The Posy Ring Part 35

_Romance_

I saw a ship a-sailing, A-sailing on the sea; Her masts were of the shining gold, Her deck of ivory; And sails of silk, as soft as milk, And silvern shrouds had she.

And round about her sailing, The sea was sparkling white, The waves all clapped their hands and sang To see so fair a sight.

They kissed her twice, they kissed her thrice, And murmured with delight.

Then came the gallant captain, And stood upon the deck; In velvet coat, and ruffles white, Without a spot or speck; And diamond rings, and triple strings Of pearls around his neck.

And four-and-twenty sailors Were round him bowing low; On every jacket three times three Gold b.u.t.tons in a row; And cutla.s.ses down to their knees; They made a goodly show.

And then the ship went sailing, A-sailing o'er the sea; She dived beyond the setting sun, But never back came she, For she found the lands of the golden sands, Where the pearls and diamonds be.

Gabriel Setoun.

_The Cow-Boy's Song_

"Mooly cow, mooly cow, home from the wood They sent me to fetch you as fast as I could.

The sun has gone down: it is time to go home.

Mooly cow, mooly cow, why don't you come?

Your udders are full, and the milkmaid is there, And the children are waiting their supper to share.

I have let the long bars down,--why don't you pa.s.s through?"

The mooly cow only said, "Moo-o-o!"

"Mooly cow, mooly cow, have you not been Regaling all day where the pastures are green?

No doubt it was pleasant, dear mooly, to see The clear running brook and the wide-spreading tree, The clover to crop and the streamlet to wade, To drink the cool water and lie in the shade; But now it is night: they are waiting for you."

The mooly cow only said, "Moo-o-o!"

"Mooly cow, mooly cow, where do you go, When all the green pastures are covered with snow?

You go to the barn and we feed you with hay, And the maid goes to milk you there, every day; She speaks to you kindly and sits by your side, She pats you, she loves you, she strokes your sleek hide: Then come along home, pretty mooly cow, do."

But the mooly cow only said, "Moo-o-o!"

"Mooly cow, mooly cow, whisking your tail, The milkmaid is waiting, I say, with her pail; She tucks up her petticoats, tidy and neat, And places the three-legged stool for her seat:-- What can you be staring at, mooly? You know That we ought to have gone home an hour ago.

How dark it is growing! O, what shall I do?"

The mooly cow only said, "Moo-o-o!"

Anna M. Wells.

IX

BED TIME[A]

_When the golden day is done, Through the closing portal, Child and garden, flower and sun, Vanish all things mortal._

_Robert Louis Stevenson._

FOOTNOTE:

[A] _From "A Child's Garden of Verses," by Robert Louis Stevenson. By permission of Charles Scribner's Sons._

BED-TIME

_Auld Daddy Darkness_

Auld Daddy Darkness creeps frae his hole, Black as a blackamoor, blin' as a mole: Stir the fire till it lowes, let the bairnie sit, Auld Daddy Darkness is no want.i.t yet.

See him in the corners hidin' frae the licht, See him at the window gloomin' at the nicht; Turn up the gas licht, close the shutters a', An' Auld Daddy Darkness will flee far awa'.

Awa' to hide the birdie within its cosy nest, Awa' to lap the wee flooers on their mither's breast, Awa' to loosen Gaffer Toil frae his daily ca', For Auld Daddy Darkness is kindly to a'.

He comes when we're weary to wean's frae oor waes, He comes when the bairnies are getting aff their claes; To cover them sae cosy, an' bring bonnie dreams, So Auld Daddy Darkness is better than he seems.

Steek yer een, my wee tot, ye'll see Daddy then; He's in below the bed claes, to cuddle ye he's fain; Noo nestle in his bosie, sleep and dream yer fill, Till Wee Davie Daylicht comes keekin' owre the hill.

James Ferguson.

_Wynken, Blynken, and Nod_[A]

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night Sailed off in a wooden shoe-- Sailed on a river of crystal light, Into a sea of dew.

"Where are you going, and what do you wish?"

The old moon asked the three.

"We have come to fish for the herring fish That live in this beautiful sea; Nets of silver and gold have we!"

Said Wynken, Blynken, And Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song, As they rocked in the wooden shoe, And the wind that sped them all night long Ruffled the waves of dew.

The little stars were the herring fish That lived in that beautiful sea-- "Now cast your nets wherever you wish-- Never afeard are we"; So cried the stars to the fishermen three: Wynken, Blynken, And Nod.