•' %■<>■' V -'-«^--. '^^o^' •''^B*'. "ov*' .■:^^* '-^^0^ ;^% "> O H , ^ lO' , •.VI jP-a >, ♦ono' .^ '- •^.'o* ° ^0^ ^ -^^0^ i •- "•^•'o^ : "bV G v5. '."* ^G^ r.'^i-A ,/.:^^..% ,''°/^iA Z-^^^-.X °* •-••%°' V'^'^'V-**''' V*^'^*'/' 'V^^^*'/ <> '».►* ^G^ ^ '". • %.^" V-^^ :< -^Ao^ • ^'«- vO' COPYRIGHTED BY EMMA PUTNAM BANCROFT 1921 ^CU6249B9 OCl 25 1921 -^■. I BY EMMA PUTNAM BANCROFT DECORATED BY CLARE BANCROFT MAYER ^\ To those who read and do not hesitate To merit find within, this book I dedicate : To Clare and Billy, who, with fingers kind, The wrappings of their "Mummie" would un- wind — To many who in fondness "Mummie" me, Whose criticism kind of course would be — To these I do not fear my thoughts to state. Nor to them dread the book to dedicate. ( I hope that others, who may read this verse. Will kindly say, "Oh well, it might be worse.") CONTENTS An Old Fashioned Garden 13 A Fantasy 27 Woman's Reason 42 Envy 45 Lines 48 SpiaNG 54 Thoughts 63 CONTENTS— Continuea I Wonder 72 Now Wouldn't It Help ? 85 On-Learning-To-Drive 87 (1910) To Our Boys 93 (World's War— 1917) Friendship loo What Is It ? 103 Christmas Verses 106 cB-rv 13 n summer, the fairies came from the world over, And settled right there sweeter than clover. — 'twas The 1 Fairy Queen lived in of a rose — the heart J The i 1 1 sweet-scented flowers her clothes. provided ■4 C-b'tV 15 C'B«M« e^-n* 17 C-B-M' iS c*B«nf 19 e.B-n« cB-n- C-6-«« C-B'fV 23 24 c-b-fy 25 ^^•n» 26 27 28 29 3" 3' 32 33 34 35 3^^ 37 38 39 40 41 tb'tv 42 ce-n- 43 e«6«fv 44 rrmmvtiMi t aau w gee! I wish that I could be a scout, I know a lot o' things they talk about. I know a dandy place a guy c'n camp, An' scouts don't care a bit if it is damp. I know jus' where to catch the biggest fish, An' there's a bird's nest — Oh gee ! How I wish I didn't have to wait another year. Twelve months! The days are all so long; look here, I c'n run fast, an' jump, an' whistle, too. Listen; can't I whistle loud as you? •Bwivitt-nftTfri jny 45 TF ^„WJ,!,. • >Jf »Ml.^.lm:nml^^f>,•.^^„•^:,|•mmMMlm,t•xmlmlllI:IMI.J'WI\UI KM.llVllm,l.immiimmrtIW7!l^im aBI: hate this ol' blue suit I have to wear: I need a new one; there's an awful tear In this; tho' mother says it does not show, (But sometimes even mothers do not know How much a kid as big as me hates patches. ) Say, I c'n build a fire without matches ! Don't believe it? Some day you come with me An' I bet I c'n prove it to you; see? I got muscle, too ; if you want to, try : C'n box like anything, an' I don't cry. 46 !U niiTrmrtinn :iifn^ igwag? What's that? You learn to talk with flags? Now don't you 'spose I know my dog's wigwags? Swim? Want to race me to that clump o' trees? I'll show you how to swim! Afraid you'll freeze? An' c'n I set a trap or blaze a trail? Well, I c'n try again if first I fail. (Aw gee! This suit — of course I would not mind Wearin' it, if I had the other kind Like scouts wear.) Gosh, jus' wait, you'll all find out You bet, another year, I'll be a scout ! ZB I- iiarft-Ban'ritrrViYfri 47 «•»•«• 48 ^T-B-M' 49 C'b'tnf 50 C •&'(-[' 51 C'b't^ c-a-rv 53 54 X k^ Id Mother Earth lay in her bed, The snowy covers tight — (She'd even pulled them o'er her head And snored with all her might.) 55 % (k.-^ I^f roar, and snowy blankets flew From off the poor old dame — Who wakened, startled — (tho' she knew Who'd planned the zestful game.) %. mm 57 \ ow Mother Earth, "old as the hills," Sprang up in self-defense: She knew too well the playful wills Would soon their tricks com- 58 59 X !*--<- ay came, the little buds and leaves Just fast, and faster grew — And tiny birds, beneath the eaves. Grew fast, and faster, too! 60 6i 62 63 ove was King of this Castle, rul- ing in Love's gentle way, Joy, Happiness, Peace reigned also — so long as Love held sway. Red roses whose gorgeous beauty never could fade, it seemed, Bloomed in greatest profusion about this Castle, I dreamed. y^ — I 64 o storm would destroy the Castle, no blight attack the flowers, The strength of all Eternity breathed forth from lofty towers. Naught would destroy this Won- derland, no trouble enter there, A Charm held the place in its power: a Charm of Faith most rare. 65 66 67 are Faith lies bruised and bleed- ing — time soon the charm dispels, All Life is bleak and lonely, where no longer Fancy dwells. Dark shadows take the place of Light, and bitter Sorrow's tears Blind the sight of struggling Hope: endless seem the years. '^jjpiHlf"""!!:^ 68 MmMti&M tLJU.--^ L'ENVOl roused at last, to real things — de- stroyed: the Castle strong, With dreams we had of Power, of Laughter, yes, and Song: The road now stretched before us — Life's road, both long and wide. Is rough and full of thickets, where Cares, unthought of, hide. 69 e falter oft, as on we pass; it seems scarce worth the while: Still Courage forces us along, and keeps alive a smile: For the World heeds not one's Sorrow — bitter, alas, but true; Just laugh and hide your trouble, and the ones you meet laugh, too. ^^ikMJi:t&i.-^'MmM.: wonder why on earth it is That all things pick on me; From tiny little red bugs, to My Irish terrier's flea. 7a ■^is^^m^^'.^,mm. f I go out to drive, you know, Just slowly passing by, The bees and yellow-jackets, they All hum aloud, "I spy!" 73 74 hen comes the night, when breezes soft, Are lulling Earth to rest. And all these stinging, horrid things Have lost their *'stinging" zest. 75. feel at last that peace is mine, And gently breathe a sigh ; A pesky gnat will come along, And, "biff," straight in my eye! 76 77 78 t was country life to me exposed, Queer '*bugs, " with queerer tricks ; And I know now, Oh me. Oh my, Not only "clocks" have "ticks!'* e^.'J^'-rM.J i^m>m, j^^^i^^^^^^^ 79 8o 8i 82 83 f course I'm not complaining, now — But maybe I'd best pause, Before I tell how many times I have indeed had cause! hen you're alone with your thoughts, in a room, With spirit sunk to the depths in gloom — Ah me — Now wouldn't it help, if a friendly pen, In a loving hand, would happen then To drop you a line — a word of cheer. And the postman's whistle, draw- ing near. Ah me — ould call to you, with a sound so shrill That your heart would bound and your senses thrill At the tho't of a word, from a friendly pen. Which was held by a loving hand, and then — Ah me — Your spirit would rise, and dispel the gloom From out of your heart, and out of the room — Ah me — Now Wouldnt it help? «7 ^■^^LMMt^-i^'Mm^^. ell, we'll start up again and we'll try to go slow, Just two hands and two feet, still it worries me so To know which to use; it sure makes your head reel When you are out on the road and I'm at the wheel. V y old friends are slighted, my new ones are unseen, I stare straight ahead as I guide the machine ; Horses and dogs, aye, even the beasts of the field. Loom like dragons of old, when they're viewed thro' the shield. 90 ach nerve at a tension, just ready to snap, Honk! Honk! Oh, it is dreadful when dogs come and yap Right in front of the car; but with force, a quick move And I've just kept from crushing a creature I love. 9> ruth is, Vm a coward, I pretend to e game And deep in your heart, you are sorry you came; Some thrills will you have, but small pleasure you'll feel, If you ride out with me when I take the wheel. 92 h soldier boy, in khaki clad, Be staunch, be brave, be true: For where Old Glory waves, my lad. Our hearts are there with you. f^^&^S£ai^J^^ti 93 ..|||«U»-1— l»l|.l— ho', soldier boy, the way be long, March on, and struggle through: Prove steadfast, and remember this. Our faith is placed in you. ^t^-..■m^^e^.t,.^^v«■^. 94 n trench or camp, on land or sea, Amidst the battle's din, Our standard bears the Star of Hope, Our soldier boys will win. ^.^.■l>.»^i../M^v«. 95 e yours the task to fight abroad Alone, and friendless, too. Uncheered for deeds of valor done. Our thoughts are there, with you. fJtrttw«fytrn»Tfri 96 'T"""™'""**^ hould fate decree an unmarked grave On foreign shores, for you, Fear not — long shall Old Glory wave Our gratitude to you. ^.^-...H...,..,^,./'^.,«., teM^MMMn 97 hould honors great, O soldier boy, Be yours, and rightly, too, Bear them with dignity, and know Our hearts beat fast for you. f^tirfl tmT>«nlT-ninii 98 nd when you win the battle, lad, As win it you will do — Come home — for there is wel- come here In all our hearts for you. r■^..^.. y.. c1i./n^vt.r. 99 cB-n. €^»'fV 'oi I04 «^r> 105 Cheer — I send it you. Health — I wish for you. Remembrance — I keep for you. Ideals — I hold for you. Search these words of mine. Thou — and thoughts of thine Mingle softly and entwine A wreath of "Merry Christmas'* time Secured by Friendship's fingers. d-B-M- 1 06 If all the stockings in the land, were hung upon a line, They would not hold the Christmas wish, within this heart of mine. Joy, Peace and Love, with Friendship true, would fill them all, you know Till Love would burst from out the top, while Joy would burst the toe. Hiere's nothing in this world so bright I do not wish for thee. And a "Merry, Merry Christmas," means just everything — from me. fdtae Christmas time with mistletoe, And tiny sprigs of holly; Christmas trees with gleaming lights, And every one so jolly. I wish that every joy on Earth Be yours throughout the year — In truth, thro' all the years to come, This do I wish you, dear. I also wish, in your happiness. Wherever you may be. In a little corner of your heart You'd keep a thought of me. c-B-r> 109 ci»«np 3V ■jv^ oV^^^^Pfe'^ '^^^« f£M^^\ ^^^' o,^:^^m- '-^y..^ -^^ C" * •^ ^.<. ^-J^^ ^-./ 5-°-n.^. .'» i-°*n^. V 3 V -Ao^ .^.^ % o^ 'o , t O *».o' 0-' V -- .V . -^ ^'* %. ^-^^ ^'A'i:- % «,^ ^iSfc^ "^^ ^. *.^T^' ,G /^e--^-'^0 ' G^ '^o.