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RHYMES OF LITTLE BOYS 
 
RHYMES OF 
 LITTLE BOYS 
 
 THOMAS Y. CROWELL <fe CO., PUBLISHERS 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 i 3 J 
 
U3RARY of OONQSESS 
 fwy Oopies rfsjcavca 
 
 StP ^8 i^Ob 
 
 Cou^ngni crtirjti 
 
 ; Jl 7 5 6~y 
 
 COPY 3. 
 
 ti,: ^^^ 
 
 
 Copyright, 1905, 
 By Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. 
 
 Published in September. 
 

 
 TO MY FATHER AND MOTHER 
 
 For Whose Earthly Acceptance this Loving Tribute 
 
 Came too Late 
 
 This Book is Dedicated 
 
Little Boy Realm is far afield, 
 And blind is the road, they say ; 
 
 But the King and Queen, by the po^iver 
 they ivield. 
 May leadf or may bring away^ 
 
 Kindly firm is the royal rule, 
 Kind are the kingly eyes ; 
 
 And day by day sees gentler sway 
 * Neath sunny boy land skies. 
 
 But wander-spirits calling us, 
 Or sunbeams lingering fond 
 
 On some vague peak, roused us to 
 A path to the beyond. [seek 
 
 That loving, kingly hand reached out 
 To shoulders, level high ; 
 
 Some spark there ran, as man to man, 
 And boyhood's realm flew by ! 
 
Gently sweet is the gracious Queen, 
 Love dwells within her eyes ; 
 
 And day by day she toils away 
 To weave some new surprise. 
 
 Her little kingdom brooks no change; 
 
 Though some may roam afar, 
 Its hearth-fires burn against return, 
 
 And every door's ajar. 
 
 A tired head against her knees. 
 Dear chidings, grave or gay. 
 
 And 'neath her hand this grown-up 
 Slips suddenly away. [land 
 
 Little Boy Realm lies toivard the da^ivn, 
 But the high<wdy none may know; 
 
 And oh, if the King and Queen be gone, 
 Ho%v then may I come and go ? 
 
AUTHOR'S NOTE 
 
 To be truly learned in the ivays of small 
 boys ivere no small distinction; such learning is 
 a realm by itself to the anthropologist* The 
 ^writer makes no pretence of it* The memories 
 of one small boy are his only data, and he has 
 no dispute 'with those m)ho may ha've used a 
 different text-book* As to the many alleged 
 small-boy dialects, it is his comforting impression 
 that no t<Tvo small boys e'ver talked Just alike; 
 if, therefore, the destruction of King's English 
 is not consistent throughout, let that impression 
 account for it* Instinct has been follom)ed, 
 rather than rule* 
 
 The rhymes in this collection are of t<zvo 
 'varieties, — those in the ivords of little boys, 
 and those to or about little boys; the latter are 
 grouped together at the end of the book* Many 
 of these rhymes 'were originally copyrighted in 
 the magazines; sincere thanks are due to the 
 se'veral Harper periodicals, St* Nicholas, Every- 
 body's Magazine, and Leslie's Weekly, among 
 others, f^or permission to use them here* 
 
 B.J* 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 What's the Use? 
 What Puzzles Me 
 'Member? 
 Spring Tonics 
 Goin' Barefoot 
 Superstishus 
 Bein' Sick 
 Gettin' Well 
 W^isdom 
 Cookin' Things 
 Rain-Charm 
 Bed-Time 
 Apple Pie 
 Babies . 
 In the Study 
 Duty Call 
 Ketchin' Rides 
 'F I Was er Horse 
 An Imagining 
 In the Morning 
 Sympathetic . 
 Special W^ords 
 At the Zoo 
 A Recollection 
 Makin' Things 
 Gettin' Washed 
 Illogical 
 Pirate's Cave 
 Daytime Naps 
 Prayer for a Little 
 Top-Time 
 Kite-Time 
 
 f 
 
 Boy 
 
 Page 
 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 10 
 12 
 
 14 
 i6 
 
 17 
 19 
 
 21 
 
 23 
 
 25 
 26 
 
 27 
 
 28 
 
 30 
 31 
 32 
 
 33 
 35 
 36 
 38 
 
 39 
 40 
 
 42 
 
 43 
 
 45 
 
 47 
 48 
 
 50 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 Page 
 
 Ball-Time 52 
 
 Swimmin'-Time . 
 
 
 
 
 • 53 
 
 Nuttin'-Time 
 
 
 
 
 55 
 
 Snowball-Time 
 
 
 
 
 . 57 
 
 My Sore Thumb . 
 
 
 
 
 - 59 
 
 Rejected 
 
 
 
 
 . 61 
 
 The Wind . 
 
 
 
 
 . 62 
 
 Things that Get Lost . 
 
 
 
 
 . 63 
 
 Excuses . . 
 
 
 
 
 . 65 
 
 Vacation in the Countn 
 
 y 
 
 
 
 . 66 
 
 Sewin' Buttons On 
 
 
 
 
 . 68 
 
 Our Gang 
 
 
 
 
 . 70 
 
 Nurses .... 
 
 
 
 
 . 73 
 
 Buildin' Fires 
 
 
 
 
 • 74 
 
 "Was You Ever Spankei 
 
 d? . 
 
 
 
 . 76 
 
 Dressin' Up . 
 
 
 
 
 . n 
 
 A Fable .... 
 
 
 
 
 ' 79 
 
 A Newsboy's Plaint 
 
 
 
 
 . 81 
 
 Unfulfilment . 
 
 
 
 
 . 84 
 
 Then and Now 
 
 
 
 
 . 86 
 
 Santa Claus . . , 
 
 
 
 
 . 88 
 
 Playing in the Leaves , 
 
 
 
 
 . 90 
 
 First Sweethearts 
 
 
 
 
 . 91 
 
 Her Valentines 
 
 
 
 
 . 92 
 
 Baby John 
 
 
 
 
 . 94 
 
 Baby's Eyes . 
 
 
 
 
 . 95 
 
 A Lullaby 
 
 
 
 
 . 97 
 
 In Memoriam 
 
 
 
 
 . 100 
 
 Sleepykins 
 
 
 
 
 . 102 
 
WHAT'S THE USE? 
 
 What's the use o' growin' up? 
 
 You can't paddle with yer toes 
 In a puddle — you can't yell 
 When yer feelin' extra well — 
 
 Why every feller knows 
 A grown-up can't let loose. 
 I don't Ji)ant to be no older — 
 What's the use ? 
 
 What's the use o' growin' up ? 
 
 When I'm big I don't suppose 
 Explorin' would be right 
 In a neighbor's field at night — 
 
 I won't like to get my clo'se 
 All watermelon juice. 
 I don't want to be no older — 
 What's the use? 
 
 What's the use o' growin' up? 
 
 You couldn't ride the cow, 
 An' the rabbits an' the pig 
 Don't like you 'cause yer big, 
 
 I'm comfortublest now — 
 P'r'aps I am a goose. 
 
!Sl)pme^ of %ittlt ^txp^ 
 
 I don't want to be no older — 
 What's the use ? 
 
 What's the use o' growin' up? 
 
 When yer growed, why every day 
 You just have to be one thing^ 
 Fm a pirate, er a king, 
 
 Er a cowboy — I can play 
 That I'm anything I choose. 
 I don't want to be no older — 
 What's the use? 
 
iii^l^mt$ of %ittlt 25opia? 
 
 WHAT PUZZLES ME 
 
 There's something I'm awfully Oinx- 
 ious to know, 
 
 I think it's important as it can be — 
 S'pose it had happened beforehand so 
 That I was somebody else but me? 
 Then some other boy would be your 
 
 little boy, 
 An' love you more than a tongue- 
 can -tell ; 
 I wonder would he be his muvver's- 
 
 An' smooth her headaches to make 
 them well ? 
 
 — Cause I think ifs funny as it can be. 
 That you is you, an' me is me* 
 
 I've worried and bothered for mos' 
 a day, 
 
 'Termining what I should ever do, 
 
 If things should be 'ranged in a dif- 
 ferent way. 
 
 An' you should be somebody else 
 but you. 
 
 You'd live in some nother place but 
 here — 
 
 3 
 
It|)pmei0f of Hittle 25op^ 
 
 Far away, maybe — but anyhow, 
 I'm perfectly positive. Mother dear, 
 I'd love you 'zactly as much as now. 
 — But I think it's funny as it can be. 
 That you is you, an' me is me* 
 
 If you was somebody else but you, 
 
 P'r'aps we'd meet in the street 
 some day. 
 
 An' /Vbe p'lite an' say **Howdado!" 
 
 An' "What a nice little boy!" you'd 
 say. 
 
 Then we'd walk for almost a block, 
 before 
 
 I'd tell you just who I was — an' 
 then — 
 
 You wouldn't be somebody else any- 
 more, 
 
 An' I'd be your little boy again. 
 
 — An I think it's funny as it can be. 
 
 That you is you, an me is me. 
 
a^pmt^ of %ittlt 25opief 
 
 'MEMBER? 
 
 'Member, awful long ago — 
 Most a million weeks or so — 
 How we tried to run away 
 An' was gone for most a day ? 
 Your Pa found us bofe, and ven 
 Asked if we'd be bad again, 
 An' we promised, by-um-by. 
 Do you 'member ? So d' I. 
 
 'Member when I tried to crawl 
 Frough vat hole beneaf your wall, 
 An' I stuck becuz my head 
 Was too big ? Your Muvver said, 
 When she came to pull me frough, 
 S'prised you didn't try it too. 
 An' you did it, by-um-by. 
 'Member ? Doy"? So do I. 
 
 'Member once, when you an' me 
 Found your Muvver' s pantry key ? 
 All ve folks stayed out till late, 
 An' we ate an' ate an' ate! 
 Ma was s'prised, so she confessed, 
 Vat we didn't eat ve rest. 
 
tii^pmtfi of kittle 2Bop^ 
 
 An* we did it, by-um-by. 
 Course you 'member? So d* I. 
 
 * Member when your Muvver said 
 'At she wisht I'd run an' do 
 All ve mischief in my head 
 All at once an' get it frough ? 
 S'pose we did, why maybe ven 
 We could do it all again! 
 Guess we could if we should try. 
 Will y' sometime ? So'll I. 
 
 B 
 
Ul^pme^ of %xttlt ^op$ 
 
 SPRING TONICS 
 
 I love it when th* folks begin 
 To give us kids our medicine ; 
 Tve tasted lots o' things that's worse. 
 I'm oldest, so they feed me first, 
 An' when it comes their turns then I 
 Just yell an' dance an' make 'em cry! 
 
Mlivmt^ of %ittlt 25op^ 
 
 GOIN* BAREFOOT 
 It's more fun goin' barefoot than 
 
 anythin' I know. 
 There ain't another single thing that 
 
 helps yer feelin's so. 
 Some days I stay in Muvver's room 
 
 a-gettin' in her way, 
 An' when I've bothered her so much 
 
 she sez, ** Oh run and play," 
 I say, '' Kin I go barefoot ? " En she 
 
 sez, " If y' choose; " 
 Nen I alwuz wanter holler when I'm 
 
 pullin' off my shoes ! 
 
 It's fun a-goin' barefoot when yer 
 
 playin' any game, 
 'Cause robbers would be noisy an' 
 
 Indians awful tame 
 Unless they had their shoes off when 
 
 they crep' up in th' night, 
 An' folks can't know they're comin' till 
 
 they get right close in sight! 
 An' I'm surely goin' barefoot every 
 
 day when I get old 
 An' haven't got a nurse to say I'll 
 
 catch my dethocold ! 
 
 8 
 
til^pmt^ of ttittle 25op^ 
 
 An' if yer goin* barefoot yer want t' 
 
 go outdoors — 
 Y* can't stretch out an* dig yer heels 
 
 in stupid hardwood floors 
 Like you kin dig 'em in th' dirt. An' 
 
 where th' long grass grows 
 The blades feel kinder tickly an' 
 
 cool between yer toes. 
 So when I'm pullin' off" my shoes I'm 
 
 mighty 'fraid I'll cough, 
 'Cause then I know Ma'd stop me 
 
 'fore I got my stockin's off! 
 
 If y' often go 'round barefoot there's 
 lots o' things to know, 
 
 Of how t' curl yer feet on stones so 
 they won't hurt y' so, 
 
 An' when th' grass is stickly and 
 pricks y' at a touch, 
 
 Jes' plunk your feet down solid an' 
 it don't hurt half so much. 
 
 I lose my hat mos' every day. I 
 wish I did my shoes — 
 
 Er else I wisht I was so poor I had- 
 n't none t' lose ! 
 
 9 
 
!!lJ)pme^ of %ittlt 25opi6f 
 
 SUPERSTISHUS 
 
 Onct I went a-fishin* with a man 
 what had a reel 
 
 An* fancy hooks an* catgut an' a fish- 
 pole made o' steel ; 
 
 He never got a single bite from early 
 until late, 
 
 Just *cuz he didn't take no stock in 
 spittin' on th' bait. 
 
 Yes, he can laff an' jeer, bat where' s 
 his fish, rd tike ter knoHV ? 
 
 Oh, I guess lots o' things is true 'at 
 some folks say ain't so ! 
 
 D'jever drop a horse-hair into th' 
 
 wat'rin' -trough 
 An' leave it there fer weeks an' 
 
 weeks 'thout drainin' of it off? 
 An' ef you use a human hair they 
 
 say it only takes 
 Jes' half as long — but anyhow, it 
 
 tarns 'em into snakes ! 
 An' ef a feller don't believe a half 
 
 the things he hears 
 A darnin' needle comes along an' 
 
 sews up both his ears ! 
 
 10 
 
tify^mc^ of Hittle 25op^ 
 
 Our cook, she's superstishus — she's 
 
 scared as anythin' 
 If someone spills a little salt er don't 
 
 pick up a pin. 
 An' when I wuz a kid I'd walk down 
 
 to th' gate an' back, 
 An' think that I wuz poisoned if my 
 
 foot stepped on a crack ! 
 I know them things is silly — I cross 
 
 my heart I do — 
 But I guess lots o' things is so 'at 
 
 some folks never knew ! 
 
 11 
 
ti^pmtfi of Hittle 25op^ 
 
 BEIN' SICK 
 
 When I am realty sick abed 
 
 It isn't ever any fun. 
 I feel all achy in my head 
 
 An' hate to take my medisun. 
 Th' sheets get stickyish and hot, 
 
 But I am not allowed to kick 
 'Em off, er read, er talk a lot 
 When I am sick. 
 
 I hate fer all th' folks about 
 
 To come an' pat me on th' face 
 An' say, " Poor child, you'll soon be 
 out," 
 An' tiptoe all around th' place. 
 They go when I pertend to be 
 
 Asleep — I do it fer a trick : 
 I don't like folks to pity me 
 When I am sick. 
 
 My mother's diff'runt — I don't care 
 If she sits by me once er twice 
 
 An' says, "Poor boy," an' smooths 
 my hair ; 
 She ain't just tryin' to be nice. 
 
 12 
 
iSljpme^ of Itittle 25op^ 
 
 They bring warm squushy things to 
 me 
 Fer meals, an' make me eat *em 
 quick. 
 I'm mis'ruble as I can be 
 When I am sick. 
 
 13 
 
Jil)pme^ of %ittlt 250piBf 
 
 GETTIN' WELL 
 
 When yer really sick abed 
 
 All th' fun is getting well. 
 Say! It's jolly bein' fed— 
 
 I kin hardly ever tell 
 What tastes best. 'Most any food 
 
 Goes so fast I wanter lick 
 Th' plate. Stuff always tastes so good 
 
 When I've been sick. 
 
 I like it best when I can sit 
 
 All bundled in th' easy chair, 
 With all th' windows raised a bit 
 
 To give th' place a little air. 
 An' if a breeze comes now an' then, 
 
 I tell y' what, it's pretty slick 
 Just t' smelt outdoors again 
 
 When I've been sick ! 
 
 They put th' kittens on th' rug, 
 An' mother brings her sewin' in, 
 
 An' everythin's so nice an' snug 
 I sit an' look around an* grin. 
 
 14 
 
iSf^pme^ of atttle 25op^ 
 
 An' then I get to countin' sheep, 
 Or wond'rin' why th' clock should 
 tick 
 
 In diff 'runt ways. I like t' sleep 
 When I've been sick. 
 
 15 
 
Ili|)pmc^ of Hittle S&opief 
 
 WISDOM 
 
 Often when I wanter talk, grown-ups 
 
 say I ourghtn't, 
 For they think what I would say 
 
 cannot be important. 
 I am told that when I'm grown, 
 
 then I may be bolder, 
 Wisdom will be in my head when 
 
 Tve gotten older. 
 Tell me, will it, when it comes, set 
 
 my head a-humming ? 
 But I mostly want to know — will I 
 
 feel it coming ? 
 
 16 
 
ttt^pnu^ of little ^op^ 
 
 COOKIN' THINGS 
 
 When my mother's cookin' things, 
 
 You bet I never wait 
 To put away my ball er gun, 
 I drop 'em where they are an* run 
 
 Fer fear I'll be too late. 
 The most excitin' kind of game, 
 
 Er toy, er story-book, 
 I let 'em go, an' never mind. 
 The very minute that I find 
 
 My mother's goin' to cook ! 
 
 When my mother's cookin* things. 
 
 Then you just oughter smell 
 The spices an' the sweets an' such. 
 My mouth gets waterin' so much 
 
 I almost have to yell ! 
 She opens up the oven door 
 
 Sometimes, to take a look. 
 An* then I jab 'em while they're hot, 
 To see if they are done er not. 
 
 When mother lets me cook. 
 
 When my mother's cookin* things, 
 P*r*aps it's pies to bake, 
 
 17 
 
mftpme^ of ftittle 2&opiBf 
 
 Er doughnuts bobbin' up an' down 
 In boilin' grease till they are brown, 
 
 Er p'r'aps it's johnny-cake. 
 Whatever kind of thing it is, 
 
 I always like to hook 
 The biggest piece of dough I can 
 An' bake it in a patty-pan, 
 
 When me an' mother cook. 
 
 When my mother's cookin* things. 
 
 It pays you if you wait 
 An' eat 'em hot, right off the tin. 
 It's twice as good as any thin' 
 
 Could be, et off a plate ! 
 An' I guess you'd find out fer sure 
 
 That I was not mistook 
 In any single thin' I've said, 
 If you could taste the gingerbread 
 
 I've helped my mother cook. 
 
 18 
 
iSl^pme^ of %xttlt 25opi0? 
 
 RAIN-CHARM 
 
 Rdin, rain, go away; come again another 
 
 day. 
 Little Billie wants to play! 
 
 What's the reason, do you s'pose, 
 
 that it has to rain ? 
 Tve been flattenin* my nose up 
 
 against th' pane 
 For about an hour or so, beggin' for 
 
 th* rain to go. 
 
 In th* attic it's no fun 'thout th' other 
 
 boys. 
 I get countin*,one by one, every single 
 
 noise, 
 An' the raindrops, when they strike, 
 
 sound so kinder solemn-like. 
 
 I jus' wait in this one place wishin' 
 it would pass, 
 
 Watchin' all th' raindrops race down 
 across th' glass ; 
 
 See each big one, when it runs, gob- 
 ble all th' little ones. 
 
 19 
 
M^pmt0 of Eittle 25op^ 
 
 Rain, rain, go away— -wish you*d come 
 
 at night. 
 Guess you knew Td plans t'day, an' 
 
 you came fer spite. 
 Seems zif jus' th' days it pours I 
 
 most want t' be outdoors ! 
 
 20 
 
tilipmtg of 3tittle S&opi^ 
 
 BED-TIME 
 Last year my bed-time was at eight, 
 
 And every single night 
 I used to wish the clock would wait, 
 
 Or else stay out of sight. 
 It always seemed to me 
 The next half-hour'd be 
 The nicest time of all the day 
 if mother would agree. 
 But she always shook her head 
 And she sort of jumped, and said, 
 
 Why, it's late — after eight — 
 And it's time you were in bed ! 
 
 That clock would always do its best 
 
 To sit all quiet there. 
 Until I was my comfyest 
 
 In some big easy chair. 
 Then its striking would begin. 
 And I'd tell my Motherkin 
 How I'd just begun a chapter, and 
 
 it was so infrestin — 
 And the end was just ahead — 
 But she usuruUy said, 
 
 No; it's late — after eight — 
 And it's time to go to bed! 
 
 21 
 
M^pmt^ of Stittle 25op^ 
 
 And now my bed-time is ha-past, — 
 But yet that old clock does 
 
 The same mean tricks — it's just as 
 fast, 
 Or faster, than it was. 
 
 Last night it seemed to me 
 
 The next half-hour 'd be 
 
 The nicest time of all the day 
 if mother would agree. 
 
 But she smiled and shook her head. 
 
 And she kissed me while she said, 
 Why, it's late — ha-past eight — 
 
 And it's time you went to bed ! 
 
 22 
 
til^pmtg of little ^np0 
 
 APPLE-PIE 
 
 When our cook she makes a pie 
 
 You oughter see her fingers fly ! 
 She sits an' holds a yeller bowl 
 An' stirs so fast she keeps a hole 
 
 Down through the middle of the stuff"; 
 
 There' s milk an' egg, an' flour enough, 
 And maybe other things, but I 
 Ferget just all that makes a pie ! 
 
 When our cook she makes a pie 
 She rolls the dough, that, by an' by, 
 Is two round blankets; then you'll 
 
 see 
 Her slice some apples evenly. 
 Plump into bed she makes 'em hop. 
 An' cuts some peep-holes through 
 the top 
 So they won't smother when they 
 
 lie 
 All warm an' sugared in the pie. 
 
 « 
 
 When our cook she makes a pie 
 She balances the plate up high, 
 
 23 
 
i!tt)pnic^ of %ittlt 25op^ 
 
 And with a pleasant, snippy sound 
 She trims it nicely all around. 
 And when she's thumbed the edges 
 
 tight, 
 The apples can't get up at night. 
 And when she's baked it, then, 
 
 oh my! 
 You never et such apple-pie! 
 
 24 
 
Hi^l^mt^ of %ittU 25op^ 
 
 BABIES 
 
 A baby is so queer, you know, 
 I think, each new one that I see, 
 
 It isn't possible he'll grow 
 To be as fine a boy as me. 
 
 25 
 
lEtl^pme^ of %xttlt 25dp^ 
 
 IN THE STUDY 
 
 Nicest place in all the house 
 Is my poppa's study chair; 
 
 Just as quiet as a mouse 
 I go creeping there, 
 
 An* he gives a little smile, 
 
 Writing, writing, all the while. 
 
 There's at least a million books 
 Up and down and round the wall, 
 
 I guess, from the way it looks, 
 I can't read them all ! 
 
 If I did I'm sure I'd be 
 
 Just as wise and big as he. 
 
 26 
 
Hf^^mt^ of atittle 2&op^ 
 
 DUTY CALL 
 
 On Sundays I jus' love to dine 
 With Aunty Jane an* Emeline, 
 An' stay t' hear a temp'rence trac*. 
 I love it, 'cause when I get back 
 My muwer sez, "Poor little sweet!" 
 An' gives me heaps o' things to eat. 
 
 27 
 
mijpme^ of Jtittle 25op^ 
 
 KETCHIN' RIDES 
 
 I'm awful fond of ketchin* rides. 
 
 I like those trucks where I kin 
 stand 
 Without a-holdin' to the sides 
 
 (Er maybe holdin' with one hand!), 
 Though teacher says it's not refined 
 To go a-ketchin' on behind. 
 
 I almost never walk to school, 
 So many wagons pass our place ; 
 
 My fav'rite one he makes a rule 
 Of always leadin' me a chase, 
 
 An' then pertendin' he's too blind 
 
 To see me ketchin' on behind. 
 
 I've found there's just two kinds of 
 men 
 What drives th' wagons in our 
 town, 
 'Cause when I meet 'em, now an' 
 then, 
 There's some that grab their whips 
 er frown. 
 But some they nod an' never mind 
 When I am ketchin' on behind. 
 
 28 
 
flljpme^ of 3ttttle 25opi0? 
 
 Th' one that drives th' movin* van 
 Told me an' Brud he'd knock our 
 
 skulls 
 Together — he's th' kind of man 
 That's mean to cats an' animuls* 
 But any man is good an' kind 
 Who likes yer ketchin' on behind. 
 
 I guess when I am rich an' great 
 An' ov^n a truck an' grocery cart, 
 
 ril always drive 'em slow, er wait 
 So little chaps kin get a start. 
 
 An' have 'em built so boys kin find 
 
 A place fer ketchin' on behind. 
 
 29 
 
ill)pmc^ of %itt\t 25op^ 
 
 T I WAS ER HORSE! 
 
 'F I was er horse I'd hate t' wear 
 
 A collar what didn't fit, 
 
 An' blinder-things, an' I wouldn't care 
 
 To chew on a iron bit. 
 
 It ain't a way 'at I'd wanter live. 
 
 To just go everywhere I was driv. 
 
 *F I was er horse, I guess you'd see 
 I'd run away pretty quick ! 
 I'd tear my harness an' wriggle free 
 An' go where th' grass was thick, 
 rdkick myheels,an' I'd neigh ferjoy. 
 But I ain't er horse, I'm er little boy ! 
 
 30 
 
Hi^pmt^ of Stittle 25op^ 
 
 AN IMAGINING 
 
 Two sisters that I never saw 
 
 Are lying underneath the ground. 
 
 Sometimes my mothertakes me there 
 And says that I may play around. 
 
 But while she sits so quietly, 
 
 I often have imaginings, 
 And see a-flying near her head 
 
 Two little baby girls with wings. 
 
 SI 
 
tit^pmc^ of %ittlt 2&opi0? 
 
 IN THE MORNING 
 
 Reggalerly every day, 
 When my papa's gotten up, 
 
 I can see him far away 
 Mixin' sumpin' in a cup ; 
 
 I can hear him slappy-slap 
 
 With a knife against a strap. 
 
 He is such a funny sight 
 In the mirror on the shelf. 
 
 With his face all blobby white, 
 Makin' faces at himself; 
 
 But I mustn't laugh, or he 
 
 Comes an' rubs it all on me ! 
 
 Papa says when I'm growed up, 
 With some troubles an' a wife, 
 
 I can have a mixer-cup 
 An' a shiny crooked knife ; 
 
 But he says I must begin 
 
 Puttin' prickers in my chin. 
 
 32 
 
tif^^mtg of %ittlt 25op^ 
 
 SYMPATHETIC 
 
 Whenever I start out to walk, our dog 
 he seems to know, 
 And runs along ahead of me to 
 show he's coming too ; 
 And when there is a reason why he 
 really mustn't go 
 The hollering **Go Home" to him 
 is awful hard to do. 
 
 He wags his tail and jumps around, 
 and seems as if he said, 
 ''I guess you didn't mean it, you 
 were only jokin' then!" 
 But when he sees I'm serious he 
 kinder droops his head. 
 Or looks up at me sorrowful, an' 
 looks aw^ay again. 
 
 And then at last he minds me if I 
 keep an angry tone. 
 It's awful hard to do it, but I try 
 with all my might; 
 
 33 
 
!lll)pmei0? of Jlittle 25op0 
 
 And sometimes when I look around 
 I see him all alone 
 A-watchin' me and watchin' me 
 until I'm out of sight. 
 
 You see I know just how it is, 'cause 
 some days when I find 
 My brother's got to hurry off with 
 bigger boys to play, 
 And when he says I mustn't go and 
 tag along behind. 
 He leaves me sittin' somewheres 
 and a-feelin' just that way! 
 
 34 
 
mi^pme^ of %ittlt 2Bop^ 
 
 SPECIAL WORDS 
 
 My mother she has special words 
 She's alwuz usin', but I find 
 
 The ones that I've most often heard 
 Is By-um-by and Never-mind. 
 
 Whenever I can't have my way 
 An' beg her '* when? "and tease 
 her "why?" 
 
 The things she's Hkeliest to say 
 Is Never-mind and By-um-by. 
 
 An' when our picnic stopped becuz 
 It rained, er sumpin' of the kind, 
 
 The only things she told us was 
 Jus' By-um-by an' Never-mind. 
 
 I as't when By-um-by would be, 
 She told me "Never-mind!" so I 
 
 Said " What is Never-mind ?" an' she 
 Said I'd discover, By-um-by. 
 
 My mother she has special words 
 For question-answerin' an' such, 
 
 But I guess some that I have heard 
 Don't really mean so awful much. 
 
 35 
 
l!tf)pme^ of %ittlt 25op^ 
 
 AT THE ZOO 
 I. 
 
 It must be hard for you, porcupine, 
 To dress when the day begins! 
 
 I'm glad there aren't any clothes of 
 mine 
 A-needin' so many pins. 
 
 But when I've been saucy and hor- 
 rid too, 
 
 Or up to some naughty prank, 
 If I could only wear clothes like you 
 
 I'd be awfully hard to spank! 
 
 II. 
 
 A snake's the funniest thing I know, 
 So dreadfully incomplete ; 
 
 Without any arms where hands can 
 grow, 
 And not any legs for feet. 
 
 But I wish I could crawl on the 
 ground that way. 
 
 Or shin up the apple trees, 
 And not have nursie get mad and say 
 
 There's holes in my stockin' knees! 
 
 36 
 
iit^^mt^ of Eittle 2Sop^ 
 
 III. 
 
 I'm glad I wasn't a monkey too! 
 
 It's jolly to watch you climb, 
 But you're fighting and biting the 
 whole day through, 
 
 And chattering all the time. 
 
 But maybe a tail like that would be 
 
 An awfully useful thing 
 Up in our neighbor's cherry tree 
 
 On holidays in the spring ! 
 
 IV. 
 
 You thin giraffe, if I was you, 
 I'd have a hard time, I spec'; 
 
 For nursie would make a great to-do 
 A-washing my face an' neck. 
 
 But when the jam and the cookie-jar 
 Are hid on the highest shelf, 
 
 I wisht I was as tall as you creatures 
 are. 
 Instead of my tiny self. 
 
 37 
 
Illl)pmc^ of %ittlt 250piBf 
 
 A RECOLLECTION 
 
 When we was visitin' a farm 
 
 I begged an' begged an' maybe 
 squealed, 
 
 (I didn't see how it could harm) 
 To just run barefoot in a field. 
 
 Until at last the lady said 
 
 They'd better let me go ahead. 
 
 It was so stubbuUy that each 
 
 Poor foot got hurtin' right away; 
 
 Still I was bound that I would reach 
 A haystack an' pertend to play. 
 
 But I just cried against the stack 
 
 For somebody to fetch me back. 
 
 My brother only stood an' laughed! 
 
 I might uv caught my death-o-cold 
 Away out there in all that draught, 
 
 'Cause I am only eight years old. 
 But sometimes seems zif older folks 
 'L laugh at things that isn't jokes. 
 
 38 
 
ti^pmt^ of %ittlt 25op^ 
 
 MAKIN' THINGS 
 
 Whenever Christmas time comes 
 
 round it really doesn't take 
 Much money, 'cause the folks prefer 
 
 the presents that I make. 
 And so, for days and days before, I 
 
 saw and pound and glue, 
 A-making things and planning who*s 
 
 the best to give 'em to. 
 But sometimes I get thinking that Td 
 
 really like it more 
 If folks would only use the things for 
 
 what I make 'em for! 
 
 39 
 
i5I)pme^ of %ittlt 2&op^ 
 
 GETTIN' ^/V ASHED 
 
 At breakfast, when I'm kinder late 
 
 an' hurry to my place, 
 An' wanter eat, some person says, 
 
 " Oh, what a dirty face ! " 
 Or, *' Leave the table right away, 
 
 those hands are a disgrace ! " 
 When I come back all nice an' clean 
 
 my mother says she fears 
 I didn't take a lot of pains to wash 
 
 behin' my ears. 
 
 An' lots o' times when I've been out 
 
 an' haven't touched a thin' 
 That could have dirtied me a bit, 
 
 why someone's called me in — 
 'Cause what they went an' said was 
 
 dirt was shadders on my skin. 
 But s'pose that cedar tree I climbed 
 
 did leave some teeny smears, 
 I don't see how a bit could get 'way 
 
 up behin' my ears ! 
 
 Oh, when I'm big, without a nurse 
 or grown-up folks that tease, 
 
 40 
 
itfipme^ of %xttlt 25op^ 
 
 Some weeks I'll wear my oldest 
 
 clo'es as dirty as I please, 
 An' muss my hair an' have big holes 
 
 in both my stockin' knees. 
 Of course I'll wash each momin\ 
 
 'cept when playtime interferes, 
 But yoa just bet I'll let alone that 
 
 place behin' my ears ! 
 
 41 
 
Mi^pmt^ of %xtt\t 25op^ 
 
 ILLOGICAL 
 
 They're as proud as they can be 
 Every time the baby squeaks; 
 
 When she gets as big as me 
 
 Bet they'll scold her if she speaks ! 
 
 'Cause some visitor, perhaps, 
 When I try to say a word, 
 
 Laughs an' says that little chaps 
 Should be seen instead of heard. 
 
 If that's truly what they mean, 
 Seems to me it wasn't wise, 
 
 If they meant me to be seen. 
 Not to make me bigger size. 
 
 An' if I can't talk so much, 
 
 Why did God, who had his choice 
 Of materials an' such, 
 
 Make me have so big a voice? 
 
 42 
 
^i^prntg of %itt\t 25op^ 
 
 PIRATE'S CAVE 
 
 Under the table, when dinner's 
 through, 
 
 There is my fav'rite cave. 
 My sister she is a pirate crew, 
 
 An' I am a captain brave. 
 With treasure out of the cookie jar, 
 
 And plunder from other lands, 
 To the pirate lair that's hidden there 
 
 We creep on our knees and hands. 
 
 Before the people get up to go, 
 
 Then is the time to hide. 
 I whisper, *'Ho, my lads, lie low. 
 
 There are foes on every side!" 
 And then I thump on the table top. 
 
 And Papa says, *' Hey ! What's 
 that?" 
 And another thump makes Mother 
 jump 
 
 And guess that it's just the cat. 
 
 But Papa says, when I thump again, 
 **P'r'aps it's a pirate bold!'' 
 
 43 
 
!ltl)pme^ of Hittle 26op^ 
 
 And his legs an' feet come huntin* 
 then, 
 
 A-tryin* to catch a-hold; 
 He keeps me hurryin' back an' forth 
 
 Till his hands comes huntin* too, 
 Then I sink the ship when I feel his 
 
 grip, 
 And Mother she gets the crew! 
 
 44 
 
Hi^pmt^ of %ittlt 25op^ 
 
 DAYTIME NAPS 
 
 My mother thinks that little chaps 
 Who play a lot need daytime naps ; 
 Though I've explained, with all my 
 
 might, 
 That I can't sleep except at night. 
 
 But sometimes, when I've played a 
 
 lot, 
 I'd jus' as liv go in as not ; 
 It gives her quite a nice surprise 
 When I lie down and shut my eyes. 
 
 I couldn't get to sleep, I know ; 
 But for a little while or so 
 I get to seeing on the wall 
 Queer pictures that aren't there at 
 all. 
 
 One time a camel stuck his head 
 Right close up to me on the bed, 
 And animals I'd seen that day 
 Up at the Zoo, they came to play. 
 
 And once I thought of curious things 
 That I could do if I had wings. 
 
 45 
 
at^pmt^ of %ittlt 25op^ 
 
 But all the nicest parts of it 
 I can't remember now a bit ! 
 
 I think so hard of things I'd do, 
 I feel all stretchy when I'm through, 
 And then I look and find it's been 
 More 'n a nour since I came in. 
 
 It's nice to lie and think, perhaps, 
 But just the same I can't take naps! 
 (And mother says she sees it's true, 
 But thanks me just fer tryin' to.) 
 
 46 
 
at^^xnt^ of Itittle 25dp^ 
 
 PRAYER FOR A LITTLE BOY. 
 
 Nozu I lay me dcnvn to sleep, 
 
 I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep. 
 
 If I should die before I^ivake, 
 
 I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to take* 
 
 And this Task for Jesus' sake. 
 
 But while I live I want to be from 
 
 quick and angry passions free, 
 With gentle thoughts, and happy face, 
 
 and pleasant words in everyplace. 
 I pray, whatever wrong I do, I'll 
 
 never say what is not true; 
 Be willing at my task each day, and 
 
 always honest in my play. 
 
 Make me unselfish with my joys, 
 
 and generous to other boys; 
 And kind and helpful to the old, and 
 
 prompt to do what I am told. 
 Bless every one I love, and teach me 
 
 how to help and comfort each. 
 Give me the strength right-living 
 
 brings, and make me good in little 
 
 things. — Amen. 
 
 47 
 
tit^^ntt^ of %itt\t 25op^ 
 
 TOP-TIME 
 
 I wisht I knew what makes the top- 
 time come 
 Before it's gotten over bein* cold; 
 Sometimes my fingers get so kinder 
 numb 
 The string can't help from comin' 
 all unrolled. 
 I like a top-string better when it 's 
 old, 
 An' then I tell yer, I can make 'er 
 hum! 
 I've learnt a special secret way t' 
 hold, 
 By pressin', when I throw 'er, 
 with my thumb. 
 You know that stubby yeller one I 
 had?— 
 It split ten other tops, er maybe 
 more — 
 I broke it, an' I tell yer, I felt bad ! 
 But now she's mended better 'an 
 before. 
 
 48 
 
lltftpme^ of %ntlt 25op^ 
 
 I don't see why our cook should get 
 so mad 
 Each time I spin 'er on the kitchen 
 floor. 
 
 49 
 
i!i{)pme^ of 3little S^op^ 
 
 KITE TIME 
 
 Last night me an* my brother made 
 a kite — 
 The biggest one we've ever tried 
 to do. 
 Stood up on end 'twas more 'n twice 
 my height 
 (The kind that has three sticks 
 
 instead of two). 
 I made the tail, an' 'fore I'd gotten 
 through 
 I'd used up every rag there was in 
 sight. 
 To fly her 'd take a whoppin' 
 wind, we knew. 
 And then to-day it came exactly 
 
 right. 
 A boughten kite may have a neater 
 look, 
 But home-made ones are mighty 
 
 hard to beat. 
 This big one nearly dived us off 
 our feet — 
 
 50 
 
Jltl)pme^ of Hittle 2&op^ 
 
 'Twas in the length of tail we were 
 
 mistook ; 
 An' you can see her, any time you 
 
 look, 
 A-hangin' in that elm tree down 
 
 the street. 
 
 51 
 
ISJ)pme^ of Jtittle 25op^ 
 
 BALL- TIME 
 
 This week it's got so warm that I 
 
 have been 
 
 Without my overcoat for every 
 
 day. 
 
 I wisht I hadn't promised to stay in 
 
 An' study for an hour, instead of 
 
 play. 
 'Cause with the window up a little 
 way 
 I smell the grass and see the buds 
 begin. 
 Our clock's a lot behind time, I 
 should say, 
 An' study in' too hard' 11 make me 
 
 thin! 
 I hear the boys outside begin to 
 call— 
 They want me for a game of two- 
 old-cat. 
 I guess they know I've got a brand 
 new ball; — 
 It isn't me they want so much as 
 that. 
 I bet you they can't borrow it at all 
 Unless I get first innin's at the bat ! 
 
 52 
 
iSJlpme^ of %xttlt 25tip^ 
 
 SWIMMIN'-TIME 
 
 It was so hot in school I sat an' 
 sweat, 
 An* thought all day how fine a 
 swim would feel. 
 When time was up we didn't wait, 
 you bet, 
 But just raced out here an' began 
 
 to peet! 
 It's fun to hear the little fellers 
 squeal 
 Each time you shove 'em in an' 
 get 'em wet. 
 Once I was skeered when some big 
 boy would steal 
 Close up behind — it kinder skeers 
 
 me yet ! 
 But anyhow I can stay under more 
 Than any boy my size — I do it 
 lots. 
 It's funny — an' I've noticed it 
 before — 
 Down deep the water 's warm an' 
 cold in spots. 
 
 63 
 
M^^rnt^ of Itittle 25op^ 
 
 Hi ! Hi, there ! See those fellers up 
 on shore — 
 They're tyin* all our stockin's 
 into knots! 
 
 «4 
 
Ht^^mt^ of Jtittle 2&op^ 
 
 NUTTIN' TIME 
 
 I know where butternut an* shag- 
 bark trees 
 Grow thick, — an' chestnuts an' 
 sweet-acorns too. 
 Each fall we go there an' pick all 
 we please — 
 We take our lunch an' stay the 
 
 whole day through. 
 Last week we went to where the 
 walnuts grew, 
 With two big sacks an' filled 'em at 
 our ease. 
 I shinned one tree — that's what I 
 love to do ! — 
 And then we hunted, on our hands 
 
 an' knees. 
 But after all, the part I like the best 
 Is when the sacks have gotten 
 pretty fat, 
 An' some one says it's time we 
 ought to rest 
 An' start the jam an' cookies an' 
 all that. 
 
 55 
 
I51)pme^ of %tttlt 25opi6f 
 
 This time it kind of spoiled my 
 interest 
 To find a chestnut burr just 
 where I sat. 
 
 56 
 
Mi^pmtg of %xttlt 25op^ 
 
 SNOWBALL TIME 
 
 When the snow first comes, so fine 
 an' thin, 
 It's good for snow ice-cream; an' 
 by-an'-by 
 Some evenin' we will fill a heapin* 
 tin. 
 And drip hot syrup in — oh me, 
 
 oh my! 
 Until this week the snow has 
 been too dry, 
 But now it packs, and snow fights 
 will begin. 
 
 We've built a block-house with 
 a roof so high 
 We only stoop a little when we're 
 
 in ! 
 I've got some boots that come above 
 my knees — 
 Last winter, too, they were my 
 special pride; 
 I plunge through any snow-drifts 
 that I please. 
 Or climb on top of 'em an' sit an' 
 slide. 
 
 57 
 
iSiftpme^ of Hittle 25opief 
 
 But Jimminyl my toes begins to 
 freeze 
 If ever any snow gets down in- 
 side. 
 
 58 
 
i!{)pmc^ of Jtittle 25opi^ 
 
 MY SORE THUMB 
 
 I jabbed a jack-knife in my thumb 
 
 Th' blood just spurted when it come! 
 The cook got faint, an' nurse she 
 
 yelled 
 An' showed me how it should be 
 held, 
 An' Gran' ma went to get a rag. 
 An' couldn't find one in th' bag ; 
 An' all the rest was just struck 
 
 dumb 
 To see my thumb ! 
 
 Since I went an' jabbed my thumb 
 I go around a-lookin' glum, 
 
 And Aunt, she pats me on the head 
 
 An' gives me extra ginger-bread ; 
 But brother 's madf an' says he '11 go 
 An' take an' axe, an' chop his toe : 
 
 An' then he guesses I'll keep mum 
 
 About my thumb! 
 
 At school they as't to see my thumb, 
 But I just showed it to my chum, 
 
 59 
 
iSftpme^ of %itt\t 25op^ 
 
 An* any else that wants to see 
 
 Must divvy up their cake with me ! 
 It 's gettin' well so fast, I think 
 I'll fix it up with crimson ink, 
 
 An' that '11 keep up infrest some 
 
 In my poor thumb! 
 
 60 
 
l!lJ)pmc^ of 3tittle 25op^ 
 
 REJECTED 
 
 There's a nawful pretty teacher at 
 
 our school, an' once I told her 
 That I thought we might be married 
 
 if she'd wait till I was older; 
 There was no one 'cept my mother 
 
 that I liked so well, I said. 
 She didn't even answer, but she 
 
 laughed at me instead. 
 
 She's forgotten all about it, an' it 
 
 seems to me a pity 
 That folks what are so cruel should 
 
 be made so awful pretty. 
 But I guess I'll make her sorry that 
 
 she treated me so hard, 
 If I do what I've been plannin', an' 
 
 I die in her front yard. 
 
 61 
 
iSljpme^ of %itt\t 55op^ 
 
 THE WIND 
 
 The wind it rushes in and out 
 
 An' makes a great to-do, 
 An' Httle leaves leap all about 
 
 To tell you where it blew. 
 
 Whenever it goes racing by 
 It pulls my clothes and hair; 
 
 Some places it will sing or sigh, 
 But no one sees it there! 
 
 The trees are p'raps the only thing 
 
 That see it as it blows, 
 For they all lean, an' point, an' sing 
 
 In whispers, "There it goes!'* 
 
 62 
 
Ififjpme^ of %ittit 25op^ 
 
 THINGS THAT GET LOST 
 
 They tell me, when I lose a thing, 
 
 No one's at fault but me; 
 It's just because I'm carelesser 
 
 'N what I ought to be. 
 But there are happenin's that show 
 
 It isn't true a bit — 
 'Cause when a thing gets lost, I know 
 
 It's part the fault of it. 
 
 'Cause often when I'm in the house 
 
 For just a little while, 
 I put my cap an' ball an' such 
 
 All in a little pile. 
 Then when I'm in a rush to go, 
 
 And hurry right to where 
 I left 'em, it's most always so 
 
 That one of 'em's not there! 
 
 And while we hunt with all our 
 might. 
 
 The thing we're looking for 
 Is hid, I'm sure, just out of sight 
 
 An* laughin' more an' more. 
 
 63 
 
jUljpmc^ of 3little 25op^ 
 
 'Cause it can hear us goin' wrong 
 An* say in*, ** Where d' you s'pose 
 
 That old thing is)'" An* all along 
 It's happy, 'cause IT knows! 
 
 64 
 
tHipmt^ of %m\t 25op^ 
 
 EXCUSES 
 
 Sometimes wheni'm special naughty 
 In some bran' -new way. 
 An' my sister an' the nurse 
 Only get me actin' worse, 
 Daddy's told, an' when I'm caught, 
 he 
 Asks what I've to say. 
 
 Daddy has some special uses 
 For a slipper he 
 
 Keeps upon his study shelf, 
 So I start to 'scuse myself. 
 An' I think up lots of 'senses 
 Quickly as can be ! 
 
 Daddy coughs, an' then confesses 
 That sometimes he does 
 
 P'raps misjudge me by mistake. 
 Then he gives my hand a shake. 
 (But I sometimes think he guesses 
 Just how bad I was!) 
 
 65 
 
iSl^pme^ of %ittlc 25op^ 
 
 VACATION IN THE COUNTRY 
 
 If I lived in the country efhery day 
 Instead of only when vacations 
 come, 
 Would I get sunburned so that it 
 would stay, 
 And say words like "I recken" 
 and '^to hum"? 
 
 Could I wear one suspender if I 
 chose, 
 And learn an awful lot of useful 
 things, 
 Like how to pick up pebbles with 
 my toes. 
 Or tell a bird from just the way it 
 sings? 
 
 And would I know the places where 
 
 to dive, 
 And all the quickest cuts across 
 
 the lots? 
 And could I keep some snakes and 
 
 frogs alive, 
 
 66 
 
^l^pmt^ of Stittle 23op^ 
 
 And would my feet get hard, with 
 callus spots? 
 
 Back home there in the city, there's 
 no way 
 To learn such useful things; so 
 I've a mind, 
 Before the folks all start to go away, 
 To find some place to hide, and 
 stay behind. 
 
 67 
 
iRljpme^ of kittle 25op0 
 
 SEWIN* BUTTONS ON 
 
 Every time my mother sews 
 Some kind of button on my clo'es, 
 It always gives me a surprise 
 To see how fast the needle flies. 
 In buttons all the difference is, 
 
 They have four little holes or two; 
 But just whichever hole she says, 
 
 She makes her needle-point come 
 through! 
 She never seems to aim, 
 But it's always just the same — 
 It's as int'restin' to watch her as 
 'most any sort of game. 
 
 But when I start to sewin' one. 
 Why, just as soon as I've begun. 
 The thread gets tangled as can be, 
 Or keeps a-gettin' caught on me. 
 An' after all the time it takes 
 
 To get the needle goin' some. 
 It hits the button hard, an' breaks, 
 
 Or comes one side an' pricks my 
 thumb. 
 
 G8 
 
ttt^^mt^ of %xttlt 25dp^ 
 
 But anybody knows 
 That troubles such as those 
 My mother never seems to have, no 
 matter what she sews ! 
 
 An* so I think, when I have grown. 
 And got a house that's all my own, 
 
 An' wife an' family an' such, 
 
 If I lose off my buttons much 
 I'll have my mother always there 
 
 To sew 'em on for me again; 
 Unless she thought she wouldn't care 
 
 To be so very busy then, 
 Or somethin' else occurred 
 That she thought that she preferred— 
 But she says it is the nicest plan 
 she ever, ever heard! 
 
 69 
 
UllpmcjS of %ittle 25op!S 
 
 OUR GANG 
 
 (With affectionate apologies) 
 
 VJeWe got a gang, and I belong, 
 If s active all the year around; 
 
 We've got a drum-corps, twenty 
 strong, 
 A secret club and camping ground. 
 
 And then of course we have a yell 
 That we can whistle low or hum. 
 
 And when I hear it, I can tell 
 A fellow's calling me to come. 
 
 Wherever it might be, 
 
 I'd answer instantly, 
 
 For I would know 'twas Dop or Al 
 Or Jinks or Don or Rob or Hal 
 
 Or all of 'em but me. 
 
 To-day I heard my mother say 
 How very greatly she enjoys 
 
 A-seeing with me in my play 
 So nice a lot of little boys. 
 
 But when I told 'em so, they guessed 
 That maybe she would not admire 
 
 Us all so much, if I confessed 
 
 70 
 
i!!l)pme^ of %itt\t 2Bop^ 
 
 That we had set some woods afire! 
 
 It's really true, and we 
 
 Were sure as we could be 
 
 That men were after Dop and Lest 
 And Jinks and Buster and the rest 
 
 And Don and Rob and me. 
 
 But later, in our rondevoo — 
 
 A very special secret one — 
 We talked about a deed or two 
 
 Of mischief we had lately done 
 And then and there we all agreed 
 
 We none of us were scared a bit! 
 We planned another direful deed, 
 
 W^e were so bold and desperit. 
 We named us the M.D. 
 And swore to secrecy; 
 
 The members we agreed upon 
 
 Was Al an' Dop an' Jinks an' Don 
 An' sev'ral more, an' me. 
 
 If you've no gang you call your own, 
 You're someone to be sorry for. 
 
 You can't do direful deeds alone, 
 And keep the oaths that you have 
 swore. 
 
 71 
 
iSl)pme^ of %xttlt 25opj0f 
 
 I know some secrets dark and dread 
 About us fellows, every one — 
 
 But I won't tell, alive or dead, 
 The awful deeds I know they done. 
 
 And though I get to be 
 
 A grown-up man, you'll see 
 I'll never tell on Dop or Al 
 Or Jinks or Don or Rob or Hal 
 
 Or all the rest, or me! 
 
 72 
 
i5()pme-5 of flittle 25opief 
 
 NURSES 
 
 There isn't anythin' that's worse 
 Than for a boy to have a nurse. 
 For even when she helps y' play, 
 She's alwuz gettin' in th' way; 
 There's so few things she under- 
 stands, 
 She's just a bother on your hands. 
 
 I learned this, cuz a boy I know 
 Has one that never lets him go. 
 First time we met, I thought that such 
 A feller wasn't good for much. 
 He licked me, though, an' sat on top 
 Until his nurse she made him stop. 
 
 And afterwards, why him an' me 
 We're jus' as friendly as can be, 
 An' I am sure that nurse-girl is 
 His parents' fault instead of his. 
 They ought to know she just 
 
 annoys, — 
 They're awful ignerunt of boys! 
 
 73 
 
ti'^^mt^ of Jtittle 25opief 
 
 BUILDIN' FIRES 
 
 To build a fire is better fun 
 Than almost anythin* I know. 
 
 There's certain ways it should be 
 done, 
 Or else it's likely not to go. 
 
 My father says that he admires 
 
 A boy that's good at buildin' fires. 
 
 An' in the diff'runt ones I've tried, 
 There's lots of little thin's I've 
 learnt, 
 Like lightin' from the windward side, 
 An' how to bank 'er when she's 
 burnt. 
 An' how to make the smudges thick, 
 An' when to poke 'er with a stick. 
 
 On Saturdays we love to go 
 
 And do like tramps or Indians do. 
 
 An' cook an ear of corn or so. 
 
 With frogs' legs, or some fishes too. 
 
 (The nicest food that's ever cooked 
 
 Is veg'tubles that you have hooked.) 
 
 74 
 
til^pmt$ of Jtittle 25op^ 
 
 A fire at home is not the same; 
 
 You have to get a chair an' sit 
 And watch a kind of gentle flame 
 
 With no excitement over it. 
 An' grown-up folks, instead of you, 
 Do all the pokin' there's to do. 
 
 75 
 
mtipmc^ of ftittle 25opj0? 
 
 WAS YOU EVER SPANKED? 
 
 Was you ever spanked? I ain't sorry 
 a bit 
 
 I scratched at my brother an' hol- 
 lered an' spit. 
 
 Then they pulled me away, an' I 
 kicked an' I yanked. 
 
 Was you ever spanked? 
 
 Was 3)oa ever spanked? The times 
 
 I've been good, 
 Why, nobody's cared, an' I ain't 
 
 understood. 
 If I die, they have only themselves 
 
 to be thanked ! 
 Was you ever spanked? 
 
 re 
 
M^^vnt^ of %ittit 250p^ 
 
 DRESSIN' UP 
 
 It's fun up in the attic, when mother 
 
 lets us 'splore 
 In all the trunks an' boxes there an' 
 
 litter up the floor — 
 She tells us we may try things on if 
 
 we won't get 'em tore. 
 
 An' sometimes we play grown-up 
 folks in big ol'fashioned clo'es; 
 
 Or sometimes dress up fancy ways 
 an' play we're givin' shows, 
 
 An' charge ten pins admission, an' 
 all the fam'ly goes. 
 
 But when we find oV things of mine 
 
 we rig 'em up on sis, 
 An' p'rade around, an' daddy says, 
 
 *' Whose little chap is this?" 
 An' mother says, **Dear little boy!" 
 
 an' asks her for a kiss. 
 
 But when me an' my sister put her 
 skirts an' stuff on me, 
 
 77 
 
!ltl)pme^ of Itxttle 25op^ 
 
 I notice no one seems to think 'at 
 
 it's a girl they see; 
 But the women say "My Gracious!*' 
 
 an' the men folks say * ' Oh Gee ! ' * 
 
 78 
 
I!ll)pmei0? of Stittle 25dp^ 
 
 A FABLE 
 
 Said a Little Boy to a Honey Bee, 
 **You*d not be happy if you was me! 
 'Cause / don't get enough time 
 
 to play — 
 I can't do half what I want, all 
 day. 
 You stay where it's sunny, all chock 
 full of honey — 
 It must be funny to live that way. 
 You have a /o^ better time than me!" 
 Said the Little Boy to the Honey 
 Bee. 
 
 Said the Honey Bee to the Little 
 
 Boy, 
 "Yes, life is jolly and full of joy ! 
 I hum and bumble and buzz away, 
 But it's mostly work and it's 
 seldom play, 
 And, rainy or sunny, I toiled for the 
 honey 
 Which you (how funny !) ate up 
 to-day. 
 
 79 
 
Kll^pme^ of %xttlt 25op^ 
 
 I don't know why, but I buzz with 
 
 joy!" 
 Said the Honey Bee to the Little 
 
 Boy. 
 
 80 
 
iSI)pme^ of Itittle 2Bop^ 
 
 A NEWSBOY'S PLAINT 
 
 Some fren's o' mine is tryin' hard 
 ter put me on de queer — 
 De doctor wat dey sent's a nervey 
 bloke; 
 Says 'e, " Yer need de country — I 
 ferbid yer stay in' 'ere ! *' 
 I tell yer straight, I thought it was 
 a joke. 
 Dere ain't no finer paper-route from 
 Bronx ter Chat' am Square — 
 'Tain't like I was a cully shinin' 
 shoes ! 
 Who's he wid his *forbiddin' ? Now 
 gwan an' quit yer kiddin' — 
 Aw, cheese it! 'Ere's a cove dat 
 
 wants de news ! 
 Pa— a— peh ! 
 
 Woir an' de Joinal! Times an' de 
 
 Sun! 
 Press or de Heral' ! Hi— Wich one? 
 Mo— o--nin' pa--a--peh! Loidy, *ere 
 
 y' uh, 
 A— a— 11 a- -bout de moider— buy a 
 
 papeh, Suh ? 
 
 81 
 
iil)pme0 of %ittit 25op^ 
 
 Dere*s trees an' grass a-growin' in 
 mos' all de city parks, 
 De same as in de country, so dey 
 say; 
 Y* hear about de crowin' of de 
 roosters an' de larks — 
 Fd jus' as live get woke some 
 udder way ! 
 Me fren' wot runs de book-store, he 
 lets me monkey round, 
 An' I see dem country t'ings in 
 picter-books — 
 An' I've frequent seen a chicken dat 
 de butcher-boy was pickin', 
 An' dere's often cows a-hangin* 
 up on hooks. 
 
 Pa--a--peh ! 
 Woir an' de Joinal ! Times an' de 
 
 Sun! 
 Press or de Heral' ! Hi — Wich one? 
 Mo--o--nin' pa--a--peh! Loidy, 'ere 
 
 y'uh, 
 A--a--ll a--bout de moider — Buy a 
 papeh, Suh ? 
 
 82 
 
i!tl)pme0 of aittle 25opi0f 
 
 I need de country air, *e says ? Aw 
 
 rats, dat ain't a mark 
 
 Ter wat I'd need up dere widout 
 
 de boys ! 
 
 Dey say dere ain't no 'lectric lights — 
 
 at night de place is dark — 
 
 'Dere ain't no cops — An' say! 
 
 Dere ain't no noise! 
 
 Says 'e, " I wouldn't give so much 
 
 fer wat yer life is wort'!'* 
 
 Fergit it! I ain't askin' 'im ter 
 
 give. 
 Who wants ter stay a-stewin' in a 
 
 place where nottin's doin'? — 
 I want ter do some livin' wile I 
 
 live. 
 
 Pa--a--peh ! 
 Woir an' de Joinal! Times an' de 
 
 Sun! 
 Press or de Heral' — Hi — Wich one? 
 Mo— o--nin' pa--a--peh! Loidy, 'ere 
 
 /uh, 
 A--a--ll a--bout de moider — Buy a 
 
 papeh, Suh ? 
 
 83 
 
Iftfjpme^ of %itt\t 2&opi0f 
 
 UNFULFILMENT 
 
 I see an upland pasture, clover- 
 blown, 
 Where grave-eyed cattle graze 
 the meadow-side; 
 And in the wavy blot of shade a 
 lonely tree has thrown, 
 A little boy lies dreaming, open- 
 eyed. 
 And something in the fair-gowned 
 buckwheat fields, 
 And in the hill lined out against 
 the sky. 
 And in the kindly spreading tree a 
 subtle bondage wields ; 
 I look — and lo ! the little boy is I. 
 
 Afar, blue peaks that one time edged 
 the world — 
 White clouds — a boyhood's realm 
 of Maybe-so ; 
 And from the deeps of memory a 
 tapestry's unfurled 
 Of small boy visions, woven 
 long ago. 
 
 84 
 
iSJjpme^ of Hittle 25op^ 
 
 And years and deeds went always 
 hand in hand 
 In those fair pictures. Yet to-day 
 there seems 
 A small voice crying sorrowf *ly from 
 sky and cloverland 
 That I am not the figure of the 
 dreams. 
 
 85 
 
Mi^^mt^ of %ittlt 25op^ 
 
 THEN AND NOW 
 
 I can remember, in the long ago, 
 How, when the evening shadows 
 
 slowly grew, 
 I nestled closely, as I loved to do. 
 And begged a story in the twilight 
 
 glow. 
 But when those mother accents, 
 sweet and low, 
 Began some bed-time tale all 
 
 strange and new, 
 I cried — Not that one ! Let me 
 listen to 
 The one you told last time — the one 
 I know. 
 
 Was I so different in the days of 
 yore? 
 Isit and dream anewthe joys of old. 
 Crying to Fate to send them back 
 once more, 
 Distrusting what the future may 
 unfold. 
 
 86 
 
Hf^pmc^ of %ittit ^op$ 
 
 Tho* sweet the hope be of what lies 
 before, 
 Sweet is the mem'ry of the tale 
 that's told! 
 
 87 
 
i5l)pmc^ of Itittle 25op^ 
 
 SANTA CLAUS 
 
 Jingle of bell and clattering hoof 
 
 And shouts borne down the blast, 
 And muffled sounds from the snowy 
 roof 
 While the winter wind sweeps 
 past; 
 And sleepy eyes grow big and round, 
 And breaths are hushed at each 
 mystic sound 
 While childish hearts beat fast. 
 
 The flick' ring flames, as they crack 
 and glow, 
 Peep up the chimney wide, 
 And whisper then to the ghostly row 
 
 Of stockings side by side. 
 The eight-day clock, where it stands 
 
 in state. 
 Holds fast its breath in the silent 
 wait 
 For the king of Christmas-tide. 
 
 The days slip by of those happy 
 times ; 
 
 88 
 
iSfipme^ of %ittlt 25op^ 
 
 The paths we trod of yore 
 To the fairyland of the nurse's 
 rhymes 
 Are barred by a closing door. 
 And we smile at the tales of a year 
 
 ago 
 As childhood's truths into fables 
 grow; 
 And lost is our goblin lore. 
 
 But yet to-day from the mantel-shelf 
 The stockings greet our eyes, 
 
 And our faith in the jolly Christmas 
 Elf 
 On firm foundation lies. 
 
 For we see in merry lurking there 
 
 A father's love or a mother's care 
 Hid under the quaint disguise. 
 
 80 
 
!!t!jpme^ of %ittlt 25op0 
 
 PLAYING IN THE LEAVES 
 
 Autumn leaves, Autumn leaves, 
 Garnered up in golden sheaves ! 
 Sun that tinted them like gems. 
 Frost that keenly nipped their stems, 
 W^ind that whirled them here and 
 
 there, 
 Weary folk that raked with care — 
 All were slaves to serve our pleasure; 
 
 What though Time was bent and 
 gray. 
 Yet we bade him add his treasure, 
 
 In the springtime of our play. 
 
 90 
 
l!t|)pme^ of %itth SBop^Bf 
 
 FIRST SWEETHEARTS 
 
 Tiny maids with sunlit hair ; 
 
 Sombre elves with eyes cast 
 down; 
 Princess dainty, debonnaire ; 
 
 Auburn tresses, gold, and brown. 
 Some were gay and some were 
 grave ; 
 
 Shyly swayed by blame or praise ; 
 Others ruled their willing slave 
 
 With their tiny tyrant ways. 
 Time has blent them all for me 
 In one golden memory. 
 
 91 
 
f!{)pnic^' of Hittle 2Bop^ 
 
 HER VALENTINES 
 
 Little maid of former days, 
 
 I can see Love's postman bring 
 Youthful plaints in ancient phrase, 
 
 In my mind's fond picturing. 
 Tinsel cupids aiming darts ; 
 
 Passioned poems half concealed ; 
 W^hat meant scores of paper hearts 
 
 When thine own was unrevealed ? 
 Did some half-dreamt dream of thine 
 Whisper this year's valentine? 
 
 92 
 
Ml^prnc^ of %ittlt 25op^ 
 
 BABY JOHN 
 
 The lazy sun is yawning, as it hides 
 behind the town, 
 For the Sleepy-Time is at hand; 
 And cosy beds are calling, as the sun 
 goes creeping down, 
 To each little boy in the land. 
 The organ-man is drowsy as he 
 wanders down the street ; 
 The leaves are asleep on the tree ; 
 And the horses and the wagons and 
 the little dogs you meet 
 Are as sleepy as they can be. 
 
 Your bed is calling to you, little John^ 
 
 Baby John I 
 There's a sleepy chair beside it to hang 
 
 your clothes upon. 
 And I hear the cool sheets saying, '' What 
 
 means this long delaying ? 
 It is time you stopped your playing. 
 
 Baby John r' 
 
 93 
 
iH^pme^ of %itt\t 25op^ 
 
 The chairs are all so tired that to 
 use them is a sin, 
 While the floor is asleep, no doubt, 
 And the carpets are the bedclothes 
 that snugly tuck it in — 
 You'll wake it if you run about ! 
 I heard the cuckoo calling from the 
 big clock in the hall — 
 " Hurry up, little John ! " it said ; 
 And the little clock is ticking, half 
 asleep against the wall, 
 *^Go to bed! Go to bed! Go to bed!'* 
 
 Yoar bed is calling to you, little John, 
 
 Baby John! 
 There's a crinkley 'white pillow to rest 
 
 your head upon* 
 And the little dreams come creeping, I 
 
 can see them slyly peeping 
 To see if you are sleeping. Baby John* 
 
 94 
 
tiW^t^ «5f ^^^^^"^^ 25op^ 
 
 BABY'S EYES 
 Wise is the baby with eyes of brown, 
 
 Clenching each little hand ; 
 Wrinkling its forehead into a frown, 
 
 Trying to understand. 
 Sweetest and wisest in all the town,— 
 Thoughtful baby with eyes of brown. 
 
 Mischievous baby with eyes of blue, 
 
 Laughing at other folk ; 
 Planning and plotting the whole day 
 through 
 
 Some little baby joke. 
 Laughing and happy and clever, 
 
 too, — 
 Mischievous baby with eyes of blue. 
 
 Calm is the baby with eyes of gray, 
 Sweet little stay-at-home. 
 
 Near to the mother in work and play, 
 Never will care to roam. 
 
 More of a comfort from day to day,— 
 
 Calm little baby with eyes of gray. 
 
 95 
 
iUtjpmc^ of %mlt 25op^ 
 
 Wilful the baby with eyes of black, 
 
 Ruling us more and more. 
 Sunbeams follow the storm-cloud's 
 track 
 Brighter than those before. 
 Heart is fonder when smiles come 
 
 back, — 
 Wilful baby with eyes of black. 
 
 Q6 
 
mi^pmc^ of %ittlt 250p^ 
 
 A LULLABY 
 
 Lie still, my little one, shadows are 
 falling, 
 Closing thy wide-open, wondering 
 eyes; 
 Hark how the voices of dreamland 
 are calling 
 Sweet to my little one here where 
 she lies. 
 
 Hushaby, baby mine, shadows grow 
 deep; 
 
 Shut those blue eyes of thine, lie still 
 and sleep. 
 
 Naught is affrighting thee, dreams 
 are inviting thee. 
 
 Mother is near to thee — sleep, dar- 
 ling, sleep. 
 
 What dost thou see in thy faraway 
 gazing ? 
 What dost thou say in that cooing 
 of thine ? 
 
 97 
 
ti^l^mtfi of %tttlt 25op^ 
 
 In thy strange tongue is it wisdom 
 amazing, 
 Wise little visitor, baby of mine ? 
 
 Raindrops are pattering, lull thee to 
 
 rest; 
 Birds are all scattering each to its 
 
 nest. 
 
 Darkness enfolding thee, mother is 
 holding thee. 
 
 Angels are guarding thee — rest, dar- 
 ling, rest. 
 
 • ••••• 
 
 Drowsy, my little one ? Twilight is 
 darkening, 
 Birds are all twittering sweetly 
 good night; 
 Whisper thy dreams to me, mother 
 is hearkening. 
 Listening over thee, clasping thee 
 tight. 
 
 Lullaby, little one, sweet be thy 
 sleep ; 
 
 98 
 
^i^pmt$ of %itt\t 23opi^ 
 
 Hushaby, pretty one, slumbering 
 deep. 
 
 Darkness may cover thee, angels 
 watch over thee, 
 
 Mother is near to thee — sleep, dar- 
 ling, sleep. 
 
 LOfc. 
 
 99 
 
illj)pme^ of %ittlt 2&ov^ 
 
 IN MEMORIAM 
 
 (FRANK R. STOCKTON) 
 
 No story tonight, Dearheart, 
 Though the evening lamps are here, 
 
 Though the sun is gone 
 
 And the shades are drawn 
 And bed-time hour is near. 
 
 No story tonight, Dearheart, 
 And bravely dry your tears; 
 
 What steals the joy 
 
 From a little boy 
 
 Brings sorrow to older years. 
 
 No story tonight, Dearheart, 
 And the old Bee-Man of Orn, 
 
 And the Queens and Kings 
 
 And the magic things 
 
 You love, will help you mourn. 
 
 No story tonight, Dearheart, 
 Nor chide the voice that fails, 
 
 For Death has willed 
 
 That the heart be stilled 
 
 That wrought those well-loved 
 tales. 
 
 100 
 
Mf^pmt$ of %ittlt 25op^ 
 
 And while we mourn, Dearheart, 
 
 It may be that he sees 
 Wee cherubim 
 All greeting him 
 
 And flocking round his knees. 
 
 101 
 
iSfipme^ of little 25op^ 
 
 SLEEPYKINS 
 
 Dearie, all your busy day 
 Has belonged to work and play, 
 Things to do and things to see, 
 Now the hours belong to me ! 
 Day is done, and rest begins. 
 Are you comfy, Sleepykins? 
 
 Tell me all you've been about 
 
 As you hurried in and out. 
 
 Or let silence, whispering. 
 
 Tell the one important thing. 
 
 Say your prayers and 'fess your sins, 
 
 Cuddle closer, Sleepykins. 
 
 While I pray that no alarms 
 Follow you within my arms. 
 Smiles may dance or tears may fall. 
 Only let me share them all. 
 (That sweet place beneath your chin's 
 Meant for kisses, Sleepykins !) 
 
 Sleepy, Sweetheart? Leave your 
 
 cares, 
 Leave the Daytime's dull affairs. 
 
 102 
 
iSJjpme^ of %ittlt 25op^ 
 
 Let the love-light swiftly chase 
 Tiny wrinkles from your face, — 
 Cobwebs such as worry spins — 
 Come ! my Sweetheart, Sleepykins. 
 
 103 
 
SEP 28 1908 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 015 938 640 5 ' 
 
 
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