Halloween Cats

Halloween Cats

Black cats, of season
Halloween,
You are the queerest I
have seen.

In pose, you're somewhat
like a curtain,
But that you're casts, I'm
still quite certain.

Your figures, rather
Oriental,
Would stamp you purely
ornamental.

No rat or bird such cats
would shun,
From you no smallest mouse would run.

For this, I love you, gentle
creatures,
And much admire your pleasant features.

Choosing A Name

Name a doll of your very own!

Choosing A Name

by Charles Lamb

I have got a new-born sister;

I was nigh the first that kissed her.

When the nursing woman brought her

To papa, his infant daughter,

How papa's dear eyes did glisten!

She will shortly be to christen:

And papa has made the offer,

I shall have the naming of her.

Now I wonder what would please her,

Charlotte, Julia, or Louisa.

Ann and Mary, they're too common;

Joan's too formal for a woman;

Jane's a prettier name beside;

But we had a Jane that died.

They would say, if 'twas Rebecca,

That she was a little Quaker.

Edith's pretty, but that looks

Better in old English books;

Ellen's left off long ago;

Blanche is out of fashion

now.

None that I have named as yet

Are as good as Margaret.

Emily is neat and fine.

What do you think of Caroline?

How I am puzzled and perplexed

What to choose or think of next!

I am in a little fever.

Lest the name that I shall give her

Should disgrace her or defame her
I will leave papa to name her. 

The Mist and All

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The Mist and All by Dixie Willson

I like the fall,

The mist and all.

I like the night owl's

Lonely call--

And wailing sound 

Of wind around.

I like the gray

November day,

And bare, dead boughs

That coldly sway

Against my pane.

I like the rain.

I like to sti

And laugh at it--

And tend

My cozy fire a bit.

I like the fall--

The mist and all--

Shadows

Dance shadows, dance to us, bow to us so;

Come as we come to you; go when we go;

Grow big and little; grow short and grow tall;

You shadows that live on the side of the wall.

Fly shadow, fly from us; fast as we run,

You cannot go from us while there is sun;

Bob up and down again; fall when we fall;

You shadows that live on the side of the wall.

Hide shadows, hide from us; sun's in a cloud,

You will not play then, you're growing too proud.

Ah! there you come out, first one, and then all;

You shadows that live on the side of the wall.

Play shadows, play with us, just as we say,

Mock if you will, you cannot run away,

We are quite sure you will come when we call;

You shadows that live on the side of the wall.

Shadows, good-bye to you, we'll come again,

To-morrow, perhaps, if it does not rain,

There is no finding you, when rain-drops fall;

You shadows that live on the side of the wall.

Poem by Amy Ella Blanchard

Cold Water

Here's water! cold water!

'Tis better than wine.

I drink to your health,

You drink to mine.

See how it glitters

And sparkles so clear.

How men can be drunkards

Seems to me very queer.

Clear water, cold water,

Is good for us all,

The soldiers and sailors,

The great and the small.

Brave lads and fair lasses,

Be you ever so fine,

There is nothing like water

For your health and mine.

Bessie's Knitting

Little Bessie busy knitting.

Tell me why?

On and on the ever-flitting

Hours go by;

Fleeter still her hands are flying

All so spry;

The soft twilight now is dying;

Night is nigh.

Can you tell me why she lingers

Here so long

'Tis love that prompts her nimble fingers

And her song;

Sweet thoughts of baby sister flocking 

Through her mind,

In the morning a new stocking

Baby'll find.

Josephus Hyde And His Sinful Pride

Josephus loved to strut, and cry:

"No boy in town is rich as I!"

And vainly both his aunties tried

To break him of such foolish pride.

His little playmates, in delight,

Made fun of him with all their might,

While he pretended not to see

Or sneered at them unpleasantly.

At length misfortunes came, -- and left

Josephus of his wealth bereft!

He made his way, -- but first of all

He learned: -- Pride goes before a fall!

by Elizabeth Kirkman Fitzhugh.