Literature for Children Part 6

The watch-dogs bark: Bow-wow.

Hark, hark! I hear The strain of strutting chanticleer Cry, c.o.c.k-a-diddle-dow!

--WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

SONGS OF GOOD CHEER

I

When daffodils begin to peer, With heigh the doxy over the dale, Why then comes in the sweet o' the year: For the red blood reigns in the winter's pale.

II

Jog on, jog on, the foot-path way, And merrily hent the stile-a: A merry heart goes all the day, Your sad tires in a mile-a.

III

A great while ago the world began, With heigh-ho the wind and the rain: But that's all one, our play is done, And we'll strive to please you every day.

--WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

THE OWL

When cats run home and light is come, And dew is cold upon the ground, And the far-off stream is dumb, And the whirring sail goes round, And the whirring sail goes round; Alone and warming his five wits, The white owl in the belfry sits.

When merry milkmaids click the latch, And rarely smells the new-mown hay, And the c.o.c.k hath sung beneath the thatch Twice or thrice his roundelay, Twice or thrice his roundelay; Alone and warming his five wits, The white owl in the belfry sits.

--ALFRED LORD TENNYSON.

ANSWER TO A CHILD'S QUESTION

Do you ask what the birds say? The sparrow, the dove, The linnet, and thrush, say, "I love and I love!"

In the winter they're silent--the wind is so strong.

What it says I don't know, but it sings a loud song.

But green leaves, and blossoms, and sunny warm weather, And singing, and loving,--all come back together.

But the lark is so brimful of gladness and love, The green fields below him, the blue sky above, That he sings, and he sings; and forever sings he-- "I love my Love, and my Love loves me!"

--SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE.

ROBIN REDBREAST

Good-bye, good-bye to Summer!

For Summer's nearly done; The garden smiling faintly, Cool breezes in the sun; Our thrushes now are silent, Our swallows flown away,-- But Robin's here with coat of brown, And ruddy breast-knot gay.

Robin, Robin Redbreast, O Robin dear!

Robin sings so sweetly In the falling of the year.

Bright yellow, red, and orange, The leaves come down in hosts; The trees are Indian princes, But soon they'll turn to ghosts; The scanty pears and apples Hang russet on the bough; It's Autumn, Autumn, Autumn late, 'Twill soon be Winter now.

Robin, Robin Redbreast, O Robin dear!

And what will this poor Robin do?

For pinching days are near.

The fire-side for the cricket, The wheat-stack for the mouse, When trembling night-winds whistle And moan all round the house.

The frosty ways like iron, The branches plumed with snow,-- Alas! in winter dead and dark, Where can poor Robin go?

Robin, Robin Redbreast, O Robin dear!

And a crumb of bread for Robin, His little heart to cheer!

--WILLIAM ALLINGHAM.

THE UNSEEN PLAYMATE

When children are playing alone on the green, In comes the playmate that never was seen.

When children are happy and lonely and good, The Friend of the Children comes out of the wood.

n.o.body heard him and n.o.body saw, His is a picture you never could draw, But he's sure to be present, abroad or at home, When children are happy and playing alone.

He lies in the laurel, he runs on the gra.s.s, He sings when you tinkle the musical gla.s.s; Whene'er you are happy and cannot tell why, The Friend of the Children is sure to be by!

He loves to be little, he hates to be big, 'Tis he that inhabits the caves that you dig; 'Tis he when you play with your soldiers of tin That sides with the Frenchmen and never can win.

'Tis he, when at night you go off to your bed, Bids you go to your sleep and not trouble your head; For wherever they're lying, in cupboard or shelf, 'Tis he will take care of your playthings himself!

--ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

A LAUGHING SONG

When the green woods laugh with the voice of joy, And the dimpling stream runs laughing by; When the air does laugh with our merry wit, And the green hill laughs with the noise of it;

When the meadows laugh with lively green, And the gra.s.shopper laughs in the merry scene; When Mary, and Susan, and Emily, With their sweet round mouths sing, "Ha, ha, he!"

When the painted birds laugh in the shade, Where our table with cherries and nuts is spread: Come live, and be merry, and join with me To sing the sweet chorus of "Ha, ha, he!"

--WILLIAM BLAKE.

LULLABY OF AN INFANT CHIEF

Oh, hush thee, my babie! thy sire was a knight, Thy mother a lady, both lovely and bright; The woods and the glens, from the towers which we see, They all are belonging, dear babie, to thee.

Oh, fear not the bugle, though loudly it blows, It calls but the warders that guard thy repose; Their bows would be bended, their blades would be red, Ere the step of a foeman draw near to thy bed.

Oh, hush thee, my babie! the time soon will come, When thy sleep shall be broken by trumpet and drum; Then hush thee, my darling! take rest while you may; For strife comes with manhood, and waking with day.

--SIR WALTER SCOTT.

THE FAIRY QUEEN

(An Old Song)

Come follow, follow me, You fairy elves that be, Which circle on the green; Come, follow Mab your queen.

Hand in hand let's dance around, For this place is fairy ground.