Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories Part 21

THE UNSEEN PLAYMATE

When children are playing alone on the green, In comes the playmate that never was seen.

When children are happy and lonely and good, The Friend of the Children comes out of the wood.

n.o.body heard him and n.o.body saw, His is a picture you never could draw, But he's sure to be present, abroad or at home, When children are happy, and playing alone.

He lies in the laurels, he runs on the gra.s.s, He sings when you tinkle the musical gla.s.s; Whene'er you are happy and cannot tell why, The Friend of the Children is sure to be by!

He loves to be little, he hates to be big, 'Tis he that inhabits the caves that you dig; 'Tis he when you play with your soldiers of tin That sides with the Frenchmen and never can win.

'Tis he when at night; you go off to your bed, Bids you go to your sleep and not trouble your head; For wherever they're lying, in cupboard or shelf, 'Tis he will take care of your playthings himself!

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

I SAW THREE s.h.i.+PS

I saw three s.h.i.+ps come sailing in, On Christmas day, on Christmas day; I saw three s.h.i.+ps come sailing in, On Christmas day in the morning.

Pray whither sailed those s.h.i.+ps all three On Christmas day, on Christmas day?

Pray whither sailed those s.h.i.+ps all three On Christmas day in the morning?

Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem On Christmas day, on Christmas day; Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring On Christmas day, on Christmas day; And all the bells on earth shall ring On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the angels in heaven shall sing On Christmas day, on Christmas day; And all the angels in heaven shall sing On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the souls on earth shall sing On Christmas day, on Christmas day; And all the souls on earth shall sing On Christmas day in the morning.

OLD CAROL

A WAS AN ANT

A was an ant Who seldom stood still, And who made a nice house In the side of a hill.

a Nice little ant!

B was a book With a binding of blue, And pictures and stories For me and for you.

b Nice little book!

C was a cat Who ran after a rat; But his courage did fail When she seized on his tail.

c Crafty old cat!

D was a duck With spots on his back, Who lived in the water, And always said "Quack!"

d Dear little duck!

E was an elephant, Stately and wise: He had tusks and a trunk, And two queer little eyes, e Oh, what funny small eyes!

F was a fish Who was caught in a net; But he got out again, And is quite alive yet.

f Lively young fis.h.!.+

G was a goat Who was spotted with brown: When he did not lie still He walked up and down.

g Good little goat!

H was a hat Which was all on one side; Its crown was too high, And its brim was too wide.

h Oh, what a hat!

I was some ice So white and so nice, But which n.o.body tasted; And so it was wasted.

i All that good ice!

J was a jackdaw Who hopped up and dowa In the princ.i.p.al street Of a neighboring town.

j All through the town!

K was a kite Which flew out of sight, Above houses so high, Quite into the sky.

k Fly away, kite!

L was a light Which burned all the night, And lighted the gloom Of a very dark room.

l Useful nice light!

M was a mill Which stood on a hill, And turned round and round With a loud hummy sound.

m Useful old mill!

N was a net Which was thrown in the sea To catch fish for dinner For you and for me.

n Nice little net!

O was an orange So yellow and round: When it fell off the tree, It fell down to the ground; o Down to the ground!

P was a pig, Who was not very big; But his tail was too curly, And that made him surly.

p Cross little pig!

Q was a quail With a very short tail; And he fed upon corn In the evening and morn.

q Quaint little quail!

R was a rabbit, Who had a bad habit Of eating the flowers In gardens and bowers.