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.