The Home Book of Verse Volume I Part 40

THE BUILDING OF THE NEST

They'll come again to the apple tree-- Robin and all the rest-- When the orchard branches are fair to see, In the snow of the blossoms dressed; And the prettiest thing in the world will be The building of the nest.

Weaving it well, so round and trim, Hollowing it with care,-- Nothing too far away for him, Nothing for her too fair,-- Hanging it safe on the topmost limb, Their castle in the air.

Ah! mother bird, you'll have weary days When the eggs are under your breast, And shadow may darken the dancing rays When the wee ones leave the nest; But they'll find their wings in a glad amaze.

And G.o.d will see to the rest.

So come to the trees with all your train When the apple blossoms blow; Through the April s.h.i.+mmer of sun and rain, Go flying to and fro; And sing to our hearts as we watch again Your fairy building grow.

Margaret Sangster [1838-1912]

"THERE WAS A JOLLY MILLER"

From "Love in a Village"

There was a jolly miller once lived on the river Dee; He danced and sang from morn till night, no lark so blithe as he; And this the burden of his song forever used to be:-- "I care for n.o.body, no not I, if n.o.body cares for me.

"I live by my mill, G.o.d bless her! she's kindred, child, and wife; I would not change my station for any other in life; No lawyer, surgeon, or doctor e'er had a groat from me; I care for n.o.body, no not I if n.o.body cares for me."

When spring begins his merry career, oh, how his heart grows gay; No summer's drought alarms his fear, nor winter's cold decay; No foresight mars the miller's joy, who's wont to sing and say, "Let others toil from year to year, I live from day to day."

Thus, like the miller, bold and free, let us rejoice and sing; The days of youth are made for glee, and time is on the wing; This song shall pa.s.s from me to thee, along the jovial ring; Let heart and voice and all agree to say, "Long live the king."

Isaac Bickerstaff [?--1812?]

ONE AND ONE

Two little girls are better than one, Two little boys can double the fun, Two little birds can build a fine nest, Two little arms can love mother best.

Two little ponies must go to a span; Two little pockets has my little man; Two little eyes to open and close, Two little ears and one little nose, Two little elbows, dimpled and sweet, Two little shoes on two little feet, Two little lips and one little chin, Two little cheeks with a rose shut in; Two little shoulders, chubby and strong, Two little legs running all day long.

Two little prayers does my darling say, Twice does he kneel by my side each day, Two little folded hands, soft and brown, Two little eyelids cast meekly down, And two little angels guard him in bed, "One at the foot, and one at the head."

Mary Mapes Dodge [1831-1905]

A NURSERY SONG

Oh, Peterkin Pout and Gregory Grout Are two little goblins black.

Full oft from my house I've driven them out, But somehow they still come back.

They clamber up to the baby's mouth, And pull the corners down; They perch aloft on the baby's brow, And twist it into a frown.

Chorus: And one says "Must!" and t'other says "Can't!"

And one says "Shall!" and t'other says "Shan't!"

Oh, Peterkin Pout and Gregory Grout, I pray you now from my house keep out!

But Samuel Smile and Lemuel Laugh Are two little fairies bright; They're always ready for fun and chaff, And suns.h.i.+ne is their delight.

And when they creep into Baby's eyes, Why, there the sunbeams are; And when they peep through her rosy lips, Her laughter rings near and far.

Chorus: And one says "Please!" and t'other says "Do!"

And both together say "I love you!"

So, Lemuel Laugh and Samuel Smile, Come in, my dears, and tarry awhile!

Laura E. Richards [1850-

A MORTIFYING MISTAKE

I studied my tables over and over, and backward and forward, too; But I couldn't remember six times nine, and I didn't know what to do, Till sister told me to play with my doll, and not to bother my head.

"If you call her 'Fifty-four' for a while, you'll learn it by heart,"

she said.

So I took my favorite, Mary Ann (though I thought 'twas a dreadful shame To give such a perfectly lovely child such a perfectly horrid name), And I called her my dear little "Fifty-four" a hundred times, till I knew The answer of six times nine as well as the answer of two times two.

Next day Elizabeth Wigglesworth, who always acts so proud, Said, "Six times nine is fifty-two," and I nearly laughed aloud!

But I wished I hadn't when teacher said, "Now, Dorothy, tell if you can."

For I thought of my doll and--sakes alive!--I answered, "Mary Ann!"

Anna Maria Pratt [18---

THE RAGGEDY MAN

O the Raggedy Man! He works fer Pa; An' he's the goodest man ever you saw!

He comes to our house every day, An' waters the horses, an' feeds 'em hay; An' he opens the shed--an' we all ist laugh When he drives out our little old wobble-ly calf; An' nen--ef our hired girl says he can-- He milks the cow fer 'Lizabuth Ann.-- Ain't he a' awful good Raggedy Man?

Raggedy! Raggedy! Raggedy Man!

W'y, the Raggedy Man--he's ist so good He splits the kindlin' an' chops the wood; An' nen he spades in our garden, too, An' does most things 'at boys can't do.-- He clumbed clean up in our big tree An' shooked a' apple down fer me-- An' nother'n', too, fer 'Lizabuth Ann-- An' nother'n', too, fer the Raggedy Man.-- Ain't he a' awful kind Raggedy Man?

Raggedy! Raggedy! Raggedy Man!

An' the Raggedy Man, he knows most rhymes An' tells 'em, ef I be good, sometimes: Knows 'bout Giunts, an' Griffuns, an' Elves, An' the Squidgic.u.m-Squees 'at swallers therselves!

An', wite by the pump in our pasture-lot, He showed me the hole 'at the Wunks is got, 'At lives 'way deep in the ground, an' can Turn into me, er 'Lizabuth Ann!

Er Ma, er Pa, er the Raggedy Man!

Ain't he a funny old Raggedy Man?

Raggedy! Raggedy! Raggedy Man!