Turn, turn, when pelting rain
Rushes down the window-pane;
Turn, turn, and turn again
When the sun shines, weather-vane!
Rushes down the window-pane;
Turn, turn, and turn again
When the sun shines, weather-vane!
Fie! Fie! to always be
Emblem of uncertainty!
Followed by the restless sea,
Changeful moons may wax and wane,
Yet the moons and sea-tides, too,
Constant are compared to you!
Fickle still you must remain
Long as winds blow, weather-vane!
Emblem of uncertainty!
Followed by the restless sea,
Changeful moons may wax and wane,
Yet the moons and sea-tides, too,
Constant are compared to you!
Fickle still you must remain
Long as winds blow, weather-vane!
THE SWAN
Stately swan, so proud and white
Glistening in the morning light,
Come and tell me is it true
That a snow-white swan like you,
Guided by bright golden chains
In his beak for bridle reins,
Once upon a time from far
Fabled lands where fairies are
Brought a magic boat wherein
Rode the brave knight Lohengrin?
Glistening in the morning light,
Come and tell me is it true
That a snow-white swan like you,
Guided by bright golden chains
In his beak for bridle reins,
Once upon a time from far
Fabled lands where fairies are
Brought a magic boat wherein
Rode the brave knight Lohengrin?
BABY'S BAKING
So, so, spade and hoe,
Little pile of sand;
See it turning into dough
In the baby's hand!
Little pile of sand;
See it turning into dough
In the baby's hand!
Little pie with crimpy crust,
Set it in the sun;
Sugar it with powdered dust,
And bake it till it's done.
Set it in the sun;
Sugar it with powdered dust,
And bake it till it's done.
A SURE SIGN
When you see upon the walk
Circles newly made of chalk,
And around them all the day
Little boys in eager play
Rolling marbles, agates fine,
Banded, polished, red as wine,
Marbles crystal as the dew,
Each with rainbows twisted through,
Marbles gay in painted clay,
Flashing, twinkling in your way,
When the walk has blossomed so,
Surely every one must know
None need wonder who has heard
Robin, wren, or Peter-bird;
Sure the sign as song or wing,
It is spring!
Circles newly made of chalk,
And around them all the day
Little boys in eager play
Rolling marbles, agates fine,
Banded, polished, red as wine,
Marbles crystal as the dew,
Each with rainbows twisted through,
Marbles gay in painted clay,
Flashing, twinkling in your way,
When the walk has blossomed so,
Surely every one must know
None need wonder who has heard
Robin, wren, or Peter-bird;
Sure the sign as song or wing,
It is spring!
ANOTHER SURE SIGN
When pink-cheeked on every hand
Little girls are seen to stand
Turning skipping ropes,—swish-swash!—
While their laughing playmates run
Jumping over,—oh, what fun!—
Swish-swash! Swish-swash!
Two and two now, see them dash!
One, two, one, two,
Round they scamper, safely through,
Swish-swash! such merry skipping,
One, two,—some one is tripping!
Ah, she's out now and must pay
Turning rope while others play!
See the bobbing golden curls,
Little skirts in rhythmic swirls
Rising, falling, to the beat
Of the little skipping feet!
When these pretty sights appear,
It is surely very clear
April's here!
Little girls are seen to stand
Turning skipping ropes,—swish-swash!—
While their laughing playmates run
Jumping over,—oh, what fun!—
Swish-swash! Swish-swash!
Two and two now, see them dash!
One, two, one, two,
Round they scamper, safely through,
Swish-swash! such merry skipping,
One, two,—some one is tripping!
Ah, she's out now and must pay
Turning rope while others play!
See the bobbing golden curls,
Little skirts in rhythmic swirls
Rising, falling, to the beat
Of the little skipping feet!
When these pretty sights appear,
It is surely very clear
April's here!
THE ROBIN'S BATH
A flash and flicker of dripping wings,
A wet red breast that glows
Bright as the newly opened bud
The first red poppy shows,
A sparkle of flying rainbow drops,
A glint of golden sun
On ruffled feathers, a snatch of song,
And the robin's bath is done.
A wet red breast that glows
Bright as the newly opened bud
The first red poppy shows,
A sparkle of flying rainbow drops,
A glint of golden sun
On ruffled feathers, a snatch of song,
And the robin's bath is done.
THE FROSTED PANE
When I wakened, very early,
All my window-pane was pearly
With a sparkling little picture traced in lines of shining white;
Some magician with a gleaming
Frosty brush, while I was dreaming,
Must have come and by the starlight worked through all the quiet night.
All my window-pane was pearly
With a sparkling little picture traced in lines of shining white;
Some magician with a gleaming
Frosty brush, while I was dreaming,
Must have come and by the starlight worked through all the quiet night.
He had painted frosty people,
And a frosty church and steeple,
And a frosty bridge and river tumbling over frosty rocks;
Frosty mountain peaks that glimmered,
And fine frosty ferns that shimmered,
And a frosty little pasture full of frosty little flocks.
And a frosty church and steeple,
And a frosty bridge and river tumbling over frosty rocks;
Frosty mountain peaks that glimmered,
And fine frosty ferns that shimmered,
And a frosty little pasture full of frosty little flocks.
It was all touched in so lightly
And it glittered, oh, so whitely,
That I gazed and gazed in wonder at the lovely painted pane;
Then the sun rose high and higher
With his wand of golden fire
Till, alas, my picture vanished and I looked for it in vain!
And it glittered, oh, so whitely,
That I gazed and gazed in wonder at the lovely painted pane;
Then the sun rose high and higher
With his wand of golden fire
Till, alas, my picture vanished and I looked for it in vain!
THE FIRST SNOW
The snow! the snow! Whoop! Hooray! Ho! Ho!
Plunge in the deep drifts and toss it up so!
Rollick and roll in the feathery fleece
Plucked out of the breasts of the marvelous geese
By the little old woman who lives in the sky;
Have ever you seen her? No, neither have I!
Plunge in the deep drifts and toss it up so!
Rollick and roll in the feathery fleece
Plucked out of the breasts of the marvelous geese
By the little old woman who lives in the sky;
Have ever you seen her? No, neither have I!
GRANDFATHER KNOWS
Grandfather says of all things
The silliest he's heard
Is that some children call things
They've never seen, "absurd!"
And have their doubts of true things,
And won't believe, because
They say, "If you but knew things,
There is no Santa Claus!"
The silliest he's heard
Is that some children call things
They've never seen, "absurd!"
And have their doubts of true things,
And won't believe, because
They say, "If you but knew things,
There is no Santa Claus!"
Grandfather says he knows him,
And sees him every year,
And Santa often shows him
The playthings he brings here;
He says, too, Santa told him
If any girls and boys
Laugh at and won't uphold him,
They'll not get any toys!
And sees him every year,
And Santa often shows him
The playthings he brings here;
He says, too, Santa told him
If any girls and boys
Laugh at and won't uphold him,
They'll not get any toys!
SLEIGH-BELLS
Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle!
Happy winter-time!
Baby's eyes a-twinkle,
Hear the sleigh-bells chime!
Happy winter-time!
Baby's eyes a-twinkle,
Hear the sleigh-bells chime!
Each one rings a merry
Ting-a-ling-a-ling!
For a sleigh-bell fairy
Hides inside to sing.
Ting-a-ling-a-ling!
For a sleigh-bell fairy
Hides inside to sing.
See them quake and quiver,
Up and downward tossed,
Seems as if they shiver
In the nipping frost!
Up and downward tossed,
Seems as if they shiver
In the nipping frost!
Shiver into laughter,
Jolly little elves!
Till we laugh thereafter,
Merry as themselves!
Jolly little elves!
Till we laugh thereafter,
Merry as themselves!
THE RED-BIRD
Swept lightly by the south wind
The elm-leaves softly stirred,
And in their pale green clusters
There straightway bloomed a bird!
The elm-leaves softly stirred,
And in their pale green clusters
There straightway bloomed a bird!
His glossy feathers glistened
With dyes as richly red
As any tulip flaming
From out the garden bed.
With dyes as richly red
As any tulip flaming
From out the garden bed.
But ah, unlike the tulips,
In joyous strain, ere long,
This red-bird flower unfolded
A heart of golden song!
In joyous strain, ere long,
This red-bird flower unfolded
A heart of golden song!
WILD BEASTS
I will be a lion
And you shall be a bear,
And each of us will have a den
Beneath a nursery chair;
And you must growl and growl and growl,
And I will roar and roar,
And then—why, then—you'll growl again,
And I will roar some more!
And you shall be a bear,
And each of us will have a den
Beneath a nursery chair;
And you must growl and growl and growl,
And I will roar and roar,
And then—why, then—you'll growl again,
And I will roar some more!
WHEREFORE WINGS?
Heigho, sparrow! Reckless of the rain;
When chill the cheerless wind grows,
Chirping might and main!
Is it naught, then, when the rose
Blows again?
When chill the cheerless wind grows,
Chirping might and main!
Is it naught, then, when the rose
Blows again?
Beating, sleeting on your draggled coat!
Surely, 'tis enough to drown
Any happy note
Nestling in that downy brown
Little throat.
Surely, 'tis enough to drown
Any happy note
Nestling in that downy brown
Little throat.
Ah me, sparrow! Had I but your power,
Think you in the freezing sleet
I would waste an hour?
—I'd sing my sweetest to a sweet
Orange flower!
Think you in the freezing sleet
I would waste an hour?
—I'd sing my sweetest to a sweet
Orange flower!
BASKING
Frosty winter chased away
By the blessed sun,
Down upon the garden walks
Basking has begun.
By the blessed sun,
Down upon the garden walks
Basking has begun.
Oh, the happy, happy heat!
How the pulses stir,
How it warms the hearts beneath
Little coats of fur!
How the pulses stir,
How it warms the hearts beneath
Little coats of fur!
Oh, the happy pussy-cats!
Days to doze and doze,
And what pleasant dreams they dream
Only pussy knows.
Days to doze and doze,
And what pleasant dreams they dream
Only pussy knows.
WITH A MAY-BASKET FOR BABY AGNES
Peach-buds to meet thee,
Robins to greet thee,
Hey, little Sweetheart! and May morning, hey!
Sunbeam and sing time,
Bluebird and wing time,
This time is kiss time for sweethearts, I say!
Robins to greet thee,
Hey, little Sweetheart! and May morning, hey!
Sunbeam and sing time,
Bluebird and wing time,
This time is kiss time for sweethearts, I say!
Dearest, God bless thee,
Fold and caress thee,
Unto thy cradle may good fairies fly!
Fortune be fair for thee,
This is my prayer for thee,
Lullaby, little one, hush-a-by-bye!
Fold and caress thee,
Unto thy cradle may good fairies fly!
Fortune be fair for thee,
This is my prayer for thee,
Lullaby, little one, hush-a-by-bye!
So for a love now
Token thereof now,
Sweet, see this tiny May-basket I bring;
Posies to play with,
Pinks to be gay with,
Dear little baby of sunshine and spring!
Token thereof now,
Sweet, see this tiny May-basket I bring;
Posies to play with,
Pinks to be gay with,
Dear little baby of sunshine and spring!
THE LITTLE NEST
A little picture haunts me;
It comes and comes again;
It is a tiny bird's-nest,
All ragged from the rain.
It comes and comes again;
It is a tiny bird's-nest,
All ragged from the rain.
It clings within a birch-tree
Upon the moorland's edge,
Between the barren branches,
Above the swaying sedge.
Upon the moorland's edge,
Between the barren branches,
Above the swaying sedge.
The sky is gray behind it,
And when the north winds blow,
The birch-tree bends and shivers,
And tosses to and fro.
And when the north winds blow,
The birch-tree bends and shivers,
And tosses to and fro.
I wonder, does it haunt them,
The birds that flew away?
And will they come to seek it,
Some sunny summer day?
The birds that flew away?
And will they come to seek it,
Some sunny summer day?
I wonder, does some redbreast
Upon an orange-bough,
Still picture it as plainly
As I can see it now?
Upon an orange-bough,
Still picture it as plainly
As I can see it now?
Ah me! I would forget it,
Yet still, with sense of pain,
I see this little bird's-nest
Within the driving rain.
Yet still, with sense of pain,
I see this little bird's-nest
Within the driving rain.
CHRISTMAS CANDLES
When the Christ-child comes again
Softly down the street to-night,
Twinkling through the window pane
Let our candles shed their light.
Softly down the street to-night,
Twinkling through the window pane
Let our candles shed their light.
Though the clouds are dark above
And the golden stars are dim,
We can tell Him of our love
If we set a light for Him.
And the golden stars are dim,
We can tell Him of our love
If we set a light for Him.
Oh, the blessed Christ-child dear,
In His robe of shining white,
Let our candles give Him cheer
As He passes by to-night!
In His robe of shining white,
Let our candles give Him cheer
As He passes by to-night!
A SONG OF THE CHRISTMAS-TREE
We can tell Him of our love
If we set a light for Him.
If we set a light for Him.
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the Christmas-tree
With its glory and glitter and mystery!
Its twinkling candles that bud and bloom
Like strange bright flowers in the darkened room,
Its glistening gold and silver balls,
Its candy canes and its blue-eyed dolls,
The sugary fruits it bears,—for oh,
Where else do such wonderful sweetmeats grow?—
Its tasseled horns and its pop-corn strings
And all its myriad marvelous things!
O-ho! and ah-ha!
And a hip hurrah!
For our dear and beautiful tree, because
It grew in the gardens of Santa Claus
With its glory and glitter and mystery!
Its twinkling candles that bud and bloom
Like strange bright flowers in the darkened room,
Its glistening gold and silver balls,
Its candy canes and its blue-eyed dolls,
The sugary fruits it bears,—for oh,
Where else do such wonderful sweetmeats grow?—
Its tasseled horns and its pop-corn strings
And all its myriad marvelous things!
O-ho! and ah-ha!
And a hip hurrah!
For our dear and beautiful tree, because
It grew in the gardens of Santa Claus
And he brought it here in his reindeer sleigh
From ever and ever so far away!
So, children, come, let us make a ring
And all clasp hands as we dance and sing
To the blessed tree and the blessed night
When the Christ-child walks in the candles' light!
From ever and ever so far away!
So, children, come, let us make a ring
And all clasp hands as we dance and sing
To the blessed tree and the blessed night
When the Christ-child walks in the candles' light!
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the Christmas-tree
That Santa Claus brought to you and me!
He cut it down with a silver axe—
There's a tree in each of his million packs!—
And carried it safely over the snow
And down our chimney and here, you know;
Its golden cobwebs that glint and gleam
He took from a lovely Christmas dream
And tangled them over it till, behold,
It shines like the fabled Fleece of Gold!
That Santa Claus brought to you and me!
He cut it down with a silver axe—
There's a tree in each of his million packs!—
And carried it safely over the snow
And down our chimney and here, you know;
Its golden cobwebs that glint and gleam
He took from a lovely Christmas dream
And tangled them over it till, behold,
It shines like the fabled Fleece of Gold!
Oh, Santa Claus, here's
A thrice three cheers
For garlands green and berries of red,
And mistletoe clustering overhead,
For the joy of our Christmas festival!
But our beautiful tree, it is best of all!
And circling still in a merry ring
We'll still clasp hands as we dance and sing
To the blessed tree and the blessed night
When the Christ-child walks in the candles' light!
A thrice three cheers
For garlands green and berries of red,
And mistletoe clustering overhead,
For the joy of our Christmas festival!
But our beautiful tree, it is best of all!
And circling still in a merry ring
We'll still clasp hands as we dance and sing
To the blessed tree and the blessed night
When the Christ-child walks in the candles' light!
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the Christmas-tree!
And look, O look to its tip and see
The feathery slim fir leaves and where,
In the topmost boughs, is the image fair
Of the Christ-child nestling amid the green
And the little brown cones that peep between!
And look, O look to its tip and see
The feathery slim fir leaves and where,
In the topmost boughs, is the image fair
Of the Christ-child nestling amid the green
And the little brown cones that peep between!
And high above Him glittering bright
A gold star sparkles with golden light,
And we children think, as we gaze on them,
Of the wonderful Star of Bethlehem,
Of the lovely Star
And the Kings who far,
Oh, far, came seeking a Babe and brought
Their love and worship to Him they sought,
And made Him gifts, as the gifts we make
With loving hearts for that Baby's sake.
Oh, come, come all, and join the ring!
Let all clasp hands as we dance and sing
To the blessed tree and the blessed night
When the Christ-child walks in the candles' light!
A gold star sparkles with golden light,
And we children think, as we gaze on them,
Of the wonderful Star of Bethlehem,
Of the lovely Star
And the Kings who far,
Oh, far, came seeking a Babe and brought
Their love and worship to Him they sought,
And made Him gifts, as the gifts we make
With loving hearts for that Baby's sake.
Oh, come, come all, and join the ring!
Let all clasp hands as we dance and sing
To the blessed tree and the blessed night
When the Christ-child walks in the candles' light!
OUR KITTENS
Our kittens have the softest fur,
And the sweetest little purr,
And such little velvet paws
With such cunning little claws,
And blue eyes, just like the sky!
(Must they turn green, by and by?)
Two are striped like tigers, three
Are as black as black can be,
And they run so fast and play
With their tails, and are so gay,
Is it not a pity that
Each must grow into a cat?
And the sweetest little purr,
And such little velvet paws
With such cunning little claws,
And blue eyes, just like the sky!
(Must they turn green, by and by?)
Two are striped like tigers, three
Are as black as black can be,
And they run so fast and play
With their tails, and are so gay,
Is it not a pity that
Each must grow into a cat?
IN JULY
Let us find a shady wady
Pretty little brook;
Let us have some candy handy,
And a picture-book.
Pretty little brook;
Let us have some candy handy,
And a picture-book.
There all day we'll stay and play and
Never mind the heat,
While the water gleaming, streaming,
Ripples round our feet.
Never mind the heat,
While the water gleaming, streaming,
Ripples round our feet.
And we'll gather curly pearly
Mussel-shells while bright
Frightened minnows darting, parting,
Scurry out of sight.
Mussel-shells while bright
Frightened minnows darting, parting,
Scurry out of sight.
What if, what if,—heigho! my oh!—
All the "ifs" were true,
And the little fishes wishes,
Now, what would you do?
All the "ifs" were true,
And the little fishes wishes,
Now, what would you do?
A VALENTINE TO A LITTLE CHILD
Dear heart, on this thrice-blessed day,
An thou my sweetheart be,
The rose of love shall bide alway
Upon the red-rose tree.
An thou my sweetheart be,
The rose of love shall bide alway
Upon the red-rose tree.
And in the garden of my heart
So ceaselessly shall shine,
The little birds will know thou art
Mine own true Valentine.
So ceaselessly shall shine,
The little birds will know thou art
Mine own true Valentine.
And I will bid them wing and sing
To all good winds that blow,
That to thy little feet they bring
All blessings, even so.
To all good winds that blow,
That to thy little feet they bring
All blessings, even so.
And o'er thy cradle I will coax,
By every lucky charm,
The friendship of the fairy folks
To fold thee from all harm.
By every lucky charm,
The friendship of the fairy folks
To fold thee from all harm.
So may they hover round thy head
And gently thereupon,
As doth the April sunshine, shed
Most gracious benison.
And gently thereupon,
As doth the April sunshine, shed
Most gracious benison.
And all fair gifts that Fortune hath,
I'll pray she promise these,
And that she loose about thy path
All sweet influences.
I'll pray she promise these,
And that she loose about thy path
All sweet influences.
Then here's a kiss! and there's a kiss!
And kisses, one, two, three!
I seal them in the folds of this,
And speed them unto thee!
And kisses, one, two, three!
I seal them in the folds of this,
And speed them unto thee!
ZIP!
When we went to drive the cows home
Down the lane to-day,
There was such a funny bunny
Jumped across the way!
Down the lane to-day,
There was such a funny bunny
Jumped across the way!
All we saw as he ran past us,
Faster than a quail,
Was his snow-white fuzzy-wuzzy
Little cotton tail!
Faster than a quail,
Was his snow-white fuzzy-wuzzy
Little cotton tail!
A LITTLE CAROL
Welcome, little Brother!
Lowly, holy One!
Hail thee, Virgin Mother,
More than any other
Blessed in thy Son!
Lowly, holy One!
Hail thee, Virgin Mother,
More than any other
Blessed in thy Son!
Child, since the poor manger
Once thou didst not scorn,
Rest thee, little Stranger,
Folded from all danger,
In our hearts new-born!
Once thou didst not scorn,
Rest thee, little Stranger,
Folded from all danger,
In our hearts new-born!
Nestle thus, we pray thee,
In our love's caress;
Fain we are to pay thee
Worship, and obey thee,
Babe, and Prince no less!
In our love's caress;
Fain we are to pay thee
Worship, and obey thee,
Babe, and Prince no less!
SONG
Honey-dew drippity-drops for a feast,
Dreams of delight when the feasting has ceased,
Poppy and rose,
Drain them and doze;
This is a song that the butterfly knows.
Dreams of delight when the feasting has ceased,
Poppy and rose,
Drain them and doze;
This is a song that the butterfly knows.
THE THREE CANDLES
When the Christmas-tide drew nigh,
On a shelf three candles bright,
Two were red and one was white,
Waited for who came to buy.
On a shelf three candles bright,
Two were red and one was white,
Waited for who came to buy.
Said the first one, "I shall be
Chosen for a Christmas-tree!"
Said the second, "I shall light
Christ Jesus on His way to-night!"
Then the third one sighed, "Ah me,
I know not what my lot will be!"
Chosen for a Christmas-tree!"
Said the second, "I shall light
Christ Jesus on His way to-night!"
Then the third one sighed, "Ah me,
I know not what my lot will be!"
When the dark fell, bright and gay
The first candle burned away,
Red as all the berries red
On the holly overhead,
While the children in their glee
Danced around the Christmas-tree.
The first candle burned away,
Red as all the berries red
On the holly overhead,
While the children in their glee
Danced around the Christmas-tree.
And the second, twinkling bright,
Poured forth all its golden light
Through a window decked with green
Garlands and red ribbons' sheen,
So the Christ-child when He came
Might be guided by its flame.
Poured forth all its golden light
Through a window decked with green
Garlands and red ribbons' sheen,
So the Christ-child when He came
Might be guided by its flame.
But the third one in the gloom
Of a bare and cheerless room
Softly burned where long had lain
A poor little child in pain,
And the baby in its bed
By the light was comforted.
Of a bare and cheerless room
Softly burned where long had lain
A poor little child in pain,
And the baby in its bed
By the light was comforted.
When the Christ-child passed that night
All three candles gave Him light,
But the brightest was the spark
By the baby in the dark.
All three candles gave Him light,
But the brightest was the spark
By the baby in the dark.