A Book for Kids

A very charming gentleman, as old as old could be, Stared a while, and glared a while, and then he said to me: Read your books, and heed your books, and put your books away, For you will surely need your books upon a later day. And then he wheezed and then he sneezed, and gave me such a look. And he said, Mark--ME--boy! Be careful of your book. A very charming gentleman, indeed, he seemed to be. He heaved a sigh and wiped his eye, and then he said to me: Take your books and make your books companions--never toys; For they who so forsake their books grow into gawky boys. I don't know who he was. Do you? he snuffled at the end; And he said, Mark--ME--boy! Your book should be your friend.
DEDICATION To all good children over four And under four-and-eighty Be you not over-prone to pore On matters grave and weighty. Mayhap you'll find within this book Some touch of Youth's rare clowning, If you will condescend to look And not descend to frowning. The mind of one small boy may hold Odd fancies and inviting, To guide a hand unsure and old That moves, these days, to writing. For hair once bright, in days of yore, Grows grey (or somewhat slaty), And now, alas, he's over four, Though under four-and-eighty.

THE BAKER
I'd like to be a baker, and come when morning breaks, Calling out, Beeay-ko! (that's the sound he makes)-- Riding in a rattle-cart that jogs and jolts and shakes, Selling all the sweetest things a baker ever bakes; Currant-buns and brandy-snaps, pastry all in flakes; But I wouldn't be a baker if . . . I couldn't eat the cakes. Would you? THE DAWN DANCE What do you think I saw to-day when I arose at dawn? Blue Wrens and Yellow-tails dancing on the lawn! Bobbing here, and bowing there, gossiping away, And how I wished that you were there to see the merry play! But you were snug abed, my boy, blankets to your chin, Nor dreamed of dancing birds without or sunbeams dancing in. Grey Thrush, he piped the tune for them. I peeped out through the glass Between the window curtains, and I saw them on the grass-- Merry little fairy folk, dancing up and down, Blue bonnet, yellow skirt, cloaks of grey and brown, Underneath the wattle-tree, silver in the dawn, Blue Wrens and Yellow-tails dancing on the lawn.