She stood and looked at it mournfully, and then went into her cottage, where she found two or three of the little children keeping Gardener company. They did not dislike to do this now; but he was so much kinder than he used to be—so quiet and patient, though he suffered very much. And he had never once reproached them for what they always remembered—how it was ever since he was on the ice with them that he had got the rheumatism.



So, one or other of them made a point of going to see him every day, and telling him all the funny things they could think of—indeed, it was a contest among them who should first make Gardener laugh. They did not succeed in doing that exactly; but they managed to make him smile; and he was always gentle and grateful to them; so that they sometimes thought it was rather nice his being ill.

But his wife was not pleasant; she grumbled all day long, and snapped at him and his visitors; being especially snappish this day, because she had lost her big coal.

"I can't have you children come bothering here," said she, crossly. "I want to wring out my clothes, and hang them to dry. Be off with you!"

"Let us stop a little—just to tell Gardener this one curious thing about Dolly and the pig—and then we'll help you to take your clothes to the orchard; we can carry your basket between us—we can, indeed."

That was the last thing the woman wished; for she knew the that the children would be sure to see the mess on the gravel-walk—and they were such inquisitive children—they noticed every thing. They would want to know all about it, and how the bits of coal came there. It was very a awkward position. But people who take other people's property often do find themselves in awkward positions.

"Thank you, young gentlemen," said she, quite politely; "but indeed the basket is too heavy for you. However, you may stop and gossip a little longer with my old man. He likes it."

And, while they were shut up with Gardener in his bedroom, off she went, carrying the basket on her head, and hung her clothes carefully out—the big things on lines between the fruit trees, and the little things, such as stockings and pocket handkerchiefs, stuck on the gooseberry-bushes, or spread upon the clean green grass.

"Such a fine day as it is! they'll dry directly," said she, cheerfully, to herself. "Plenty of sun, and not a breath of wind to blow them about. I'll leave them for an hour or two, and come and fetch them in before it grows dark. Then I shall get all my folding done by bedtime, and have a clear day for ironing to-morrow."

But when she did fetch them in, having bundled them all together in the dusk of the evening, never was such a sight as those clothes! They were all twisted in the oddest way—the stockings turned inside out, with the heels and toes tucked into the legs; the sleeves of the shirts tied together in double knots, the pocket-handkerchiefs made into round balls, so tight that if you had pelted a person with them they would have given very hard blows indeed. And the whole looked as if, instead of lying quietly on the grass and bushes, they had been dragged through heaps of mud and then stamped upon, so that there was not a clean inch upon them from end to end.

"What a horrid mess!" cried the Gardener's wife, who had been at first very angry, and then very frightened. "But I know what it is; that nasty Boxer has got loose again. It's he that has done it."

"Boxer wouldn't tie shirt-sleeves in double knots, or make balls of pocket-handkerchiefs," Gardener was heard to answer, solemnly.

"Then it's those horrid children; they are always up to some mischief or other—just let me catch them!"

"You'd better not," said somebody in a voice exactly like Gardener's, though he himself declared he had not spoken a word. Indeed, he was fast asleep.

"Well, it's the most extraordinary thing I ever heard of," the Gardener's wife said, supposing she was talking to her husband all the time; but soon she held her tongue, for she found here and there among the clothes all sorts of queer marks—marks of fingers, and toes, and heels, not in mud at all, but in coal-dust, as black as black could be.

Now, as the place where the big coal had tumbled out of the barrow was fully fifty yards from the orchard, and, as the coal could not come to the clothes, and the clothes could not go without hands, the only conclusion she could arrive at was—well, no particular conclusion at all!

It was too late that night to begin washing again; besides, she was extremely tired, and her husband woke up rather worse than usual, so she just bundled the clothes up anyhow in a corner, put the kitchen to rights, and went mournfully to bed.

Next morning she got up long before it was light, washed her clothes through all over again, and, it being impossible to dry them by the fire, went out with them once more, and began spreading them out in their usual corner, in a hopeless and melancholy manner. While she was at it, the little folks came trooping around her. She didn't scold them this time, she was too low-spirited.

"No! my old man isn't any better, and I don't fancy he ever will be," said she, in answer to their questions. "And every thing's going wrong with us—just listen!" And she told the trick which had been played her about the clothes.

The little people tried not to laugh, but it was so funny; and even now, the minute she had done hanging them out, there was something so droll in the way the clothes blew about, without any wind; the shirts hanging with their necks downward, as if there was a man inside them; and the drawers standing stiffly astride on the gooseberry-bushes, for all the world as if they held a pair of legs still. As for Gardener's night-caps—long, white cotton, with a tassel at the top—they were alarming to look at; just like a head stuck on the top of a pole.

The whole thing was so peculiar, and the old woman so comical in her despair, that the children, after trying hard to keep it in, at last broke into shouts of laughter. She turned furiously upon them.

"It was you who did it!"

"No, indeed it wasn't!" said they, jumping farther to escape her blows. For she had got one of her clothes-props, and was laying about her in the most reckless manner. However, she hurt nobody, and then she suddenly burst out, not laughing, but crying.

"It's a cruel thing, whoever has done it, to play such tricks on a poor old body like me, with a sick husband that she works hard for, and not a child to help her. But I don't care. I'll wash my clothes again, if it's twenty times over, and I'll hang them out again in the very place, just to make you all ashamed of yourselves."

Perhaps the little people were ashamed of themselves, though they really had not done the mischief. But they knew quite well who had done it, and more than once they were about to tell; only they were afraid, if they did so, they should vex the Brownie so much that he would never come and play with them any more.

So they looked at one another without speaking, and when the Gardener's wife had emptied her basket and dried her eyes, they said to her, very kindly:

"Perhaps no harm may come to your clothes this time. We'll sit and watch them till they are dry."

"Just as you like; I don't care. Them that hides can find, and them that plays tricks knows how to stop 'em."

It was not a civil speech, but then things were hard for the poor old woman. She had been awake nearly all night, and up washing at daybreak; her eyes were red with crying, and her steps weary and slow. The little children felt quite sorry for her, and, instead of going to play, sat watching the clothes as patiently as possible.

Nothing came near them. Sometimes, as before, the things seemed to dance about without hands, and turn into odd shapes, as if there were people inside them; but not a creature was seen and not a sound was heard. And though there was neither wind nor sun, very soon all the linen was perfectly dry.

"Fetch one of mother's baskets, and we'll fold it up as tidily as possible—that is, the girls can do it, it's their business—and we boys will carry it safe to Gardener's cottage."

So said they, not liking to say that they could not trust it out of their sight for fear of Brownie, whom, indeed, they were expecting to see peer round from every bush. They began to have a secret fear that he was rather a naughty Brownie; but then, as the eldest little girl whispered, "He was only a Brownie, and knew no better." Now they were growing quite big children, who would be men and women some time; when they hoped they would never do any thing wrong. (Their parents hoped the same, but doubted it.)

In a serious and careful manner they folded up the clothes, and laid them one by one in the basket without any mischief, until, just as the two biggest boys were lifting their burden to carry it away, they felt something tugging at it from underneath.

"Halloo! Where are you taking all this rubbish? Better give it to me."

"No, if you please," said they, very civilly, not to offend the little brown man. "We'll not trouble you, thanks! We'd rather do it ourselves; for poor Gardener is very ill, and his wife is very miserable, and we are extremely sorry for them both."

"Extremely sorry!" cried Brownie, throwing up his cap in the air, and tumbling head over heels in an excited manner. "What in the world does extremely sorry mean?"

The children could not explain, especially to a Brownie; but they thought they understood—anyhow, they felt it. And they looked so sorrowful that the Brownie could not tell what to make of it.

He could not be said to be sorry, since, being a Brownie, and not a human being, knowing right from wrong, he never tried particularly to do right, and had no idea that he was doing wrong. But he seemed to have an idea that he was troubling the children, and he never liked to see them look unhappy.

So he turned head over heels six times running, and then came back again.

"The silly old woman! I washed her clothes for her last night in a way she didn't expect. I hadn't any soap, so I used a little mud and coal-dust, and very pretty they looked. Ha, ha, ha! Shall I wash them over again to-night?"

"Oh, no, please don't!" implored the children.

"Shall I starch and iron them? I'll do it beautifully. One—two—three, five—six—seven, Abracadabra, tum—tum—ti!" shouted he, jabbering all sorts of nonsense, as it seemed to the children, and playing such antics that they stood and stared in the utmost amazement, and quite forgot the clothes. When they looked round again, the basket was gone.

"Seek till you find, seek till you find, Under the biggest gooseberry-bush, exactly to your mind."

They heard him singing this remarkable rhyme, long after they had lost sight of him. And then they all set about searching; but it was a long while before they found, and still longer before they could decide, which was the biggest gooseberry-bush, each child having his or her opinion—sometimes a very strong one—on the matter. At last they agreed to settle it by pulling half-a-dozen little sticks, to see which stick was the longest, and the child that held it was to decide the gooseberry-bush.

This done, underneath the branches what should they find but the identical basket of clothes! only, instead of being roughly dried, they were all starched and ironed in the most beautiful manner. As for the shirts, they really were a picture to behold, and the stockings were all folded up, and even darned in one or two places, as neatly as possible. And strange to tell, there was not a single black mark of feet or fingers on any one of them.

"Kind little Brownie! clever little Brownie!" cried the children in chorus, and thought this was the most astonishing trick he had ever played.

What the Gardener's wife said about it, whether they told her any thing, or allowed her to suppose that the clothes had been done in their own laundry instead of the Brownie's (wherever that establishment might be), is more than I can tell. Of one thing only I am certain—that the little people said nothing but what was true. Also, that the very minute they got home they told their mother every thing.

But for a long time after that they were a good deal troubled. Gardener got better, and went hobbling about the place again, to his own and every body's great content, and his wife was less sharp-tongued and complaining than usual—indeed, she had nothing to complain of. All the family were very flourishing, except the little Brownie.

Often there was heard a curious sound all over the house; it might have been rats squeaking behind the wainscot—the elders said it was—but the children were sure it was a sort of weeping and wailing.

"They've stolen my coal, And I haven't a hole To hide in; Not even a house One could ask a mouse To bide in."

A most forlorn tune it was, ending in a dreary minor key, and it lasted for months and months—at least the children said it did. And they were growing quite dull for want of a playfellow, when, by the greatest good luck in the world, there came to the house not only a new lot of kittens, but a new baby. And the new baby was everybody's pet, including the Brownie's.



From that time, though he was not often seen, he was continually heard up and down the staircase, where he was frequently mistaken for Tiny or the cat, and sent sharply down again, which was wasting a great deal of wholesome anger upon Mr. Nobody. Or he lurked in odd corners of the nursery, whither the baby was seen crawling eagerly after nothing in particular, or sitting laughing with all her might at something—probably her own toes.

But, as Brownie was never seen, he was never suspected. And since he did no mischief—neither pinched the baby nor broke the toys, left no soap in the bath and no footmarks about the room—but was always a well-conducted Brownie in every way, he was allowed to inhabit the nursery (or supposed to do so, since, as nobody saw him, nobody could prevent him), until the children were grown up into men and women.

After that he retired into his coal-cellar, and, for all I know, he may live there still, and have gone through hundreds of adventures since; but as I never heard them, I can't tell them. Only I think, if I could be a little child again, I should exceedingly like a Brownie to play with me. Should not you?



THE BLACKBIRD AND THE ROOKS.

A SLENDER young Blackbird built in a thorn-tree A spruce little fellow as ever could be; His bill was so yellow, his feathers so black, So long was his tail, and so glossy his back, That good Mrs. B., who sat hatching her eggs, And only just left them to stretch her poor legs, And pick for a minute the worm she preferred, Thought there never was seen such a beautiful bird.

And such a kind husband! how early and late He would sit at the top of the old garden gate, And sing, just as merry as if it were June, Being ne'er out of patience, or temper, or tune. "So unlike those Rooks, dear; from morning till night They seem to do nothing but quarrel and fight, And wrangle and jangle, and plunder—while we Sit, honest and safe, in our pretty thorn-tree."

Just while she was speaking, a lively young Rook Alit with a flap that the thorn-bush quite shook, And seizing a stick from the nest—"Come, I say, That will just suit me, neighbor"—flew with it away The lady loud twittered—her husband soon heard: Though peaceful, he was not a cowardly bird; And with arguments angry enough to o'erwhelm A whole Rookery—flew to the top of the elm.

"How dare you, you—" (thief he was going to say; But a civiller sentiment came in the way: For he knew 'tis no good, and it anyhow shames A gentleman, calling strange gentlemen names:) "Pray what is your motive, Sir Rook, for such tricks, As building your mansion with other folks' sticks? I request you'll restore them, in justice and law." At which the whole colony set up a—caw!

But Blackbird, not silenced, then spoke out again; "I've built my small nest with much labor and pain. I'm a poor singing gentleman, Sirs, it is true, Though cockneys do often mistake me for you; But I keep Mrs. Blackbird, and four little eggs, And neither e'er pilfers, or borrows, or begs. Now have I not right on my side, do you see?" But they flew at and pecked him all down the elm-tree.

Ah! wickedness prospers sometimes, I much fear; And virtue's not always victorious, that's clear: At least, not at first: for it must be confessed Poor Blackbird lost many a stick from his nest; And his unkind grand neighbors with scoffing caw-caws, In his voice and his character found many flaws, And jeered him and mocked him; but when they'd all done, He flew to his tree and sang cheerily on.

At length May arrived with her garlands of leaves; The swallows were building beneath the farm-eaves, Wrens, linnets, and sparrows, on every hedge-side, Were bringing their families out with great pride; While far above all, on the tallest tree-top, With a flutter and clamor that never did stop, The haughty old Rooks held their heads up so high, And dreamed not of trouble—until it drew nigh!

One morning at seven, as he came with delight To his wife's pretty parlor of may-blossoms white, Having fed all his family ere rise of sun,— Mr. Blackbird perceived—a big man with a gun; Who also perceived him: "See, Charlie, among That may, sits the Blackbird we've heard for so long: Most likely his nest's there—how frightened he looks! Nay, Blackie, we're not come for you, but the Rooks."

I don't say 'twas cruel—I can't say 'twas kind— On the subject I haven't quite made up my mind: But those guns went pop-popping all morning, alas! And young Rooks kept dropping among the long grass, Till good Mr. Blackbird, who watched the whole thing, For pity could scarcely a single note sing, And in the May sunset he hardly could bear To hear the returning Rooks' caw of despair.

"O, dear Mrs. Blackbird," at last warbled he, "How happy we are in our humble thorn-tree; How gaily we live, living honest and poor, How sweet are the may-blossoms over our door." "And then our dear children," the mother replied, And she nested them close to her warm feathered side, And with a soft twitter of drowsy content, In the quiet May moonlight to sleep they all went.



THE SHAKING OF THE PEAR-TREE

OF all days I remember, In summers passed away, Was "the shaking of the pear-tree," In grandma's orchard gay.

A large old-fashioned orchard, With long grass under foot, And blackberry-brambles crawling In many a tangled shoot.

From cherry time, till damsons Dropped from the branches sere, That wonderful old orchard Was full of fruit all year;

We pick'd it up in baskets, Or pluck'd it from the wall; But the shaking of the pear-tree Was the grandest treat of all.

Long, long the days we counted Until that day drew nigh; Then, how we watched the sun set, And criticised the sky!

If rain—"'Twill clear at midnight;" If dawn broke chill and gray, "O many a cloudy morning Turns out a lovely day."

So off we started gaily, Heedless of jolt or jar; Through town and lane, and hamlet, In old Llewellyn's car.

He's dead and gone—Llewellyn, These twenty years, I doubt: If I put him in this poem, He'll never find it out,

The patient, kind Llewellyn— Whose broad face smiled all o'er, As he lifted out us children At grandma's very door.

And there stood Grandma's Betty, With cheeks like apples red; And Dash, the spaniel, waddled Out of his cosy bed.

With silky ears down dropping, And coat of chestnut pale; He was so fat and lazy He scarce could wag his tail.

Poor Dash is dead, and buried Under the lilac-tree; And Betty's old,—as, children, We all may one day be.

I hope no child will vex us, As we vexed Betty then, With winding up the draw-well, Or hunting the old hen.

And teasing, teasing, teasing, Till afternoon wore round, And shaken pears came tumbling In showers upon the ground.

O how we jumped and shouted! O how we plunged amid The long grass, where the treasures, Dropped down and deftly hid;

Long, slender-shaped, red-russet, Or yellow just like gold; Ah! never pears have tasted Like those sweet pears of old!

We ate—I'd best not mention How many: paused to fill Big basket after basket; Working with right good-will;

Then hunted round the orchard For half-ripe plums—in vain; So, back unto the pear-tree, To eat, and eat again.

I'm not on my confession, And therefore need not say How tired, and cross, and sleepy, Some were ere close of day;

For pleasure has its ending, And eke its troubles too; Which you'll find out, my children, As well as we could do.

But yet this very minute, I seem to see it all— The pear-tree's empty branches The gray of evening-fall;

The children's homeward silence, The furnace fires that glowed, Each mile or so, out streaming Across the lonely road;

And high, high set in heaven, One large bright, beauteous star, That shone between the curtains Of old Llewellyn's car.

THE WONDERFUL APPLE-TREE.[A]

COME here, my dear boys, and I'll tell you a fable, Which you may believe as much as you're able; It isn't all true, nor all false, I'll be bound— Of the tree that bears apples all the year round.

There was a Dean Tucker of Gloster city, Who may have been wise, or worthy, or witty; But I know nothing of him, the more's the pity, Save that he was Dean Tucker of Gloster city.

And walking one day with a musing air In his Deanery garden, close by where The great cathedral's west window's seen,— "I'll plant an apple," said Tucker the Dean.

The apple was planted, the apple grew, A stout young tree, full of leaves not few; The apple was grafted, the apple bore Of goodly apples, one, two, three, four.

The old Dean walked in his garden fair, "I'm glad I planted that young tree there, Though it was but a shoot, or some old tree's sucker; I'll taste it to-morrow," said good Dean Tucker.

But lo, in the night when (they say) trees talk, And some of the liveliest get up and walk, With fairies abroad for watch and warden— There was such a commotion in the Dean's garden!

"I will not be gathered," the apple-tree said, "Was it for this I blossomed so red? Hung out my fruit all the summer days, Got so much sunshine, and pleasure and praise?"

"Ah!" interrupted a solemn red plum, "This is the end to which all of us come; Last month I was laden with hundreds—but now"— And he sighed the last little plum off from his bough.

"Nay, friend, take it easy," the pear-tree replied (A lady-like person against the wall-side). "Man guards, nurtures, trains us from top down to root: I think 'tis but fair we should give him our fruit."

"No, I'll not be gathered," the apple resumed, And shook his young branches, and fluttered and fumed; "And I'll not drop neither, as some of you drop, Over-ripe: I'm determined to keep my whole crop.

"And I with"—O'er his branches just then something flew; It seemed like moth, large and grayish of hue. But it was a Fairy. Her voice soft did sound, "Be the tree that bears apples all the year round."

* * * * *

The Dean to his apple-tree, came, full of hope, But tough was the fruit-stalk as double-twist rope, And when he had cut it with patience and pain, He bit just one mouthful—and never again.

"An apple so tasteless, so juiceless, so hard, Is, sure, good for nought but to bowl in the yard; The choir-boys may have it." But choir-boys soon found It was worthless—the tree that bore all the year round.

And Gloster lads climbing the Deanery wall Were punished, as well might all young thieves appal, For, clutching the booty for which they did sin, They bit at the apples—and left their teeth in!

And thus all the year from October till May, From May till October, the apples shone gay; But 'twas just outside glitter, for no hand was found To pluck at the fruit which hung all the year round.

And so till they rotted, those queer apples hung, The bare boughs and blossoms and ripe fruit among And in Gloster city it still may be found— The tree that bears apples all the year round.

FOOTNOTE:

[A] This tree, known among gardeners by the name of "Winter-hanger" or "Forbidden Fruit," was planted by Dean Tucker in 1760. It, or an off shoot from it, still exists in the city of Gloucester.

THE JEALOUS BOY

WHAT, my little foolish Ned, Think you mother's eyes are blind, That her heart has grown unkind, And she will not turn her head, Cannot see, for all her joy, Her poor jealous little boy?

What though sister be the pet— Laughs, and leaps, and clings, and loves, With her eyes as soft as dove's— Why should yours with tears be wet? Why such angry tears let fall? Mother's heart has room for all.

Mother's heart is very wide, And its doors all open stand: Lightest touch of tiniest hand She will never put aside. Why her happiness destroy, Foolish, naughty, jealous boy?

Come within the circle bright, Where we laugh, and dance, and sing, Full of love to everything; As God loves us, day and night, And forgives us. Come—with joy Mother too forgives her boy.

THE STORY OF THE BIRKENHEAD

TOLD TO TWO CHILDREN

AND so you want a fairy tale, My little maidens twain? Well, sit beside the waterfall, Noisy with last night's rain;

On couch of moss, with elfin spears Bristling, all fierce to see, When from the yet brown moor down drops The lonely April bee.

All the wide valley blushes green, While, in far depths below, Wharfe flashes out a great bright eye, Then hides his shining flow;—

Wharfe, busy, restless, rapid Wharfe, The glory of our dale; O I could of the River Wharfe Tell such a fairy tale!

"The Boy of Egremond," you cry,— "And all the 'bootless bene:' We know that poem, every word, And we the Strid have seen."

No, clever damsels: though the tale Seems still to bear a part, In every lave of Wharfe's bright wave, The broken mother's heart—

Little you know of broken hearts, My Kitty, blithe and wise, Grave Mary, with the woman soul Dawning through childish eyes.

And long, long distant may God keep The day when each shall know The entrance to His kingdom through His baptism of woe!

But yet 'tis good to hear of grief Which He permits to be; Even as in our green inland home We talk of wrecks at sea.

So on this lovely day, when spring Wakes soft o'er moor and dale, I'll tell—not quite your wish—but yet A noble "fairy" tale.

* * * * *

'Twas six o'clock in the morning, The sea like crystal lay, When the good troop-ship Birkenhead Set sail from Simon's Bay.

The Cape of Good Hope on her right Gloomed at her through the noon: Brief tropic twilight fled, and night Fell suddenly and soon.

At eight o'clock in the evening Dim grew the pleasant land; O'er smoothest seas the southern heaven Its starry arch out-spanned.

The soldiers on the bulwarks leaned, Smoked, chatted; and below The soldiers' wives sang babes to sleep, While on the ship sailed slow.

Six hundred and thirty souls held she, Good, bad, old, young, rich, poor; Six hundred and thirty living souls— God knew them all.—Secure

He counted them in His right hand, That held the hungering seas; And to four hundred came a voice— "The Master hath need of these."

* * * * *

On, onward, still the vessel went Till, with a sudden shock, Like one that's clutched by unseen Death, She struck upon a rock.

She filled. Not hours, not minutes left; Each second a life's gone: Drowned in their berths, washed overboard, Lost, swimming, one by one;

Till, o'er this chaos of despair Rose, like celestial breath, The law of order, discipline, Obedience unto death.

The soldiers mustered upon deck, As mute as on parade; "Women and children to the boats!" And not a man gainsayed.

Without a murmur or a moan They stood, formed rank and file, Between the dreadful crystal seas And the sky's dreadful smile.

In face of death they did their work As they in life would do, Embarking at a quiet quay— A quiet, silent crew.

"Now each man for himself. To the boats!" Arose a passing cry. The soldier-captain answered, "Swamp The women and babes?—No, die!"

And so they died. Each in his place, Obedient to command, They went down with the sinking ship, Went down in sight of land.

The great sea oped her mouth, and closed O'er them. Awhile they trod The valley of the shadow of death, And then were safe with God.

* * * * *

My little girlies—What! your tears Are dropping on the grass, Over my more than "fairy" tale, A tale that "really was!"

Nay, dry them. If we could but see The joy in angels' eyes O'er good lives, or heroic deaths Of pure self-sacrifice,—

We should not weep o'er these that sleep— Their short, sharp struggle o'er— Under the rolling waves that break Upon the Afric shore.

God works not as man works, nor sees As man sees: though we mark Ofttimes the moving of His hands Beneath the eternal Dark.

But yet we know that all is well That He, who loved all these, Loves children laughing on the moor, Birds singing in the trees;

That He who made both life and death, He knoweth which is best: We live to Him, we die to Him, And leave Him all the rest.

BIRDS IN THE SNOW

CHILD

I WISH I were a little bird When the sun shines And the wind whispers low, Through the tall pines, I'd rock in the elm tops, Rifle the pear-tree, Hide in the cherry boughs, O such a rare tree!

I wish I were a little bird; All summer long I'd fly so merrily Sing such a song! Song that should never cease While daylight lasted, Wings that should never tire Howe'er they hasted.

MOTHER

But if you were a little bird— My baby-blossom. Nestling so cosily In mother's bosom,— A bird, as we see them now, When the snows harden, And the wind's blighting breath Howls round the garden:

What would you do, poor bird, In winter drear? No nest to creep into, No mother near: Hungry and desolate, Weary and woeful, All the earth bound with frost, All the sky snow-full?

CHILD (thoughtfully).

That would be sad, and yet Hear what I'd do— Mother, in winter time I'd come to you! If you can like the birds Spite of their thieving, Give them your trees to build, Garden to live in,

I think if I were a bird When winter comes I'd trust you, mother dear, For a few crumbs, Whether I sang or not, Were lark, thrush, or starling.—

MOTHER (aside).

Then—Father—I trust Thee With this my darling.

THE LITTLE COMFORTER

"WHAT is wrong with my big brother?" Says the child; For they two had got no mother And she loved him like no other: If he smiled, All the world seemed bright and gay To this happy little May.

If to her he sharply spoke, This big brother— Then her tender heart nigh broke; But the cruel pain that woke, She would smother— As a little woman can;— Was he not almost a man?

But when trouble or disgrace Smote the boy, She would lift her gentle face— Surely 'twas her own right place. To bring joy? For she loved him—loved him so! Whether he was good or no

May be he will never feel Half her love; Wound her, and forget to heal: Idle words are sharp as steel: But above, I know what the angels say Of this silent little May.

DON'T BE AFRAID.

DON'T be afraid of the dark, My daughter, dear as my soul! You see but a part of the gloomy world, But I—I have seen the whole, And I know each step of the fearsome way, Till the shadows brighten to open day.

Don't be afraid of pain, My tender little child: When its smart is worst there comes strength to bear, And it seems as if angels smiled,— As I smile, dear, when I hurt you now. In binding up that wound on your brow.

Don't be afraid of grief, 'Twill come—as night follows day, But the bleakest sky has tiny rifts When the stars shine through—as to say Wait, wait a little—till night is o'er And beautiful day come back once more.

O child, be afraid of sin, But have no other fear, For God's in the dark, as well as the light; And while we can feel Him near, His hand that He gives, His love that He gave, Lead safely, even to the dark of the grave.

GIRL AND BOY

ALFRED is gentle as a girl, But Judith longs to be a boy! Would cut off every pretty curl With eager joy!

Hates to be called "my dear"—or kissed: For dollies does not care one fig: Goes, sticking hands up to the wrist In jackets big.

Would like to do whate'er boy can; Play cricket—even to go school: It is so grand to be a man! A girl's a fool!

But Alfred smiles superior love On all these innocent vagaries. He'd hate a goose! but yet a dove Ah, much more rare is!

She's anything but dove, good sooth! But she's his dear and only sister: And, had she been a boy, in truth How he'd have missed her.

So, gradually her folly dies, And she'll consent to be just human, When there shines out of girlish eyes The real Woman.

AGNES AT PRAYER

"OUR Father which art in heaven," Little Agnes prays, Though her kneeling is but show, Though she is too young to know All, or half she says. God will hear her, Agnes mild, God will love the innocent child.

"Our Father which art in heaven." She has a father here, Does she think of his kind eyes, Tones that ne'er in anger rise— "Yes, dear," or "No, dear." They will haunt her whole life long Like a sweet pathetic song.

"Our Father which art in heaven," Through thy peaceful prayer, Think of the known father's face, Of his bosom, happy place; Safely sheltered there; And so blessed—long may He bless! Think too of the fatherless.

GOING TO WORK

COME along for the work is ready— Rough it may be, rough, tough and hard— But—fourteen years old—stout, strong and steady, Life's game's beginning, lad!—play your card— Come along.

Mother stands at the door-step crying Well but she has a brave heart too: She'll try to be glad—there's nought like trying, She's proud of having a son like you. Come along.

Young as she is, her hair is whitening, She has ploughed thro' years of sorrow deep, She looks at her boy, and her eyes are brightening, Shame if ever you make them weep! Come along.

Bravo! See how the brown cheek flushes! Ready to work as hard as you can? I have always faith in a boy that blushes, None will blush for him, when he's a man. Come along.

THREE COMPANIONS

WE go on our way together, Baby, and dog, and I; Three merry companions, 'Neath any sort of sky; Blue as her pretty eyes are, Or gray, like his dear old tail; Be it windy, or cloudy, or stormy, Our courage does never fail.

Sometimes the snow lies thickly, Under the hedge-row bleak; Then baby cries "Pretty, pretty," The only word she can speak. Sometimes two rivers of water Run down the muddy lane; Then dog leaps backwards and forwards Barking with might and main.

Baby's a little lady, Dog is a gentleman brave: If he had two legs as you have He'd kneel to her like a slave; As it is he loves and protects her, As dog and gentleman can; I'd rather be a kind doggie I think, than a brute of a man.

THE MOTHERLESS CHILD

SHE was going home down the lonely street, A widow-woman with weary feet And weary eyes that seldom smiled: She had neither mother, sister, nor child. She earned her bread with a patient heart, And ate it quietly and apart, In her silent home from day to day, No one to say her "ay," or "nay."

She was going home without care to haste; What should she haste for? On she paced Through the snowy night so bleak and wild, When she thought she heard the cry of a child, A feeble cry, not of hunger or pain, But just of sorrow. It came again. She stopped—she listened—she almost smiled— "That sounds like a wail of a motherless child."

A house stood open—no soul was there— Her dull, tired feet grew light on the stair; She mounted—entered. One bed on the floor, And Something in it: and close by the door, Watching the stark form, stretched out still, Ignorant knowing not good nor ill, But only a want and a misery wild, Crouched the dead mother's motherless child.

What next? Come say what would you have done Dear children playing about in the sun, Or sitting by pleasant fireside warm, Hearing outside the howling storm? The widow went in and she shut the door, She stayed by the dead an hour or more— And when she went home through the night so wild, She had in her arms a sleeping child.

Now she is old and feeble and dull, But her empty heart is happy and full If her crust be hard and her cottage poor There's a young foot tripping across the floor, Young hands to help her that never tire, And a young voice singing beside the fire; And her tired eyes look as if they smiled,— Childless mother and motherless child.

THE WREN'S NEST

I TOOK the wren's nest;— Heaven forgive me! Its merry architects so small Had scarcely finished their wee hall, That empty still and neat and fair Hung idly in the summer air. The mossy walls, the dainty door, Where Love should enter and explore, And Love sit caroling outside, And Love within chirp multiplied;— I took the wren's nest;— Heaven forgive me!

How many hours of happy pains Through early frosts and April rains, How many songs at eve and morn O'er springing grass and greening corn, Before the pretty house was made! One little minute, only one, And she'll fly back, and find it—gone! I took the wren's nest;— Bird, forgive me!

Thou and thy mate, sans let, sans fear, Ye have before you all the year, And every wood holds nooks for you, In which to sing and build and woo One piteous cry of birdish pain— And ye'll begin your life again, Forgetting quite the lost, lost home In many a busy home to come— But I?—Your wee house keep I must Until it crumble into dust. I took the wren's nest: God forgive me!

A CHILD'S SMILE

A CHILD'S smile—nothing more; Quiet and soft and grave, and seldom seen, Like summer lightning o'er, Leaving the little face again serene.

I think, boy well-beloved, Thine angel, who did grieve to see how far Thy childhood is removed From sports that dear to other children are,

On this pale cheek has thrown The brightness of his countenance, and made A beauty like his own— That, while we see it, we are half afraid,

And marvel, will it stay? Or, long ere manhood, will that angel fair, Departing some sad day, Steal the child-smile and leave the shadow care?

Nay, fear not. As is given Unto this child the father watching o'er, His angel up in heaven Beholds Our Father's face for evermore.

And he will help him bear His burthen, as his father helps him now; So he may come to wear That happy child-smile on an old man's brow.

OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY

A LITTLE bird flew my window by, 'Twixt the level street and the level sky, The level rows of houses tall, The long low sun on the level wall And all that the little bird did say Was, "Over the hills and far away."

A little bird sang behind my chair, From the level line of corn-fields fair, The smooth green hedgerow's level bound Not a furlong off—the horizon's bound, And the level lawn where the sun all day Burns:—"Over the hills and far away."

A little bird sings above my bed, And I know if I could but lift my head I would see the sun set, round and grand, Upon level sea and level sand, While beyond the misty distance gray Is "Over the hills and far away."

I think that a little bird will sing Over a grassy mound, next spring, Where something that once was me, ye'll leave In the level sunshine, morn and eve: But I shall be gone, past night, past day, Over the hills and far away.

THE TWO RAINDROPS

SAID a drop to a drop, "Just look at me! I'm the finest rain-drop you ever did see: I have lived ten seconds at least on my pane; Swelling and filling and swelling again.

"All the little rain-drops unto me run, I watch them and catch them and suck them up each one: All the pretty children stand and at me stare; Pointing with their fingers—'That's the biggest drop there.'"

"Yet you are but a drop," the small drop replied; "I don't myself see much cause for pride: The bigger you swell up,—we know well, my friend,— The faster you run down the sooner you'll end.

"For me, I'm contented outside on my ledge, Hearing the patter of rain in the hedge; Looking at the firelight and the children fair,— Whether they look at me, I'm sure I don't care."

"Sir," cried the first drop, "your talk is but dull; I can't wait to listen, for I'm almost full; You'll run a race with me?—No?—Then 'tis plain I am the largest drop in the whole pane."

Off ran the big drop, at first rather slow: Then faster and faster, as drops will, you know: Raced down the window-pane, like hundreds before, Just reached the window-sill—one splash—and was o'er.

THE YEAR'S END

SO grows the rising year, and so declines By months, weeks, days, unto its peaceful end Even as by slow and ever-varying signs Through childhood, youth, our solemn steps we bend Up to the crown of life, and thence descend.

Great Father, who of every one takest care, From him on whom full ninety years are piled To the young babe, just taught to lisp a prayer About the "Gentle Jesus, meek and mild," Who children loves, being once himself a child,—

O make us day by day like Him to grow; More pure and good, more dutiful and meek; Because He loves those who obey Him so; Because His love is the best thing to seek, Because without His love, all loves are weak,—

All earthly joys are miserable and poor, All earthly goodness quickly droops and dies, Like rootless flowers you plant in gardens—sure That they will flourish—till in mid-day skies The sun burns, and they fade before your eyes.

O God, who art alone the life and light Of this strange world to which as babes we come, Keep Thou us always children in Thy sight: Guide us from year to year, thro' shine and gloom And at our year's end, Father, take us home.

RUNNING AFTER THE RAINBOW

"WHY thus aside your playthings throw, Over the wet lawn hurrying so? Where are you going, I want to know?" "I'm running after the rainbow."

"Little boy, with your bright brown eyes Full of an innocent surprise, Stop a minute, my Arthur wise, What do you want with the rainbow?"

Arthur paused in his headlong race, Turned to his mother his hot, young face, "Mother, I want to reach the place At either end of the rainbow.

"Nurse says, wherever it meets the ground. Such beautiful things may oft be found Buried below, or scattered round, If one can but catch the rainbow.

"O please don't hinder me, mother dear, It will all be gone while I stay here;" So with many a hope and not one fear, The child ran after the rainbow.

Over the damp grass, ankle deep, Clambering up the hilly steep, And the wood where the birds were going to sleep, But he couldn't catch the rainbow.

And when he came out at the wood's far side, The sun was setting in golden pride, There were plenty of clouds all rainbow dyed, But not a sign of the rainbow.

Said Arthur, sobbing, as home he went, "I wish I had thought what mother meant; I wish I had only been content, And not ran after the rainbow."

And as he came sadly down the hill, Stood mother scolding—but smiling still, And hugged him up close, as mothers will: So he quite forgot the rainbow.

DICK AND I

WE'RE going to a party, my brother Dick and I: The best, grandest party we ever did try: And I'm very happy—but Dick is so shy!

I've got a white ball-dress, and flowers in my hair, And a scarf, with a brooch too, mamma let me wear: Silk stockings, and shoes with high heels, I declare!

There is to be music—a real soldier's band: And I mean to waltz, and eat ice, and be fanned, Like a grown-up young lady, the first in the land.

But Dick is so stupid, so silent and shy: Has never learnt dancing, so says he won't try— Yet Dick is both older and wiser than I.

And I'm fond of my brother—this darling old Dick: I'll hunt him in corners wherever he stick, He's bad at a party—but at school he's a brick!

So good at his Latin, at cricket, football, Whatever he tries at. And then he's so tall! Yet at play with the children he's best of us all.

And his going to the party is just to please me, Poor Dick! so good-natured. How dull he will be! But he says I shall dance "like a wave o' the sea."

That's Shakespeare, his Shakespeare, he worships him so. Our Dick he writes poems, though none will he show; I found out his secret, but I won't tell: no, no.

And when he's a great man, a poet you see, O dear! what a proud little sister I'll be; Hark! there comes the carriage. We're off, Dick and me.

GRANDPAPA

GRANDPAPA lives at the end of the lane, His cottage is small and its furniture plain; No pony to ride on, no equipage grand,— A garden, and just half an acre of land; No dainties to dine off, and very few toys,— Yet is grandpapa's house the delight of the boys.

Grandpapa once lived in one little room, Grandpapa worked all day long at his loom: He speaks with queer accent, does dear grandpapa, And not half so well as papa and mamma. The girls think his clothes are a little rough, But the boys all declare they can't love him enough.

A man of the people in manners and mind, Yet so honest, so tender, so clever, so kind: Makes the best of his lot still, where'er it be cast. A sturdy old Englishman, game to the last. Though simple and humble and unknown to fame, It's good luck to the boys to bear grandpapa's name!

MONSIEUR ET MADEMOISELLE.

DEUX petits enfants Francais, Monsieur et Mademoiselle. Of what can they be talking, child? Indeed I cannot tell. But of this I am very certain, You would find naught to blame In that sweet French politeness— I wish we had the same.

Monsieur has got a melon, And scoops it with his knife, While Mademoiselle sits watching him: No rudeness here—no strife: Though could you listen only, They're chattering like two pies— French magpies, understand me— So merry and so wise.

Their floor is bare of carpet, Their curtains are so thin, They dine on meagre potage, and Put many an onion in! Her snow-white caps she irons: He blacks his shoes, he can; Yet she's a little lady And he's a gentleman.

O busy, happy children! That light French heart of yours, Would it might sometimes enter at Our solemn English doors! Would that we worked as gaily, And played, yes, played as well, And lived our lives as simply As Monsieur et Mademoiselle.



YOUNG DANDELION

YOUNG Dandelion On a hedge-side, Said young Dandelion, "Who'll be my bride?

"I'm a bold fellow As ever was seen, With my shield of yellow, In the grass green.

"You may uproot me, From field and from lane, Trample me, cut me,— I spring up again.

"I never flinch, Sir, Wherever I dwell; Give me an inch, Sir. I'll soon take an ell.

"Drive me from garden In anger and pride, I'll thrive and harden By the road-side.

"Not a bit fearful, Showing my face, Always so cheerful In every place."

Said young Dandelion, With a sweet air, "I have my eye on Miss Daisy fair.

"Though we may tarry Till past the cold, Her I will marry Ere I grow old.

"I will protect her From all kinds of harm, Feed her with nectar, Shelter her warm.

"Whate'er the weather, Let it go by; We'll hold together, Daisy and I.

"I'll ne'er give in,—no! Nothing I fear: All that I win, O! I'll keep for my dear."

Said young Dandelion On his hedge-side, "Who'll me rely on? Who'll be my bride?"

A SEPTEMBER ROBIN

MY eyes are full, my silent heart is stirred, Amid these days so bright Of ceaseless warmth and light; Summer that will not die, Autumn, without one sigh O'er sweet hours passing by— Cometh that tender note Out of thy tiny throat, Like grief, or love, insisting to be heard, O little plaintive bird!

No need of word Well know I all your tale—forgotten bird! Soon you and I together Must face the winter weather, Remembering how we sung Our primrose fields among, In days when life was young; Now, all is growing old, And the warm earth's a-cold, Still, with brave heart we'll sing on, little bird, Sing only. Not one word.

* * * * *

Transcriber's Notes:

Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

Text uses both tablecloth and table-cloth.

Page 8, "tidiness,and" changed to "tidiness, and" (liked tidiness, and)

Page 12, "agan" changed to "again" (to the table again)

Page 25, "Gradener" changed to "Gardener" (cried the Gardener)

Page 29, "shown" changed to "shone" (shone with dew)

Page 32, "it" changed to "if" (as if the old)

Page 36, "like" changed to "liked" (liked all young things)

Page 35, "sate" changed to "state" (a pretty state of)

Page 49, "it" changed to "if" (as if there was)

Page 50, "f" changed to "if" (presently, if you)

Page 57, "altogetherwas" changed to "altogether was" (altogether was such)

Page 60, word "a" added to text (it was a bright)

Page 68, "plaee" changed to "place" (place is bewitched)

Page 71, illustration, "suddenl" changed to "suddenly" (ice suddenly broke)

Page 78, "bakset" changed to "basket" (basket is too heavy)

Page 78, "bolws" changed to "blows" (very hard blows)

Page 79, "it" changed to "is" (is; that nasty)

Page 80, "donwward" changed to "downward" (their necks downward)

Page 97, "theives" changed to "thieves" (all young thieves)

Page 99, "fairy a tale" changed to "a fairy tale" (you want a fairy tale)

Page 113, "ma n" changed to "main" (with might and main)

Page 116, "al" changed to "all" (you all the year)

Page 116, "bui d" changed to "build" (build and woo)

Page 116, "du t" changed to "dust" (crumble into dust)

Page 116, "SMIL" changed to "SMILE" (A CHILD'S SMILE)

Page 120, "hedgegrow's" changed to "hedgerow's" (hedgerow's level bound)

THE END