Literature for Children Part 3

And blown by all the winds that pa.s.s, And wet with all the showers, She walks among the meadow gra.s.s And eats the meadow flowers.

--ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

WINDY NIGHTS

Whenever the moon and stars are set, Whenever the wind is high, All night long in the dark and wet, A man goes riding by.

Late in the night when the fires are out, Why does he gallop and gallop about?

Whenever the trees are crying aloud, And ships are tossed at sea, By, on the highway, low and loud, By at the gallop goes he.

By at the gallop he goes, and then By he comes back at the gallop again.

--ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

BED IN SUMMER

In winter I get up at night And dress by yellow candle light; In summer, quite the other way, I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and see The birds still hopping on the tree; Or hear the grown-up people's feet Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you, When all the sky is clear and blue, And I should like so much to play, To have to go to bed by day?

--ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

WHAT DOES LITTLE BIRDIE SAY?

What does little birdie say, In her nest at peep of day?

Let me fly, says little birdie, Mother, let me fly away.

Birdie, rest a little longer, Till the little wings are stronger.

So she rests a little longer, Then she flies away.

What does little baby say, In her bed at peep of day?

Baby says, like little birdie, Let me rise and fly away.

Baby, sleep a little longer, Till the little limbs are stronger.

If she sleeps a little longer, Baby too shall fly away.

--ALFRED LORD TENNYSON.

A SLUMBER SONG

Sleep, baby, sleep.

Thy father is tending the sheep: Thy mother is shaking the dreamland tree, And down comes a little dream on thee.

Sleep, baby, sleep.

Sleep, baby, sleep.

The large stars are the sheep: The little stars are the lambs, I guess, And the bright moon is the shepherdess.

Sleep, baby, sleep.

Sleep, baby, sleep.

Our Saviour loves His sheep: He is the Lamb of G.o.d on high, Who for our sakes came down to die.

Sleep, baby, sleep.

--_From the German by_ CAROLINE SOUTHEY.

PSALM XXIII

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: For thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me In the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

--KING DAVID.

SECOND YEAR

THE LIGHT-HEARTED FAIRY

Oh, who is so merry, so merry, heigh ho!

As the light-hearted fairy? heigh ho, Heigh ho!

He dances and sings To the sound of his wings With a hey and a heigh and a ho.

Oh, who is so merry, so airy, heigh ho!

As the light-headed fairy? heigh ho, Heigh ho!

His nectar he sips From the primroses' lips With a hey and a heigh and a ho.

Oh, who is so merry, so merry, heigh ho!

As the light-footed fairy? heigh ho, Heigh ho!

The night is his noon And his sun is the moon, With a hey and a heigh and a ho.

--UNKNOWN.

THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE

When I was sick and lay a-bed, I had two pillows for my head,

And all my toys beside me lay To keep me happy all the day.

And sometimes for an hour or so I watched my leaden soldiers go,

With different uniforms and drills, Among the bed-clothes through the hills;