Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories Part 5

GOOD NIGHT

Little baby, lay your head On your pretty cradle-bed; Shut your eye-peeps, now the day And the light are gone away; All the clothes are tucked in tight; Little baby dear, good night.

Yes, my darling, well I know How the bitter wind doth blow; And the winter's snow and rain Patter on the window-pane: But they cannot come in here, To my little baby dear;

For the window shutteth fast, Till the stormy night is past; And the curtains warm are spread Round about her cradle-bed: So till morning s.h.i.+neth bright, Little baby dear, good night.

JANE TAYLOR

SWEET AND LOW

Sweet and low, sweet and low, Wind of the western sea, Low, low, breathe and blow, Wind of the western sea!

Over the rolling waters go, Come from the dying moon, and blow, Blow him again to me: While my little one, while my pretty one, sleeps.

Sleep and rest, sleep and rest, Father will come to thee soon; Rest, rest, on mother's breast, Father will come to thee soon; Father will come to his babe in the nest, Silver sails all out of the west Under the silver moon: Sleep, my little one, sleep, my pretty one, sleep.

ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON

BABY-LAND

Which is the way to Baby-Land?

Any one can tell; Up one flight, To your right; Please to ring the bell.

What can you see in Baby-Land?

Little folks in white, Downy heads, Cradle-beds, Faces pure and bright.

What do they do in Baby-Land?

Dream and wake and play, Laugh and crow, Shout and grow, Jolly times have they.

What do they say in Baby-Land?

Why, the oddest things; Might as well Try to tell What a birdie sings.

Who is the Queen of Baby-Land?

Mother kind and sweet; And her love, Born above, Guides the little feet.

GEORGE COOPER

Old Mother Hubbard, she went to the cupboard, To get her poor dog a bone.

When she got there, the cupboard was bare, And so the poor dog had none.

She went to the baker's to buy him some bread, But when she came back the poor dog was dead.

She went to the undertaker's to buy him a coffin, And when she came back the dog was laughing.

She went to the draper's to buy him some linen, And when she came back the good dog was spinning.

She went to the hosier's to buy him some hose, And when she came back he was dressed in his clothes.

The dame made a curtsy, the dog made a bow, The dame said "your servant," the dog said "Bow-wow."

She went to the hatter's to buy him a hat, And when she came back he was feeding the cat.

She went to the tailor's to buy him a coat, And when she came back he was riding the goat.

She went to the barber's to buy him a wig, And when she came back he was dancing a jig.

She went to the butcher's to get him some tripe, And when she came back he was smoking a pipe.

She went to the fish-shop to buy him some fish, And when she came back he was was.h.i.+ng the dish.

She went to the tavern for white wine and red, And when she came back the dog stood on his head.

As I was going to St. Ives I met a man with seven wives; Every wife had seven sacks, Every sack had seven cats, Every cat had seven kits.

Kits, cats, sacks, and wives, How many were going to St. Ives?

POLLY

Brown eyes, straight nose; Dirt pies, rumpled clothes.

Torn books, spoilt toys: Arch looks, unlike a boy's;

Little rages, obvious arts; (Three her age is), cakes, tarts;

Falling down off chairs; Breaking crown down stairs;

Catching flies on the pane; Deep sighs--cause not plain;

Bribing you with kisses For a few farthing blisses.

Wide-a-wake; as you hear, "Mercy's sake, quiet, dear!"

New shoes, new frock; Vague views of what's o'clock

When it's time to go to bed, And scorn sublime for what is said

Folded hands, saying prayers, Understands not nor cares--