f*<2* *>*# f /* »bV v X cP* **0« ,«? *°-v * J"* • ••?w ; /\. -ms;.' ** v \ -»w* /\. °-^ IP""*. >♦ N< •V^ aO* l°* I FAIRY GOLD POEMS BY KATHARINE LEE BATES NEW YORK E. P. DUTTON & CO. 681 FIFTH AVENUE 1916 Copyright, 1916 BY E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY Printed in five United, States of America NOV 29 I9IB ©CI.A446656 Co KATHARINE KEITH AND TO ALL THE KATHARINES WHO DO ME THE HONOR TO BEAR MY NAME CONTENTS PAGB FAIRY GOLD: A Play I POEMS OF CHRISTMAS Christmas Island . 81 Santa Claus' Riddle . • 85 Goody Santa Claus . • 92 Santa's Stocking .... 104 Lolita's Bethlehem . 107 POEMS OF SUNSHINE Sunshine . A Song of Riches. Song of the Sunshine Club 1*5 120 121 POEMS OF VACATION Vacation .... Wide Awake and Fast Asleep The Sun out of Temper Somebody Knows . v 125 127 129 132 VI CONTENTS PAGE The Rivulet .... . 133 Fair Weather .... . 136 Nutting Song .... • 138 Plucking the Goose . 140 A Winter Day .... . 141 Out to Play .... • 143 Through the Golds and the Greens of Spring 147 POEMS OF FLOWERS A Tulip Tea-Party . 151 Daffydowndillies ■ 153 Witchcraft ..... . 154 The Rainbow Path • 155 Sandalphon's Rosebuds . 157 POEMS OF FUR AND FEA1 ^HERS Grandsire Squirrel Gray . . 161 Little Shadowtail . 165 Peterkin ..... . 167 Robin's Secret .... . 169 On a Ramble .... . 171 A Music-Lesson .... • 173 The Bird Hotel .... . 174 CONTENTS Vll POEMS OF LITTLE PEOPLE PAGE Baby Beth ...... . 179 Baby's Baggage . . 180 At Recess . . 181 The Measuring Rod . 181 The Barberry Baby . 183 Home from School . 184 Rebecca and Abigail . 185 Little Tom a Becket . 189 NONSENSE VERSES Hudson's Cat .... • 193 Don't You Sea? .... . 195 First Night in the Country . 197 The Voyage of the Lily-Pad . 199 Out of Fashion .... . 200 The Old Man of the . Moun TAINS. . 201 POEMS OF FAIRIES Slumber Fairies 205 Fairy's Lullaby ...... 207 Fairy Rip Van Winkle 209 The Troll 211 Vlll CONTENTS PAGB Baby Hazel's Voyage . . 213 Bonny's Birthday • 215 The Wishing-Cap . 219 The Little Knight in Green . 222 Our Family Crest . 225 Fairy Gold: A Play Fairy Gold A Play in Three Scenes The Players, in Order of Entrance: Leprecaun, the Fairy Shoemaker The Pansy Fairies: Twinkle, a Saucy Fairy in a Yellow Hat Speckle, a Kindly Fairy in a Hat of Many Colors Skypeep, a Very Polite Fairy in a Blue Hat Weewee, the Smallest Fairy in a White Hat trimmed with Brown Dusky, a Queen Fairy in a Purple Hat Jack-a-Dreams Lady Leprecaun Zan-in-a-Tippet SCENE I [If the play is acted out of doors, a lawn with bushes of blossoming forsythia would make the best of springtime settings. For later summer, a meadow of goldenrod or indigo weed would answer, or, where gorse grows, the gorse. If the play is indoors, and the florist has no yellow blossoming plants to give away, home artists can fashion flowers yet unknown to botany from green pasteboard and yellow paper. In the thick of the golden bloom is a rough brown stump of considerable size. On this is seated, cross-legged, an elf who looks, at first glance, like a twisted outgrowth of the stump. He is dressed in brown from top to toe, except for the magic red cap with the white owl-feather which is the regular head- gear of fairymen. He wears a brown leather apron. A pile of nine silvery slippers lies on 4 FAIRY GOLD the stump beside him, and he is pounding, with steady strokes, on a tenth, chanting dolefully in time to the blows of his small hammer. {A bit of metal, concealed inside the slipper, will make the hammer-strokes ring) A group of five bare- footed pansy fairies , each dressed in close-fitting green with a very broad hat of one pansy hue or another, wait about the stump with soft, fluttering motions, so full of frolic that they cannot stand still.] Leprecaun: Alack! Tick-tack! Tack-tick! Twinkle: Be quick. Don't croak And stop For groans, FAIRY GOLD You slow Old poke. Speckle: Tut, tut ! Leprecaun [Rubbing himself all over] : Oh, oh! Tick-tack ! Tack-tick ! I am One ache From top To toe. My back Will break. Oh, what A crick ! Twinkle : Don't nurse FAIRY GOLD Your dry Old bones. Be spry And make Your ham- Mer click. Don't shirk. Just keep At work. Our purse Is deep. Speckle : I fear He's in A dump. Leprecaun : Why not? FAIRY GOLD My lot Is drear. Twinkle [Mockingly]: Hear, hear ! Leprecaun [Angrily]: You know 'Tis so, — That year By year, Upon This queer Old stump, I mend Your shoes From dews Of dawn Till dews Of eve. 5 FAIRY GOLD Alack ! Tick-tack . Skypeep: Good friend, Receive Our thanks. You win Our love. Great pains You take, All for Our sake. Twinkle: O pshaw ! His gains He'll make In gold. Huge store FAIRY GOLD 9 Thereof He hoards In se- Cret banks. Weewee : Does he ? Let's look For them By hill And brook And wil- Low stem. Leprecaun [Shaking his head almost off his shoulders] : No, no ! Not so ! No more Bright gold 10 FAIRY GOLD' This earth Affords For me Than grows On shrub. Twinkle: Oh, rub Your knee ! Leprecaun [Threatening Twinkle with his hammer and then throwing it down] : The scamp ! He knows How hard I work In heat And damp And cold. FAIRY GOLD II Twinkle: A cross- Legged Turk, You guard Your gold. Dusky [Speaking to Twinkle as severely as a fairy can] : Tush, tush ! Enough ! Now hush ! You mar Our mirth. You jar Our joy. You are Too rough And bold. [To the Leprecaun.] We blush 12 FAIRY GOLD For this Annoy And would Entreat Your speed, Kind sir. Forget All ill, For still Our feet Go bare. Leprecaun [Folding his arms tighter than tight] : Indeed ! Why should I care? Why should I stir? I'll take FAIRY GOLD 1 3 My ease. A Turk ! Weewee: You'll make Us cry. Leprecaun [Coldly]: Will I ? Speckle : Oh, please ! Leprecaun [Glancing down at his hammer]: Not yet. Skypeep: I'll throw A kiss. [So she does, but Twinkle jumps up and catches it.] Twinkle : Oho! 14 FAIRY GOLD You miss Your aim. Speckle: For shame ! [All the other fairies point reproach- fully at Twinkle.] Skypeep: Ofie! Don't tell. Weewee: You could Be good, As well As I. Dusky [To Twinkle in a calm but awful voice]: We'll shut You up FAIRY GOLD 1 5 In a- Corn cell, Or cut You up Yourself For gold And pay Him well. Leprecaun [Picking up his hammer]: Hurray ! Good pay. [All the other fairies set upon Twinkle, opening and shutting their fingers like scissors.] Twinkle [Running about in a fright]: Away ! Help all! I'll call 16 FAIRY GOLD The elf Police. [To Dusky.] Oh, cease To scold. I'm good As gold. Dusky: Just hold That mood. Leprecaun [Hammering with might and main]: Tick-tack ! Tack-tick ! My knack Is quick. 'Tis now My whim FAIRY GOLD 1 7 To show My skill. Skypeep: Let's bow To him. [The fairies make a great many bows, faster and faster and deeper and deeper, till Weewee topples over, while the Leprecaun, tossing the mended slipper to Skypeep, falls to work on another.] Skypeep [Offering her slipper politely, but very rapidly, to each fairy in turn.]: [To Dusky]: Will you Take it ? Not so ? 1 8 FAIRY GOLD [To Weewee]: Oh, you It will Not fit At all, I know. [To Speckle]: My shoe Were small For you, [To Twinkle]: And you. Oh, oh ! [Twinkle has snatched the slipper, but as all the fairies begin to chase him, again opening and shutting their fingers like scissors, he flings it back to Sky peep, who puts it on and hops joyously about on one foot.] FAIRY GOLD 1 9 Dusky : Pan sic s wear, Pansies wear Purples woven Out of air, Out of air, Dew and sun; Purple pansies; I am one. Pansies wear Overnight Slippers made of Silver light; Silver shoon Softly spun Out of moonshine; Give me one. [The Leprecaun drops a slipper to Dusky and hammers away on 20 FAIRY GOLD another. Dusky takes Skypeep's hands and, each on one foot, they skip about together.] Twinkle [Mocking Dusky' s song]: Pansies wear — — Look at me ! — Gleamy yellows, Good to see, Good to see In the sun; Merry fellows; I am one. Cobbler sits, Cobbler sits Hammering with All his wits, All his wits, Just for fun, FAIRY GOLD 21 Mending slippers. Give me one. [The Leprecaun shies a slipper at the head of Twinkle, who dodges and catches it. Putting it on, he takes hands with Dusky and Skypeep and they hop about in a circle.] Speckle [Leading Weewee up to the stump]: Pansies wear, I have heard, Like to flower, Moth and bird, What they have, Stripe or freckle. Weewee : Slippers, please, For me and Speckle. [The Leprecaun hands down a slipper 22 FAIRY GOLD to Speckle, which she fits on the foot of Weewee, who goes skipping in the circle with the rest. The Lepre- caun hammers harder than ever, while Speckle stands waiting.] Leprecaun [Growing more cheerful as he gets on with his task]: Tick-tack ! Tack-tick ! No thorn Shall prick Your feet So light. [Gives a slipper to Speckle, who joins the fairy ring, while the Leprecaun mends the rest of the slippers, one after another, at an amazing rate of speed.] No elf, FAIRY GOLD 23 No flower, Shall lack To-night Soft shoon As bright As our Own moon, As her White fire. Though torn, Perchance, By burr Or brier, Though worn By danc- ing step Upon The lawn, Across The moss, 24 FAIRY GOLD Myself, Myself, The Lep- Recaun, With patch On patch Will make Them neat For f air- Y feet. So take ! [Tosses a slipper to Dusky.] So catch ! [Throws another to Speckle.] Your share ! [Flings another to Skypeep.] Your match ! [Pitches another to Weewee.] My birds ! But who Deride My skill [Points angrily at Twinkle.] May rue Their words FAIRY GOLD 25 And wait. Twinkle: [Clambers up on the stump and sits close beside the Leprecaun, holding the last slipper under the hammer. The other fairies, now able to use both feet, join hands and dance about the stump.] No fear ! I will Abide Right here, Old mate. Leprecaun [Relenting]: What, what ! Hum, hum ! Oho! You'll sit 26 FAIRY GOLD By me And try To coax Me so With aid? A hoax ! Twinkle: No, no, I'm not So bad, Old lad, —Don't hit My thumb !— ■ But I Am made Of jokes And glee, Not glum Like some FAIRY GOLD 2*J Old folks I know. Leprecaun [In high good humor]: Tick-tack ! Tack-tick! My back May ache, But fays Must trip In sil- Ver shoon When moon- Shine plays. So take Your pick. [Laughingly fits the one slipper left on Twinkle's uptilted foot.] Twinkle : I will, Thankee. 28 FAIRY GOLD Now skip With me. [Twinkle pulls the stiff old elf up with him and they dance together on the stump, while the other fairies circle about them and sing.] Fairies : Who's the fairy milliner? Don't you wish you knew? Would you buy your hats of her ? Wouldn't you? Underneath the Sunset Tree, Where the bright leaves drop, She is busy in her wee Pansy shop. Every leaf her shears cut out Into scallops five, — Shears that buzz like bees about Honey-hive; FAIRY GOLD 29 For a million hats they frame, Funny, curly shears, But the fashions are the same All the years. Leprecaun [Pushing Twinkle to the edge of the stump]: You bump Me, boy. Begone ! Twinkle [Springing down]: I jump. Enjoy Your stump Alone. [The Leprecaun whirls around and around on the stump, his leather apron flapping out in front of him and his owl-feather cap trying to 30 FAIRY GOLD fly, while the fairies laugh and clap. Soon he sinks down, tired out, and waves them all away.] Leprecaun : So, so! Be pleased Togo. I can No more Be teased By you. I'm sore All through. The earth's Not all A pan- Sy bed. Twinkle : Buz-buz ! FAIRY GOLD 3 1 Who said It was ? Leprecaun : Your worth's But small Beside The rose. Dusky: Who knows? Leprecaun : A score Of flowers Will soon Be here With shoes All torn By burr 32 FAIRY GOLD And thorn. Before They call, I need Repose. Speckle : Poor dear I He's wan And hol- Low-eyed. Skyblue: We're gone. Don't chide. Dusky : The moon Is due In few FAIRY GOLD 33 Swift hours. O pan- Sies, flit. We can Not lose One gleam Of her. Weewee : No, no. Not one Bright beam Of her. [As the fairies are dancing away, Leprecaun begins to hem and haw.] Leprecaun : Yet stay ! Yet hold! My pay ! My bill ! 34 FAIRY GOLD Twinkle: Oho! That's it. A dun ! Old gold- Bug still ! [The fairies skurry hither and yon over the field. Each finds something bright and yellow and tosses it into Leprecaun's leather apron.] Leprecaun : What gain ? What make I by My wit Of hand? A flake Ofi- Singlass ! FAIRY GOLD 35 Some yel- Low sand ! All vain. A bit Of horn ! A grain Of corn ! Alas! But here — Take cheer, My eyes ! — Here, here Is gold. All's well. Gold, gold ! Odear Delight! I'll hold It tight. [He hugs a big gilt button.] 36 FAIRY GOLD Fairies: The wind's far whistle Calls every fay. Down of the thistle. Away! In your lap of leather Our gold we throw. Flight of a feather. We go. Leprecaun [Watching the little pansy people as, still singing, they dance out of sight]: Ay, ay! Flit fast. Keep step. Goodbye. They're gone. The Lep- Recaun FAIRY GOLD 37 At last Can yawn. [Yawns prodigiously.] Dance on To your Moon ball. [Murmurs drowsily.] Alack! I'm sure By dawn You'll all Be back. [The Leprecaun, still clutching his gilt button, curls himself up on the stump and jails fast asleep.] SCENE II [As before, the Leprecaun still sound asleep on his stump. Enter Jack-a-Dreams, all in tatters, except for his red necktie, with an empty sack and a shovel on his shoulder.] Jack-a-Dreams : Nine-and-ninety treasure-crocks Crammed with gleaming gold! Still I search and still Zan mocks, But she will not scold When I find the elfin treasure, Fill my sack and scamper home With more gold than man can measure, Yellow as the sunlit foam. [The Leprecaun stirs and begins to uncurl.] 38 FAIRY GOLD 39 Nine-and-ninety treasure-crocks Buried years agone Deep beneath the lichened rocks By the Leprecaun. Zan, whose tongue so often chides me, Will forgive my thriftless ways When a shower of gold-dust hides me, Like the sun in dazzling haze. [The Leprecaun stretches his short arms and legs in a long yawn.] Nine-and-ninety treasure-crocks ! I will stuff with gold All her teapots, all her socks. Then she will not scold. I will take her old gray tippet, Gnawed o'nights by hungry mice, And in molten gold I'll dip it Till it shines like Paradise. 40 FAIRY GOLD [The Leprecaun sits upright on the stump with crossed legs, rubs his eyes and begins to chuckle. His back is turned to Jack-a-D reams, whose presence he has not noticed.] Nine-and-ninety treasure-crocks ! I will — zooks! what's that? [Jack catches sight of the fairy shoe- maker and, jumping back in great surprise and excitement, drops his shovel, which falls noiselessly on the grass.] 'Tis the Leprecaun who locks Up his gold. Leprecaun : Tit-tat ! [The Leprecaun raps softly with his hammer on one side of the stump. A FAIRY GOLD 4 1 door opens and out peeps the. elfin face, looking much like a walnut, of Lady Leprecaun.] Jack-a-Dreams : Bless my eyes, 'tis his old mother, But without a pipe, like mine Drowsing in the peat-smoke smother — How I'll dress her up ! Lady Leprecaun [Whose voice is no more than a squeak}: Wilt dine, My son ? A roast- Ed snail Is set Upon The mush- Room plate For thee. 42 FAIRY GOLD Leprecaun: Not yet. I'll wait Till tea. Lady Leprecaun : Tush, tush ! Thou'rt pale. Not well, My pet? A toast- Ed mel- On seed Might whet Thine ap- Petite. Leprecaun: Mayhap It might To-night; FAIRY GOLD 43 But now I need Thee, mam, To sew For me. Lady Leprecaun: Then thou Hast got One but- Ton more In store ? Leprecaun: Just see This toy ! [Triumphantly displaying the big gilt button.] Lady Leprecaun [Her walnut-head wagging with eagerness] : What, what? 44 FAIRY GOLD Oh, oh I My clev- Er lamb ! My love- Lytoad ! I'll sew Apace For thee, My val- iant dove ! My grace- Ful bum- Ble-bee ! Was ev- Er boy Like him ! I'll sew The but- Ton strong, And make FAIRY GOLD 45 Him fit For court, So fine He shall Outshine Them all In fair- Y hall. Leprecaun [Lying flat across the stump and reaching down both arms to help her] : Then come Along, And quit Our dim Abode, Our low- Ly fort. Here! take My hand, 46 FAIRY GOLD So — so, And climb The brier- Built stair Above, [Lady Leprecaun, all in brown like her son } is very stiff with her great age and has much difficulty in scramb- ling up.] For I'm On fire To wear My grand New coat. [He whisks out from a closet in the stump a jacket of scarlet silk } set with seven rows of gilt buttons. Each row but one has seven buttons; the unfinished row has only six.] FAIRY GOLD 47 Lady Leprecaun [Panting from her exer- tions] : Puff, puff! Huh, huh ! Ump, ump ! son, 1 do Not doat Upon Thy rough Old stump. [He pats her affectionately and places her on a moss cushion with her back to his.] Leprecaun: Now sit Thou here And take Support 48 FAIRY GOLD From my Firm back. [As Lady Leprecaun sits sewing with her shoulders braced against those of her son, who is nearly asleep again, she faces Jack, staring open- mouthed, but, intent on her work, does not see him. While she stitches, she pipes in that shrill voice of hers the fairy sewing-song.] Lady Leprecaun: When a fairy Has torn her gown She need not carry Pennies to town. If a needle Is her desire, She can wheedle A thorn from the brier. FAIRY GOLD 49 She can provide her Floss white as milk, Coaxing the spider For cobweb silk. Birds prick cherries, But never an elf Mid thimble-berries Need prick herself. The field's a city Whose shops are free — [Lady Leprecaun suddenly glances up and sees the mortal in front of her.] Jack-a-Dreams [Mocking her piping tones]: Finish your ditty And don't mind me. [Both fairies vanish in a twinkling within the stump, but Jack rushes up just in time to snatch the red cap with the owl-feather from the dis- 50 FAIRY GOLD appearing head of the Leprecaun. Jack dances about, flourishing his prize.] Nine-and-ninety treasure-crocks ! I need no longer hunt. I hold your magic cap, old fox. Give me gold. Leprecaun [Popping into view for an instant over the further edge of the stump.] I won't. Jack-a-Dreams: Ha! I hold your white owl-feather, By whose virtue elves enchant. Cobbler, let us trade together, — Give me just one crock. Lady Leprecaun [Popping up exactly as her son had done] : He shan't. FAIRY GOLD 5 1 Jack-a-Dreams : Eight-and-ninety treasure-crocks Left when I am done. Elf, appear! Your master knocks. [Jack sets the red cap on top of his head and raps three times on the stump.] Only one. Leprecaun [Popping up as before, but with a doleful face and the voice of a cry- ing child]'. Not one. Jack-a-Dreams : Amethysts to you and rubies Are like berries on the moor, Don't be stingy to us Lady Leprecaun [Popping up in a fury]: Boobies. We're the poorest of the poor. 52 FAIRY GOLD Jack-a-Dreams: Nine-and-ninety treasure-crocks ! Fairy , how you fib ! Really, such behavior shocks Boobies. You're too glib. Would you call my Zan-in-a-Tippet Naughty names? Look out for her, You bad-tempered little skippet, Prickly as a chestnut burr. [From within the stump is heard the wailing of the Leprecaun and the angry squeaks of his mother.] Nine-and-ninety treasure-crocks ! Cobbler, you have fussed Long enough . Your master knocks . [Jack raps seven times, each rap louder than the one before, on the stump. At the seventh rap, out comes the FAIRY GOLD 53 Leprecaun y his face twisted with crying.] Give me gold. Leprecaun : I must. [In a screech of despair.] Jack-a-Dreams You shall have your cap and feather For one crock of gold. We'll fill This my sack like friends together. Will you play me fair? Lady Leprecaun [From within the stump]: He will. Jack-a-Dreams: Nine-and-ninety treasure-crocks ! Whoop ! — I told her so. Barnyard roosters, weathercocks, Help the dreamer crow. [Cockadoodles resound from far and near.] 54 FAIRY GOLD Show me where the gold you bury, Michael Mole. — Zan'sfoolish doubts ! — Hey-down-hey-down-hey-down-derry! Come, be nimble, Peter Pouts. [Very sulkily the Leprecaun clambers down the stump and slowly leads the way across the field to one of the yellow-blossoming shrubs, where he stops and points earthward.] Nine-and-ninety treasure-crocks Crammed with gleaming gold! We'll no more be laughing-stocks. Zan no more will scold. [ Jack picks up his shovel and weighs it in his hands.] Whew, but it's a heavy shovel ! Digging hard my hands would hurt, And I never liked to grovel In the unbecoming dirt. FAIRY GOLD 55 Nine-and-ninety treasure-crocks ! Ha, 'tis Zan shall dig. She's as strong as any ox, And her hands are big. But I must be keen and canny And beware of fairy trap. See me mark the spot, my manny. [Jack pulls off his red necktie and fastens it in a bowknot about the stem of the shrub.] There's my fortune. — Catch your cap. [Jack tosses the cap to the Leprecaun, who seizes it eagerly and races back to the stump, holding the cap down over his ears with both hands. Jack drops sack and shovel on the ground, and walks off whistling cheerily, his hands in his pockets.] SCENE III [As before. The Leprecaun sits hunched up on the stumpy his elbows on his knees, and his chin in his hands. Lady Leprecaun, a bent, witchlike little figure, stands beside him, leaning on a fairy-horn.] Lady Leprecaun: Come, come, My pet ! So glum? Don't fret. Be bold Of cheer, My clam, And hug Your dear 56 FAIRY GOLD 57 Old mam. We need Not cry Until We're hurt, And still The gold, Bright seed Well sown, Is here Beneath Yon red Cravat. (The ug- Ly thing ! I would That it Were in My teeth.) We will 58 FAIRY GOLD Outwit The boo- By yet And win Our own. Leprecaun [Gloomily]: But who Has prom- ised that I should Play fair? Lady Leprecaun: My bat, And so Thou shalt. Go free From fault. Trust all FAIRY GOLD 59 To me, Fori, Sweet bird, My crow, Am bound By no Such word. Leprecaun [Doubtfully]: But thou Art old. Lady Leprecaun: Thou'rt pert, And not Too young Thyself. But hold Thy tongue, Thou squat- 60 FAIRY GOLD Ly elf. Hark now ! I will With sil- ver sound Draw in Our kin From all Around. I call. [Lady Leprecaun lifts the fairy-horn and blows it thrice. Fairies, the Pansies among them, run in from every side. The fairymen are clad in close-fitting grass-green suits, topped by red caps like fire-flies. The fairywomen are dressed in all gay colors and look like a runaway flower-garden.] FAIRY GOLD 6 1 Fairies [Singing as they gather about the stump]: We are the hid-folk, Under-the-leaf folk, Beautiful, brief folk, Glancing and gone. We are the mid-folk, Nor angel nor earth-folk, Glistening mirth-folk, Dew of the dawn. Lady Leprecaun: Fairies, fairies, fairies, Will ye serve our need? Fairies [Standing at attention before her]: Tell us, tell us where is Our task, that we may speed. Lady Leprecaun: Fairies, hither mortals Come to do us scorn. 62 FAIRY GOLD Fairies: Shall we strew their portals With thistle and with thorn? Lady Leprecaun: A booby craves our yellow Gold to make him rich. Fairies: Shall we fling the fellow Into muddy ditch? Lady Leprecaun: You may hide his shovel And tear to bits his bag. Dusky [While the rest of the fairies gleefully run toward the spade and sack]: Have we your approval FAIRY GOLD 63 To remove that rag? [She points toward the red necktie.] Leprecaun: No, old mother-honey. That isn't playing fair. Lady Leprecaun: I'll reason with my sonny, The while you tug and tear. [The fairies shred the sack into little pieces, which they tuck out of sight in the grass. It takes a score of them to carry off the shovel, on which Twinkle steals a ride, and thrust it under the bushes.] Fairies [Singing as they work]: We are the whim-folk, Butterfly-mood folk, 64 FAIRY GOLD Myriad-hued folk, Mocking mankind; Dazzle-and-dim folk, Baffle-and- tease folk, Do-as-we-please folk, Hide-what-we-find. [Meanwhile the Leprecauns, with much shaking of heads and stiff but violent gestures, have been engaged in heated debate. Soon Lady Lepre- caun blows her silver horn, and the fairies re-assemble before the stump.] Lady Leprecaun: Fairies, you were zealous. Thanks and thanks to you. Fairies : Tell us, tell us, tell us More that we may do. FAIRY GOLD 65 Leprecaun: You are not to meddle With that scarlet tie. Lady Leprecaun: But where mortals peddle, And where mortals buy, You'll find many another. Filch them one by one. Leprecaun : Why, my wizened mother? Lady Leprecaun: And why not, my son? Dusky: At the fair out yonder? 5 66 FAIRY GOLD Twinkle: And where gypsies bide? Lady Leprecaun: Wander, wander, wander, For the world is wide. Fairies [Singing as they dance away in all directions}: We are the dream-folk, Dancing-by-moon folk, Silvery-shoon folk, Whirling in rings ; Stealing-the-cream-folk, Raiding-the-shelf folk, Mischievous elf-folk, Burglars on wings. [The fairies are hardly gone before they are back again, each proudly waving a red necktie.] FAIRY GOLD 6j Dusky: The tinker, the tinker — What fun was that !— Busy about his Tinkering sat. Softly the tinker Was brushed by a gnat, And ho ! he's without his Red cravat. Speckle: The fisher, the fisher Dipped his oar To bring his wherry Back to the shore. Wave splashed the fisher; He'll long deplore Tie red as cherry That once he wore. 68 FAIRY GOLD Weewee: The peddler, the peddler Slept in the sun And dreamed his bundle Started to run. Wheelbarrow peddler Awoke with one Less necktie to trundle. — Oh, that was fun! — Skypeep: The lover, the lover Sped through the rye, Where bees were humming, His luck to try. Bee stung the lover; Lass said Fie ! To see him coming Without a tie. FAIRY GOLD 69 Twinkle [So wound about with red cravats that he looks like the Prince of the Poppies]: The raven, the raven From the shopman's line Stole — bad manners ! — Ties red as wine. A straw for the raven ! Nest in the pine Misses its banners. — What fun was mine ! — [And still fairies come leaping and laughing in with more and more red neckties, which they flourish as they dance about the stump.] Lady Leprecaun [Who has blown her silver horn for silence]: I call. The hour 70 FAIRY GOLD Is near. Hush, all Who are Our friends, And hear My strat- Agem. Elves, I Beseech You, tie On each Tall stem That dips And bends With flower Of gold, Those scar- Let strips Ye hold. Work fast. FAIRY GOLD 7 1 Leprecaun [Rocking with laughter until he has to hold his sides]: Ho, ho! I spy What thou Art at. Lady Leprecaun: At last, My bat? Fairies [Suiting action to word]: We bow. We go. We tie. [Enter Jack-a-Dreams and Zan-in-a- Tippet, who is a worried-looking woman with a gray worsted scarf, old and worn, about her neck. The fairies gaze at her in fascinated astonishment.] 72 FAIRY GOLD Dusky: She is not glad. Twinkle : She is not free. Skypeep : She is not sweet. Speckle: Her smile has had A kitchen smut. Weewee: Her feet don't dance. Dusky : The ignorance Of mortal feet ! Skypeep: Nor yet her eyes. She does not see The butterflies. FAIRY GOLD 73 Twinkle: When has she played? Speckle: Her tippet's frayed. Weewee : It's 'fraid o' what? Jack-a-Dreams [In argument with his wife]: When you see them, you'll believe. Zan-in-a-Tippet : Fiddle-faddle ! Men deceive. Jack: But I talked with two this noon. Zan: So you say, you great gossoon. Jack: They were uglier than apes. [The Leprecauns shake their fists at him.] 74 FAIRY GOLD Zan: You're no beauty, Jackanapes. [The fairies laugh and skip.] Jack: Here they sit upon this stump. [Springing toward the Leprecauns, who crouch motionless.] Zan: Would they did, to catch a thump. [She strikes the rough brown wood, missing the elves by a few inches.] Jack [Rubbing his eyes in perplexity, after staring at the stump]: Sure, I thought I saw them there. Zan: You see nothing everywhere. [The fairies laugh.] FAIRY GOLD 75 Jack: I hear fairy laughter now. Zan [With impatient contempt]: mew-mew! quack-quack! bow-wow! Jack: If you should meet a fairy, Zan, — Zan: I'd pickle him in an old tin can. [The fairies rush upon her and pinch her feet.] Jack: Why are you making such a face? Zan: There must be nettles in this place. Jack: 1 tell you I talked with elves to-day. Zan: Likely story ! Where are they ? 76 FAIRY GOLD Jack [Puzzled and rueful]: I can't see them any more. Zan: No, nor ever did before. Jack: But I'll find the crock of gold. Zan: I'll believe when I behold. Jack: I marked the very spot hereby. Zan: Spoiling your best Sunday tie. Jack [Gazing about the meadow in dismay]: Oh, but Zan — but Zan — but Zan — Zan: What's the matter with the man? Jack: All the shrubs are marked like ours. FAIRY GOLD 77 Zan: Bairns at play have tagged the flowers. Jack: Where's my shovel? where's my sack? Zan: You'd lose the coat from off your back. Jack: Oh, the elves! the cheating elves! Zan: It is we who cheat ourselves. Jack: Fairy gold still flies from men. Zan: Earn an honest penny then. [Jack stands wringing his hands and crying, while Zan-in-a-Tippet boxes his ears and keeps on cuffing him until he kneels for mercy. Neither 78 FAIRY GOLD of them sees or hears the fairies who dance in a merry ring about them, while the Leprecauns, the Cobbler in his court-jacket, indulge in a rheu- matic waltz upon the stumpy Fairies: We are the hid-folk, Seen-but-by-faith folk, Glimmering wraith-folk, Beauty's surprise; Not-to-be-chid folk, Not-to-be-proved folk, Only the loved folk Of childhood the wise. Poems of Christmas 79 CHRISTMAS ISLAND Fringed with coral, floored with lava, Three-score leagues to south of Java, So is Christmas Island charted By geographers blind-hearted, — Just a dot, by their dull notion, On the burning Indian Ocean; Merely a refreshment station For the birds in long migration; Its pomegranates, custard-apples That the dancing sunshine dapples, Cocoanuts with milky hollows Only feast wing-weary swallows, Or the tropic fowl there dwelling. Don't believe a word they're telling. Christmas Island, though it seem land, Is a floating bit of dreamland 6 81 82 FAIRY GOLD Gone adrift from childhood, planted By the winds with seeds enchanted, Seeds of candied plum and cherry: Here the Christmas Saints make merry. Even saints must have vacation; So they chose from all creation, As a change from iceberg castles Hung with snow in loops and tassels, Christmas Island for a summer Residence. The earliest comer Is our own saint, none diviner, Santa Claus. His ocean-liner Is a sleigh that's scudding fast. Mistletoe climbs up the mast, And the sail, so full of caper, Is of tissue wrapping-paper. As he steers, he hums a carol, But instead of fur apparel POEMS OF CHRISTMAS 83 Smudged with soot, he's spick and spandy In white linen, dear old dandy, With a Borealis sash on, And a palmleaf hat in fashion Wreathed about with holly berry. Welcome, Santa! Rest you merry! Next, his chubby legs bestriding Such a Yule-log, who comes riding Overseas, the feast to dish up, But — aha ! — the boys' own bishop, Good St. Nicholas! and listen! Out of Denmark old Jule-nissen, Kindly goblin, bent, rheumatic, In the milk-bowl set up attic For his Christmas cheer, comes bobbing Through the waves. He'll be hob-nobbing With Knecht Clobes, Dutchman true, Sailing in a wooden shoe. 84 FAIRY GOLD When the sunset gold enamels All the sea, three cloudy camels Bear the Kings with stately paces, Taking islands for oases, While a star-boat brings Kriss Kringle. Singing Noel as they mingle, Drinking toasts in sunshine sherry, How the Christmas Saints make merry ! While a gray contralto pigeon Coos that loving is religion, How they laugh and how they rollick, How they fill the isle with frolic . Up the Christmas Trees they clamber, Lighting candles rose and amber, Till the sudden moonbeams glisten. Then all kneel but old Jule-nissen, Who, a heathen elf stiff-jointed, Doffs his nightcap, red and pointed; For within the moon's pale luster POEMS OF CHRISTMAS 85 They behold bright figures cluster; Their adoring eyes look on a Silver-throned serene Madonna, With the Christ-Child, rosy sweeting, Smiling to their loyal greeting. Would that on this Holy Night We might share such blissful sight, — We might find a fairy ferry To that isle where saints make merry ! SANTA CLAUS' RIDDLE Of all the happy and holy times That fill the steeples with merry chimes And warm our hearts in the coldest climes, 'Twas Christmas eve, as I live by rhymes. One by one had the drowsy oaks Wrapt about them their snow-flake cloaks, And snugly fastened, with diamond pins, Fleecy nightcaps beneath their chins. 86 FAIRY GOLD The stars had kissed the hills good-night, But lingered yet, with a taper light, Till the chattering lips of the little streams Were sealed with frost for their winter dreams. And the silver moonbeams softly fell On cots as white as the lily-bell, Where the nested children sweetly slept, While watch above them their angels kept. Eyes of gray and of hazel hue, Roguish black eyes and bonny blue, All with their satin curtains drawn, Peeped not once till the shining dawn. But still through the silent eventide Brown eyes twain were opened wide, Where, bolt upright in his pillows, sate A wise little wean called Curly Pate. Not yet the lore of schools and books Had troubled the peace of his childish looks, POEMS OF CHRISTMAS 87 But through the valleys of Fairyland He had walked with Wisdom, hand in hand. On midsummer eves he would hear, perchance, The shrill, sweet pipes of the elfin dance, And their dewy prints in the dawning trace On tremulous carpets of cobweb lace. He had caught the clink of the hammers fine, Where the goblins delve in their darksome mine, In green cocked hats of a queer design, With crystal tears in their ruby eyne. He had seen where the golden basket swings At the tip of the rainbow's dazzling wings, Full of the silver spoons that fall Into the mouths of babies small. He had met Jack Frost in tippet and furs, Pricking his thumbs on the chestnut burrs, And this learned laddie could tell, no doubt, Why nuts fall down and friends fall out. 88 FAIRY GOLD And now, while the dusky night waxed late, All nid-nodding sat Curly Pate, Scaring the dreams, whose wings of gauze Would veil his vision from Santa Claus. And ever he raised, by a resolute frown, The heavy lids that came stealing down To rest their silken fringes brown On the rosiest cheek in Baby-Town. Till at last, at last, — so the legend tells, — He heard the tinkle of silver bells ; Tinkle! tinkle! a jocund tune Between the snow and the sinking moon. Oh, then, how the heart of our hero beat! How it throbbed in time to the music sweet, While gaily rung on the frosted roofs The frolicsome tramp of reindeer hoofs ! And down the chimney by swift degrees Came worsted stockings and velvet knees, POEMS OF CHRISTMAS 89 Till from furry cap unto booted feet Dear Saint Nicholas stood complete. Blessings upon him ! and how he shook His plump little sides with a mirthful look, As he crammed, his bright, blue eyes a-twinkle, The bairnie's sock in its every wrinkle. May he live forever — the blithe old soul, With cheeks so ruddy and shape so droll, Throned on a Yule-log, crowned with holly, The king of kindness, the friend of folly ! His task was done, and he brushed the snow From his crispy beard, as he turned to go; From his crispy beard and his tresses hoar, As he tiptoed over the moonlight floor. But the sparkling flakes to delicious crumbs Of frosted cakes and to sugar-plums Changed as they fell, whereat near by A bubble of laughter proved the spy. 90 FAIRY GOLD Back from the chimney flashed the Saint, And stamped his feet in a rage so quaint That from scores of pockets the dolls in glee Popped up their curious heads to see. "Oho!" in a terrible voice he spake, "By the Mistletoe Bough ! a boy awake ! Now freeze my whiskers ! but in my pack I'll stow him away for a jumping-jack. "Wise as an owlet? Quick! the proof! My reindeer stamp on the snowy roof. So read my riddle, if sage you be, Or up the chimney you go with me. "Name me the tree of the deepest roots, Whose boughs are laden with sweetest fruits, In bleakest weather which blooms aright, And buds and bears in a single night. " Did Curly Pate tremble? Never a whit. Below the curls was the mother- wit; POEMS OF CHRISTMAS 9 1 And well I ween that his two eyes brown Spied the dimple beneath the frown. So shaking shyly, with childish grace, The ringlets soft from his winsome face, He peeped through his lashes and answered true, As I trow that a brave little man should do : 14 Please thy Saintship, no eyes have seen Thy wondrous orchards of evergreen ; But where is the wean who doth not long The whole year through for thy harvest song? "The Christmas Tree hath struck deep roots In human hearts : its wintry fruits Are sweet with love, and the bairns believe It buddeth and beareth on Holy Eve. " A stir in the chimney, a crackle of frost, A tinkle of bells on the midnight lost ; 92 FAIRY GOLD And in mirth and music the riddling guest Had smiled and vanished, as saints know best. But low on his pillow the laddie dear Sank and slumbered, till chanticleer, Crowing apace, bade children wake To bless the dawn for the Christ-child's sake. GOODY SANTA CLAUS Santa, must I tease in vain, Dear? Let me go and hold the reindeer, While you clamber down the chimneys. Don't look savage as a Turk ! Why should you have all the glory of the joyous Christmas story, And poor little Goody Santa Claus have nothing but the work? It would be so very cozy, you and I, all round and rosy, POEMS OF CHRISTMAS 93 Looking like two loving snowballs in our fuzzy Arctic furs, Tucked in warm and snug together, whisking through the winter weather Where the tinkle of the sleigh-bells is the only sound that stirs. You just sit here and grow chubby off the goodies in my cubby From December to December, till your white beard sweeps your knees ; For you must allow, my Goodman, that you're but a lazy woodman And rely on me to foster all our fruitful Christmas trees. While your Saint ship waxes holy, year by year, and roly-poly, Blessed by all the lads and lassies in the limits of the land, 94 FAIRY GOLD While your toes at home you're toasting, then poor Goody must go posting Out to plant and prune and garner, where our fir-tree forests stand. Oh ! but when the toil is sorest how I love our fir-tree forest, Heart of light and heart of beauty in the Northland cold and dim, All with gifts and candles laden to delight a boy or maiden, And its dark-green branches ever murmur- ing the Christmas hymn ! Yet ask young Jack Frost, our neighbor, who but Goody has the labor, Feeding roots with milk and honey that the bonbons may be sweet ! Who but Goody knows the reason why the playthings bloom in season POEMS OF CHRISTMAS 95 And the ripened toys and trinkets rattle gaily to her feet ! From the time the dollies budded, wiry-boned and saw-dust blooded, With their waxen eyelids winking when the wind the tree-tops plied, Have I rested for a minute, until now your pack has in it All the bright, abundant harvest of the merry Christmastide ? Santa, wouldn't it be pleasant to surprise me with a present? And this ride behind the reindeer is the boon your Goody begs; Think how hard my extra work is, tending the Thanksgiving turkeys And our flocks of rainbow chickens — those that lay the Easter eggs. 96 FAIRY GOLD Home to womankind is suited? Nonsense, Goodman ! Let our fruited Orchards answer for the value of a woman out-of-doors. Why then bid me chase the thunder, while the roof you're safely under, All to fashion fire-crackers with the light- ning in their cores? See! I've fetched my snow-flake bonnet, with the sunrise ribbons on it ; I've not worn it since we fled from Fairyland our wedding day ; How we sped through iceberg porches with the Northern Lights for torches ! You were young and slender, Santa, and we had this very sleigh. Jump in quick then? That's my bonny. Hey down derry ! Nonny nonny! POEMS OF CHRISTMAS 97 While I tie your fur cap closer, I will kiss your ruddy chin. I'm so pleased I fall to singing, just as sleigh- bells take to ringing ! Are the cloud-spun lap-robes ready ? Tirra- lirra! Tuck me in. Off across the starlight Norland, where no plant adorns the moorland Save the ruby-berried holly and the frolic mistletoe ! Oh, but this is Christmas revel! Off across the frosted level Where the reindeers' hoofs strike sparkles from the crispy, crackling snow! There's the Man i' the Moon before us, bound to lead the Christmas chorus With the music of the sky-waves rippling round his silver shell — 98 FAIRY GOLD Glimmering boat that leans and tarries with the weight of dreams she carries To the cots of happy children. Gentle sailor, steer her well ! Now we pass through dusky portals to the drowsy land of mortals; Snow-enfolded, silent cities stretch about us dim and far. Oh! how sound the world is sleeping, mid- night watch no shepherd keeping, Though an angel-face shines gladly down from every golden star. Here's a roof. I'll hold the reindeer. I sup- pose this weather-vane, Dear, Some one set here just on purpose for our team to fasten to. There's its gilded cock, — the gaby ! — wants to crow and tell the baby POEMS OF CHRISTMAS 99 We are come. Be careful, Santa! Don't get smothered in the flue. Back so soon? No chimney-swallow dives but where his mate can follow. Bend your cold ear, Sweetheart Santa, down to catch my whisper faint : Would it be so very shocking if your Goody filled a stocking Just for once? Oh, dear! Forgive me. Frowns do not become a Saint. I will peep in at the skylights, where the moon sheds tender twilights Equally down silken chambers and down attics bare and bleak. Let me shower with hailstone candies these two dreaming boys — the dandies In their frilled and fluted nighties, rosy cheek to rosy cheek ! 100 FAIRY GOLD What ! No gift for this poor garret? Take a sunset sash and wear it O'er the rags, my pale-faced lassie, till thy father smiles again. He's a poet, but — oh, cruel! he has neither light nor fuel. Here's a fallen star to write by, and a music- box of rain. So our sprightly reindeer clamber, with their fairy sleigh of amber, On from roof to roof, the woven shades of night about us drawn. On from roof to roof we twinkle, all the silver bells a-tinkle, Till blooms in yonder blessed East the rose of Christmas dawn. Now the pack is fairly rifled, and poor Santa's well-nigh stifled ; POEMS OF CHRISTMAS 10 1 Yet you would not let your Goody fill a single baby-sock ; Yes, I know the task takes brain, Dear. I can only hold the reindeer, And to see me climb down chimney — it would give your nerves a shock. Wait! There's yet a tiny fellow, smiling lips and curls so yellow You would think a truant sunbeam played in them all night. He spins Giant tops, and flies kites higher than the gold cathedral spire In his dreams— the orphan bairnie, trustful little Tatterkins. Santa, don't pass by the urchin ! Shake the pack, and deeply search in All your pockets. There is always one toy more. I told you so. 102 FAIRY GOLD Up again? Why, what's the trouble? On your eyelash winks the bubble Mortals call a tear, I fancy. Holes in stock- ing, heel and toe ? Goodman, though your speech is crusty now and then, there's nothing rusty In your heart. A child's least sorrow makes your wet eyes glisten, too; But I'll mend that sock so neatly it shall hold your gifts completely. Take the reins and let me show you what a woman's wit can do. Puff! I'm up again, my Deary, flushed a bit and somewhat weary, With my wedding snow-flake bonnet worse for many a sooty knock; But be glad you let me wheedle, since, an icicle for needle, POEMS OF CHRISTMAS IO3 Threaded with the last pale moonbeam, I have darned the laddie's sock. Then I tucked a paint-box in it ('twas no easy task to win it From the Artist of the Autumn Leaves) and frost-fruits white and sweet, With the toys your pocket misses — oh! and kisses upon kisses To cherish safe from evil paths the mother- less small feet. Chirrup ! chirrup ! There's a patter of soft footsteps and a clatter Of child voices. Speed it, reindeer, up the sparkling Arctic Hill! Merry Christmas, little people! Joy-bells ring in every steeple, And Goody's gladdest of the glad. I've had my own sweet will. 104 FAIRY GOLD SANTA'S STOCKING Dame Snow has been knitting all day With needles of crystal and pearl To make a big, beautiful stocking For Santa, her merriest son ; And now in some wonderful way She has hung it, by twist and by twirl, On the tip of the moon, and sits rocking, Old mother, her day's work done. How long and how empty it flaps, Like a new, white cloud in the sky ! The stars gleam above it for candles ; But who is to fill it and trim? Dame Snow in her rocking-chair naps. When Santa comes home by and by, Will he find — O scandal of scandals ! — No Christmas at all for him? Dear Saint of the reindeer sleigh, At his tink-a-link-tinkle-a-link, POEMS OF CHRISTMAS IO5 The evergreens blossom with tapers ; 'Tis Christmas by all the clocks; And wherever he calls, they say, The most polished andirons wink, The sulkiest chimney capers, And Baby kicks off its socks. His pack is bursting with toys ; The dollies cling round his neck; And sleds come slithering after As he takes the roofs at a run. Blithe lover of girls and boys, Bonbons he pours by the peck; Holidays, revels and laughter, Feasting and frolic and fun. Who would dream that his kind heart aches — Heart shaped like a candied pear, Sweet heart of our housetop rover — For the homes where no carols resound, 106 FAIRY GOLD For the little child that wakes To a hearth all cold and bare, For Santa, his white world over, Finds Christmas doesn't go round ! Dame Snow has been knitting all day With needles of crystal and pearl To make a big, beautiful stocking For Santa, her busiest son; And now in some wonderful way She has hung it, by twist and by twirl, On the tip of the moon, and sits rocking, Old mother, her day's work done. Let us bring the dear Saint from our store Fair gifts wrapped softly in love; Let all gentle children come flocking, Glad children whose Christmas is sure ; POEMS OF CHRISTMAS 107 Let us bring him more treasures and more, While the star-candles glisten above, For whatever we put in his stocking, Santa Claus gives to the poor. LOLITA'S BETHLEHEM Seven shining sunsets Lead to Holy Night, And Lolita's Bethlehem Grows with her delight. Lola, Lolita, Little Spanish lass ! Blithely for Lolita The seven sunsets pass. Under Moorish arches Trips a timid tread. First we give the Holy Child With the haloed head, 108 FAIRY GOLD And demure Lolita Makes her small salaam, Cherishing the Baby In a roseleaf palm. Blue and gold the sunset On our second eve; A Madonna blue and gold Lifted hands receive; And Lolita scampers, With a shout of joy, To carry Mary Mother "To her little boy." Frolic of light footsteps Dancing to the door; Who is waiting on a staff, Figure bowed and hoar? Merrily Lolita, Black eyes mischievous, POEMS OF CHRISTMAS IO9 Kisses old Saint Joseph Before she kisses us. It is not Lolita, Sweetheart, who will scorn For her Holy Family Cow with crumpled horn. Lola, Lolita, Hugs it close and vows That it is her darling, The caramel of cows. Seven shining sunsets, One by one they pass. From a pearly twilight comes Humble Brother Ass. Lovingly Lolita Teaches him his part : "Kneel beside St. Joseph, Donkey of my heart. " 110 FAIRY GOLD Next a china shepherd With two curly sheep, But Lolita hushes them Ere she lets them peep At the Christ-Child, shedding Tenderness and awe, Where He slumbers softly On a wisp of straw. Last of seven sunsets ! Hardly can we wait For Christmas Eve to enter in By that gleaming gate; While Lolita's angel, Balanced on a star, Acrobat with lilac wings, Plays a pink guitar. Blissfully Lolita, Careful not to hurt, POEMS OF CHRISTMAS III Gathers all the images In her little skirt. Lola ! Lolita ! To bed she carries them, For to-night all childhood Sleeps in Bethlehem. Poems of Sunshine 113 SUNSHINE The sun rode high, and the dear green Earth Was stirred in her motherly heart with mirth ; And to every blossom and dancing spray She gave the grace of a holiday. And oh ! what laughter the silver breeze Shook from the leaves of the poplar trees! How the streamlet, with all her sweet blue eyes, Smiled on the sport of the dragon-flies ! The flashing humming-bird deeply dipped In the jrellow tulip ; the blithe bee sipped From the purple, delicate cups of wine That he found on the morning-glory vine. The smallest fly and the least red thorn Were fair with summer and fresh with morn, 115 Il6 FAIRY GOLD When who should chance on the sunlit place, But a little girl with a sulky face? Through all the music and merriment She came, to trouble the world's content; And wheresoever her feet did pass, A shadow fell on the gleaming grass. She leaned out over the rivulet, And all at once it began to fret, And wrinkled its waves to a frown like that She carried under her broad-brimmed hat. A carpet shaming the wealth of earls, Softer than satin and bright with pearls, She crushed, nor heeded the spider's grief, As he wiped his eyes on a clover-leaf. 'Twas Saturday, after the count of men; But the simple folk of meadow and glen, Clear of the calendar's restless freak, Keep seven Sabbaths in every week. POEMS OF SUNSHINE 117 And so it happened that through the dells A soft chime floated of flower-bells, And the child at the roots of a tall, white birch Came on the worshipers all in church. The brook was an organ, passing sweet; On the swaying bough was the choir seat ; And the blue, blue heaven bent close to heed The murmured words of the woodland creed. The Reverend Buttercup leaned across A velvet pulpit of greenest moss, And preached a sermon, in still small voice, Whose text was ever, "Rejoice! rejoice !" "Behold, " quoth he, "how our Father's care Hath wrought the meadow exceeding fair ; And my jocund heart doth overrun With fragrant summer and fervid sun. "Behold, " quoth he, "though I barely fold In my tiny chalice a drop of gold, Il8 FAIRY GOLD How I yet reflect and, reflecting, praise The sun on whom I have set my gaze. "Bless God, " he cried, "with a sweet perfume, With tuneful ripple and tinted bloom, With dance of grasses, and faces bright, Bless God, the Giver of all delight !" So the preacher spake, and at every line Nodded the listening columbine ; And the lady's slipper resolved that day To walk henceforth in the upward way. The downy owlet forgot to blink; The robin heard, and the bobolink, And the wild-brier rose, who blushed to think Of her thorny ways till her buds turned pink. A tremulous tear, like a dewdrop, wet The downcast eye of the violet ; And her prayer of trustful penitence Was wafted to heaven for frankincense. POEMS OF SUNSHINE II9 And the little lass of the pouting lip Smoothed, with a rosy finger-tip, From her tangled forehead the dreary frown, And hid her face in her ringlets brown. But she peeped from between the wind-blown locks At the clink of the contribution-box ; And when the squirrel came down the aisle, In his acorn-cup she dropped a smile. Then the little lass of the laughing lip They welcomed into their fellowship; And many a daisy and clover-stem Kissed her foot and her garment's hem. And the story saith that forever more On her soft brown tresses the maiden wore A crown of sunshine this side of heaven, And she kept her Sabbath day all the seven. 120 FAIRY GOLD A SONG OF RICHES What will you give to a barefoot lass, Morning with breath like wine? Wade, bare feet ! In my wide morass Starry marigolds shine. Alms, sweet Noon, for a barefoot lass, With her laughing looks aglow ! Run t bare feet! In my fragrant grass Golden buttercups blow. Gift, a gift for a barefoot lass, O twilight hour of dreams ! Rest, bare feet, by my lake of glass, Where the mirrored sunset gleams. Homeward the weary merchants pass, With the gold bedimmed by care. Little they wis that the barefoot lass Is the only millionaire. POEMS OF SUNSHINE 121 SONG OF THE SUNSHINE CLUB "What shall I make this morning? " The Sunshine Angel said. "Canary birds and merry words And a yellow crocus bed. " Chorus: The Sunshine Angel, dear to God, Goes singing on his way, Touching the dawn with a daffodil rod To make a happy day. The wings of the Sunshine Angel They brushed the willow-trees And goldfinch flocks and weather-cocks And grumble-bumblebees. Chorus: The Sunshine Angel, etc. "What shall I make this morning?" The Sunshine Angel said. "A marigold swamp, a butterfly romp, And the curls on a baby's head. " 122 FAIRY GOLD Chorus: The Sunshine Angel, etc. The smile of the Sunshine Angel Went into a barberry shrub, A meadowlark's throat with its golden note, And the hearts of the Sunshine Club. Chorus: The Sunshine Angel, dear to God, Goes singing on his way, Touching the dawn with a daffodil rod To make a happy day. Poems of Vacation 123 VACATION I have shut my books and hidden my slate And tossed my satchel across the gate. My school is out for a summer of rest, And now for the schoolroom I love the best ! My schoolroom lies on the meadow wide, Where under the clover the sunbeams hide, Where the long vines cling to the mossy bars And the daisies twinkle like fallen stars ; Where clusters of buttercups gild the scene Like showers of gold-dust thrown over the green, And the wind's flying footsteps are traced, as they pass, By the dance of the sorrel and dip of the grass. 125 126 FAIRY GOLD My lessons are written in clouds and trees, And no one whispers, except the breeze, That sometimes blows, from a secret place, A stray, sweet blossom against my face. My school-bell rings in the rippling stream, That hides itself, like a schoolboy's dream, Under the shadow and out of sight, But laughing still for its own delight. My schoolmates there are the birds and bees, And the saucy squirrel, more dull than these, For he only learns, in all the weeks, How many chestnuts will fill his cheeks. My teacher is patient, and never yet A lesson of hers did I once forget, For wonderful lore do her lips impart, And all her lessons are learned by heart. Oh, come ! oh, come ! or we shall be late, And Autumn will fasten the golden gate. POEMS OF VACATION 127 Of all the schoolrooms in east or west, The school of Nature I love the best. WIDE AWAKE AND FAST ASLEEP (One Side of the Question) A blithe Summer Day came out of the east, And a rare little lad was he. His lips were red from a strawberry feast, And his eyes were blue as the sea. His yellow hair was blown by the breeze, Like grass in a windy place. He had torn his jacket in climbing trees, And he laughed all over his face. He danced in the elm, on the tip-top spray Where the nest of the oriole swings, Till the birdies had winked the sleep away All under their gleaming wings. 128 FAIRY GOLD He shook the stems of the lilies tall, While they nodded in soft surprise And rubbed with their ringers white and small The dreams from their golden eyes. The daisy hastened to wash her face In a drop of the crystal dew, And each green leaf of the woodland lace The kiss of the sunshine knew. The squirrel chattered and combed his tail That curls up over his spine, And the pinkest clover turned almost pale When the village clock struck nine. For two little boys in two little beds Lay dozing the morning long, Though the sun shone in on their tangled heads And the birds had ended their song. POEMS OF VACATION 1 29 ' ' O dear ! O dear ! ' ' sighed the Summer Day, "What lazy small boys I see ! I wish — I wish they would wake and play With a bright little Day like me. " THE SUN OUT OF TEMPER (The Other Side of the Question) "Oh! I say and declare that it's really not fair For the Day-Star to call me so soon !" Cried the Sun, very red, as he jumped out of bed And made up a face at the Moon. So he climbed the blue skies with his thumbs in his eyes And his hair tumbled over his head, And he gave a great yawn in the face of the Dawn, Which was very bad manners, she said. 9 130 FAIRY GOLD Then the Sun was ashamed to hear himself blamed, And being ashamed made him cross. So he withered the wheat with his arrows of heat And trampled the dew from the moss; And he fumed and he fussed till the toad in the dust Did envy the frog in the pool And swore he would doat on a pond-lily boat Much more than a mushroom stool. The flowers were faint, the trees made complaint, And the little leaves teased for a drink, But the Sun only stared, for all that he cared Was to glower with never a wink; POEMS OF VACATION I3I Till it happened one day that the World went away, The World and his Wife to remain A week and no more with their Aunt by the shore. Said the Sun : " It is time for a rain. " Said the Sun: "I repent, and my anger is spent. I must cry seven days at the least. " So he tied up his head in a shabby white shred That he tore from a cloud in the east. From fog thick as cloth he stirred him a broth To save him a pain in the side, And then he sat down in a dismal gray gown, And oh, for the cry that he cried ! Sobbed the penitent Sun: " I have only begun. I shall shed many tears for the loss Of my temper. I '11 shiver and cry like a river, I'm so sorry I ever was cross. I32 FAIRY GOLD But my patience was tried and the cause I'll confide, That early birds all may take warning, For in summer 'tis true my hot temper is due To my rising too soon in the morning. " SOMEBODY KNOWS Hey, for the glint of the wild-brier rose. In the cool, green depths of the forest! And hey for the haunt that Somebody knows, When the noontide sun is sorest! Soft through the treetops the south wind goes, With footsteps learned of the clouds, suppose; And playing at sentry the rose-bay glows Amid the ferns of the forest. Over their sylvan porticoes Squirrels gossip with sleepy crows — The only birds that can talk in prose — Above the ferns of the forest. POEMS OF VACATION 1 33 The sweet-bay, crushed for a couch, bestows Drowsy fragrance, and virtue flows From the shadowy pines, till eyelids close Amid the ferns of the forest. Drop your budget of childish woes (The wind, while you dream, will be off with those), And come where never a thorn tree grows Amid the ferns of the forest. Hey, for the glint of the wild-brier rose, In the cool, green depths of the forest! And hey for the haunt that Somebody knows, When the noontide sun is sorest! THE RIVULET Morning in roseate lines Glimmers beyond the pines. 134 FAIRY GOLD Blithely the blackbird sings, Night on his dusky wings. But see ! as he flirts them so, "Tis the sunrise glints below, And the joy of breaking day Rings in his roundelay. But bolder, merrier yet, The song of the rivulet. Mine is the path to the sea. Bird and blossom and bee Wish me well as I pass. Rock and tangle of grass Fret my waves as I run. Still in shadow and sun Onward I flow to be One with the silver sea. Noon in the azure sky. Even the twinkling fly POEMS OF VACATION 1 35 Faints on the violet's lip. Low where the alders dip Over the brook and lean To ruffle the ripples ' sheen, A bluebird dreamily croons Snatches of sleepy tunes. But softer, drowsier yet, The song of the rivulet. Mine is the path to the sea, etc. Sunset flames in the west. Flowers are folded to rest. The hermit thrushes invoke God's peace on the woodland folk, While high from the ancient oak, Each in his scarlet cloak, The tanagers, sparks of fire, Vary the vesper choir. 136 FAIRY GOLD But sweeter, holier yet, The song of the rivulet. Mine is the path to the sea, etc. FAIR WEATHER The ship had rounded Sandy Hook With the blue-eyed peep of day; But while full many a joyous look Was straining up the bay, On the steerage deck together A boy and a woman stood, Who shrank from the golden weather In wildered, waif -like mood. She sighed: "This sun is sair to bide, These skies are na the same As those aboon the Firth o' Clyde An' the hills of our island hame. " POEMS OF VACATION 1 37 And the flash of the seagull's feather Was one with the creaming foam Through her tears for the soft, gray weather And the brooding mists of home. The child laid cheek upon her hand: 11 Hoots, mither ! dinna greet. Had I ae shell frae Arran sand, An' a burnie, ripplin' sweet, An' bracken an' purple heather An' a bittie o' blossomin' thorn, I wad mak' ye bonny Scotch weather To brichten your heart the morn. " That nestling cheek upon her hand, It soothed her tears to smiles. She leaned out toward the stranger land As to her native isles, I38 FAIRY GOLD And said: "Twa hearts thegether, Tho' skies be strange abuve, Can mak' their ain gude weather, A' out o' tender luve. " NUTTING SONG Come hither, come hither, O laddies and lassies ! The daisies have folded their frills, But the purple-eyed asters still peep from the grasses, And the golden-rod shines on the hills. Though the tulips have faded, the maples are glowing With many a marvelous hue, And deep in the woods where the brown leaves are blowing, The chestnuts are waiting for you. POEMS OF VACATION 1 39 We've dreamed of your coming, at even and matin ; We've dreamed of your coming, at noon; In our snug little cradles all cushioned with satin, While the wind sang our lullaby tune. While the wind rocked our cradles, we longed for the showers And were glad of the sunshine and dew That ripened our hearts for the blithe autumn hours, That sweetened our kernels for you. Oh, hither! come hither! for keen the stars glistened Last night, and the woodlands were crossed By him for whose step the wych-hazel bush listened And the barberries waited, — Jack Frost. I40 FAIRY GOLD He rifled our caskets, the prickle-set caskets, And earthward the jewels he threw. The squirrels are filling their queer little baskets — Oh, come! we are waiting for you. PLUCKING THE GOOSE Robin beneath the barberry bush had turned his bill aside From the ripest ruby cluster to watch Gray Squirrel hide An acorn in a garner under fallen leaves that spoke In rustling whispers each to each of lonely Mother Oak; When that Old Woman in the skies whose hair and robes float loose Selected from her cloudy flock the very whitest goose, POEMS OF VACATION I4I And plucked it with such diligence that bits of Aping down Folded in a feather-quilt the country and the town. We children hardly stirred that night at mamma's candle-kiss, Because in dreamland, far away, we heard the white goose hiss. "Wind and frost!" our elders said, when morning came to pass, But 'twas the goose whose angry claws had scratched the window-glass. A WINTER DAY The sun shines bright, but stoutly still the bitter north winds blow, And thin brown leaves in elfin dance go whirling: on the snow. I42 FAIRY GOLD The ruffled bluejay silently peers from a naked tree, But gaily rings the gallant note of little chickadee. The grown-ups hug the fireplace and shiver when they cast Looks over shoulder at the pines that strain against the blast. The postman, stamping through the drifts, meets no one on the road But two small boys who bend and pull, rejoicing in their load. For Baby, tucked all tight and warm within a grocery box, Claps mites of scarlet-mittened hands to see the junco flocks Rise with a flirt of feathery white before her wagonette. POEMS OF VACATION I43 To her blue eyes this winter world is best of playrooms yet. OUT TO PLAY Wonderful world, Bounded by low stone walls; Snowdrops curled Tight in bonnets and shawls; Stump for a throne Royally rubied and pearled, Moss-overgrown ; Beautiful world ! Great sycamore, Spotted with lichen rust, Branches hoar Shaken by rainy gust, Giant that stands Grieving for sins of yore, 144 FAIRY GOLD Wringing his hands; Poor sycamore ! Scamper of leaves After the fairy folk, Birchbark sleeves, Fringes of frosted cloak, Tempting us on Races the wild wind weaves, To find them gone, Fairies and leaves ! Under the tread, Oh, how the colors push ! Rose-twigs red, Tangles of burning bush, Rag-carpet gay With saffron and lilac shred, Rainbows at play Under the tread ! POEMS OF VACATION I45 Crinkle of ice Over the meadow stream In a trice Melted by sunny gleam ; Freeing brown reeds Caught in that crystal vise; Briers and weeds Locked in the ice ! Ha, how they dance, Withered and twisted and thin ! One more chance Theirs for a madcap spin ! Nothing so old That the sun looks at it askance! Tatters and gold, Whirling in dance ! Ware the witch! Ware the bramblebush hag ! 10 I46 FAIRY GOLD Or she'll twitch, Twitch you into her bag, Squeeze you and cram Into a lump of rich Blackberry jam! Ware the witch ! Watch for the three, Bluebird, robin and — hark ! Kon-quer-ree! There he flies like a spark, Lord of the swamp, Red-shouldered blackbird — see ! Off on a romp, First of the three ! Oh, isn't March Merriest month of the year ! Blithe and arch, Shy and saucy and dear ! POEMS OF VACATION I47 Hide-and-seek Playing in alder and larch; Pinching the cheek, Rogue of a March ! THROUGH THE GOLDS AND THE GREENS OF SPRING Through the golds and the greens of spring, The whites and the pinks of May, Chasing a bluebird's wing, Off on a holiday. How lucky the gypsies are With holidays all in a row, And never a lamp but a star, And ever a road to go ! Dear oak with a tasseled cap, Would you hold it over me while I take three winks of a nap, For I've traveled almost a mile? I48 FAIRY GOLD Life is as sweet as a rose, And blithe as a bobolink's song, And don't you perhaps suppose That I'll never again do wrong? Poems of Flowers 149 A TULIP TEA-PARTY Tulips, twenty-lips In the glistening grass, Elfin ladies at their tea, Gossiping of bird and bee In the listening grass. Don't tell [don't tell! But my shining cup Was filled with gold by Neighbor Sun, And they say before the Spring is done He will drink it up. Tulips, twenty-lips 'Neath the bending oak Straining all his buds to hear Tulip voices fine and clear, Old, befriending oak. 151 152 FAIRY GOLD Don't tell! don't tell! Why my cup is red. Hush! let's whisper. It was Sir Flaming Scarlet-Tanager, And a plume he shed. Tulips, twenty-lips In the swaying wind Ever bowing, tiptoeing With a note-book under wing, That betraying wind! Don't tell! don't tell! Touch my petal — so! This my teacup, seafoam-white, Lady Moon filled up last night With a dream of snow. Tulips, twenty-lips, While the birds fly over, Chattering and taking tea, POEMS OF FLOWERS 1 53 Never guessing that to me Tulip words fly over ! Don't tell Bluebell! Don't tell Bobolink! But the Baby, toddling by, Kissed my cup, and that is why Tm so sweet and pink. DAFFYDOWNDILLIES Daffydowndillies are not lilies, Lilies angel- white, But they catch the stars that the thunder jars From the coronet of night. Daffydowndillies are not lilies, Easter lilies tall, But their hearts have won the smile of the sun, And butterflies come to call. 154 FAIRY GOLD Daffydowndillies are not lilies. Would that I were you ! But since I'm not, I will love my lot, And make it lovely, too. WITCHCRAFT There's a witchcraft in the May, Bluebirds say, For 'tis then the pansies wise Give the garden a surprise By changing into ranging butterflies. Who has seen them, wing on wing, Fluttering, Purple, orange, lilac, brown, On the road to Rainbow Town, Where the petal -people love to settle do.vn? Should you meet them, do not snap Off your cap POEMS OF FLOWERS 1 55 With a prisoner in view ; Leave them to the air and dew, Else the garden will not lightly pardon you. THE RAINBOW PATH The rain it rained a weary while, But when the clouds took flight, The setting sun flashed back a smile. (Good-night, dear sun, good-night!) And from the far horizon's breast An arching rainbow sprang to rest Its hither tip on mountain crest, A bridge of colors seven. Rainbow, I know Thou art the path to Heaven. The flowers that laughed by April rills And made the summer bright Have vanished from the autumn hills. (Good-night, dear sun, good-night!) I56 FAIRY GOLD For blossom-spirits fresh and fair Are wafted by the gentle air To bloom above in beauty rare And weave the colors seven. Rainbow, I know Thou art the path to Heaven. And when along that gleaming way We fare in sandals white Beyond the golden gates of day, (Good-night, dear sun, good-night !) We'll love the blossoms as we go The more because on earth below They lit the fields, ere called to glow Within the colors seven. Rainbow, I know Thou art the path to Heaven. POEMS OF FLOWERS 1 57 SANDALPHON'S ROSEBUDS In the herald hush of even, Spent with ecstasy of praising, From the starry gate of heaven Angels twain were earthward gazing, And their speech, each to each, Was a wordless music-flow ; And the love-light of their eyes Thrilled the sunset-colored skies To a clearer glow. Hush ! they cease their soft conferring, Rapt in looks of gladsome greeting, For the lower air is stirring Under wings of ample beating; And behold ! plumed with gold Mounts Sandalphon, he who bears Mystic blossoms to the throne, Blossoms that on earth are known As the breath of prayers. I58 FAIRY GOLD Swift they scan with earnest glances All his sheaf from twilight hour, Lilies white of saintly trances, Sorrow's purple passion-flower; But they smile softly while Close against his heart they see Dewy rosebuds, gathered where Children lift the voice of prayer At a mother's knee; Prayers of childish faith, confiding In the Gentle Shepherd's keeping, Asking for His daily guiding, For His watch above their sleeping, Rosebud prayers the angel bears Tenderly past stars and suns Unto Him who loveth these Shy, enfolded fragrances, Lord of little ones. Poems of Fur and Feathers 159 GRANDSIRE SQUIRREL GRAY Grandsire Squirrel Gray- Is a millionaire of nuts ; And when the snow begins to blow, His castle door he shuts. Behind that door, they say, Lord of the hollow tree, He dwells in the dark, a patriarch With all his family, — Shadow-Tail and Leafy-Veil, Bead-Eyes, Cracker, Hush, Treetop-Leaper, Treasure-Keeper, Crunch-in-a-Crolch and Plush. The oak is mother-of-pearl, Frosted on trunk and limb, An icy trapeze for the chickadees, But what is that to him? ii 161 162 FAIRY GOLD So his tail has room to curl Up over his furry back, And his hickories last till winter's past, What may a squirrel lack? But the seeds are crisp and sweet In the cones on the snowy pine ; There are berries red as a woodpecker's head At a club where he likes to dine ; So forth on scampery feet Goes Grandsire Squirrel Gray, And his family wonder what forest plunder Will come home in his cheeks to-day, — For Scud and Run-the-Rail, Wary, Bask-in-the-Sun, Chir-Chir-Chir and Bite-a-Burr, Pelt-you-with-Shells-for-Fun . Into his hole of holes He plunges down pell-mell FUR AND FEATHERS 1 63 With a speed that vouches for empty pouches, And Grandam scolds him well; But over the acorn bowls What glorious table-talk Of skurry-escape from the swooping shape Of a fierce, red-shouldered hawk ! Of the dash to the nearest stump, Of the ambushed foe beneath, Of the breathless rush through the underbrush In front of a fox's teeth ! And how the small hearts thump, And glitters each round black eye, While the baffled fox tries all the locks, And the hawk screams up the sky, Scaring Tease-a- Snail, Spry and Rustle and Puck, Drink-the-Dew and Whisk and Whew, Live-by-his-Wits and Luck. 1 64 FAIRY GOLD When the terrible wings of the storm Buffet the shuddering trees, On cushion of moss with his legs across, Grandsire takes his ease. In the midst of his family, warm As a chestnut in its burr, What does he care for the stinging air, Or the burden that breaks the fir ? Though hungry woodpeckers drum On his oak, and nuthatches play At acrobat in the boughs, what's that To dozy Grandsire Gray ? The chatterers all are dumb, For under a leafy spread Each squirrelkin is at rest within A pine-needle trundle-bed, — Twinkle and Give-you-Hail, Sit-on-a- Fence and Flirt, Gnaw-the-Rind and Race-with-the-Wind, Peep-through-the-Green and Pert. FUR AND FEATHERS 1 65 When the Angel of Winter Sleep Through the white wood passes slow, Whispering the dream of spring And tucking close the snow, She will smile to find in this deep Tree-hollow a cuddle of fur, Every squirrel at rest with little paws pressed On a heart that trusts in her. LITTLE SHADOWTAIL Where the ancient oak droops over Dewy tufts of grass and clover, Through its blowing leafy sprays Sifting light in careless rays, Like a spendthrift dropping gold From his loose, regardless hold, Let me pause and bid all hail Unto little Shadowtail. 1 66 FAIRY GOLD Whist ! just where the kingbird dips, Spreading wide the proud white tips Of its fanlike tail, — just there, Framed within his doorway fair, Buttercups before it strown, Cloth of gold, and overgrown With those curly fronds for veil, Sitteth little Shadowtail. Would no humbler mansion suit, But within the gnarly root Of this hoar, historic tree, Thou must gossip with the bee, Peering through the screening ferns At thy neighbors' wee concerns, And upon the stranger rail, Shrewish little Shadowtail? Once beneath this storied oak Eliot his message spoke, FUR AND FEATHERS 1 67 And the Red Men, clustered round, Knew this earth for holy ground, Wondering at the words divine. Was some curious sire of thine Mocking then the preacher pale From thy threshold, Shadow tail? He the sermon deemed, methinks, Dull beside the bobolinks. Tis an old, old quarrel, that. Could I take thy squirrel-chat, And thine ears receive my wit, Wisely would we argue it; Yet shall mighty Truth prevail Without me or Shadowtail. PETERKIN The crown of cats, who trod as if Shod in a moccasin. 1 68 FAIRY GOLD He tested his milk with a delicate sniff, He leapt on mice like a hippogriff , And no wonder at all that Pendleton Thought a shadow had crossed the sun When beneath his hand lay cold and stiff His Peterkin. With folded paws poor pussy lay, Mute as a violin On which the fiddler forgets to play, And his little master to grief gave way. "If my other friends should die," wept he, " I could bear it, mamma, for I should see Them all again in heaven some day. —But Peterkin !" Who knows? whatever on earth is sweet A sweeter life may win In the Paradise garden, incomplete Without the frolic of creature feet. Where our lost birds trill, and our lost dogs wait FUR AND FEATHERS 1 69 To welcome us in at the dear home gate, Please God, where the loved and the lovingmeet , Is Peterkin. ROBIN'S SECRET 'Tis the blithest, bonniest weather for a bird to flirt a feather, For a bird to trill and warble, all his wee red breast a-swell. I've a secret. You may listen till your blue eyes dance and glisten, Little maiden, but I'll never, never, never, never tell. You'll find no more wary piper, till the straw- berries wax riper In December than in June — aha ! all up and down the dell, Where my nest is set, for certain, with a pink and snowy curtain, 170 FAIRY GOLD East or west, but which I'll never, never, never, never tell. You may prick me with a thistle, if you ever hear me whistle How my brooding mate, whose weariness my carols sweet dispel, All between the clouds and clover, apple- blossoms drooping over, Twitters low that I must never, never, never, never tell. Oh, I swear no closer fellow stains his bill in cherries mellow. Tra la la! and tirra lirra! I'm the jaun- tiest sentinel, Perched beside my jewel-casket, where lie hidden — don't you ask it, For of those three eggs I'll never, never, never, never tell. FUR AND FEATHERS 171 Chirp! chirp! chirp! alack! for pity! Who hath marred my merry ditty? Who hath stirred the scented petals, peeping in where robins dwell ? Oh, my mate! May Heaven defend her! Little maidens' hearts are tender, And I never, never, never, never, never meant to tell. ON A RAMBLE Come ! come ! come ! Follow, lad, with me On behind the stirring drum Of Captain Bumblebee. Hush ! hush ! hush ! Finger on the lip ! Between the ferns a tiny thrush Goes running — skip, skip, skip. 172 FAIRY GOLD Look ! look ! look ! Did ever laddie see Softer nest in greener nook With birdies one, two, three? Nay ! nay ! nay ! Curly-headed thief ! If we steal the brood away, Who will heal the grief ? Hear ! hear ! hear The poor brown mother's cries ! Now blessings on the gentle tear That dims my laddie's eyes ! Come ! come ! come ! Not one wee heart shall ache In any humblest woodland home For mine or laddie's sake. FUR AND FEATHERS 1 73 A MUSIC-LESSON Squeakity-squeak in the poplar trees. Such a comical little wheeze ! But Father Thrush from mellow throat Flutes again his forest-note That hushes every breeze. To that melody of melodies An echo comes like a feathered sneeze. How can the Hermit Thrushes dote On such a beak ! But Mother Thrush lets no one tease. She puts her Thrushlet at his ease With a taste of the plumpest fly afloat. Then the little breast begins to' bloat, And he pipes, as proudly as you please, Squeakity-squeak. 174 FAIRY GOLD THE BIRD HOTEL From fall to spring y Tis a little thing To spread the birds good cheer On a window tray, Where the heart may play At summer all the year. Nuts, if you please, For the chickadees, — Never mind about napkins and cruet- But they'll doff you, perhaps, Their cozy black caps For a lump of delectable suet. An elegant guest In white dinner-vest May put them to flutter and flight, For though Nuthatch says dank, Intended for thank, No chickadee calls him polite. FUR AND FEATHERS 1 75 A superior throne Is a marrow-bone For a woodpecker potentate, Since seldom can kings Eat the cushions and things That embellish their chairs of state. The blue jay will seize On fragments of cheese Like a story-book pirate on gold, But nothing comes ill To his catholic bill, Though his blessing sounds more like a scold. A salad of seed Tree-sparrow may lead To your table, when stripped is his thicket, Or fox-sparrow fine Whom your dainties incline To forfeit his Florida ticket. I76 FAIRY GOLD Junco trustfully comes For a feast of crumbs, Our snow-bird in storm-coat drest, All white below, For they say, who know, God painted her on her nest. And if courtesy sends Them odds and ends From your own plate for variety, The bows and bends Of your feathery friends Would grace the best society. To spring from jail Keep open hall, And the birds will teach each care That winter brings The way of wings , Escaping up the air. Poems of Little People 177 BABY BETH Roguish brown-eyed glances, That's our Baby Beth. Gypsy-shy advances, That's our Baby Beth. Quaintest little fancies Ever borne on breath, Frolic-footed dances, That's our Baby Beth. Sunshine-tinted tresses, That's our Baby Beth. Dainty bits of dresses, That's our Baby Beth. Fearless little guesses Into life and death, Roseleaf -lipped caresses, That's our Baby Beth. 179 180 FAIRY GOLD BABY'S BAGGAGE The train is ready. Come away And let your labor cease. Mama has packed three trunks to-day, Papa, his new valise. But as for Little Golden- Locks, She only packed a chatterbox. The baggage-master touched a cap With shining letters decked, And so to guard from all mishap, The bag and trunks he checked ; But never stayed for Golden-Locks, Nor counted in the chatterbox. A new official sauntered soon In slippers down the cars, Who softly hummed a drowsy tune. His badge was wrought in stars. 'Twas Sleep who smiled on Golden-Locks, And checked at last the chatterbox. POEMS OF LITTLE PEOPLE l8l AT RECESS Little voices all out of chime, A sudden quarrel that mars the play. "Now," quoth the teacher, "now's our time To practise that Golden Rule we say. " But the tiniest wean in all the school Lays a rueful face on the teacher's knee. "Isn't there any Silver Rule? That Golden Rule's too hard for me." THE MEASURING ROD Over the clover the fairies their gossamer carpets had spread, A-sprinkle with twinkle of diamonds from their dancing slippers shed, When two little lads from the city went scampering down to the lake, Astonished to find how early the green world comes awake. 1 82 FAIRY GOLD The finches were inches of glory, the tanagers burning arrows, And mellow the yellow-throats whistle; the boys took them all for sparrows, But breathed the joy of the morning, and raced with bounds and springs, As if their heels, like Mercury's, were finished off with wings. On the blue of the lake the lilies, their white dreams hardly done, Were cups of light. "What a jolly sight!" cried Hal, the jurist's son, But the heir of the multi-millionaire shook a head so wise and blond : "They'd look nicer put in vases than scattered on a pond." Then Johnny the bonny added, with a calcu- lating: air: POEMS OF LITTLE PEOPLE 1 83 "I say, I wonder how far it is to those lilies over there." And a hidden turtle nudged her mate, while, grave as an eight-day clock, Hal answered in his father's tone: "Not more than half a block." THE BARBERRY BABY Did you ever, ever chance to see A barberry muffled in snow? So red was the face turned up to me From a little white hood I know. So glowing red was each round cheek ! So red were the pouting lips ! Would the words be frozen they tried to speak? — 11 My sled ! It slips. It slips. " 1 84 FAIRY GOLD I have heard of a land so cold, so cold, That words would stand on the air Spelled out in ice, but I'm not so bold As to say I ever was there. But these rode warm in a wrathful wail, For not all the wind that nips Could sting this Mite like having to fail: " My sled ! It slips. It slips. " You could never, never guess it true, Though you guessed with a wit and a will, What the Barberry Baby was trying to do: She was trying to coast up hill. HOME FROM SCHOOL Home from the very first day of school Came Wee- Wee, aged five, And already she'd learned enough to befool The wisest parents alive. POEMS OF LITTLE PEOPLE 1 85 "Now I understand every things, Everythings only two. " They prepared to smile at her questionings, As grown-ups commonly do. " Where'd God find the stuff to begin the world, And how did He get Himself started? " The father his fork on his finger twirled; The mother's mute lips were parted. That their Baby, whose coo was but just made chatter, Should pose all humankind By asking what was the source of matter And the origin of mind ! REBECCA AND ABIGAIL When the Clans of the Open Hand convene And our valors are rehearsed, Remember the year eighteen-] 'out -teen And our proud September first. 1 86 FAIRY GOLD When ye write the roll of our heroes down, Oh, be not the deed ignored Of two little heroines, bonny and brown, Whose wit was sharp as a sword. Careless she sat in the lighthouse door, Lass of the laughing lip, When there hove in sight off the Scituate shore The sails of a British ship. Rebecca Bates was the merriest maid Between Cape Cod and Cape Ann, But her quick breath sobbed, for, old fears allayed, The post had never a man. Over her shoulder Abigail peered With the soft brown eyes of their race, And the sisters watched as the frigate neared And anchored against the place POEMS OF LITTLE PEOPLE 187 Where guards had been stationed till yes- tere'en, But now had no garrison more Than the keeper's wife with her gentle mien. And the girls in the lighthouse door. The work-worn mother, all unaware Of the blow about to fall, Dozed in her faded rocking-chair, While the kitten teased the ball That had rolled from her knitting, and not until Two barges in stealthy guise Put off from the ship, had the girls a will To waken those weary eyes. Then her dream was pierced by the shrilling fife And crushed by the rolling drum. She swayed to her feet : " O Lord of Life, Is the hour of bloodshed come?" 1 88 FAIRY GOLD White she sprang to the empty door And saw how the redcoats, stayed By that martial note, had poised the oar, Mistrusting an ambuscade. A sullen gun from the ship warned back The boats, and with hurried stroke They traversed again that foaming track To the shelter of British oak, While Yankee Doodle rang out the fife, And the drum was calling to arms As if mustering men for desperate strife From a hundred rebel farms. Murmured the goodwife: "God be praised!" And next: "But how shall I feed This patriot army Thou hast raised To succor us in our need? " Then around the corner, as large as life, She saw that army come, — POEMS OF LITTLE PEOPLE 1 89 Laughing Rebecca who waved the fife, And Abigail with the drum. LITTLE TOM A BECKET Our Christian world was less twelve centuries old When little Tom a Becket proudly sat in His mother's lap and, worth his weight in gold, Prattled to her in Norman-French and Latin. His weight in gold? "Nay, dearer yet," she said, Kissing the rosy face, "my precious sonny Is worth his weight in good white wheaten bread, Pasties and cheese and saffron cakes and honey." 190 FAIRY GOLD The merchant father stroked a forked beard And stooped long rows of figures to examine, But sweet Dame Becket mused on cheeks endeared To other mothers, — cheeks that paled for famine. So every birthday would she weigh her lad Against a great brass scale with food o'er- flowing, While the hungry folk of London crowded glad About the gates and blessed the boy for growing. And Tom a Becket, in his school-gown quaint, Would give the loaves, with greeting shy and merry, Nor ever dreamed he was to be a saint And have a glorious shrine in Canterbury. Nonsense Verses 191 HUDSON'S CAT " This night our cat ranne crying from one side of the ship to the other, looking overboord, which made us to wonder; but we saw nothing." — JueVs Journal. What did you see, O pussy-cat-mew, Pet of the Half -Moon's turbulent crew? Who taught them mew-tiny ? Wasn't it you ? Juet kept journal of storm and fog And the mermaid that set them all agog, But what has become of the cat-a-log? Henry Hudson, the master sage, Writ large his name on history's page, But you, you too, were a purr-sonage. 13 193 194 FAIRY GOLD Shall the tale slight you, whose tail was a-quiver As you and Hudson sailed up the river Made only his by Time the giver? Why did you take to adventuring, Puss-illanimous fireside thing? What was the cargo you hoped to bring? Did you dream of multitudinous mice Running about the Isles of Spice In a paradoxical Paradise ? Were you not homesick where monsters swam, Dolorous dolphin and clamorous clam, For your sunny stoop in Amsterdam ? Months at sea, while the billows roared, And the Milky Way not a cupful poured ; No wonder Tabby looked over-bored. NONSENSE VERSES 1 95 You had your feelin's, as felines go, Poor little puss. What scared you ;o? O stupid sailors that didn't know ! Was it a dogfish struck the spark From your sea-green eyes with the quaint remark That you were sailing upon a bark? Millions of happy pussies fall Into oblivion; still. you call From the top of your ancient eater-wall, Call on the centuries to concur In praise of Tabby the Mariner, Who discovered the Catskills, named for her. DON'T YOU SEA? The day was hotter than words can tell, — So hot the jelly-fish wouldn't jell. I96 FAIRY GOLD The halibut went all to butter, And the cat-fish had only force to utter A faint sea-mew, — ay, though some have doubted, The carp he carped and the horn-pout pouted. The sardonic sardine had his sly heart's wish When the angel-fish fought with the Paradise- fish. 'Twas a sight gave the blue-fish the blues to see, But the seal concealed a wicked glee. The day it went from bad to worse Till the pickerel picked the purse-crab's purse, And that crab felt crabbeder yet, no doubt, Because the oyster wouldn't shell out. The sculpin would sculp, but hadn't a model, And the cod-fish begged for something to coddle, NONSENSE VERSES I97 But to both the dolphin refused its doll, Till the whale was obliged to whale them all. FIRST NIGHT IN THE COUNTRY "You call this a lake?" asked the sociable dog, Easing his watch by a chat with the frog. "I call it my bathing-tub. " And the frog, a-squat on a moist cool stone, Replied politely in soothing tone With the monosyllable: "Blub." "You call this a lake?" rattled Kingfisher. "Pish! Can't you see it is only my kettle of fish? " But he fell asleep in his shrub Before the frog, with an accent bland And the manner of those who understand, Had finished responding: "Blub. " I98 FAIRY GOLD " You call this a lake? Look out if you do. Whip-poor-will ! " rang themidnight through. " Now what do you call it, bub ? " The challenge cracked like a sudden whip, But unconcerned by that censorship The frog suggested: "Blub. " "You call this a lake ? " scoffed the Lady Moon. "'Tis my silver mirror, you green buffoon. " She intended this for a snub, But the frog only rolled his goggle-eyes Up toward her balcony in the skies And gallantly answered: "Blub." I have slept through bells from a rocking spire, Through engine whistles and cries of Fire, Through toot and rub-a-dub-dub, But I could not sleep through the dialogue Of the folk of the dark with Wiseman Frog, And his imperturbable "Blub." NONSENSE VERSES 1 99 THE VOYAGE OF THE LILY-PAD 'Twas a freckled laddie his friends call Paddy Made a boat of a lily-pad By tying a string to the flat green thing In a wise little way he had. A bee was chosen to bee the boatswain, And we named him Captain Kidd, For he shone with gold like a pirate bold Nor told where his hoard was hid. He sharpened his dagger with glorious swagger (He was after the swag, you know) And our blood ran cold while he fiercely trolled A rumbe-rumbelow. Our craft was a ripper, and such a skipper Ought to have made it hum, But that foolish ship would double and dip Till the equilibrium 200 FAIRY GOLD Of bumptious Bumble was lost in a tumble Indecorous on the deck, While Paddy laughed so, he let the string go, And the Lily- Pad went to wreck. But safe and chipper out skipped the skipper To the sign of the Clover Ball, Where after a glass of honey, "Alas ! " He buzzed, "That a bee should fall To a naughty career in a nautical sphere ! But the fault it wasn't in me, For unless I forget my alphabet, A B must go to C." OUT OF FASHION The buds are putting off their furs And coming out in silk, Pinks and pearls and lavenders, Laces white as milk. NONSENSE VERSES 201 But here is one who will — oh ! Whatever gossips say, Commit the peccadillo Of having her own way. 'Tis Pussy cuddles in her furs, Though skies are bright and blue; Basking in the sun, she purrs As happy catkins do. For she is one who still, oh! Though all the wood demurs, Wayward Pussy Willow, Keeps cozy in her furs. THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAINS Said the Old Man of the Mountains To his white-capped goblin-wife: " Have you fed the glacier fountains, Dame Trouble-of-my-Life ? 202 FAIRY GOLD Here is a horn, a Silverhorn, A Matterhorn of snow, Go feed the glacier fountains' ' — And he laughed to see her go. There he sits, the lazy fellow, Whose pipe puffs out the mist, The King of the Gnomes, a yellow, Hunch-shouldered humorist, Chuckling to watch his old dame there, In her hood and mantle dim, Keeping the Alps in good repair, Doing his work for him. Poems of Fairies 203 SLUMBER FAIRIES Hush, my little one! Hush! Lie down. Mamma will sing, — Sing of a boy in a wee white gown, Sing of a king with a golden crown, A crown of curls on a sweet, small head, And a throne as high as a trundle-bed. Dear little king ! Hush, my baby ! a song I know Softer than all, — A song as soft as the falling snow, And I will sing it so light and low, Baby must listen and lie as still As the snowflakes lie on the quiet hill, Where they fall. Does baby know, when the day grows late, Chilly and dim, 205 206 FAIRY GOLD The slumber fairies, who stand and wait Out in the lane and beyond the gate, Pass over the lawn and open the door And steal across the nursery floor, Looking for him ? Such tiny fairies, with slippers white Over their feet. Their cloaks are gray as the early night, But their caps are lit with a silver light, As if a moonbeam were caught, perhaps, And cut up small into fairy caps Dainty and neat. Up the side of the trundle-bed Softly they go, And over the pillow with gentle tread They come to the golden baby-head. Under his lashes he tries to peep, But before he knows, he is fast asleep. Isn't it so? POEMS OF FAIRIES 207 For they bind the baby with fairy charms Wondrous to tell. They loose the clasp of the dimpled arms, And smooth his forehead with soft, small palms, And draw their cloaks o'er his drowsy ears, Till a fairy music is all he hears, Pleasing him well. They shade his eyes with a little dream. Where did it grow? It grew by the side of the fairy stream, Where baby wandereth now, I deem, With the slumber-fairies to guide his feet. Good-night, dear laddie! Your rest be sweet! Mamma must go. FAIRY'S LULLABY In lily cup I'll nest me, From fairy dance to rest me, 208 FAIRY GOLD For the silver moon Dips low, and soon Would the goblins swart molest me. But never a gnome will mock me, Nor peering toad-face shock me, While the wind-elf blithe Stands on tiptoe lithe By the lily's stem to rock me; And the star-sprites lean above me, For all the star-sprites love me ; In circle fair Each holds in air His small gold torch above me. Come, soft-winged Sleep, and kiss me, For the dream-land fairies miss me, Till thy sweet, cool lips Part the folded tips Of my lily-couch to kiss me. POEMS OF FAIRIES 209 But when thy spells unbind me The sunbeams shall not find me, And my dreamy nest Be only guessed By the fragrance left behind me. FAIRY RIP VAN WINKLE His acorn cradle with fern and moss Elf mamma had covered over, And then had forgotten the path across The blossoming field of clover. For she was the wildest of all wee things, And loved to dance in the moonlight rings, Or steal her a ride on butterfly wings, — A genuine gypsy rover! Streams flow, Buds blow, 210 FAIRY GOLD Stars peep out and twinkle. Still deep Thy sleep, Fairy Rip van Winkle ! But he woke one day and with drowsy eyes Smiled into a dewy bubble On his cradle edge; then in swift surprise Cried out in a voice of trouble : "O mamma, mamma, I don't look right, My cobweb nightie has grown so tight; My buttercup curls are daisy white; And over my eyebrows double What's this Cross-criss Funny little wrinkle?" Long gazed, Amazed, Fairy Rip van Winkle. POEMS OF FAIRIES 211 For his nap in the acorn had lasted till A new oak forest had sprouted, And the elves had vanished from mead and rill, By the schoolbook army routed. And the ancient baby, whose eyes could see Never a toadstool spread for tea, Nor lullaby-nurse of a honey-bee, Put up his lip and pouted. But no Tiptoe Lily bells went tinkle. Bye-bye I Don't cry, Fairy Rip van Winkle I THE TROLL He was only an ugly Troll, And an ugly Troll was he ; His eyes were saucers, and his guffaw, sirs, Would scare you into the sea. 212 FAIRY GOLD Oh, droll to be a Troll, With green pine-needle hair, And hoards of jewel stacked up like fuel In the hill of Don't-Know-Where. He was only a stupid Troll, As all the Troll-folk be, Sailing a-straddle, his nose for a paddle, On a solid gold settee. Oh, droll to be a Troll, And never so much as mind Gravitation or botheration Or the witch that rides the wind. But he was a merry Troll, With a harp against his knee, And when he played it, all things obeyed it, A-capering for glee. POEMS OF FAIRIES 2I3 Oh y droll to be a Troll, And sail and sail and sail Over your troubles like dancing bubbles To your home in a fairy-tale. BABY HAZEL'S VOYAGE King Nod, King Nod, the drowsy god, is such an idle fellow, He sleeps away the livelong day, while yet the sun is yellow ; But when the sinking sun is red and robin's song is failing, 'Tis time for him to rub his dim old eyes and go a-sailing. His moonshine boat is soon afloat; a glow- worm serves for pilot ; On silver oars they graze the shores of many a starry islet; 214 FAIRY GOLD In silver sails they catch the winds, and down the cloudy billows Full fast they ride before the tide to Baby Hazel's pillows. "Ahoy, sweet maid! Now art afraid, with Old King Nod for skipper, To sail the deep and drink sweet sleep from yonder golden dipper? Aboard, aboard, my dainty lass! aboard my silver vessel ! And thou shalt see, in dream-land tree, the little dream-birds nestle. " She bowed — ah me! — her rosy knee, and kissed the old king's scepter. Unto his breast the child he pressed and down the darkness swept her. Oh, frail the skiff, the silver skiff! O Hazel Eyes, take warning! POEMS OF FAIRIES 215 On Sunrise Reef 'twill come to grief. Good- night, good-night — good-morning ! BONNY'S BIRTHDAY Bonny, my Bonny, sleeps well to-night. (Dear is sleep when the day is done.) Soon shall the eastern skies be bright, And a birthday dawn with the dawning sun. How many years has my Bonny seen? How many years since she strayed from Heaven ? Seven times since have the woods grown green, And the snows have fallen seasons seven. Lies the lassie in artless grace, Soft hair curling in golden rings, Fair the light on her sleeping face As shed from an angel's shielding wings. 2l6 FAIRY GOLD Bonny smiles in her dream's delight, (Blithe are dreams when the heart is pure), Till the rosy dimples come to sight, Lost so long in the cheek demure. What do the dreaming eyes behold? Lend us your spectacles, Old King Nod. Just one peep through the rims of gold. Bless my buttons ! But this is odd. Is it a shaft of the yellow moon, Slanting in at the window-glass, Or a sheeny road, where the twinkling shoon Of gossamer-skirted fairies pass ? Martial music salutes the ear. (Sweet is the beat of elfin drums) , And seven small knights come riding here Out of the Land of Sugarplums. POEMS OF FAIRIES 217 Bonny laughs in her childish dream. Each little knight on a candy steed In haughty helm of chocolate cream O'er the moonbeam rides with speed. Ho, Little Knights in frosted mail, Luck to the cinnamon swords you wield ! Never may hostile lance prevail Against the pride of peppermint shield! Fast they ride down the moonlight ray, (Smooth is the road that leads to love), Wee knights seven, gallant and gay, With a popcorn standard borne above. With melting hearts on their quest they ride, Drawing the rein at the ringlets sunny. "Ah!" cries one, " for so sweet a bride Would I shed my knightly blood like honey." 2l8 FAIRY GOLD Yet they turn their candy steeds and sigh. Was ever a dream so queer as this ? And each little knight, as he waves good-bye, Drops on the pillow a sugar kiss. Bonny wakes with the blushing east, (Glad is waking when sleep was kind), But never a knight to her birthday feast From Sugarplum Land has stayed behind. Yet far though the little sweethearts bide In Caramel Castle and sigh their fill, On Bonny's pillow at morningtide The candy kisses are lying still, As the wee knights left them yestere'en, A dainty record in kisses seven Of the years that my Bonny's eyes have seen, Happy years since she strayed from Heaven. POEMS OF FAIRIES 219 THE WISHING-CAP A little maid stole to a moonlight knoll, In the fairy ring to tread ; But the dancing fays had gone their ways And a gnome was there instead. " Brown gnome, please lend me your wishing- cap." He snatched off his small, green hood And tossed it to her. "Many thanks, kind sir; You are certainly very good. "Seven times one! And what shall I wish?" The gnome sat down on a thistle, With his peaked red shoon pointed up to the moon, And practiced an elfin whistle. 220 FAIRY GOLD "I wish and I wish and I wish and I wish That you were as rich as I, Little brown gnome, for I've pennies at home, And I don't know what to buy. 11 I wish and I wish and I wish and I wish My heart were a wild-rose brier, Where the bell- voiced veery when day grows weary, Leads off the vesper choir. " I wish my heart were a forest brook A-ripple with sunshiny laughter, Where to quench their thirst shy deer come first And the pattering rabbits after. "I wish my heart were a golden star That guides over creamy foam The shimmering sails through whistling gales To the harbor lights of home. POEMS OF FAIRIES 221 " I wish my heart were a blade of grass, Where Katydids all a-row Tilt in the sun, singing high deeds done Of Katydids long ago. "I wish my heart were a rosy cloud On the sunset edge of even, That tenderly bears the children's prayers Through the open doors of Heaven. 11 1 wish my heart were as large, as large, As large as the dome-like skies, There's so much to love, from God above To the little gossamer flies. " Then the lassie gave back the small green hood And curtsied to the gnome, And the lilies sweet caressed her feet, As the glow-worms lit her home. 222 FAIRY GOLD The gnome dived under the hard, gray rocks To the land where the gnome-folk dwell ; A land of gold and jewels untold, Hard by the gates of hell. But while he sate in his wishing-cap On the throne in his diamond castle, Squeaked his wee brown wife, in a voice like a fife: "Why ! there's a tear on the tassel I" And never a pearl rom the Indian seas, Nor emerald cold and clear, Shed such a light through those caves of night As the little gnome-king's tear. THE LITTLE KNIGHT IN GREEN What fragrant-footed comer Is stepping o'er my head? Behold my Queen, the Summer, Who deems her warriors dead ! POEMS OF FAIRIES 223 Now rise, ye knights of many fights, From out your sleep profound! Make sharp your spears, my gallant peers, And prick the frozen ground ! Before the White Host harm her, We'll hurry to her aid. We'll don our elfin armor, And every tiny blade Shall bear atop a dewy drop, The lifeblood of the Frost, Till from their King the order ring : "Fall back ! the day is lost ! " Now shame to knighthood, brothers ! Must Summer plead in vain ? And shall I wait till others My crown of sunshine gain? Alone this day I'll dare the fray, Alone the victory win. 224 FAIRY GOLD In me my Queen shall find, I ween, A sturdy paladin. To battle, ho ! King Winter Hath rushed on me apace. My fragile weapons splinter Beneath his icy mace. I stagger back. I yield — alack ! I fall. My senses pass. Woe worth the chance for doughtiest lance Of all the House of Grass ! Last hope my heart gives over. But hark ! a shout of cheer ! Don Daisy and Count Clover, Sir Buttercup are here. Behold! behold! with shield of gold Prince Dandelion comes. Lord Bumblebee beats valiantly His rolling battle-drums. POEMS OF FAIRIES 225 My brothers quit their slumbers And lead the van of war. Before our swelling numbers The foes are driven far. The day's our own; but overthrown, A little knight in green, I kiss her feet and deem it sweet To perish for my Queen. OUR FAMILY CREST 'Tis I must tell my story quick as ever a tongue can spin, Because you childer grow so tall that, if I don't begin, The brown heads and the yellow heads will all have shot too high To see between the daisy-stems what met the laughing eye is 226 FAIRY GOLD Of our Great-Great-Great-Great-Great- Great - Great - Great - Great - Great - Grand-mama. Here's Willie asks if mermaids were ever caught and canned, And Dorothy's geography is searched for fairyland, And, faith! the lass Elizabeth can talk of myths as glib As if — bad manners to her! — she mistrusted of a fib Her Great-Great-Great -Great-Great-Great Great - Great - Great - Great - Grand - mama. Now whist ! and let me tell you how long and long ago, In the blessed isle of Erin, where songs and stories blow POEMS OF FAIRIES 227 On all the winds, and tangle with the rushes of the thatch, Or drop in dew that sweetens the smallest praty-patch, Lived our Great-Great-Great-Great-Great- Great - Great - Great - Great - Great - Grand-mama. A jewel of a tub she had, the color of Queen's weather, And the bits of duds she soused in it went white as seagull feather, And when she spread them on the furze, the only gold that grew About her clay-walled cabin, the sun peeped out to view Our Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great- Great - Great - Great - Great - Grand - mama. 228 FAIRY GOLD Oh, then she dried her shapely hands upon her scarlet skirt, And emptied out the shining suds and gave the broom a flirt Across that grand mud floor of hers and took a drop of tea Or taste of oatmeal stirabout, so well-to-do was she, Our Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great- Great - Great - Great - Great - Grand - mama. But heart alive! one Monday when, as many a time before, She was emptying her tilted tub from her elegant front door, Out from under the doorstone popped a tiny man in green And bowed as low as he ever bowed in the court of the fairy queen POEMS OF FAIRIES 229 To our Great- Great-Great-Great-Great- Great - Great - Great - Great - Great - Grand-mama. He bowed so low that his wee green cap it brushed his wee green shoon, And nary a bell on his wee green suit but tinkled a dancing tune, And when he had finished his wee green bow, as easy as you please He spoke in a voice as soft as the hum of the summer bumble-bees, To our Great-Great-Great-Great-Great- Great - Great - Great - Great - Great - Grand-mama. "Now don't ye go frettin' yersel'," he said, "for it's long sorry I'd be To cast a cloud on the bluest eyes betwixt the bog and the sea ; 230 FAIRY GOLD But my little green house is under this stone, and your suds — 'tis the wife that cares — They throuble our little green carpet, ma'am, and all our little green chairs. " O our Great- Great- Great- Great-Great- Great - Great - Great - Great -Great- Grandmama! "Wirra, wirra!" — she curtsied twice to that decent fairyman — "Och, it's a heart-scald for to hear, but if your worship can Be overlookin' the past, bedad, 'tis mesel' that forivermore Will be emptyin' out me ould blue tub — plaze the saints! — at me bit back door," Said our Great-Great-Great-Great-Great- Great - Great- Great - Great -Great- Grandmama. POEMS OF FAIRIES 23 1 Now when she mentioned the holy saints' and a tactless thing was that, The little green fairy faded out, all but his plumy hat, Which took itself off to her most polite, and since that queer event We empty our washtubs at the back in proof of high descent From our Great-Great-Great-Great-Great- Great - Great - Great - Great -Great- Grandmama. Her thatch of rushes belike it leaked, but her cabin was proud as any, There on the borders of fairyland, where joy is bought for a penny, And ever she set a sup of the cream for her little green neighbors, who Would dance at night in her turf-fire light till the heart went dancing too 232 FAIRY GOLD In our Great-Great-Great-Great-Great- Great - Great - Great - Great -Great- Grandmama. So I rise to propose for our family crest a wash- tub, azure, crowned With a fairy, vert; and since our race em- braces, the world around, All who empty their tubs at their own back doors and gladden their toil with dreams, Remember that he who scorns the least of that kinship disesteems Our Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great- Great - Great - Great - Great -Grand- mama. H 488 85 4 H 4bd d5 *\ %* * • • A w *** y v ^ .H«J«, vOvti ^ & OCT 85 >£=J5f N. MANCHESTER, V