He said to mother, "My teeth shut with a noise when I went down."
Mother said, "It is lucky that your tongue was not in the way. You would have bitten it badly."
"Come in now, both of you. You must wash your hands and faces. Father will be home soon. You may play in the leaves to-morrow."
HOW THE LEAVES CAME DOWN[1]
I'll tell you how the leaves came down.
The great Tree to his children said,
"You're getting sleepy, Yellow and Brown,
Yes, very sleepy, little Red;
It is quite time you went to bed."
"Ah!" begged each silly, pouting leaf,
"Let us a little longer stay;
Dear Father Tree, behold our grief;
'Tis such a very pleasant day
We do not want to go away."
So, just for one more merry day
To the great Tree the leaflets clung,
Frolicked and danced and had their way,
Upon the autumn breezes swung,
Whispering all their sports among,—
"Perhaps the great Tree will forget,
And let us stay until the spring,
If we all beg and coax and fret."
But the great Tree did no such thing;
He smiled to hear their whispering.