LIBRARY OF CONGRESS^ 
 
 Shelf ...£.^2 A ^5 
 
 \ ^ C| ^( 
 
 UNITED STATES OP AMERICA 
 
 1 
 
Artful Anticks 
 
Artful Anticks 
 
 Oliver Herford 
 
 i i: > mt<Z ' ^ 
 
 New York 
 
 The Century Co. 
 
 1894 
 
 ;S^r«^.>?^ 
 
 SEP 21 1894) 
 

 Copyright, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1S91, 1892, 1S93, 1894. 
 By The Centirv Co. 
 
 Copyright, 1894, by Olivfr Ilr.RKoRD. 
 
 -0 f/ 
 
 The DeVinne Press. 
 
Table of Contents. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Audacious Kitten i 
 
 The Artful Ant 4 
 
 The Gifted Ant 10 
 
 Sir Rat. A Comedy ,6 
 
 The Deceitful Dormice 22 
 
 Nature and Art 24 
 
 The Geometrical Giraffe 2- 
 
 The Early Owl -.2 
 
 A Dark Career ^e 
 
 A Packet of Letters - 7 
 
 The Naughty Fay 43 
 
 The Miller's Quest 45 
 
 Nell's Fairy Tale 
 
 50 
 
 The Unfortun.\te Giraffe 52 
 
 Stockings or Scales "53 
 
 A Riddle -4 
 
 Good-bye 55 
 
 The Professor and the White Violet 53 
 
 The First Rose of Sum.mer 60 
 
PAGE 
 
 The Elf and the Dormouse 62 
 
 The Crocodile 64 
 
 The Forgetful Forget-Me-Not 69 
 
 The Birds' Farewell 72 
 
 The Spider's Tale -jj, 
 
 Highly Connected 78 
 
 The Miser Elf 79 
 
 The Point of View 84 
 
 Heroes 88 
 
 A Belated \'iolet 89 
 
 The Parrot and the Cuckoo 92 
 
 The Elf and the Bee 96 
 
 A Fahlk 97 
 
 The Fairies' Concert 98 
 
 The pictures in " The Point of View " are used by permission of Messrs. Harper and Brothers. 
 
Artful Anticks 
 
'H'R 
 
 The 
 Audacious Kitten. 
 
 URRAY : " cried the kitten, " Hurray ! " 
 As he merrily set the sails; 
 " I sail o'er the ocean to-day 
 ■y To look at the Prince of Wales ! " 
 
 " O kitten ! O kitten ! " I cried, 
 " Why tempt the angry gales ? " 
 
 " I 'm going," the kitten replied, 
 " To look at the Prince of Wales ! 
 
 " I know what it is to get wet, 
 I 've tumbled full oft into pails 
 And nearly been drowned — and yet 
 I mi/sf look at the Prince of Wales ! " 
 
" O kitten ! " I cried. '' the Deep 
 Is deeper than many ]jails!" 
 Said the kitten, '• 1 shall not sleep 
 
 Till I 've looked at the Prince of Wales!" 
 
 " O kitten ! pause at the 
 brink, 
 r^ And think of the sad sea 
 
 ^cf^ tales." 
 
 " Ah, yes," said the kitten, 
 " but think, 
 Oh, think of the Prince 
 of Wales ! " 
 
"But, kitten!" I cried, dismayed, 
 '• If you live through the angry gales 
 You know you will be afraid 
 
 To look at the Prince of Wales ! " 
 
 Said the kitten, " No such thing ! 
 
 Why should he make me wince? 
 \{ ' a Cat may look at a King' 
 
 A kitten may look at a Prince!" 
 
 
The Artful Ant. 
 
 
 Once on a time an artful Ant 
 Resolved to give a ball. 
 
 For tho' in stature she was scant, 
 She was not what you 'd call 
 
 A shy or bashful little Anl. 
 (She was not shy at all.) 
 
 She sent her invitations through 
 
 The forest far and wide. 
 To all the Birds and Beasts she knew, 
 
 And many more beside. 
 ("You never know what you can do," 
 
 Said she, " until you 've tried.") 
 
 Five score acceptances came in 
 Faster than she could read. 
 
 Said she : " Dear me ! I 'd best begin 
 To stir my.self indeed!" 
 
 (A pretty pickle she was in, 
 With five-score guests to feed!) 
 4 
 
The artful Ant sat up all night, 
 
 A-thinking o'er and o'er, 
 How she could make from nothing, quite 
 
 Enough to feed five-score. 
 (Between ourselves I think she might 
 
 Have thought of that before.) 
 
 She thought, and thought, and tliought all night, 
 
 And all the following day, 
 Till suddenly she struck a bright 
 
 Idea, which was — (but stay! 
 Just what it was I am not quite 
 
 At liberty to sav.) 
 
 f^nough, that when the festal day 
 Came round, the Ant was seen 
 To smile in a peculiar way, 
 
 ^^ 
 
WM. 
 
 
 As if — (but you may glean 
 
 From seeing tragic actors j^lay 
 
 The kind of smile I mean. 
 
 From here and there and everywhere 
 The happy creatures came. 
 
 The Fish alone could not be there. 
 (And they were not to blame. 
 " They really could not stand the air. 
 But thanked her just the same.") 
 
 ^^^^^ 
 
 11.' ■■- "'"^- 
 
The Lion, bowing very low, 
 Said to the Ant : '• I ne'er 
 
 Since Noah's Ark remember so 
 Dehghtful an affair." 
 
 (A pretty compliment, although 
 He really was n't there.) 
 
 They danced, and danced, and danced, 
 and danced ; 
 It was a jolly sight ! 
 They pranced, and pranced, and j)rance(l, 
 and pranced, 
 Till it was nearly light ! 
 And then their thoughts to supper chanced 
 To turn. (As well they might !) 
 
 7 
 
Thensaidthe Ant: "It's onh right 
 ihat su])per should be-in 
 
 And if you will be so polite' 
 Pray take each other m." ' 
 ( I'he emphasis was very slight 
 But rested on ^^ 7ake ///.") 
 
 'i^hey needed not a second call 
 They took the hint. Oh yes 
 
 J';^ largest guest ''took in '' the small 
 ih^ small "took in" the less 
 
 i he less ''took m '■ the least of all 
 (It was a great success!) 
 
 As for the rest— but why 
 H>in out 
 This narrative of woe ?_ 
 The Lion took them in 
 about 
 As fast as they could go. 
 (And went home looking 
 very stout, 
 And walking very slow.) 
 
And when the Ant, not long ago, 
 
 Lost to all sense of shame, 
 Tried it again, I chance to know 
 
 That not one answer came. 
 (Save from the Fish, who " could not go, 
 
 But thanked her all the same.") 
 
 crft^^'^p^ 
 
^ <- 
 
 GIFTED ANT, wlio could no more 
 Than keep starvation from her door, 
 Once cast about that she might find 
 An occupation to her mind. 
 
 An ant with active hands and feet 
 Can, as a rule, make both ends meet 
 Unhapj)ily, this was not quite 
 The case with her of whom I 
 write. 
 
 " Since 1 am giited," she 'd 
 
 explain, 
 " I ought to exercise 
 my l)rain. 
 The only thing for 
 me, it 's clear, 
 Is a professional 
 career ! " 
 
f-/ 
 
 '^iHkJr 
 
 
 vf#f/^T-' 
 
 ]Jut no profession could she find, 
 Until one day there crossed her mind 
 The proverb bidding sluggards gaze 
 Ui)on the ant to learn her ways. 
 
 "The very thing!" she cried. ''Hurray! 
 I '11 advertise without delay. 
 Things are come to a pretty pass, 
 If I can't teach a sluggard class'" 
 
She set to work without delay, 
 And wrote some cards that very day ; 
 And hung them in the grass — a plan 
 To catch the sluggard's eye. They ran 
 
 As follows 
 
 M 
 
 Sluggards who desire 
 
 An education to actjuire 
 
 Will find it well to call to-day 
 
 Ui)on Professor Ant, B. A. 
 
 Her Sluggard Class, she begs to state. 
 
 Reopens at an early date 
 
 With several vacancies — a chance 
 
 Exceptional — 
 
 Terms — /// Advanw. 
 
 
 -^0. 
 
 
 \§00^l\ 
 
 
 
 /^ 
 
She placed at every turn that led 
 To her abode, a sign which read, 
 " Go to the Ant," and hung beside 
 Her ]}icture, highly magnified. 
 
 Said she, " At least that cannot fail 
 To bring a Turtle, Sloth, or Snail, 
 A Dormouse, or a Boy, to learn 
 Their livelihood (and mine) to earn ! 
 
 " I '11 teach them, first of all, to see 
 The joyousness of industry ; 
 And they, to grasp my meaning more, 
 Shall gather in my winter store. 
 
 1.3 
 
The Beauty of Abstemiousness 
 I '11 next endeavor to im})ress 
 Upon their mintls at meals. (X. B. 
 That is — if they should board with me.) 
 
 '• Then Architecture they shall try 
 (My present house is far from dry) — 
 In short, all Honest Toil I "11 teach 
 (And they shall practise what I ]}reach)." 
 14 
 
■^•.1 
 
 
 
 
 Alas, for castles in the air ! — 
 There 's no delusion anywhere 
 Quite so delusive as, I fear. 
 Is a professional career. 
 
 So thought the ant last time we met. 
 She only has o//^ sluggard yet, 
 Who scantly fills her larder shelf — 
 It is, I grieve to sa\-, herself ! 
 
 / 
 
Persons of the Dnjjua. 
 
 jMr. Thomas Cat. Master Tommy Cat, 
 
 Mrs. Thomas Cat. Miss Fmkfv Cat. 
 
 Sir Rai-. 
 
 Scene : 77ie barn. A basket in one corner. 
 
 Master Tommv {looking out of the basket). 
 How very big the world is, after all ! 
 Compared to it our basket seems ciuite small, 
 We never dreamed, dear Flufty, till our eyes 
 ^^"ere opened, that the world was such a size. 
 I 'd like at once to see it all. Let 's go 
 And take a stroll around it. 
 
 Fluffv. No! No! No! 
 
 Mama expressly told us not to stray "" 
 Outside the basket while she was away. 
 Something might hap])en if we disobeyed. 
 
 .A. 
 
 Tommy. Oh, 
 
 you 're a girl — of course you are afraid! 
 16 
 
Fluffy. Suppose — oh, dear! — suppose we meet ia Rat! 
 
 ToM.MV. Suppose we do, dear Fluffy, what of that ? 
 / will protect you with my strong right paw. 
 The sight of me would fill a Rat with awe. 
 
 Fluffy. Would it ? 
 
 ToM.MY. Of course it would. I 'd like to see 
 The Rat who 'd dare to trifle once with me, 
 I do not think he 'd live to try it twice ! 
 
 Fluffy. You are so brave ! It really would be nice 
 To see the world — 
 
 To-ALMY. It will be grand. Here goes! 
 
 There, take my paw, and jump. So, mind your toes! 
 
 {Fluffy jumps.) 
 
 Now we are off. Tread softly, Sister dear, 
 If we 're not careful all the world may hear. 
 
 Fluffy {starting). 
 
 Oh, dear, what was that noise.? I wish we'd stayed - 
 
 Tommy {trcuibliug). 
 
 Be brave, dear Sister, — see, / ';;/ n'-n'-not a'-afraid. 
 Whatever happens, do not make a row ! 
 
[Enter Sir Rat.) 
 
 Sir Rat. Aha ! what 's this ? 
 
 Tommy. Help! Murder! Vl\-o\\-ow! 
 
 Fluffy. 'J'ommy, be cahn ! Dear Mr. Rat, good day. 
 
 Sir Rat {jumping up and d<>7cin). 
 
 Enough ! enough ! I did not come to play ! 
 
 Fluffy. Dear Mr. Rat, how beautifully you 
 dance. 
 
 Sir Rat. You flatter me. 
 
 Fluffy {aside). It is my only chance. 
 
 {T(f Tommy.) 
 
 Run, Tommy ! run ! and 
 
 bring dear Father-cat, 
 While I remain and Hatter 
 
 Mr. Rat. 
 
 [Exi/ Tommy, in /las/e.) 
 
{To Sir Rat.) 
 It 's very plain you learned that step in France. 
 I wish, dear Rat, you 'd teach me how to dance. 
 
 Sir Rat. I do not often dancing-lessons give; 
 But since you have n't very long to live, 
 And you are so polite, this once I '11 try. 
 
 Fluffy. Thanks! thanks, dear Rat, — one dance before I die. 
 
 {Polka music. Sir Rat dances and Fluffy app/auds.) 
 FmJFFY. Bravo ! Sir Rat, I never saw before 
 
 Such perfect dancing ! Won't you dance once more ? 
 
 Sir Rat. Be done with folly. Kitten ! Now at last 
 Your time has come. Reflect upon your past ! 
 
 Fluffy. It won't take long my past life to unfold ! 
 In sooth. Sir Rat, I 'm only nine days old. 
 
 Sir Rat. Peace, Kitten! Hold thy peace! — thy time is past. 
 
 {Springs upon her.) 
 Fluffy. Miow ! Miow! 
 
 19 
 
{Enter Mr. and Mrs. Cat and Tommy.) 
 Mr. Cat. Aha! Sir Rat, at last 
 
 I have thee ; and this barn will soon, I trow, 
 Be rid of such a Ruffian Rat as thou ! 
 
 ( They Jight. Sir Rat falls. ) 
 Mr. Cat [sheaihing his claws). 
 
 'T is well I hastened; had I not, I fear 
 We soon had seen the last of Fluffy dear! 
 
 
 
 ■^ 
 
 -^ 
 
 
 
 
 "?^/-i 
 
 
Tommy. Oh, dear, to think what might have been her fate ! 
 
 Fluffy (aside). I learned that Polka step, at any rate. 
 
 Mrs. Cat. But luncheon 's waiting. Come into the house. 
 Your father caught to-day a fine spring mouse. 
 And, children, when I tell you not to stray 
 From home, in future do not disobey ! 
 
 Curtain. 
 
 i ;«f A^ 
 
 v'^.Sia'Cius- m ^'^^^■^m 
 
The Deceitful 
 Dormice. 
 
 SLEEPY Dormouse who had passed 
 The winter in her nest, 
 Hearing that spring had come at last, 
 (lot up at once and dressed, 
 
 And, liastening from her downy house 
 To hail the new spring day, 
 
 She ran against another mouse 
 That lived across the way. 
 
The shock was such, at first the two 
 
 Could scarcely speak for lack 
 Of breath. Then each cried, "Oh, it 's you! 
 
 AVhy, when did you get back ? " 
 
 " I 've only just return'd, my dear," 
 
 The sleepy Dormouse said, 
 "From Florida — the winters here. 
 
 You know, affect my head." 
 
 " Have you, indeed ? " exclaimed her friend. 
 
 " I 'm glad to see you home. 
 I, too, have just returned — I spend 
 
 My winters down in Rome." 
 
 With many pawshakes then, at last 
 
 They parted — each to say, 
 " I wonder where that creature passed 
 
 The winter — anyway ! " 
 
 23 
 
Nature and Art. 
 
 Said a lady who wore a 
 
 swell cape, 
 As she viewed a Rhinoc- 
 eros, agape, 
 " To think in this age 
 A Beast in a cage 
 Is i>ermitted our fashions 
 to ape ! " 
 
 Thought the Beast in the 
 
 cage, " I declare, 
 One would think that these 
 Ladies so fair 
 Who come to the Zoo 
 Have nothing to do 
 But copy the things that 
 I wear ! " 
 
 24 
 
eolTLeIriC5454^jg 
 
 5" 
 
 ^ ROFESSOR PIKESTAFFE, Ph. D., 
 
 While wandering over land and sea, 
 Once on the plains of Tinibucioo 
 Met a giraffe. 
 
 Why, how d' ye do ! " 
 
 Exclaimed the amiable Pikestaffe. 
 
 I 'm really charmed, my dear Giraffe! 
 
 I 've thought so much of you of late, 
 
 Our meeting seems a stroke of Fate 
 
 Particularly fortunate. 
 
 I long have had upon my mind 
 
 Something concerning you; be kind 
 
 Enough to seat yourself, and pray 
 
 Excuse, if what I have to say 
 
 Seems personal!" 
 
" My dear Pikestaffe, 
 I shall be charmed," said tlie Giraffe, 
 " To hear v.hatever you may say. 
 You are loo hind ; go on, I pray." 
 
 " Well, then," said Pikestaffe, " to resume, 
 You are aware, sir, I presume, 
 That though with your long neck at ease 
 You crop the leaves upon the trees, 
 Your legs are quite too long, and make 
 It difficult for )ou to slake 
 Your thirst — in other words, you 've found 
 Your neck too short to reach the ground. 
 Indeed, I 've often v.ept to tliink 
 How hard it is for you to drink. 
 26 
 
" To right a wrong we must, of course, 
 First try to ascertain the source ; 
 And in this case we find the cause 
 In certain geometric laws, 
 Which I will quickly demonstrate 
 (How lucky that I brought my slate!). 
 
 " Well, to begin, let line A B 
 
 Be your front legs; then line A C 
 (A shorter line) your neck shall be. 
 Measured, 't will only reach so far. 
 When bent down toward the ground, as 
 27 
 
 R. 
 
Then R 's your head stretched down, and shows 
 
 How far the ground Ues from your nose — 
 
 Though if the ground lay not at B, 
 
 But R, you 'd reach it easily. 
 
 Suppose it then at R to lie, 
 
 And draw for ground line D R I. 
 
 Your head then touches ground at R — 
 
 But now your feet go down too far I 
 
 My compasses then 1 will lay 
 
 On A and B, and make round A 
 
 A circle crossing line D I 
 
 At two points. Mark them X and Y; 
 
 28 
 
Then draw from X and Y to A 
 Two lines ; then it is safe to say 
 That Hne A X and line A Y 
 Equal A B, being radii 
 Of the same circle, as you see 
 (According to geometry). 
 But since at first we did agree 
 A B your length of leg should be, 
 'J'hese, being equal to A B, -^^^ 
 Are just the same as legs, you see. 
 So now on legs A X, A Y, 
 You stand uj^on 
 
 the ground 
 
 D I, 
 And drink your 
 
 fill ; for, as I 
 
 said, 
 D I is touched 
 
 by R, your head. 
 29 
 
Thus we have proved — " 
 
 ^^'hat happened here 
 Professor Pikestaffe has no clear 
 Impression, but the little row 
 Of stars above will serve to show 
 What madly reeled before his eyes, 
 As he went whirling to the skies. 
 Below he heard a mocking laugh, 
 That seemed to come from the Ciirafte 
 " Go up ! go up ! You 've proved 
 
 enough ; 
 You 've jjroved geometry is stuff! 
 You 've proved, till I am well nigh 
 
 dead, 
 And feel a thum])ing in my head, 
 That T must sjjread my feet a\)in\. 
 To take a drink — wliy, bless 
 
 your heart I 
 
 mm 
 
 30 
 
^ 
 
 I knew that long ere you were born. 
 I laugh geometry to scorn." 
 
 Professor Pikestaffe, Ph. D., 
 
 They say, has dropj^ed geometry — 
 
 It seems he dropped his slate as well, 
 
 Whicli lies exactly where it fell 
 
 (Also the diagram he drew) 
 
 Upon the plains of Timbuctoo. 
 
 3^ 
 
A\ 
 
 X Owl once lived in a hollow tree, 
 And he was as wise as wise could be. 
 The branch of Learning /ir did n't know 
 Could scarce on the tree of knowledge grow. 
 He knew the tree from branch to root, 
 And an Owl like that can aftbrd to hoot. 
 
 And he hooted — until, alas ! one day 
 
 He chanced to hear, in a casual way. 
 An insignificant little bird 
 Make use of a term he had never heard. 
 He w^as flying to bed in the dawning light 
 
 When he heard her singing with all her might, 
 Hurray ! hurray for the early worm ! " 
 
"Dear mel" said the Owl, "what a singular term! 
 I would look it up if it were n't so late; 
 
 I must rise at dusk to investigate. 
 Early to bed and early to rise 
 
 Makes an Owl healthy and stealthy and wise ! " 
 
 So he slept like an honest Owl all day, 
 And rose in the early twilight gray, 
 
 And went to work in the dusky light 
 To look for the early worm all night. 
 
 s^r ; ^ 
 
 
 He searched the country for miles around, 
 But the early worm was not to be found. 
 
 So he went to bed in the dawning light. 
 
 And looked for the "worm" again next night. 
 
 W'*'"' 
 
 
 zz 
 
And again and again, and again and again 
 He sought and he sought, but all in vain, 
 
 Till he must have looked for a year and a day 
 For the early worm, in the twilight gray. 
 
 At last in despair he gave up the search. 
 
 And was heard to remark, as he sat on his jjerch 
 
 Ky the side of his nest in the hollow tree. 
 
 " The thing is as plain as night to me — 
 
 Nothing can shake my conviction firm. 
 There V no such fhifn; as the earlv wonnr 
 
<:s^s^^^ 
 
 ALL it misfortune, crime, or what 
 You will — his presence was a 
 blot 
 Where all was bright and 
 fair — 
 A blot that told its darksome 
 tale 
 And left its mark a blighting 
 trail 
 Behind him everywhere. 
 
 He stood by the Atlantic's 
 shore, 
 And crossed the azure 
 main, 
 And even the sea, so blue 
 before. 
 About his wake grew 
 dark and bore 
 The semblance of a 
 stain. 
 
On English soil he scarcely more 
 
 Than paused his breath to gain; 
 But on that fair historic shore 
 There seemed to gather, as before, 
 A darkness in his train. 
 
 Through sunny France, across the line 
 To Germany, and up the Rhine 
 
 To Switzerland he came ; 
 Then o'er the snowy Alpine height, 
 To leave a stain as black as night 
 
 On Italy's fair name. 
 
 From Italy he crossed the blue, 
 And hurried on as if he knew 
 
 His journey's end he neared. 
 On Darkest Africa he threw 
 A shade of even darker hue. 
 
 Till in the sands of Timbuctoo 
 His record disappeared. 
 
 Only an inkstand's overflow, 
 O Bumblebee ! remains to show 
 
 he source of your mishap ; 
 though you 've flown my 
 ken beyond, 
 The foot-notes of your foiii- 
 du mo)ide 
 
 Still decorate my 
 map. 
 
 36 
 
FROM I\IR. RUFUS FOX TO MISS BLANCHE GOOSE. 
 
 The Fernwoods, Friday. 
 Dear Miss Goose : 
 Accept apologies profuse, 
 For the abrupt and hasty way, 
 In which I left you yesterday. 
 I quite forgot myself, it 's true, 
 And Mrs. Fox's message, too. 
 She said, " Be sure if you should see 
 Miss Goose, to bring her home to tea"; 
 And when I came home minus you 
 She made a terrible to-do ! 
 I don't know how I came to be 
 So very rude, but then you see, 
 I was just offering my arm, 
 
 3* 37 
 
When stui)i(l Rover from the farm. 
 
 Appeared so suddenly, and so — 
 
 Well, two is company, you know, 
 
 While three — ! Besides, 't was getting late, 
 
 So I decided not to wait. 
 
 Yet, after all, another day 
 
 Will do as well. What do you say ? 
 
 Can you, to-morrow, — say at three, 
 
 Dine with dear Mrs. Fox and me? 
 
 Pray do, and by the hollyhocks 
 
 Meet yours, sincerely, RuFUS Fox. 
 
 FROM MISS BLANCHE GOOSE 
 TO MR. FOX. 
 
 The Farmyard, Friday afternoon. 
 
 Dear Mr. Fox, it seems so soon, 
 
 You almost take my l)reath away ! 
 
 To-morrow? Three? — what shall I say? 
 
 Nothing could charm me more — 
 but, no — 
 
 Alas! I fear 1 cannot go. 
 
 Don't think that I irseut^ 
 1 pray, 
 
 Your hastiness of yester- 
 day. 
 
 38 
 
It is not that. But if I Avent, 
 Without my dear Mama's consent, 
 And she should somehow chance to hear, 
 She would be dreadfully severe; 
 And so, oh, dear ! it is no use ! 
 
 Beheve me, 
 
 Sadly yours, Blanche Goose. 
 
 P. S. — On second tlioughts, dear Fox, 
 I 'li meet you by the hollyhocks. 
 For if Mama but knew how kind 
 You are, I 'm sure she would not mind, 
 To-morrow, then — we '11 meet at three; 
 Don't fail to be there. Yours, B. G. 
 
 FROM MR. RUFUS FOX TO HIS COUSIN REYNARD. 
 
 Friday. 
 Dear Cousin, just a line 
 To ask if you will come to dine 
 (Informally, you know) with me 
 To-morrow afternoon at three. 
 Now don't refuse, whate'er 
 
 you do, 
 I have a treat in store for 
 
 you : 
 A charming goose (and 
 
 geese, you know, 
 Do not on all the bushes 
 
 grow !) 
 
 39 
 
A dream of tenderness in white^ 
 A case of " hunger at first sight." 
 I know, old boy, you '11 not be deaf 
 To t/iis inducement. 
 
 Yours, R. Y. 
 
 P. S. — Miss Goose agrees to be 
 Beside the hollyhocks at three ! 
 
 EXTRACT FROM THE DIARY OF ROVER, 
 THE DOG. 
 
 Saturday night. 
 Well, I must say, 
 I quite renewed my youth to-day ! 
 How lucky that I chanced to go, 
 Just when I did, beside that row 
 Of hollyhocks beyond the gate ! 
 Lucky for /ur at any rate; 
 For suddenly I heard ISliss (loose 
 Struggling and crying, " Let me loose ! " 
 And, from behind the hollyhocks, 
 Who should jump out but Mr. Fox ! 
 (The very same one, by the way, 
 I alvwst caught the other day.) 
 Soon as I nabbed him, in his fright, 
 He dropped Miss Goose and took to flight 
 40 
 
Then after him like mad I flew, 
 
 But — what could poor old Rover do? 
 
 I am not what I used to be, 
 
 So I let go, and ran to see 
 
 At once how poor Miss Goose had fared. 
 
 And found her much less hurt than scared ^ 
 
 From having come so near the noose: — ^ 
 
 A sadder and a wiser goose. 
 
 note from mr. rufus fox to his ■ 
 cousin reynard. 
 
 Dear Cousin: 
 
 This is just to say 
 Why dinner was postponed to-day, — 
 The goose had failed us, that was all; 
 Excuse, I beg, this hurried scrawl. 
 Will write to-morrow to explain — 
 41 
 
Just now my paw is in such j)ain 
 That when I try to write it shocks 
 My nerves. 
 
 Yours truly, Rufus Fox. 
 
 P. S. — I 'd thank you if you sent 
 A bottle of that liniment 
 You spoke of several days ago — 
 The kind for " dog-bites," don't you know. 
 
 ^// 
 
 42 
 
NCE a naughty fay- 
 Chanced to sprain her wing; 
 
 " At her tricks," they say — 
 ' Naughty httle thing ! " 
 
 ¥^ Said the little fay 
 
 As she lay in pain, 
 ' No more tricks I '11 play 
 When I 'm well again.'' 
 43 
 
// >' '-^ *^n A '^"'i^'it? heals everything. 
 
 >i'^'^A /' '-», Can this be our fay, 
 
 /'r ; i/,'^, /'A;j ^he who sprained her wing 
 
 -^ '" fust the other dav ? 
 
 Can she be this fair 
 Thrifty little thing, 
 
 Sewing up a tear 
 In a beetle's wintr ? 
 
 Yes, — alas! but oh, 
 
 JVo/ a ihritly elf; 
 Of course she has to sew 
 
 What she tore herself! 
 
 44 
 
45 
 
(A Flotiry 7\ilc.) 
 
 WVj Princess' hair hath golden sheen, 
 
 And her cheek is hly-pale; 
 But none may look in her eyes, I ween 
 
 And live to tell the tale. 
 
 I'rom out the south, and eke the north, 
 And from the east and west, 
 
 Full many a gallant knight rides forth 
 Upon the fiital (juest. 
 
 For a cruel spell on the Princess lies 
 
 No mortal can undo 
 Till one shall look into her eyes 
 
 And tell their color true. 
 46 
 
And some of them swear her eyes are green, 
 
 And some that they are black, 
 And many a knight rides forth, I ween, 
 
 But never a one rides back. 
 
 For a cruel spell on 
 the Princess lies. 
 And whoso will may try 
 His fate, and look into her 
 eyes; 
 But whoso (luails must die. 
 
 The miller's son is a dusty youth, 
 
 And dusty curls hath he. 
 Quoth he, " I '11 go myself, forsooth, 
 
 And set this Princess free." 
 
 47 
 
The miller's son he hath no spear 
 
 Nor sword nor coat-of-mail, 
 iJut an honest heart that knows not fear — 
 
 Heaven grant he may not fail ! 
 
 'J'he miller's son at tlie portal knocks, 
 At the Princess' feet he bends, 
 
 And he tosses aside his floury locks 
 And a floury cloud ascends. 
 
 The Princess' face in a mist of white 
 
 Is veiled as with a veil. 
 Her eyes are dimmed of their deadly 
 light, 
 
 And the miller doth not quail. 
 
The Princess' hair hath golden sheen, 
 Her cheek is red, red rose, 
 And her eyes? 
 
 Go ask the Prince — 
 I mean 
 The miller's son — he knows. 
 
 49 
 
The fair}- tale was ended, the wicked 
 
 Queen had fled ; 
 The Prince had saved the Princess 
 
 and cut off the monster's head ; 
 The i)eople all were joyful, and the 
 
 Princess and the Prince 
 Were married and — so ran the tale 
 
 — " lived happy ever since." 
 Nell closed the book of fairy tales 
 
 and mused : " I wonder why 
 There are no fairies nowadays ? I 
 
 only wish that I 
 
 50 
 
Could be a fairy princess like the Princess Goldenhair," 
 
 Here Nell dropped off to sleep, and then she started in her chair, 
 
 When, of its own accord, the book popped open, and behold ! 
 
 Out crept a wee elf-princess all arrayed in cloth of gold; 
 
 She sighed a Httle tired sigh and then Nell heard her say, 
 
 In a tiny tired little voice, that sounded far away : 
 
 "Oh, dear! how very nice it is for once to get outside. 
 
 You 've no idea how flat it is, my dear, until you 've tried, 
 
 To be shut up in a story-book with Dragons, Queens, and Kings, 
 
 And always liave to do and say the same old, senseless things; 
 
 You think it would be very fine, but really it 's no joke ! 
 
 / \i rather be a girl, like you ! — " 
 
 Then little Nell awoke, 
 " Poor Princess Goldenhair," said she, — '■ unhappy little elf, 
 I 'm rather glad, upon the whole, that I am just myself!" 
 
 ^SS5^-^S5=sis~ 
 
^-■^\A, 
 
 ^it^/^fl^ 
 
 The 
 
 Unfortunate 
 
 
 Giraffe. 
 
 There was once a (iiraftc who 
 
 said, '• What 
 Do I want with mv tea strong or 
 
 y throat 's such a length, 
 ,-'^^'/'^''':k 'lit tea loses its strength, 
 
 '^^/^.Jp''^ ^'^^^ is tokl ere it reaches the 
 i-^i^^C^ Spot." 
 
 52 
 
Stockings or Scales. 
 
 If I were asked of all things what I most would like to be, 
 
 I 'd choose to be a mermaid and live below the sea. 
 
 How nice, instead of walking, to swim around like little whales. 
 
 And to wear, instead of stockings, many shiny pairs of scales. 
 
 Which don't need changing every thiie that nurse says they are wet. 
 
 And then to have no shoes that always come untied! — and yet — 
 
 And yet, although it must be nice to swim around in scales, 
 To attend a school of porpoises and play at tag with whales, 
 To be on friendly speaking terms with jellyfish and eels, 
 And never to be sent to bed or told I 'm late for meals; 
 Still, when I think of Christmas Eve my resolution fails, 
 Hotv could I hang my sioc/dngs up if I Jiad oii/y scales ? 
 
 53 
 
A. 
 
 HEY were three robbers; aye, 
 
 And they robbed a red, red rose: 
 And the}' came from out the sky, 
 
 And they went where no man knows. 
 
 One came when the day was young, 
 
 And rent the curtain gray 
 Of mist that round her hung, 
 
 And he stole her pearls away; 
 
 One came when the day was old, 
 
 And a sable coat he wore. 
 And a belt of dusty gold, 
 
 And he robbed her treasure store. 
 54 
 
One came when the day was dead, 
 And no man saw him pass; 
 
 And he caught her petals red 
 And threw them upon the grass. 
 
 Three robbers bold were they, 
 
 And they robbed a red, red rose ; 
 
 And they came and went away, 
 And whither — 
 
 no man knows. 
 
 v'-'-n:;-'^- v- f^r^rrr:-:-ry:rr--^^'fvr^rv?rf?iSK:/^-^^ \ 
 
 55 
 
Pr:RSOXS OV the drama : Miss Bird, and Mrs. Chii'munk. 
 .SiiHl: The woods. Time : Last November. 
 
 Miss Bird. — Why, Mrs. Cliipmunk ! how do you do? 
 
 Mrs. Chipmunk. — I 'm (juite well, thanks, Miss Bird; and you? 
 
 Miss B. — 1 'm sorry to say my liealth i.; poor, 
 
 So my doctor has ordered a southern tour. 
 
 Could n't you manage to come along ? 
 
 It would do }-ou good — 
 Mrs. C". — Ves, I 'm far from strong, 
 
 And it 's just what I 'd most like to do 
 
 If I 'd only a pair of wings — 
 
 Miss B. — Pooh! Pooh! 
 
 There are trains for people who cannot fly. 
 
 Mrs. C. — Ves, but the fares are so dreadfully high! 
 So really I must n't think of that — 
 
 Miss B. — If only you 'd wings like your cousin Bat. 
 
 Mks. C. — If only ' but then I have n't, you see. 
 Besides, I 've renteil a hole in a tree, 
 
 56 
 
On the first-floor branch just four trees west 
 
 Of the oak where you built your last year's nest. 
 
 Miss B. — A charming neighborhood! just the thing 
 
 For a winter home — 
 Mrs. C. Well. I hoi)e, next spring, 
 
 When you 're here again, you will try to call. 
 
 Miss B. — You are very kind — 
 
 Mrs. C. — 
 
 Miss B. — Good-by, Mrs. Chipmunk. 
 
 Mrs. C. — 
 
 Then, a pleasant journey ! 
 
 Miss B. — 
 Mrs. C— 
 
 Oh, not at ail! 
 Oh, iniist you fly? 
 
 Good-by ! 
 
 Good-hy ! 
 
 
The Professor. 
 
 Tell me, little violet white, 
 If you will be so ])olite, 
 Tell me how it came that you 
 Lost your pretty purple hue ? 
 
 Were you blanched with sudden 
 fears ? 
 
 Were you bleached with fairies' 
 tears ? 
 v',K»' /=7— — . Or was Dame Nature (jut of 
 
 blue, 
 Violet, when she came 
 to you ? 
 
 
 58 
 
The Violet. 
 
 Tell me, silly mortal, first, 
 Ere I satisfy your thirst 
 For the truth concerning me — 
 Why you are not Hke a tree? 
 Tell me why you move around, 
 Trying different kinds of ground. 
 With your funny legs and boots 
 In the place of proper roots ? 
 
 Tell me, mortal, why your head, 
 Where green branches ought to spread, 
 Is as shiny smooth as glass, 
 With just a fringe of frosty grass ? 
 
 Tell me — Why, he 's gone away ! 
 
 Wonder why he would n't stay ? 
 
 Can he be — well, I declare! — 
 
 Sensitive about his hair? 
 
 59 
 
'Ik 
 
 
 
 
 " Oh, dear ! is summer over ? " 
 I heard a rosebud moan, 
 When first her eyes she opened, 
 And found she was alone. 
 
 '' Oh, why did summer leave me, 
 Litde me, belated ? 
 Where are the other roses? 
 
 I think they mii:;Jit have waited ! " 
 
 Soon the little rosebud 
 
 Saw to her surprise 
 Olher roses opening, 
 
 So she dried her eyes. 
 60 
 
Then I heard her laughing 
 
 Gaily in the sun, 
 I thought the summer over ; 
 
 Why, it 's only just begun ! " 
 
 6i 
 

 ^ 
 
 vc» 
 
 
 (g;^® 
 
 
 II ' 
 
 11- ■ 
 
 Under a toadstool 
 Crei)t a wee Klf, 
 
 Out of the rain 
 To shelter himself. 
 
 Under the toadstool, 
 Sound asleep, 
 
 Sat a Ijig Dormouse 
 All in a lieap. 
 
 Trembled the wee Elf 
 Frightened, and yet 
 
 Feanng to fly away 
 Lest he get wet. 
 
 62 
 
 >y To the next shelter — 
 Maybe a mile ! 
 Sudden the wee Klf 
 Smiled a wee s.mile, 
 
Tugged till the toadstool 
 
 Toppled in two. 
 Holding it over him 
 
 Gailv he flew. 
 
 Soon he was safe home 
 
 Dry as could be. 
 Soon woke the Dormouse 
 
 " Good gracious me ! 
 
 Where i.; my toadstool ? " 
 
 I.oud he lamented. 
 — And that 's how umbrellas, 
 
 First were invented. 
 
 63 
 
CROCODILE once dropped a line 
 To a Fox to invite him to 
 dine ; 
 ]!ut the Fox wrote to say 
 lit- ivas diniiii:^, that tia}\ 
 With a Bird friend^ and begged 
 to decline. 
 
She sent oft' at once to a Goat. 
 " Pray don't disappoint me," she wrote 5 
 
 But he answered too late, 
 
 He \i forgotten the date, 
 Having tJunighilessIy eaten her note. 
 
 65 
 
The Crocodile thought him ill-bred, 
 And invited two Rabbits instead ; 
 But the Rabbits replied, 
 They were hopelessly tied 
 By a previous engagement^ and tied. 
 
 65 
 
Then she wrote in despair to some Eels, 
 And begged them to "drop in" to meals: 
 
 But the Eels left their cards 
 
 IVit/i their coldest regards. 
 And took to what went for their heels. 
 
 
 
 67 
 
Cried the Crocodile tlien. in disgust, 
 " My motives they seem to mistrust. 
 
 Their suspicions are base, 
 
 Since they don't know their jilace, — 
 I sujjpose if 1 Diiist starve, I must!" 
 
 es 
 

 "riS^^ '^'^^ Professor. 
 
 ^JVi...v.'C>O£3>OOOC?C30 
 
 BEiein© 
 
 
 RAY tell me, sweet Forget-me-not, 
 Oh, kindly tell me where you got 
 \ Your curious name ? 
 
 I 'm most desirous to be told 
 The legend or romance of old 
 From whence it came. 
 
 •^47 .o 
 
 FORGET-ME-NOT. 
 
 Indeed, good sir, it seems to me, 
 If you have books on Botany 
 
 Upon your shelf, 
 You 'd better far consult those books — 
 He learns a thing the best who looks 
 
 It up himself. 
 69 
 
Thk Professor. 
 
 I 've works on Botany a few, 
 
 But though I 've searched them through and through, 
 
 Never a word 
 Can I discover in the same 
 About your interesting name. 
 
 Forget-me-not. 
 
 Whv, how absurd 
 
 'riiE Professo;^. 
 
 Quite so ! And now what can T do ? 
 I ;;hail be most obHged if }ou 
 Will make it plain. 
 
 Forget-me-not 
 
 Another time. One moment 
 
 more 
 And 
 I 
 
 
 no less than 
 four 
 Big drops o 
 rain. 
 [ExiV Professor.] 
 
 
 /O/y 
 
 I 
 
Forget-me-not. 
 
 {Aside) Indeed, I W tell him if I knew ; 
 But it would never, never do 
 
 If I explained 
 That, long ago, I quite forgot 
 Why I was called Forget-me-not 
 
 (It 's well it rained) ! 
 
 x; 
 
 
 
 71 
 

 The Birds' Farewell. 
 
 Mv Dear Little Maid: 
 
 ^^'c must bid you good-by, 
 For November i.; here, and it 's time we should fly 
 To the South, where we have an engagement to sing, 
 Lut, remember this, dear, we '11 return in the spring. 
 And if, while abroad, we hear anything new, 
 We '11 learn it, and sing it next summer to you 
 In the same little tree on the lawn, if you '11 let us. 
 So, good-by, little maiden ! Please (!o not forget us. 
 We 're sorry to leave you — too surry for words, 
 And we '11 always remain. 
 
 Yours sincerely, '-Thk IJirds. 
 
 P. S. — Please don't mind if this letter sounds flat. 
 And present our respectful regards to your cat. 
 
-er^, 
 
 ar?/;;XsS 
 
 Even Spiders' 
 rights must 
 be respected. 
 
 The Poet offereth 
 to deliver a fly 
 
 from the 
 Spider's web. 
 
 •' Really, Fly, you ought to know 
 
 Better, surely, than to go 
 
 Into Mr. Spider's net. 
 
 Luckily /'/;/ here to set 
 
 You free " ; but ere I could have stirred, 
 
 Mr. Spider's voice I heard 
 
 Crying in an angry tone : 
 " Better let my lunch alone ! 
 
 " One would think, for all you care. 
 Spiders could subsist on air. 
 Listen to this tale and see 
 If you don't agree with me!" 
 
 I sat down without a word, 
 FollowintJf is the tale I heard: 
 
 73 
 

 
 The Spider 
 
 spinneth a yarn 
 
 to instruct the 
 
 Poet 
 
 and divert him 
 
 that he may forget 
 
 about the ily. 
 
 THF. TALE. 
 
 A Prince wlio sought 
 
 His lost Bride, caught 
 
 In the toils of a witch, — woe betide her I — 
 
 AMien riding one night 
 
 Through a forest, caught sight 
 
 Of a Spi in the wel) of a Flyder. 
 
 74 
 
(As perhaps you surmise, 
 I have tried to disguise, 
 
 The names, with the best of intention : 
 For I make it my plan, 
 Whenever I can, 
 
 To avoid any personal mention.) 
 
 Said the Prince to the Spi, 
 " .Supposing that I 
 
 Should deliver you out of this hatefulness, 
 Will you pay me in kind, 
 And help me to find 
 
 My Bride ? — Can I count on your grate- 
 fulness?" 
 
 Said the Spi, " Without doubt, 
 If you un// let me out 
 
 From the web of the terrible Flyder, 
 By all means — oh, yes ! 
 You shall find your Princess, 
 
 For I will myself be your guider!" 
 
 1:.^' 
 
The Flyder 
 does not see it in 
 the same light as 
 
 the Prince. 
 
 One jerk ! He was free, 
 And his buzzing and glee 
 
 Drove the Prince to the verge of distraction. 
 The Flyder, meanwhile, 
 Wore a cynical smiie, 
 
 And a look of — well — not satisfaction. 
 
 The Prince paid no heed. 
 But mounted his steed, 
 
 And started the Princess to find. 
 The Spi led the way, 
 But little dreamed they 
 
 That the Flyder had mouittcd beJtiiui ! 
 
 He found her, it 's true. 
 And the wicked witch, too, 
 
 Who lied when he up and defied her; 
 But while being wed, 
 Hanging over her head. 
 
 The Princess caught sight of the Flyder! 
 
 Showing the terri- 
 ble consequences 
 
 of meddling 
 with the domestic 
 affairs of a Flyder. 
 
 At the terrible sight, 
 Her reason took flight. 
 
 Till she was completely bereft of it, 
 When she drained a tureen 
 Full of cold Paris green. 
 
 And the Prince swallowed all that was 
 left of it ! 
 
 76 
 
Setting forth how 
 a Poet and a Fly 
 were both taken 
 
 in by a 
 
 Spider's yarn, 
 
 and how that a 
 
 diverting tale may 
 
 speed a good 
 
 dinner. 
 
 Listening to the Spider, I 
 Quite forgot poor Mr. Fly 
 And his pitiable plight 
 Till the tale was finished quite, 
 Then, alas ! too late I knew, 
 Mr. Fly was finished, too. 
 
 77 
 
Hisihlv Connected. 
 
 '• I 'm a very little cat, 
 1 know, and thin at that; 
 Ikit cast your eye upon 
 this poster fine — 
 The big chap on that ball, 
 He 's just a King, that 's 
 all — 
 Antl, by the way, a rela- 
 tive of mine ! " 
 
HERE was a little miser elf who had a precious 
 store 
 Of silver motes from moonbeams and priceless 
 grains of ore, 
 And shiny dust of marigold, and glittering 
 
 jeweled eyes 
 Of burnished stars and spangles from the 
 wings of butterflies, 
 And bales of wondrous gossamer and green-gold beetles' wings, 
 And many other marvelous and rare and costly things. 
 But, alas ! with all his golden dust and jewels rich and rare, 
 This little elf was never free from misery and care. 
 
 79 
 

 
 
 V 
 
 ' ^"^/'''&<fi 
 
 ■f^ 
 
 The wealth that might have conjured up all good things at his beck 
 Was just a golden millstone that hung around his neck. 
 He never had one moment's peace, his treasure out of sight, 
 Though he buried it for safety in a difterent place each night ; 
 Each night the thought of robbers made him close his eyes in vain, 
 And just as soon as it was light he 'd dig it up again. 
 
 One night (it was a woodland place in which he chanced to bide) — 
 As usual he sought a place in which his gold to hide. 
 He had not long been seeking before he chanced to see 
 A thing he 'd never seen before — a curious kind of tree : 
 
 80 
 
The stem was smooth and 
 straight, and on the top 
 there grew a sort 
 
 Of dome or hat — let 's call 
 it an umbrella-tree, for short. 
 ' The very place ! " ex- 
 claimed the elf. " So 
 strange a tree, 't is clear. 
 
 Is just the thing to mark the 
 spot. 1 '11 hide my treasure 
 here." 
 
 No sooner said than done ; 
 and then, his treasure 
 buried deep. 
 Upon a bed of moss near by 
 he laid him down to sleep. 
 For once the elf enjoyed a 
 night from dreams and 
 terrors free ; 
 
 And, waking, sought 
 with bounding 
 step his tall um- 
 brella-tree. 
 
■" Ah, here it is ! " he cried ; and sure enough, before his sight 
 It stood. " But what is this ? " Another like it to the right ! 
 •" Which can it be ? " He rubbed his chin. " What underneath 
 the sun 
 Has happened ? ^^'h}•, I could have sworn last night there was 
 
 but one. 
 Which can it be that marks the spot in which my treasure lies ?" 
 And looking round, another tree of the same shape and size, 
 Another and another still met his astonished eyes. 
 
 Then the dreadful truth burst on him. and he stood transfixed with 
 
 fright 
 In a forest of umbrella-trees all grown up in a night. 
 
 
 ^M'^" 
 
 82 
 
When walking in the autumn woods, dear reader, and you pass 
 A toadstool lying on its side among the leaves and grass, 
 Think of the little miser elf, for 't is a sign that he 
 Still digs for his lost treasure underneath the umbrella-tree. 
 
 8q 
 
The Point of View. 
 
 X the top of the worhl. wliere 
 there 's lots of snow, 
 As all the geographies say, 
 A small Eskimo, just to make 
 
 the time go, 
 Was building a Snow Man 
 one dav. 
 
 Now it hap])ened by chance 
 that two Polar Bears 
 Came strolling along that way : 
 " Perhaps it is none of our aftairs, 
 But what are vou making ? " said thev. 
 
 '•A Snow Man, of course," said the Eskimo; 
 The Bears gave a comical stare ; 
 
 8j. 
 
Said they, " If you must make a person of snow, 
 Why on earth don't you make a Snow Bear ? " 
 
 He sat himself down for a moment to think 
 
 Of some suitable sort of reply, 
 When a Penguin, two Foxes, a Seal, and a Mink, 
 
 And a Walrus came wandering by. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 85 
 
The Walrus said, " Really, it is n't half bad, 
 And shows lots of promise, you know : 
 
 Yet 1 think, for my part, though j^erhaps it 's a fad, 
 A Snow Walrus were more apropos." 
 
 They stopped just a casual hjok to take, 
 
 A casual word to say, 
 And each had a trifling suggestion to make 
 
 In a patronizing way. 
 
 The Foxes, the Seal, and the Mink were afraid 
 
 They knew little of art, so they said. 
 But they thought he would show better taste if he made 
 
 A Fox, Seal, or Mink in its stead. 
 86 
 
The Penguin said nothing, nor Hstened, but when 
 They \\ finished, he ventured to say, 
 " It does n't look /;///c/i hke a Penguin, but then 
 Perhaps when completed, it may."' 
 
 They turned then to go; but the Eskimo — 
 
 Alas I he was seen no more ; 
 The heat of his anger and shame and chagrin 
 Had melted the snow where the crust was thin. 
 
 And he 'd sunk, so to speak, through the floor. 
 
 £7 
 
Heroes, 
 
 BUILT a castle on the shore, 
 And left to guard it three or four 
 Lead soldiers of the bravest sort, 
 And ordered them to hold the fort 
 Till I should come once more. 
 
 But when 1 came again next day, 
 I found the sea had washed away 
 My castle built upon the sand. 
 Alas ! the gallant little band 
 Of soldiers, where were they ? 
 
 Buried in sand, erect, and square, 
 They held the fort with martial air; 
 And when I 'd said a little speech, 
 I dug tliem out and made them each 
 A general then and there. 
 

 \ 
 
 
 - M Sl^'^^ ^^^^ *^^ autumn sky, 
 ^' .±f Dark the clouds that hurried by; 
 
 A'ery rough the autumn breeze 
 Shouting rudely to the trees. 
 
 -S?^^' 
 
 '.^ 
 
 Listening, frightened, pale, and cold, 
 
 Through the withered leaves and mold 
 Peer'd a violet all in dread — 
 " A\'here, oh, where is spring ? " she said. 
 
 Sighed the trees, '-Poor little thing! 
 She may call in vain for spring." 
 And the grasses whispered low, 
 " We must never let her know," 
 
" What 's this whispering ? " roared the breeze, 
 
 " Hush : a violet ! " sobbed the trees, 
 
 "Thinks it's spring — poor child, we fear 
 
 She will die if she should hear ! " 
 
 Softly stole the wind away, 
 
 Tenderly he murmured, '-Stay:'' 
 To a late thrush on the wing, 
 " Stay with her one day and sing!" 
 
 Sang the thrush so sweet and clear 
 That the sun came out to hear. 
 
 And, in answer to her song, 
 
 Beame<l on violet all day long. 
 50 
 
And the last leaves here and there 
 
 Fluttered with a spring-like air. 
 Then the violet raised her head — 
 '•Spring has come at last!" she said. 
 
 Happy dreams had violet 
 
 All that night — but happier yet, 
 
 When the dawn came dark with snow, 
 Violet never woke to know. 
 
 
 91 
 

 Scene: TAe vicinity of tJie Cuckoo Clock. Cuckoo iiiscovercd in ike act 
 oj te/liiii^ three o\lock. Parrot 'tvatcliiu}::; from a perch near by. 
 
 Cuckoo: Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! 
 
 Parrot: Hark, there she goes! 
 
 To hear her any parrot woultl suppose 
 
 She owned the earth, conceited little thing, 
 
 She really seems to fiincy she can sing, 
 
 Yet, though you '11 scarce believe, that little bird 
 
 Rules the whole blessed household with a word. 
 
 She onlv has to call " Cuckoo 1 " and lo ! 
 
 92 
 
The family at once to luncheon go. 
 When she screams '• Cuckoo ! " twice it is the rule 
 For all the kids to hurry back to school — 
 And when sLv times they know it is a sign 
 That Cuckoo thinks it 's time for them to dine. 
 And so it goes through all the livelong day, 
 She tells them what to do and they obey. 
 But as for me, they treat me like a doll 
 And mimic me and call me " Pretty Poll," 
 And ask me several million times a day, 
 "Does Polly want a cracker?'' — by the way, 
 I 've yet to see that cracker — oh", sometimes 
 I gnash my beak, or mutter nurser\' rhymes 
 Or anything ! for fear I should let sHp 
 The wicked words they taught me on the ship. 
 Those naughty sailors, when long, long ago 
 They brought me from the land where spices grow 
 And palm-trees wave, and Cuckoos do 
 
 not rule 
 And tell folks when to bed and when 
 
 to school 
 And when to go to dinner. 
 
 Never mind I 
 Mv time will come. As that vain bird 
 
 will find 
 Unto her sorrow. Yes, the die is 
 
 cast I 
 Next time the Cuckoo squawks will be 
 her last. 
 
 
 93 
 
Next time she tries — 
 C\:cv.oo {sfnking four o'clock): Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cue — 
 Parrot : Come, now, have done ! we 've heard enough from you ! 
 
 Prepare to die ! your httle reign is o'er. 
 
 Over this house you 'II tyrannize no more ! 
 
 What! won't you come? then 1 '11 soon show you how! 
 
 There ! stop that racket ; heavens, what a row ! 
 
 
 94 
 
{Sinas/ies the Cuckoo io hits, causing the machinery to run down.) 
 
 Help, stop it, some one ! 
 
 (// stops.) 
 
 Well, upon my word. 
 
 You 're tough for such a very little bird, 
 
 I thought you 'd never die ! and now, my dear. 
 
 The family will very soon be here. 
 
 And when they see how little 's left of you 
 
 They '11 be so glad they won't know what to do — 
 
 To think the Cuckoo 's killed and they are free 
 
 To work or play or sleep or take their tea 
 
 Just when they please — and, best of all, how jolly 
 
 To feel they owe it all to " Pretty Polly " ! 
 
 { Curtain.) 
 
 
 ■^ 
 
 95 
 
The Elf and the Bee. 
 
 " Oh, Bumblebee! 
 Bumblebee ! 
 Don't fly so near! 
 Or you will tumble me 
 
 Over, I fear!" \ - 
 
 "Oh, funny Elf! ^s*2=>\/|'y/f 
 
 Funny f:if! /**^l.^ V^' 
 
 Don't be alarmed ! ^^ 
 
 I 'm looking for honev, Klf "" 
 You sha'n't be harmed." 
 
 Then tarry, 
 
 Oh, tarry, Pke ! 
 
 Fill up your ' i 
 sack ; 
 And carry, 
 oh,, carry me 
 Home on your back ! 
 96 
 
A Fable. 
 
 'T T was a hungry pussy cat 
 
 Upon Thanksgiving morn, 
 And she watched a thankful httle mouse 
 That ate an ear of corn. 
 
 If I ate that thankful little mouse, 
 How thankful he should be, 
 
 When he has made a meal himself, 
 To make a meal for me ! 
 
 " Then, with his thanks for having fed 
 And his thanks for feeding me — 
 With all his thankfulness inside — 
 How thankful /shall be!" 
 
 Thus mused the hungry pussy cat 
 
 Upon Thanksgiving Day. 
 But the little mouse had overheard, 
 
 And declined (with thanks) to stay. 
 
 97 
 
JSTN 
 
 ib^ 
 
 a fairy forest known 
 
 To the fairy-folk alone, 
 
 Where the grasses meet and spread 
 
 T.ike a green roof overhead, 
 
 Where the dandelion -tree 
 
 Towers tall as tall can be, 
 
 And the ferns lift up their high 
 
 Fairy ladders to the skw 
 
 For the elves to climb upon — 
 
 Here are merry goings-on. 
 
 From the forest far and nesr 
 All the fairy-folk are here, 
 For to-day there is to be 
 Music 'neath the daisy-tree. 
 
 9S 
 
m% 
 
 ly« 
 
 ::jI' 
 
 'x^: 
 
 ^ 
 
 And the creatures of the wood, 
 One and all, have been so good 
 And obliging as to say. 
 They will gladly come and play 
 For the elves a serenade, 
 In the fairy forest glade. 
 All the little birds have come; 
 And the bumblebees that hum; 
 And the gnats that twang the lute; 
 And the frogs that play the flute ; 
 And the kind of frog v.hose toots 
 Seem to come from out his boots ; 
 And the great big green anei yellow 
 Frog that plays upon the 'cello ; 
 And the katydid, in green. 
 Who is oftener heard than seen; 
 With the litde ladybird 
 ^\"ho is oftener seen than heard; 
 And the cricket, never still 
 With his hvely legs and trill. 
 And, in short, each forest thing 
 That can hum. or buzz, or sing. 
 Each and all have come to play 
 For the little elves to-day. 
 
 Now the crawfish takes the stand 
 To conduct the fairy band. 
 ]''irst there is a moment's pause, 
 Then the leader lifts his claws. 
 Waves his wand, and — one, two, three! 
 All at once, from gnat and bee, 
 Frog, and katyditl, and bird 
 
 99 
 
 
r^ 
 
 'V-'- 
 
 € 
 
 *^, 
 
 r- 
 
 MiP^ 
 
 •*>'■ 
 
 t 
 
 Such a melody is heard 
 
 That the elves and fairies wee, 
 
 Clai)i)ing little hands with glee, 
 
 Make their mushroom seat to sway 
 
 In a very risky way. 
 
 And the creatures in delight 
 
 Play away with all their might, 
 
 Feeling very justly i)roud 
 
 That the elves applaud so loud. 
 
 Now the sun is getnng low. 
 And the elves to bed must go 
 Ere the sleepy flowers close 
 In whose petals they repose; 
 For if they were late they might 
 Have to stay outside all night. 
 So the last good-byes are said; 
 Kverv one goes home to bed ; 
 And the creatures as they fly 
 Play a fairy lullaby, 
 (Irowing faint and fainter still, 
 Fainter and more faint, until 
 All is silent — and the shade 
 Creeps upon the fairy glade. 
 
 
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