Literature for Children Part 4

And sometimes sent my ships in fleets All up and down among the sheets;

Or brought my trees and houses out, And planted cities all about.

I was the giant great and still That sits upon the pillow-hill,

And sees before him, dale and plain, The pleasant land of counterpane.

--ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

MY SHADOW

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.

He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head; And I see him jump before me when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow-- Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow; For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball, And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.

He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play, And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.

He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see; I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me.

One morning, very early, before the sun was up, I rose and found the shining dew on every b.u.t.tercup; But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head, Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

--ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

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.

LULLABY FOR t.i.tANIA

_First Fairy_

You spotted snakes with double tongue, Th.o.r.n.y hedgehogs, be not seen; Newts and blind-worms, do no wrong; Come not near our fairy queen.

_Chorus_

Philomel, with melody Sing in our sweet lullaby; Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby: Never harm, Nor spell, nor charm, Come our lovely lady nigh; So, good night, with lullaby.

_Second Fairy_

Weaving spiders, come not here; Hence, you long-legg'd spinners, hence; Beetles black, approach not near; Worm nor snail, do no offence.

_Chorus_

Philomel, with melody Sing in our sweet lullaby; Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby: Never harm, Nor spell, nor charm, Come our lovely lady nigh; So, good night, with lullaby.

--WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

AN OLD GAELIC CRADLE SONG

Hush! the waves are rolling in, White with foam, white with foam!

Father toils amid the din; But baby sleeps at home.

Hush! the winds roar hoa.r.s.e and deep.

On they come, on they come!

Brother seeks the lazy sheep; But baby sleeps at home.

Hush! the rain sweeps o'er the knowes, Where they roam, where they roam; Sister goes to seek the cows; But baby sleeps at home.

--UNKNOWN.

CHILD-SONGS

I

THE CITY CHILD

Dainty little maiden, whither would you wander?

Whither from this pretty home, the home where mother dwells?

"Far, and far away," said the dainty little maiden, "All among the gardens, auriculas, anemones, Roses and lilies and Canterbury-bells."

Dainty little maiden, whither would you wander?

Whither from this pretty house, this city-house of ours?

"Far and far away," said the dainty little maiden, "All among the meadows, the clover and the clematis, Daisies and kingcups, and honeysuckle-flowers."

II

MINNIE AND WINNIE

Minnie and Winnie Slept in a sh.e.l.l.

Sleep, little ladies!

And they slept well.

Pink was the sh.e.l.l within, Silver without; Sounds of the great sea Wander'd about.

Sleep, little ladies!

Wake not soon!

Echo on echo Dies to the moon.

Two bright stars Peep'd into the sh.e.l.l.

"What are they dreaming of?