Child Songs of Cheer Part 6

LOST!

"Peep! Peep! Peep!" Poor little chick!

Little cry so weak and small, Meadow gra.s.s so tall and thick, And the clover tufts so tall!

Little heart in sore distress, Longing for the mother wing; Through the weedy wilderness Searching for its sheltering!

THE QUEEN'S PAGE

Once I was a little page To a May-day queen, And I wore a little coat Made of Lincoln green.

Oh, the queen was beautiful!

And she had a bright Crown of golden cuckoo-buds And violets blue and white.

On the step beside her throne I sat very still, Ready, as a page should be, To obey her will.

And before us little girls, Each with garlands gay, Round a May-pole danced and sang Almost all the day.

OUR TREE-TOAD

Grandfather says the tree-toad, That to our yard has come, Is just a little wee toad No bigger than his thumb!

And that his coat's so queer it Can turn from green to blue!

Whatever color's near it, Why, that's its color, too!

And then Grandfather snickers And says, "Would you suppose He climbs with little stickers On all his little toes?

"And don't you wish your toes now Were fixed like his? For, see, Right up the elm he goes now And sticks tight to the tree!"

"But then," he says, "O dear me!

If all the little boys Could _screech_ as loud, I fear me There'd be a dreadful noise!"

IN THE WATER-WORLD

Down among the water-weeds, Darting through the gra.s.s, Round about the ta.s.seled reeds, See the minnows pa.s.s!

See the little turtles there, Hiding, half asleep, Tucked in tangled mosses where Tiny crayfish creep!

Watch the trailing gra.s.ses string Strands of purple sh.e.l.ls That the lazy ripples ring, Sweet as silver bells; Watch the suns.h.i.+ne sift and drift Down the eddy whirls, Whence the laden whiteweeds lift Loads of blossom pearls;

While the limpid shadows slip Softly in between, And the p.u.s.s.y-willows dip Lightly in the green Of the mocking trees that grow Down the water-sky, Flecked with fleecy clouds that blow Where the reed-birds fly.

Oh, such marvels manifold Fill the summer stream, Such enticing things untold Through the ripples gleam, If you could a moment turn Into what you wish, Would it not be fun to be Yonder little fish?

WHO WAS IT?

Of course I've heard the moon's green cheese, But will somebody tell me, please, Who was it took so big a bite There's scarcely any left to-night?

VISITING DAY

I'll wear the striped skirt that trails, And you the flowered one, And we will take our parasols And walk out in the sun.

We'll leave our dolly-carts at home, For ladies, when they call, Must not have children with them, no, That would not do at all.

And I'll be "Mrs. Wilkinson,"

And you'll be "Mrs. Brown,"

And we will call and call and call On every one in town!

A VALENTINE TO CATHERINE

If you will be my True-Love, I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll ask a little bluebird To sing a song to you.

When first you see a violet And softly p.r.i.c.king through The garden-bed come crocuses And golden tulips, too,

Then watch! for he'll be coming, The little bird of blue; He'll sing, "I love you, Sweetheart, It's true, true, true!"

FIREFLIES

Look! Look down in the garden how The firefly lights are flitting now!

A million tiny sparks I know Flash through the pinks and golden-glow, And I am very sure that all Have come to light a fairy ball, And if I could stay up I'd see How gay the fairy folks can be!