell you, child, That I am quite a grown-up girl, For I can read, and spell my name, While you,--why, you're just Baby Pearl. I help mamma to "house-keep," too, Although she says I make a whirl! But I ca... Baby's Bell
Jingle! jingle! baby's bell; What a tale its tongue might tell. Could it speak it sure would say, "When the baby's tired with play, And is getting cross, don't try To jingle bells, but hush-a-bye; All so still, now crooning low, ... Baby's Reckoning
One little head, Ah! but what does it hold? No matter,--it's worth its whole weight in pure gold. Two big brown eyes, soft with Heaven's own dew; No diamonds so precious, so sparkling, so true. Three cunning dimples, one deep in... Baby's Record
New-born baby, soft and pink, Of the two worlds on the brink. One month old,--eat and sleep; Precious little human heap. Two months old,--tear and smile; Fists in mouth and eyes the while. Three months old,--"goo-a-goo," ... Bessie's Kisses
Kisses, kisses, raining, raining, On her lips, her cheeks, her brow, Till she, wearied, "Daughter, darling, Mamma's had enough for now." "Ah! but Bessie has so many!"-- Naught the pretty prattler daunts; Mamma pleading, ba... Britain's Rulers
Old Britain was under the Romans From fifty-five years before Christ (55 B. C.) To four hundred fifty-five (455 A. D.) Then her eight States on home-rule insist. For many a year now they wrangle, Ah! yes, for quite three ... Bye-baby-bunting
BYE-BABY-BUNTING, The Indians live by hunting, And bring home many a beaver-skin To wrap the little pappoose in. And mother-squaw the baby'll tie Fast on a board, and swinging high, Will hang it up among the trees To rock-a-bye... Castle Wonderful
I know a castle, curious, Of lovely form and make; That we may view the castle through, A hasty peep we'll take. The framework of my castle proud, Is neither wood nor stone, But earthy matter mixed with lime And h... Child-memories
Was ever so sweet the clover, Was ever so clear the brook, As my child-days, over and over, Found fresh in the dear home-nook? Was ever such grace of motion, Or ever such trills of song. As the birds in mid-air ocean, ... Childhood Fancies
The twilight gray is falling, Now list and you shall hear The footsteps of the sylphid fays,-- This is their hour of cheer. List to the gentle patter On each wee blade of grass, As it is bent, and back again, Whene'er... Dare To Say No
Dear children, you are sometimes led To sorrow, sin, and woe, Because you have not courage quite, And dare not answer, No. When playmates tell you this, or that Is "very nice to do," See first what mamma says,... Dive Me Sudar
Papa, when you dive me tandy, Dive me only white,-- 'Tause there's poison in the tolored, Which my health will blight; But you better dive me sudar, Let the tandy be,-- 'Tause I shall not want so much, And that is best ... Dolly Dimple
DOLLY DIMPLE, just for fun, Stands to show us she is ONE. Dolly and her sister Sue Show that ONE and ONE make Two. Dolly, Sue, and Nanny Lee, Show that ONE with TWO make THREE. Doll, Sue, Nan, and little Noah, Show th... Don't Make Me Laugh
Dear Mamma, I've been laughing For Uncle Ben and Pa, And then for sister Lizzie I talked "ar-g o-o" and "gar;" And then a "little story" For Dick and Cousin Jane,-- And now you, Mamma, want me To laugh and talk again. ... Don't Tell A Lie
Don't tell a lie, dear children, No matter what you do,-- Own up and be a hero, Right honest, brave, and true. You'd better have a whipping Each day than tell a lie,-- No, not a "white one," even, They lead... Fee-fi-fo-fum
FEE-FI-FO-FUM, From the Spruce-tree comes the gum; From the Pine the turpentine, Tar and pitch, And timber which Is very choice and fine. Fee-fi-fo-fum, How from Spruce-tree comes the gum? Soft enough;--the sticky ... Feed The Birdies
Feed the birdies, darling, When the snow is here, When there are no berries On the bushes, dear;-- Scatter food out for them, And they'll quickly come, Hopping, singing, chirping "Thank you for the crumb." ... Forest Trees
Children, have you seen the budding Of the trees in valleys low? Have you watched it creeping, creeping Up the mountain, soft and slow? Weaving there a plush-like mantle, Brownish, grayish, red-dish green, Changing, changing... Fruits
The fruits of the orchard and garden Are beautiful, luscious and good, Partake of them freely, dear children, But eat them at meals with your food. ... Grandma's Canary
Grandma loves her birdy, And when he gaily sings, She will laugh and chat with him, At which he hops and springs. Fearing though, that birdy Might not understand, Grandma from the toy-shop, Brought a whistle grand. ... Grandma's Lessons
"Tis guilt to wear the garb of sin, Though all be innocent within," These little girls heard grandma say, And wondered if 'twere half in play. But when they're wiser, older grown, And when the world to them is known, They'll learn... Grapho
Children, you ought to know That Grapho can but mean To picture out, or tell about, Some object or some thing. Now Geo means the earth; And so Geography Means picturing out or telling about This earth of ours, you see... Handsome Dick
ELZIE'S kitty, white as snow, Loves his little mistress so, That he'll come at her command, Lift his paw to shake her hand, Bow his head and kneel to her, Rumpling all his milk-white fur; Many another pretty trick, Too, he's le... Harley's Dream
I know a little brown-eyed boy, His name is Harley Hart; And with a naughty boy or girl, Our Harley has no part. He cons his lessons o'er and o'er, And once he fell asleep, With finger marking A, B, C, As 'twere the pla... Health And Happiness
Mamma keeps her children In the happiest mood When she feeds them only With the simplest food. Viands clog and pain them, Then they fret and cry, And then when she whips them, Everything's awry. ... Heat And Cold
Our earth has a North Pole, Where 'tis very cold; It also has a South Pole, That's just the same, we're told. But half-way between, And all the way around, We call it the Equator, And heat doth there abound. For ther... Heigh-ho Daisies And Butter-cups
HEIGH-HO, daisies and butter-cups Grow in the meadows for children to gather; But cattle will shun them, And farmers will burn them, Because in their fields they are only a bother. Heigh-ho, red-top and clover-bloom, Filling the... Hey My Kitten My Kitten
Hey, my kitten, my kitten, Hey, my kitten, my deary; If Mamma should feed him too often, He never could be so cheery. Here we go up, up, up. And here we go down, down, down-y. If we never feed baby too much, He never ... Hi-diddle Ho-diddle
HI-DIDDLE, HO-DIDDLE, Pop-diddle-dee, This Earth of ours, on which we live, Is round as it can be. Pray, then, what is a Mountain, valley, hill? They are but like little warts, And pores, on orange-peel. Hi-diddl... Hi-diddle-diddle
HI-DIDDLE-DIDDLE Mother duck's in the middle, Her baby-ducks swimming around; With bills like a ladle, And feet like a paddle, No danger that they will be drowned ... Honey-sweet
"Ah, but how do bees make honey?" Now the children, eager, ask; And we'll try to give them answer, If we're able for the task. See, the under-lip is lengthened, Like a trunk or proboscis, Ending by a kind of button, F... Humpty Dumpty
Humpty-Dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop, Baby is crying, why doesn't he stop? What does he cry for? his clothing is tight; No wonder such things make baby a fright. Humpty-dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop, Baby was crying, but now he will stop; W... Hush-a-bye
Hush-a-bye, baby, On Grandmother's lap; Hush-a-bye, baby, And take a nice nap; Hush-a-bye, baby, What is it you say? Your "teeth are a-coming," You're "ten months to-day;" Well, babies must cry, And Grandmothers must ... If You Please
I hope my children never will Say, "Give me" this or that,-- But, "If you please," I'd like a bun, Or, "Thank you" for a pat. ... It Snows! It Snows!
It snows! yes, it snows! and the children are wild, At thought of the fun in the snow-drifts up-piled; The boy with his first new boots is in sight, And the wee baby-girl, with her mittens so bright. They are tramping and tossing the sn... Key-notes
L M N R LIGHTLY flowing LIQUIDS, we,-- Tethered with our brothers. Make we music, melody, More than all the others; Lulling, mellowy, nimble, rare, Reveling in rhythm, Running here and everywhere, Make me merry ... Letters
A, E, I, O, U, The vowels we may call; W, Y, are vowels too, Whene'er they chance to fall To the end of syllable or word. And this we well may know That all the rest are consonants; Just nineteen in a row. K, P, an... Limpy-dimpy-dingle
Limpy-dimpy-dingle, chicky-bid would stray To the trap that had been set for weasels, many a day, Limpy-dimpy-dingle, chicky-bid walked in, And the trap its teeth shut up, on chicky-biddy's shin. Limpy-dimpy-dingle, chicky-bid is br... Listen Children!
Listen, children! when your head aches, Do not eat, but wait a meal; This will oftentimes relieve you, Making you right joyous feel. Listen, children! when your stomach Rolls and tumbles, wait awhile; Do not eat, but drink... Little Bo-peep
Co' Nan, co' Nan, says little Bo-peep, Co' Nan, co' Nan, up come the sheep; They jump the ditch and scale the wall, Where one sheep goes, they follow, all. Co' dea', co' dea', says little Bo-peep, Co' dea', co' dea', I'll shear my ... Little Boy Blue
"Little Boy Blue, may I go with you now?" "Yes, down to the pasture to drive up the cow." "Little boy blue, what then may I have?" A nice cup of milk as ever cow gave. "Little boy blue, the milk must be set;" "Yes, for 'tis thus ... Little Jack Horner
LITTLE JACK HORNER Sat in the corner, Eating a morsel of nice brown bread; "Have some pie, or some cake?" "Nay, not I," with a shake And a toss of his wise little head. "For this bread will make bone, And white teet... Little Mischief
Little Master Mischief Lives in Nellie's eye, Sitting in the corner, Peeping out so sly; Now he's crossed the snow-ground And in chamber blue, Thinking he is hidden, Peek-a-boos at you. Now he drops the curtain, ... Little Moses
In the Talmud you will find it,-- In the quaint and curious lore Of the ancient priests, or Rabbins, Whom the people bowed before; Find the story of an infant Sitting on the kingly knee; "Little Moses," Pharaoh calls him,-... Lizzie And The Angels
Little Lizzie, thoughtful, earnest, Springing up at break of day, Thinks she heard the angels whisper Softly, as she knelt to pray. "Yes, they whispered to me, mamma, And they told me lots of things,-- And they said, '...