The Child's World Part 34

And dollies peep out of those wee little dreams With laughter and singing; And boats go a-floating on silvery streams, And the stars peek-a-boo with their own misty gleams, And up, up, and up, where the Mother Moon beams, The fairies go winging!

Would you dream all these dreams that are tiny and fleet?

They'll come to you sleeping; So shut the two eyes that are weary, my sweet, For the Rock-a-By Lady from Hushaby street With poppies that hang from her head to her feet, Comes stealing; comes creeping.

--EUGENE FIELD.

THE SANDMAN

The rosy clouds float overhead, The sun is going down; And now the sandman's gentle tread Comes stealing through the town.

"White sand, white sand," he softly cries, And as he shakes his hand, Straightway there lies on babies' eyes His gift of s.h.i.+ning sand.

Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, When he goes through the town.

From sunny beaches far away-- Yes, in another land-- He gathers up at break of day His store of s.h.i.+ning sand.

No tempests beat that sh.o.r.e remote, No s.h.i.+ps may sail that way; His little boat alone may float Within that lovely bay.

Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, When he goes through the town.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The sandman]

He smiles to see the eyelids close Above the happy eyes; And every child right well he knows, Oh, he is very wise!

But, if as he goes through the land, A naughty baby cries, His other hand takes dull gray sand To close the wakeful eyes.

Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, When he goes through the town.

So when you hear the sandman's song Sound through the twilight sweet, Be sure you do not keep him long A-waiting on the street.

Lie softly down, dear little head, Rest quiet, busy hands, Till, by your bed his good-night said, He strews the s.h.i.+ning sands.

Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, When he goes through the town.

--MARGARET VANDERGRIFT.