Only Naughty Children See "Spooks" On Hallow'een
(Written for Aunt Winifred Broad,
Stockleigh Pomeroy, England.)
Witches and goblins, spooks and elves,
With sprites and gnomes from elf-land delves,
To-night are flying here and there,
Yes, up and down and everywhere.
For this one night in all the year,
They rule the earth and bring great fear
To all the naughty little boys
Who tease good girls and break their toys.
These spooks they also make girls sad
When they are selfish, cross and bad;
So when it's dark, bad boys and maids
They see these awful fearsome shades,
And that is why with covered heads,
They trembling lie in their warm beds.
But even there, they goblins see,
Spooks, and gnomes and all that be
Abroad upon weird Hallow'een,
When all the wizards may be seen
By naughty kids and grown up folks,
Who like to play most wicked jokes.
But good young girls and gentle boys,
The kids who are their mothers' joys,
They like the dark just as the light,
For spooks ne'er come within their sight,
And in their dreams the lovely elves
Show them bright scenes from fairy delves.
So, if to-night you are afraid
Of any spook or any shade,
We'll know you are a naughty child,
So cross and willful, rude and wild.