Why, I see her now in the open door,
Where the little gourds grew up the sides and o’er

The clapboard roof!—­And her face—­ah, me! 
Wasn’t it good for a boy to see
     Out to Old Aunt Mary’s?

And, O, my brother, so far away,
This is to tell you she waits to-day
To welcome us:—­Aunt Mary fell
Asleep this morning, whispering, “Tell
The boys to come!” And all is well
     Out to Old Aunt Mary’s. 
          James Whitcomb Riley.

CHILD VERSE.

My shadow.

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.  He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head; And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to
     grow—­
Not at all like proper children which is always very
     slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber
     ball,
And he sometimes gets so little that there’s none of
     him at all.

He hasn’t got a notion of how children ought to play, And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.  He stays so close beside me, he’s a coward you can see; I’d think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

One morning very early, before the sun was up, I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup; But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head, Had stayed at home behind me, and was fast asleep in bed.

The swing.

How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue? 
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the country side.

Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown—­
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

The lamplighter.

My tea is nearly ready and the sun has left the sky; It’s time to take the window to see Leerie going by; For every night at teatime and before you take your seat, With lantern and with ladder he comes posting up the street.

Now Tom would be a driver, and Maria go to sea,
And my papa’s a banker and as rich as he can be;
But I, when I am stronger and can choose what I’m to do,
O Leerie, I’ll go round at night and light the lamps
     with you!

For we are very lucky, with a lamp before the door,
And Leerie stops to light it as he lights so many more;
And Oh, before you hurry by with ladder and with light,
O Leerie, see a little child and nod to him to-night!

          RobertLouis Stevenson.

Waiting.

Serene, I fold my hands and wait,
Nor care for wind, or tide, or sea;
I rave no more ’gainst time or fate,
For lo! my own shall come to me.