THE LIBRARY [HE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES ' NOT IN CLASSIC LORE, BUT RICH IN THE CHILD-SAGAS OF THE KITCHEN." JAMES H1TCOMB tf/lustr&tedb J.W.VAWTER Copyright, 1902, by JAKES WHITCOMB RILKT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Published October, 1902 THE DCVlNNE PRES3 , , CKfc. GRATEFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED TO JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS You who to the rounded prime Of a life of toil and stress, Still have kept the morning-time Of glad youth in heart and spirit, So your laugh, as children hear it, Seems their own, no less, Take this book of childish rhyme The Book of Joyous Children. Their first happiness on earth Here is echoed their first glee: Rich, in sooth, the volume's worth Not in classic lore, but rich in The child-sagas of the kitchen; Therefore, take from me To your heart of childish mirth The Book of Joyous Children. PROEM viii THE BOOK OF JOYOUS CHILDREN 3 AN IMPROMPTU FAIRY-TALE 8 DREAM-MARCH 10 ^ ELMER BROWN 13 \ No BOY KNOWS 15 WHEN WE FIRST PLAYED "Snow" .... 19 A DIVERTED TRAGEDY 25 'THE EAMBO-TREE 27 > i FIND THE FAVORITE 31 THE BOY PATRIOT 35 EXTREMES 39 INTELLECTUAL LIMITATIONS 40 A MASQUE OF THE SEASONS 43 THOMAS THE PRETENDER 48 LITTLE DICK AND THE CLOCK 52 CONTENTS PAGE FOOL-YOUNGENS , 54 THE KATYDIDS 58 \ BILLY AND HI& DRUM 60 THE NOBLE OLD ELM 64 THE PENALTY OF GENIUS 68 EVENSONG 70 THE TWINS 73 THE LITTLE LADY 76 "COMPANY MANNERS" 80 IN FERVENT PRAISE OF PICNICS 81 THE GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED PEOPLE .... 82 THE BEST TIMES 86 "HIK-TEE-DIK!" 89 A CHRISTMAS MEMORY 92 "OLD BOB WHITE" 98 A SESSION WITH UNCLE SIDNEY : I ONE OF HIS ANIMAL STORIES 103 II UNCLE BRIGHTENS UP 112 in SINGS A "WINKY-TOODEN" SONG . . . 116 IV AND MAKES NURSERY RHYMES .... 118 1 THE DINERS IN THE KITCHEN . . . 118 2 THE IMPERIOUS ANGLER 121 3 THE GATHERING OF THE CLANS . . 122 4 "IT" 127 6 THE DARING PRINCE . . 128 CONTENTS PAGE A DUBIOUS "OLD KRISS" 130 A SONG OF SINGING 137 THE JAYBIRD 138 A BEAR FAMILY x 141 SOME SONGS AFTER MASTER-SINGERS : i SONG 146 II TO THE CHILD JULIA 149 in THE DOLLY'S MOTHER 151 IV WIND OF THE SEA 155 V SUBTLETY 1 56 VI BORN TO THE PURPLE 157 OLD MAN WHISKERY- WHEE-KUM- WHEEZE . 160 LlTTLE-GlRL-TWO-LlTTLE-GlRLS 164 A GUSTATORY ACHIEVEMENT 166 CLIMATIC SORCERY 168 A PARENT REPRIMANDED 171 THE TREASURE OF THE WISE MAN . 175 FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE NOT IN CLASSIC LOBE, BUT BICH IN THE CHILD-SAGAS OF THE KITCHEN Frontispiece KNEEL, ALL GLOWING, TO THE COOL SPBING .... 5 NO BOY KNOWS WHEN HE GOES TO SLEEP 17 JAMESY ON THE SLACK-BOPE .21 ACROSS THE OBCHABD ............. 38 WHILE ALL THE ABMY, FOLLOWING, IN CHOBUS CHEEBS AND SINGS 37 WHERE IT GOES WHEN THE FIBE GOES OUT?. . . . . 41 THE FAIBY QUEEN OF THE SEASONS 45 'POBE PA ! POBE PA ! " 49 SQUINT' OUB EYES AN' LAUGH' AGAIN 65 HE >S A-MABCHIN' BOUND THE BOOM 61 THE OLD TBEE SAYS HE '8 ALL OUB TBEE ..... 65 THEBEFOBE BEAD NO LONGEB 71 SHE 'S BUT A BACING SCHOOL-GIBL 77 FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE THEY WAS GOD'S PEOPLE 83 THEM WUZ THE BEST TIMES EVER WUZ 87 HE 'S GO' HITCH UP, CHRIS' MUS-D AY, AN' COME TAKE ME BACK AGAIN . , 93 WHEN WE DROVE TO HARMONY A BIG, HOLLOW, OLD OAK-TREE, WHICH HAD BEEN BLOWN DOWN BY A STORM 105 THE YOUNG FOXES IN IT, ON THE HEARTH BESIDE HER 109 AN' ALL BE POETS AN' ALL RECITE 113 ALONG THE BRINK OF WILD BROOK-WAYS ..... 136 I LIKE TO WATCH HIM 139 WHILE KATE PICKS BY, YET LOOKS NOT THERE . . . 147 LEND ME THE BREATH OF A FRESHENING GALE . . . 153 BOW TO ME IN THE WINDER THERE 161 OUR " OLD-KRISS "-MILKMAN 169 THE CHILDISH DREAMS IN HIS WISE OLD HEAD . 174 THE BOOK OF JOYOUS CHILDREN THE BOOK OF JOYOUS CHILDREN BOUND and bordered in leaf-green, Edged with trellised buds and flowers And glad Summer-gold, with clean White and purple morning-glories Such as suit the songs and stories Of this book of ours, Unre vised in text or scene, The Book of Joyous Children. Wild and breathless in their glee Lawless rangers of all ways Winding through lush greenery Of Elysian vales the viny, Bowery groves of shady, shiny Haunts of childish days. Spread and read again with me The Book of Joyous Children. [3] THE BOOK OF JOYOUS CHILDREN What a whir of wings, and what Sudden drench of dews upon The young brows, wreathed, all unsought, With the apple-blossom garlands Of the poets of those far lands Whence all dreams are drawn Set herein and soiling not The Book of Joyous Children. In their blithe companionship Taste again, these pages through, The hot honey on your lip Of the sun-smit wild strawberry, Or the chill tart of the cherry ; Kneel, all glowing, to The cool spring, and with it sip The Book of Joyous Children. As their laughter needs no rule, So accept their language, pray. Touch it not with any tool : Surely we may understand it, As the heart has parsed or scanned it Is a worthy way, Though found not in any School The Book of Joyous Children. [4] THE BOOK OF JOYOUS CHILDREN Be a truant know no place Of prison under heaven's rim ! Front the Father's smiling face Smiling, that you smile the brighter For the heavy hearts made lighter, Since you smile with Him. Take and thank Him for His grace The Book of Joyous Children. AN IMPROMPTU FAIRY-TALE WHEN I wuz ist a little bit o> weenty-teenty Jcid I malted up a Fairy-tale, all by myself, I did: Wunst upon a time wunst They wuz a Fairy King, An' ever'thing he have wuz gold His clo'es, an' everything ! An' all the other Fairies In his goldun Palace-hall Had to hump an' hustle 'Cause he wuz bosst of all ! ii He have a goldun trumput, An' when he blow' on that, It 's a sign he want' his boots, Er his coat er hat : AN IMPROMPTU FAIRY-TALE They 's a sign fer ever'thing, An' all the Fairies knowed Ever' sign, an' come a-hoppin' When the King blowed ! in Wunst he blowed an' telled 'em all : "Saddle up yer bees- Fireflies is gittin' fat An' sassy as you please ! Guess we '11 go a-huntin' ! " So they hunt' a little bit, Till the King blowed "Sup per-time," Nen they all quit. IV Nen they have a Esuiqul In the Palace-hall, An' ist et ! an' et ! an' et ! Nen they have a Ball ; An' when the Queen o' Fairyland Come p'omenadiii' through, The King says an' halts her, "Guess I '11 marry you ! " DREAM-MARCH WAS N'T it a funny dream ! perfectly bewild'rin' ! Last night, and night before, and night before that, Seemed like I saw the march o' regiments o' children, Marching to the robin's fife and cricket's rat-ta-tat ! Lily-banners overhead, with the dew upon 'em, On flashed the little army, as with sword and flame ; Like the buzz o' bumble-wings, with the honey on 'em, Came an eerie, cheery chant, chim ing as it came : Where go the children ? Travelling ! Travelling! Where go the children, travel ling ahead f Some go to kindergarten; some go to day-school; Some go to night-school; and some go to bed ! [10 J DREAM-MAKCH Smooth roads or rough roads, warm or winter weather, On go the children, tow-head and brown, Brave boys and brave girls, rank and file together, Marching out of Morning-Land, , over dale and down : (Some go a-gypsying out in coun try places Out through the orchards, with blossoms on the boughs Wild, sweet, and pink and white as their own glad faces ; And some go, at evening, call ing home the cows. Where go the children f Travel ling ! Travelling ! Where go the children, travel ling ahead? Some go to foreign wars, and camps by the firelight Some go to glory so; and some go to bed! Some go through grassy lanes leading to the city-- [11] DEEAM-MAKCH Thinner grow the green trees and thicker grows the dust ; Ever, though, to little people any path is pretty So it leads to newer lands, as they know it must. Some go to singing less ; some go to list'ning ; Some go to thinking over ever- nobler themes ; Some go anhungered, but ever bravely whistling, Turning never home again only in their dreams. Where go the children? Travel ling! Travelling! Where go the children, travelling ahead ? Some go to conquer things; some go to try them; Some go to dream them; and some go to bed! [12 ] AWF'LEST boy in this-here town Er anywheres is Elmer Brown ! He '11 mock you yes, an' strangers, too, An' make a face an' yell at you, 11 Here 's the way you look ! " Yes, an' wunst in School one day, An' Teacher 's lookin' wite that way, He helt his slate, an' hide his head, An' maked a face at her, an' said, "Here 's the way you look ! " An' -sir ! when Eosie Wheeler smile One morning at him 'crosst the aisle, He twist his face all up, an' black His nose wiv ink, an' whisper back, "Here J s the way you look ! " Wunst when his Aunt 's all dressed to call, An' kiss him good-bye in the hall, An' latch the gate an' start away, He holler out to her an' say, "Here 's the way you look ! " [13] ELMEK BKOWN An' when Ms Pa he read out loud The speech he maked, an' feel so proud It 's in the paper Elmer's Ma She ketched him wite behind his Pa ? "Here 's the way you look ! " when his Ma she slip an.' take Him in the other room an' shake Him good ! w'y, he don't care no-sir / He ist look up an' laugh at her, 11 Here 's the way you look ! " I NO BOY KNOWS THERE are many things that boys may know Why this and that are thus and so, Who made the world in the dark and lit The great sun up to lighten it : Boys know new things every day When they study, or when they play, When they idle, or sow and reap But no boy knows when he goes to sleep. Boys who listen or should, at least, May know that the round old earth rolls East ; And know that the ice and the snow and the rain- Ever repeating their parts again Are all just water the sunbeams first Sip from the earth in their endless thirst, And pour again till the low streams leap. But no boy knows* when he goes to sleep. * s. A boy may know what a long glad while It has been to him since the dawn's first smile, [15] NO BOY KNOWS When forth he fared in the realm divine Of brook-laced woodland and spun-sunshine ; He may know each call of his truant mates, And the paths they went, and the pasture-gates Of the 'cross-lots home through the dusk so deep.- But no boy knows when he goes to sleep. I have followed me, o'er and o'er, From the flagrant drowse on the parlor-floor, To the pleading voice of the mother when 1 even doubted I heard it then To the sense of a kiss, and a moonlit room, And dewy odors of locust-bloom A sweet white cot and a cricket's cheep. But no boy knows when he goes to sleep. [16] 'NO BOY KNOWS WHEN HE GOBS TO SLEEP." WHEN WE FIRST PLAYED "SHOW N'T it a good time, Long Time Ago When we all were little tads And first played "Show" ! When every newer day Wore as bright a glow As the ones we laughed away Long Time Ago ! Calf was in the back -lot ; Clover in the red ; Bluebird in the pear-tree ; Pigeons on the shed ; Tom a-chargin' twenty pins At the barn ; and Dan Spraddled out just like "The 'Injarubber '-Man ! " Me and Bub and Kusty, Eck and Dunk and Sid, 'Tumblin' on the sawdust Like the A-rabs did ; [19] - WHEN WE FIRST PLAYED "SHOW" Jamesy on the slack-rope In a wild retreat, Grappling back, to start again When he chalked his feet ! Was n't Eck a wonder, In his stocking-tights ? [20] 'JAMESY ON THE SLACK-ROPE." WHEN WE FIRST PLAYED "SHOW" Was n't Dunk his leaping lion- Chief of all delights ? Yes, and was n't "Little Mack" Boss of all the Show, Both Old Clown and Candy -Butcher Long Time Ago ! Sid the Bareback-Eider ; And oh-me-oh-wy / Bub, the spruce Ring-master, Stepping round so spry ! In his little waist-and-trousers All made in one, Was there a prouder youngster Under the sun ! And NOW who will tell me, Where are they all ? Dunk 's a sanatorium doctor, Up at Waterfall ; Sid 's a city street-contractor ; Tom has fifty clerks ; And Jamesy he 's the "Iron Magnate" Of "The Hecla Works." And Bub 's old and bald now, Yet still he hangs on, [23] WHEN WE FIEST PLAYED "SHOW" Dan and Eck and "Little Mack/' Long, long gone ! But was n't it a good time, Long Time Ago When we all were little tads And first played "Show" ! [24] GRACIE wuz allus a careless tot ; But Gracie dearly loved her doll, An' played wiv it on the winder-sill 'Way up-stairs, when she ought to not, An' her muvver telled -j her so an' all ; But she won't mind \ ^ ; | -\~^^_~i- what she say- till, ^-f^..^.^'''^ First thing she know, ^EZJ^ir~r her dolly fall "TT^ff Clean spang out o' the winder plumb Into the street ! An' here Grace come Down-stairs, two at a time, ist wild An' a-screainin', "Oh, my child ! my child ! " Jule wuz a-bringin' their basket o' clo'es Ist then into their hall down there, [25] A DIVERTED TRAGEDY An' she 1st stop' when Gracie bawl, An' Jule she say "She 1st declare She 's 1st in time ! " An' what you s'pose? She sets her basket down in the hall, An' wite on top o' the snowy clo'es Wuz Grade's dolly a-layin' there An' ist ain't bu'st ner hurt a-tall ! Nen Gracie smiled ist sobbed an' smiled An' cried, "My child ! niy precious child ! " [26] * THE RAMBO-TREE WHEN Autumn shakes the rambo-tree It 's a long, sweet way across the orchard ! The bird sings low as the bumble-bee It 's a long, sweet way across the orchard ! The poor shote-pig he says, says he : "When Autumn shakes the rambo-tree There 's enough for you and enough for me." - It 's a long, sweet way across the orchard. For just two truant lads like we, When Autumn shakes the rambo-tree There 's enough for you and enough for me Ifs a long, sweet way across the orchard. When Autumn shakes the rambo-tree It 's a long, sweet way across the orchard ! The mole digs out to peep and see- It 's a long, sweet way across the orchard ! The dusk sags down, and the moon swings free, There 's a far, lorn call, "~Pig-gee I Pig-gee ! " And two boys glad enough for three. It 's a long, sweet way across the orchard. [27 j THE RAMBO-TREE For just two truant lads like we, When Autumn shakes the rambo-tree There 's enough for you and enough for me lt 's a long, sweet way across the orchard. [28] ft* 'ACROSS THE ORCHARD." FIND THE FAVORITE OUR three cats is Maltese cats, An' they 's two that 's white, An' bofe of 'em 's deefwo* that 's 'Cause their eyes ain't right. Uncle say that Huxley say Eyes of white Maltese When they don't match thataway- They 're deef as you please ! [31] FIND THE FAVOKITE Girls, they like our white cats best, 'Cause they 're white as snow, Yes, an' look the stylishest But they 're deef, you know ! They don't know their names, an' don't Hear us when we call 'J| "Come in, Nick an' Finn ! "they won't Come fer us at all ! - But our other cat, he knows Mister Nick an' Finn, "" Mowg 's Ms name, an' when he goes Fer 'em, they come in-!' * Mowgli 's all his name the same Me an' Muwer took Like the Wolf-Child's other name, In "The Jungul Book." I bet Mowg 's the smartest cat In the world I He J s not White, but mousy-plush, with that Smoky gloss he 's got ! All 's got little bells to ring, Kound their neck ; but none [32] FIND THE FAVOEITE Only Mowg knows anything He 's the only one ! 1 1st 'spect sometimes he hate White cats' stupid ways : He won't hardly 'sociate With 'em, lots o' days ! Mowg wants in where we air, well, He '11 ist take his paw An' ist ring an' ring his bell There till me er Ma Er somebody lets him in Nen an' shuts the door. An', when he wants out ag'in, Nen he '11 ring some more. Ort to hear our Katy tell ! She sleeps 'way up-stairs ; An' last night she hear Mowg's bell Kingin' round somewheres. . . . Trees grows by her winder. So, She lean out an' see Mowg up there, 'way out, you know, In the clingstone-tree 5 [33] FIND THE FAVORITE An' -sir ! he ist hint an' ring, Till she ketch an' plat Them limbs ; neu he crawl an' spring In where Katy 's at ! [84.] THE BOY PATRIOT I WANT to be a Soldier ! A Soldier !- A Soldier ! I want to be a Soldier, with a sabre in my hand Or a little carbine rifle, or a musket on my shoulder, Or just a snare-drum, snarling in the middle of the band ; I want to hear, high overhead, The Old Flag flap her wings While all the Army, following, in chorus cheers and sings ; I want to hear the tramp and jar Of patriots a million, As gayly dancing off to war As dancing a cotillion. I want to ~be a Soldier ! A Soldier! A Soldier! I want to ~be a Soldier, with a sabre in my hand Or a little carbine rifle, or a musket on my shoulder, Or just a snare-drum, snarling in the middle of the band, [35] THE BOY PATRIOT I want to see the battle ! The battle ! The battle !- I want to see the battle, and be in it to the end ; I want to hear the cannon clear their throats and catch the prattle Of all the pretty compliments the enemy can send ! And then I know my wits will go, and where I should n't be Well, there 's the spot, in any fight, that you may search for me. So, when our foes have had their fill, Though I 'm among the dying, To see The Old Flag flying still, I '11 laugh to leave her flying ! I want to be a Soldier ! A Soldier! A Soldier! I want to be a Soldier, with a sabre in my hand Or a little carbine rifle, or a musket on my shoulder, Or just a snare-drum, snarling m the middle of the band. [36] 'WHILE ALL THE ARMY, FOLLOWING, IN CHORUS CHEERS AND SINGS. EXTREMES A LITTLE boy once played so loud That the Thunder, up in a thunder-cloud, Said, "Since I can't be heard, why, then I '11 never, never thunder again ! " II And a little girl once kept so still That she heard a fly on the window-sill Whisper and say to a lady bird, "She >s the stilliest child I ever heard ! " INTELLECTUAL LIMITATIONS PAKTJNTS knows lots more than us, But they don't know all things, 'Cause we ketch 'em, lots o' times, Even on little small things. One time Winnie ask' her Ma, At the winder, sewin', What 's the wind a-doin' when It 's a-not a-blowm' f Yes, an' 'Del', that very day, When we 're nearly froze out, He ask' Uncle where it goes When the fire goes out? Nen I run to ask my Pa, That way, somepin' funny ; But I can't say ist but "Say," When he turn to me an' say, "Well, what is it, Honey?" . [40] " WHERE IT GOES WHEN THE FIRE GOES OUT?' A MASQUE OF THE SEASONS SCENE. A kitchen. Group of Children, popping corn. The Fairy Queen of the Seasons discovered in the smoke of the corn-popper. Waving her wand, and, with eerie, sharp, imperious ejaculations, addressing the bespelled auditors, who neither see nor hear her nor suspect her presence. QUEEN SUMMER or Winter or Spring or Fall, Which do you like the best of all? LITTLE JASPER When I 'ni dressed warm as warm can be, And with boots, to go Through the deepest snow, Winter-time is the time for me ! QUEEN Summer or Winter or Spring or Fall, Which do you like the best of all? [43] A MASQUE OF THE SEASONS LITTLE MILDEED I like blossoms, and birds that sing ; The grass and the dew, And the sunshine, too, So, best of all I like the Spring. QUEEN Summer or Winter or Spring or Fall, Which do you like the best of all ? LITTLE MANDEVILLE O little friends, I most rejoice When I hear the drums As the Circus comes, So Summer-time 's my special choice. QUEEN Summer or Winter or Spring or Fall, Which do you like the best of all ? LITTLE EDITH Apples of ruby, and pears of gold, And grapes of blue That the bee stings through. Fall it is all that my heart can hold ! [44] ' THE FAIRY QUEEN OF THE SEASONS." A MASQUE OF THE SEASONS QUEEN Soh ! iny lovelings and pretty dears, You Ve each a favorite, it appears, Summer and Winter and Spring and Fall. That ? s the reason I send them all ! [47] THOMAS THE PRETENDER TOMMY 's alluz playin' jokes, An' actin' up, an' foolin' folks ; An' wunst one time he creep In Pa's big chair, he did, one night, An' squint an' shut his eyes bofe tight, An' say, "Now I 'm asleep." An' nen we knowed, an' Ma know' too, He ain't asleep no more 'n you! An' wunst he clumbed on our back-fence An' flop his arms an' nen commence To crow, like he 's a hen ; But when he failed off, like he done, He did n't fool us childern none, Ner did n't crow again. An' our Hired Man, as he come by, Says, "Tom can't crow, but he kin cry." [48] " ' PORE PA ! PORE PA ! " ' THOMAS THE PRETENDER An' one time wunst Tom 'tend'-like lie 's His Pa an' goin' to rob the bees ; An', first he know oh, dear \ They ist come swarmin' out o' there An' sting him, an' stick in his hair An' one got in his yeer ! An' Uncle sigh an' say to Ma, An' grease the welts, "Pore Pa ! pore Pa ! " [51] WHEN Dicky was sick In the night, and the clock, As he listened, said "Tick- Atty-tick-atty tock ! " He said that it said, Every time it said "Tick," It said "Sick," instead, And he heard it say "Sick ! " And when it said "Tick- Atty tick-atty tock," He said it said "Sick- Atty sick-atty sock ! " And he tried to see then, But the light was too dim, Yet he heard it again And 't was talking to him ! And then it said "Sick- Atty sick-atty sick ! You poor little Dick- Atty Dick-atty Dick ! Have you got the hick- Atties? Hi ! send for Doc [52] LITTLE DICK AND THE CLOCK To hurry up quick - Atty quick-atty quock, And heat a hot brick- Atty brick-atty brock, And rikle-ty wrap it And clickle-ty clap it Against his cold feet- Al-ty weep-aty eepaty- he goes, slapit- Ty slippaty sleepaty ! " [53] FOOL-YOUNGENS ME an' Bert an' Minnie-Belle Knows a joke, an' we won't tell ! No, we don't 'cause we don't know Why we got to laughin' so ; But we got to laughin' so, We ist kep' a-laughin'. Wind wuz bio win' in the tree An' wuz only ist us three Playin' there ; an' ever' one Ketched each other, like we done, Squintin' up there at the sun Like we wuz a-laughin'. Nothin' funny anyway ; But I laughed, an' so did they An' we all three laughed, an' nen Squint' our eyes an' laugh' again : Ner we did n't ist p'terf- We wuz shore-enough laughin'. [54] ' 'SQUINT' OUR EYES AN' LAUGH' AGAIN." FOOL-YOUNGENS We 1st laugh' an' laugh', tel Bert Say he can't quit an' it hurt. Nen I liowl, an' Minnie-Belle She tear up the grass a spell An' ist stop her yeers an' yell Like she 'd die a-laughin'. Never sich fool-youngens yit ! Nothin' funny, not a bit ! But we laugh' so, tel we whoop' Purt'-nigh like we have the croup- All so hoarse we 'd wheeze an' whoop An' ist choke a-laughin'. [57] THE KATYDIDS SOMETIMES I keep From going to sleep, To hear the katydids "cheep-cheep ! " And think they say Their prayers that way j But katydids don't have to pray ! I listen when They cheep again ; And so, I think, they 're singing then ! But, no ; I 'm wrong, The sound 's too long And all-alike to be a song ! I think, "Well, there ! I do declare, If it is neither song nor prayer, It 's talk and quite Too vain and light For me to listen to all night ! " [58] THE KATYDIDS And so, I smile, And think, -"Now I '11 Not listen for a little while ! " Then, sweet and clear, Next "cheep " I hear 'S a Jciss. . . . Good morning, Mommy dear ! [59] BILLY AND HIS DRUM Ho ! it 's conie, kids, come ! With a bim ! bam ! bum ! Here 's little Billy bangin' on his big bass drum ! He 's a-marchiu' round the room, With his feather-duster plume A-noddin' an' a-bobbin' with his bim ! bom ! boom ! Looky, little Jane an' Jim ! Will you only look at him, A-humpin' an' a-thumpin' with his bam ! bom ! bim ! Has the Day o' Judgment come Er the New Mi-len-nee-um 1 ? Er is it only Billy with his bim ! bam ! bum ! [60] " HE 's A-MARCHIN' ROUND THE ROOM." BILLY AND HIS DRUM I 'm a-comin' ; yes, I am Jim an' Sis, an' Jane an' Sam ! "We '11 all march off with Billy an' his bom ! bim ! bam ! Come hurrawin' as you come, Er they '11 think you 're deef-an'-dumb Ef you don't hear little Billy an' his big bass drum ! [63] THE NOBLE OLD ELM O BIG OLD TREE, so tall an' fine, Where all us childern swings an' plays, Though neighbers says you 're on the line Between Pa's house an' Mr. Gray's, Us childern used to almost fuss, Old Tree, about you when we 'd play. We 'd argy you belonged to us, An' them Gray-kids the other way ! Till Elsie, one time she wuz here An' play in' wiv us Don't you mind, Old Mister Tree? an' purty near She scolded us the hardest kind Fer quar'llin' 'bout you thataway, An' say she 'II find ef we '11 keep still Whose tree you air/er shore, she say, An' settle itfer good, she will ! [64] "THE OLD TREE SAYS HE "s ALL OUR TREE." THE NOBLE OLD ELM So all keep still : An' nen she gone An' pat the Old Tree, an' says she, "Whose air you, Tree?" an' nen let on Like she 's a-list'nin' to the Tree, An' nen she say, "It 's settled, 'cause The Old Tree says he 's all our tree His trunk belongs to bofe your Pas, But shade belongs to you an' me." L67] THE PENALTY OF GENIUS little 'Pollus Morton he 's A-go' to speak a piece, w'y, nen [68] THE PENALTY OF GENIUS The Teacher smiles an' says 'at she 7 s Most proud, of all her little men An' women in her school 'cause 'Poll He allus speaks the best of all. An' nen she '11 pat him on the cheek, An' hold her finger up at you Before he speak' j an' when he speak' It 's ist some piece she learn' him to ! 'Cause he 's her favor-ite. . . . An' she Ain't pop'lar as she ust to be ! When 'Pollus Morton speaks, w'y, nen Ist all the other childern knows They 're smart as him an' smart-again ! Ef they carft speak an' got fine clo'es, Their Parunts loves 'em more 'n 'Poll- Us Morton, Teacher, speech, an' all ! [69] EVENSONG LAY away the story, Though the theme is sweet, There 's a lack of something yet, Leaves it incomplete : There 's a nameless yearning Strangely undefined For a story sweeter still Than the written kind. Therefore read no longer I 've no heart to hear But just something you make up, my mother dear. "With your arms around me, Hold me, folded-eyed, Only let your voice go on 1 '11 be satisfied. [70] 'THEREFORE READ NO LONGER.' "iGO AND AGO WE 'RE The Twins from Aunt Marinn's, Igo and Ago. When Dad comes, the show begins ! Iram, coram, dago. Dad he says he named us two Igo and Ago For a poem he always knew, Iram, coram, dago. Then he was a braw Scotchman Igo and Ago. Now he 's Scotch- Anier-i-can. Irani, coram, dago. "Hey !" he cries, and pats his knee, "Igo and Ago, My twin bairnies, ride wi' me Irani, coram, dago ! " [ 73 ] "Here," he laughs, "ye 've each a leg, Igo and Ago, Gleg as Tarn O'Shanter's 'Meg' ! Iram, coram, dago ! " [74] THE TWINS Then we mount, with shrieks of mirth Igo and Ago, The two gladdest twins on earth ! Irani, coram, dago. Wade and Silas- Walker cry, "Igo and Ago Annie 's kissin' 'em ( good-bye' !" Iram, coram, dago. Aunty waves us fond farewells. "Igo and Ago," Granny pipes, "tak care yersels ! " Iram, coram, dago. THE LITTLE LADY O THE LITTLE LADY 's dainty As the picture in a book, And her hands are creamy- whiter Than the water-lilies look ; Her laugh 's the undrowu'd music Of the maddest meadow-brook. Yet all in vain I praise The Little Lady ! Her eyes are blue and dewy As the glimmering Summer-dawn, Her face is like the eglantine Before the dew is gone ; And were that honied mouth of hers A bee's to feast upon, He 'd be a bee bewildered, Little Lady ! Her brow makes light look sallow ; And the sunshine, I declare, Is but a yellow jealousy Awakened by her hair For O the dazzling glint of it Nor sight nor soul can bear, So Love goes groping for The Little Lady. [76] SHE 'S BUT A RACING SCHOOL-GIRL." THE LITTLE LADY And yet she ? s neither Nymph nor Fay, Nor yet of Angelkind : She 's but a racing school-girl, with Her hair blown out behind And tremblingly unbraided by The fingers of the Wind, As it wildly swoops upon The Little Lady. [79] "COMPANY MANNERS" WHEN Bess gave her Dollies a Tea, said she,- "It 's unpolite, when they 's Company, To say you 've drinked two cups, you see, But say you 've drinked a couple of tea." [80] IN FERVENT PRAISE OF PICNICS PICNICS is fun 'at 's purty hard to beat. purt'-nigh ruther go to them \T\ All big grown-up people's names, 1st Miz Bear, the neighbers call 'Em, an' Mister Bear 'at 's all. Yes an' Miz Bear scold him, too, 1st like grown folks should n't do ! Wuz a grea'-big river there, An', 'crosst that, 's a moun tain 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 [141] A BEAK FAMILY 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 1 sight, He wuz so mad ! An' served 'em right ! [142] A BEAR FAMILY Ken 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 sJceerd, 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 W spang -W spat !- Wite where the Bear wuz standin' at ! An' when here come the Snake at him, The Bear he think o' little Jim [143] A BEAE FAMILY 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 ! [144] A BEAR FAMILY 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 su'prise 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 ! [145] 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 Now I [146] ''WHILE KATE PICKS BY, YET LOOKS NOT THERE.' SOME SONGS AFTER MASTER-SINGERS 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 '11 up at earliest dawn, While as yet the dew is on The sooth'd grasses and the pied Blossomings of morningl ide ; 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. [149] SOME SONGS AFTER MASTER-SINGEKS Next, when many mimics more Like to these we have played o'er, [150] SOME SONGS AFTEK MASTEK-SINGEKS We '11 betake iis home-along Hand in hand at evensong. in THE DOLLY'S MOTHEE [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 un playful play, The tiny doll she mothers there And lulls to sleep away, [151] SOME SONGS AFTEE MASTER-SINGERS 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. [152] LEND ME THE BREATH OF A FRESHENING GALE." SOME SONGS AFTEK MASTER-SINGEKS 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 an other ship As its colors dip and dip ! Wind of the Sea, sweep over the bay And bear me away ! away ! [155] SOME SONGS AFTEE MASTER-SINGERS V SUBTLETY [E. B.] WHILST little Paul, convalescing, was staying Close indoors, and his boisterous classmates paying [156] SOME SONGS AFTEB, MASTER-SING.EKS 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." VI BOKN TO THE PUKPLE [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 [157] SOME SONGS AFTEK MASTER-SINGERS Leaking in fainter ruddy stains Adown thy neck-and-armlet-chains Of turquoise, chrysoprase, and mad Light-frenzied diamonds, dartliug glad [ 168.]. SOME SONGS AFTER MASTER-SINGERS 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, Eule, ever young and ever fair, As now thou rulest, smiling there. [159] 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 ! [160] ' BOW TO ME IN THE WINDER THERE ! " WHISKERY- WHEE-KUM- WHEEZE 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 ?" 163 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 Sad 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, Wy, nen my Ma she sob an' sigh, An' say, "Dear Good little girl, good-bye !- Bad little girl 's corned here again ! " [ 164] LITTLE-GIRL-TWO-LITTLE-GIKLS 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 corned back to stay." [ 165 ] A GUSTATORY ACHIEVEMENT LAST Thanksgivin' -dinner we Et at Granny's house, an' she [166] A GUSTATORY ACHIEVEMENT Had 1st like she alluz does- Most an' best pies ever wuz. Canned blackburry-pie an' goose- Burry, squshin'-full o' juice ; An' rozburry yes, an' plum- Yes, an' churry-pieum-yum ! Peach an' punkin, too, you bet. Lawzy ! I kin taste 'em yet ! Yes, an' custard-pic, an' mince ! An' I ain't et no pie since ! [ 167] 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 ':> 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. A PARENT REPRIMANDED SOMETIMES I think 'at Parunts does Things ist about as bad as us [171] A PARENT REPRIMANDED "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 ! 172] "THE CHILDISH DREAMS IN HIS WISE OLD HEAD. THE TREASURE OF THE WISE MAN O THE NIGHT was dark and the night was late, And the robbers came to rob him j 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 laiighed 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. [175] [ 176 ] UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. Form L9-32m-8,'58(5876s4)444 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY PS Riley - 2704_Book^of joyous jjjf o6oTl8227 5" aO