Types of Children's Literature Part 4

Little lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee, Gave thee life and bade thee feed By the stream and o'er the mead; Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing, woolly, bright, Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice?

Little lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Little lamb, I'll tell thee; Little lamb, I'll tell thee.

He is called by thy name, For He calls himself a Lamb.

He is meek, and He is mild; He became a little child.

I a child, and thou a lamb, We are called by His name.

Little lamb, G.o.d bless thee!

Little lamb, G.o.d bless thee!

LAUGHING SONG

When the green wood laughs with the voice of joy, And the dimpling stream runs laughing by; When the air does laugh with our merry wit, And the green hill laughs with the noise of it;

When the meadows laugh with lively green, And the gra.s.shopper laughs in the merry scene; When Mary, and Susan, and Emily With their sweet round mouths sing, "Ha ha he!"

When the painted birds laugh in the shade, When our table with cherries and nuts is spread; Come live, and be merry, and join with me, To sing the sweet chorus of "Ha ha he!"

CHRISTINA ROSSETTI

THE WIND

Who has seen the wind?

Neither you nor I But when the leaves hang trembling The wind is pa.s.sing by.

Who has seen the wind?

Neither you nor I But when the trees bow down their heads The wind is pa.s.sing by.

THE CITY MOUSE AND THE GARDEN MOUSE

The city mouse lives in a house;-- The garden mouse lives in a bower, He's friendly with the frogs and toads, And sees the pretty plants in flower.

The city mouse eats bread and cheese;-- The garden mouse eats what he can; We will not grudge him seeds and stalks, Poor little timid furry man.

LULLABY

Lullaby, oh, lullaby!

Flowers are closed and lambs are sleeping; Lullaby, oh, lullaby!

Stars are up, the moon is peeping; Lullaby, oh, lullaby!

While the birds are silence keeping, Lullaby, oh, lullaby!

Sleep, my baby, fall a-sleeping, Lullaby, oh, lullaby!

THE SISTERS

Sing me a song-- What shall I sing?-- Three merry sisters Dancing in a ring, Light and fleet upon their feet As birds upon the wing.

Tell me a tale-- What shall I tell?-- Two mournful sisters, And a tolling knell, Tolling ding and tolling dong, Ding dong bell.

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

THE WIND

I saw you toss the kites on high And blow the birds about the sky; And all around I heard you pa.s.s, Like ladies' skirts across the gra.s.s-- O wind, a-blowing all day long, O wind, that sings so loud a song!

I saw the different things you did, But always you yourself you hid.

I felt you push, I heard you call, I could not see yourself at all-- O wind, a-blowing all day long, O wind, that sings so loud a song!

O you that are so strong and cold!

O blower, are you young or old?

Are you a beast of field and tree, Or just a stronger child than me?

O wind, a-blowing all day long, O wind, that sings so loud a song!

WINDY NIGHTS

Whenever the moon and stars are set, Whenever the wind is high, All night long in the dark and wet, A man goes riding by.

Late in the night when the fires are out, Why does he gallop and gallop about?

Whenever the trees are crying aloud, And s.h.i.+ps are tossed at sea, By, on the highway, low and loud, By at the gallop goes he; By at the gallop he goes, and then By he comes back at the gallop again.