A boy of my own age, across the aisle,
Ev’ry now and then would look at me and smile;
Then after school, he came to my side;
“You Greenhorn; you Greenhorn,” loudly he cried.
I ran home like a deer—for I felt such shame,
This, the first day in school, and be called a bad name.
I tip-toed quietly and whispered in mother’s ear,
For I didn’t want little sister such naughty words to hear.
But after this day, I had never a fear,
For she said little fairies are always near
To protect little children from danger they keep,
Even at night when they are asleep.
Baby.
I’m just a little baby, I pray you let me sleep;
Please let me have my own way, for I don’t want to weep.
I love to lay and stretch, of Heav’n I love to think,
That sunny home I came from; just one more little wink.
Don’t take me in your arms, and keep on rocking me;
That I should be a good child, no reason I can see;
Don’t sing so loud, my pink ears are tender little things,
But like a little goldfinch a-flopping of its wings.
Don’t kiss me on my lips, do kiss me on my hair;
And, if you’ll turn my head around you’ll find a bald spot there;
And when folks come to call, then please don’t dress me up
In that long white dress, that’s starched from the bottom up to the top.
And use a soft cloth on my face;
It need not be of finest lace.
And don’t come near my nose or eyes,
Dat’s why little folks like me cries;
But lay me tenderly in my crib to rest,
To grow, and coo—I love that best.
Jack’s Christmas.
Santa is coming, now Jack, go to bed;
It’s freezing outdoors, so cover your head.
The wind is howling, the ground is all white,
’Twill be a real Christmas, it may snow all night.
Poor Santa will come, with a bound and a hop,
For he has great stores in his big Christmas shop.
He has rocking horses, balls and tops galore;
The better the boy, so much the more
Will he get, for Santa loves good boys—none that are bad.