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I visited his bed；
But found him slumbering deep；
With darkened eyelids； and their lashes yet
From his late sobbing wet。
And I； with moan；
Kissing away his tears； left others of my own；
For； on a table drawn beside his head；
He had put； within his reach；
A box of counters and a red…veined stone；
A piece of glass abraded by the beach；
And six or seven shells；
A bottle with bluebells；
And two French copper coins； ranged there with careful art；
To comfort his sad heart。
So when that night I prayed
To God； I wept； and said：
Ah； when at last we lie with tranced breath；
Not vexing Thee in death；
And Thou rememberest of what toys
We made our joys；
How weakly understood
Thy great commanded good；
Then； fatherly not less
Than I whom Thou hast moulded from the clay；
Thou'lt leave Thy wrath； and say；
〃I will be sorry for their childishness。〃
Coventry Patmore ＇1823…1896＇
A SONG OF TWILIGHT
Oh； to come home once more； when the dusk is falling；
To see the nursery lighted and the children's table spread；
〃Mother； mother； mother！〃 the eager voices calling；
〃The baby was so sleepy that he had to go to bed！〃
Oh； to come home once more； and see the smiling faces；
Dark head； bright head； clustered at the pane；
Much the years have taken； when the heart its path retraces；
But until time is not for me； the image will remain。
Men and women now they are； standing straight and steady；
Grave heart； gay heart； fit for life's emprise；
Shoulder set to shoulder； how should they be but ready！
The future shines before them with the light of their own eyes。
Still each answers to my call； no good has been denied me；
My burdens have been fitted to the little strength that's mine；
Beauty； pride and peace have walked by day beside me；
The evening closes gently in； and how can I repine？
But oh； to see once more； when the early dusk is falling；
The nursery windows glowing and the children's table spread；
〃Mother； mother； mother！〃 the high child voices calling；
〃He couldn't stay awake for you； he had to go to bed！〃
Unknown
LITTLE BOY BLUE
The little toy dog is covered with dust；
But sturdy and stanch he stands；
And the little toy soldier is red with rust；
And his musket moulds in his hands。
Time was when the little toy dog was new；
And the soldier was passing fair；
And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue
Kissed them and put them there。
〃Now； don't you go till I come；〃 he said；
〃And don't you make any noise！〃
So； toddling off to his trundle…bed；
He dreamt of the pretty toys；
And； as he was dreaming； an angel song
Awakened our Little Boy Blue …
Oh！ the years are many； the years are long；
But the little toy friends are true！
Ay； faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand；
Each in the same old place；
Awaiting the touch of a little hand；
The smile of a little face；
And they wonder； as waiting the long years through
In the dust of that little chair；
What has become of our Little Boy Blue；
Since he kissed them and put them there。
Eugene Field ＇1850…1895＇
THE DISCOVERER
I have a little kinsman
Whose earthly summers are but three；
And yet a voyager is he
Greater then Drake or Frobisher；
Than all their peers together！
He is a brave discoverer；
And； far beyond the tether
Of them who seek the frozen Pole；
Has sailed where the noiseless surges roll。
Ay； he has travelled whither
A winged pilot steered his bark
Through the portals of the dark；
Past hoary Mimir's well and tree；
Across the unknown sea。
Suddenly； in his fair young hour；
Came one who bore a flower；
And laid it in his dimpled hand
With this command：
〃Henceforth thou art a rover！
Thou must make a voyage far；
Sail beneath the evening star；
And a wondrous land discover。〃
… With his sweet smile innocent
Our little kinsman went。
Since that time no word
From the absent has been heard。
Who can tell
How he fares； or answer well
What the little one has found
Since he left us； outward bound？
Would that he might return！
Then should we learn
From the pricking of his chart
How the skyey roadways part。
Hush！ does not the baby this way bring；
To lay beside this severed curl；
Some starry offering
Of chrysolite or pearl？
Ah； no！ not so！
We may follow on his track；
But he comes not back。
And yet I dare aver
He is a brave discoverer
Of climes his elders do not know。
He has more learning than appears
On the scroll of twice three thousand years；
More than in the groves is taught；
Or from furthest Indies brought；
He knows； perchance； how spirits fare； …
What shapes the angels wear；
What is their guise and speech
In those lands beyond our reach； …
And his eyes behold
Things that shall never； never be to mortal hearers told。
Edmund Clarence Stedman ＇1833…1908＇
A CHRYSALIS
My little Madchen found one day
A curious something in her play；
That was not fruit； nor flower； nor seed；
It was not anything that grew；
Or crept； or climbed； or swam； or flew；
Had neither legs nor wings； indeed；
And yet she was not sure； she said；
Whether it was alive or dead。
She brought in her tiny hand
To see if I would understand；
And wondered when I made reply；
〃You've found a baby butterfly。〃
〃A butterfly is not like this；〃
With doubtful look she answered me。
So then I told her what would be
Some day within the chrysalis；
How； slowly； in the dull brown thing
Now still as death； a spotted wing；
And then another； would unfold；
Till from the empty shell would fly
A pretty creature； by and by；
All radiant in blue and gold。
〃And will it； truly？〃 questioned she …
Her laughing lips and eager eyes
All in a sparkle of surprise …
〃And shall your little Madchen see？〃
〃She shall！ I said。 How could I tell
That ere the worm within its shell
Its gauzy； splendid wings had spread；
My little Madchen would be dead？
To…day the butterfly has flown； …
She was not here to see it fly； …
And sorrowing I wonder why
The empty shell is mine alone。
Perhaps the secret lies in this：
I too had found a chrysalis；
And Death that robbed me of delight
Was but the radiant creature's flight！
Mary Emily Bradley ＇1835…1898＇
MATER DOLOROSA
I'd a dream to…night
As I fell asleep；
O！ the touching sight
Makes me still to weep：
Of my little lad；
Gone to leave me sad；
Ay； the child I had；
But was not to keep。
As in heaven high；
I my child did seek；
There in train came by
Children fair and meek；
Each in lily white；
With a lamp alight；
Each was clear to sight；
But they did not speak。
Then； a little sad；
Came my child in turn；
But the lamp he had；
O it did not burn！
He； to clear my doubt；
Said； half…turned about；
〃Your tears put it out；
Mother； never mourn。〃
William Barnes ＇1801…1886＇
THE