^nniogj Isil^lHortoo Maa aw i i aMi a i wwnttwnBwwi i'Mwaa^^ PR Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013521350 THE GLOW-WORM. THE GLOW-WORM BY WILLIAM MANNING ILLUSTRATED BY WESTLEY HORTON THE COVER DE- SIGNED BY CHARLES HOLME -I^LONDON: FRANK T. SABIN ii8, SHAFTESBURY AVENUE, W. MDCCCXCVI ks-iirin iniiiiiii7niniiiiiiTiiiyMiiiiiiiiiiiii/iin kiiiiiiiiii iiiiiij ivMiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiininiiiiiiiif mil Lvxintencbri s -M^mJp GldwWbrl ) ( Willid.m'i d^nnmOj est ey Hortop London FrM7K 6 S^bin DEDICATED TO MY FRIEND CHARLES HOLME PILGRIM TO THE SETTE OF ODD VOLUMES W. M. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Cover (designed by Charles Holme). I. " O, LOVELY, LITTLE, LOW-BORN StAR ! " II. The Fairy Brood. III. Oberon and Jove. IV. The Dew-drop. V. The Frog. VI. The Ladybird. VII. The Adder. VIII. The Grasshopper. IX. The Toadstool and Mushroom. X. The Moth and the Gnat. XI. The Lark. XII. The Nightingales. XIII. The Owls. XIV. The Hedgehog and Robin. XV. The Rat. XVI. The Snail. XVII. The Daddy-Longlegs and the Weasel. XVIII. The Lizard and the Newt. XIX. The Ant. XX. Extinguished ! XXI. The Fairy Lighthouse. THE GLOW-WORM. O LOVELY, little, low-born Star, How much I marvel what you are ! So tell me why, O tiny mite. You thus display your little light ? Does Queen Titania bid you shine. While all her fairy brood combine To sport around your lustrous spark — The one bright spot where all is dark ? DOES Oberon sweet kisses throw When Puck your candle sets aglow ? Or does the lightning hurled by Jove Ignite the fuel in your stove ? Does crystal bead of sparkling dew Its magic mirror owe to you ? — Fit looking-glass for Sprites and Elves To see their graces for themselves ! OR do you raise your mystic lamp To cheer the croaking midnight tramp, Thus hoisting high your tiny ray To show the languid Toad his way? Perchance, indeed, the wooing Frog May see by you which way to jog. And e'en the Blindworm by your light May learn to pitch his fork aright. THE Earwig with the Centipede May seek you in their hour of need ; Forlorn and weary, footsore, lame. May hail with joy your welcome flame ; The Ladybird who stays out late. In fruitless search for faithless mate. Need strike no match to spy her gate. WHILE on his tortuous way he wends, The Adder adds you to his friends ; For safely then the ghding Snake Avoids the bramble and the brake. If after dark he feels afraid, The Grasshopper without your aid Could never see to nimbly leap O'er babbling brook and stony steep. YOUR guiding rays so softly shed Light the gay Woolly-bear to bed, And, pointing out the treacherous thorn. Save his fur coat from getting torn. While Beetles, who their needles thread, And Spiders, when their nets they spread, Will make both stitch and web secure Illumined by your torchlight pure. THE Toadstool rank and Mushroom sweet, Could never jump — O wondrous feat ! — Above the Earth in one brief night, Without the magic of your light. Your genial warmth would never singe The Death's-head Moth's funereal fringe, Nor scorch the Gnat's prismatic wing When brewing venom for his sting. ERE dawn awakes, the warbling Lark Lights his first pipe fi-om off your spark, And, shooting upwards to the skies, Trills you his carol as he flies ! Still soaring nearer to the sun. He sings your virtues one by one. Nor loses in his loftiest flight, His early love for lowliest light. 8 BUT when the drowsy dusk prevails, The sweet melodious Nightingales Unite in chorus through the glade And offer you their serenade, As sympathetic Bluebells ring When eliin throats your vespers sing. THE splendours of your Milky Way Turn murky night to dazzling day, And while the Caterpillars sup, You light the Deadly Nightshade up, When Imps and Goblins disappear Beneath your glittering chandelier. Then ferns unfurl their latest fronds, And buds, impatient, burst their bonds. lO THEN mosses cling, and ivies creep, And tearful willows cease to weep. Then Buttercups, and Daisies, too. Open their lids to peep at you. And wonder if your arts avail To tint the cheek of Primrose pale. Or bleach the Lily of the vale ! II THE tipsy Bee in vain may strive Without your aid to find his hive. In velvet robe the glossy Mole Takes jauntily his evening stroll. The Bat the bounding Cricket plays, And scores the better for your blaze. While Owls, bereft of Luna's gleams. Delight to revel in your beams. The vagrant Hedgehog vainly begs Your help to poach the Robin's eggs. 12 THE cut- throat Rat will quickly stay His hot pursuit of timid prey, And down the muddy bank will dash Affrighted by your bull's-eye flash, And startled by the night-bird's screech, Will dive to join the thirsty Leech. 13 THE lowly Snail may sometimes get Sweet comfort from your brilliant jet, And keeping that within his view May steer his course to pastures new. No wonder that your radiant glare Makes Daddy-Longlegs stop and stare ! No wonder that the Weasel stays So wide awake beneath your rays ! 14 THE Lizard and the waddling Newt, May profit by your beacon mute ; Unharmed the travelled Ant returns The while your midnight taper burns ; And ere your glowing beams expire He warms himself before your fire, And tells such tales that make the Slug His shining shoulders shrewdly shrug ! 15 THESE thoughts, dear Worm, I give to you; Forgive them if they prove untrue. For those there are who still assert That you are but an Insedl Flirt, And only trim your lamp to shine. When luring lovers to your shrine. Alas ! that errant knight should stray, And find — too late — your tempting ray Extinguished by the light of day ! i6 So, lovely, little, low-born Star, I still must marvel what you are. Down here upon this Earth so low, Long let your lustrous lantern glow; For Insedi Worlds when you are gone Lose Sun and Moon and Stars in one. Bright mimic of those orbs above Your Fairy Lighthouse still I'll love ! 17 D THE ILLUSTRATIONS. I. O lovely, little, low-born Star, How much I marvel what you are II. Does Queen Titania bid you shine, While all her fairy brood combine To sport around your lustrous spark — The one bright spot where all is dark ? III. Does Oberon sweet kisses throw When Puck your candle sets aglow ? Or does the lightning hurled by Jove Ignite the fuel in your stove ? IV. Does crystal bead of sparkling dew Its magic mirror owe to you ? — Fit looking glass for Sprites and Elves To see their graces for themselves ! V. Perchance, indeed, the wooing Frog May see by you which way to jog. VI. The Ladybird, who stays out late. In fruitless search for faithless mate, Need strike no match to spy her gate. VII. While on his tortuous way he wends, The Adder adds you to his friends ; For safely then the gliding Snake Avoids the bramble and the brake. VIII. If after dark he feels afraid, The Grasshopper, without your aid. Could never see to nimbly leap O'er babbling brook and stony steep. IX. The Toadstool rank and Mushroom sweet Could never jump — O wondrous feat ! — Above the Earth in one brief night, Without the magic of your light. X. Your genial warmth would never singe The Death's-head Moth's funereal fringe, Nor scorch the Gnat's prismatic wing When brewing venom for his sting. XL Ere dawn awakes, the warbling Lark Lights his first pipe from off your spark And, shooting upwards to the skies, Trills you his carol as he flies! XII. But when the drowsy dusk prevails, The sweet melodious Nightingales Unite in chorus through the glade, And offer you their serenade. XIII. While Owls, bereft of Luna's gleams, Delight to revel in your beams. XIV. The vagrant Hedgehog vainly begs Your help to poach the Robin's eggs. XV. The cut-throat Rat will quickly stay His hot pursuit of timid prey, And down the muddy bank will dash, Affrighted by your bull's-eye flash. And startled by the night-bird's screech. Will dive to join the thirsty Leech. H XVI. The lowly Snail may sometimes get Sweet comfort from your brilliant jet. And keeping that within his view May steer his course to pastures new. XVII. No wonder that your radiant glare Makes Daddy-Longlegs stop and stare No wonder that the Weasel stays So wide awake beneath your rays ! XVIII. The Lizard and the waddling Newt, May profit by your beacon mute. XIX. Unharmed the travelled Ant returns The while your midnight taper burns ; And ere your glowing beams expire He warms himself before your fire. XX. Extinguished by the Hght of day XXI. Bright mimic of those orbs above, Your fairy Lighthouse still I'll love! CHISWICK PRESS : CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO. TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON. The glow-worm. 3 1924 013 521 350