Chapter 4

JULY TWENTIETHLove that lives and stands up recreated,Then when life has ebbed and anguish fled,Love more strong than death or all things fated,Child's and mother's, lit by love and led.SwinburneJULY TWENTY-FIRSTLet us live with our children; so shall their livesbring peace and joy to us; so shall we begin to beand to become wise.FroebelJULY TWENTY-SECONDAnd thou, my boy, that silent at my knee,Dost lift to mine thy soft, dark, earnest eyes,Filled with the love of childhood, which I see,Pure through its depths, a thing without disguise.HemansJULY TWENTY-THIRDTurning to mirth all things of earth,As only boyhood can.HoodJULY TWENTY-FOURTHA tiny thing,Whom, when it slept, the lovely mother nursedWith reverent love; whom, when it woke she fedAnd wondered at, and lost herself in longRapture of watching and contentment deep.Jean IngelowJULY TWENTY-FIFTHBut more sweetShone lower the loveliest lamp for earthly feet,The light of little children and their love.SwinburneJULY TWENTY-SIXTHFull often it falls out, by fortune from God,That a man and a maid may marry in this world,Find cheer in the child whom they nourish and care forTenderly tend it until the time comes,Beyond the first years, when, the young limbs increasing,Grown firm with life's fulness, are formed for their work;Fond father and mother so guide it and feed it,Give gifts to it, clothe it: God only can knowWhat lot to its latter days life has to bring.Anglo-Saxon PoemJULY TWENTY-SEVENTHBut children holds he dearest of the dear.IngemannJULY TWENTY-EIGHTHBrightest and hardiest of roses anear and afar,Glitters the blithe little face of you, round as a star;Liberty bless you and keep you to be as you are.SwinburneJULY TWENTY-NINTHWe could not wish her whiter—herWho perfumed with pure blossomThe house—a lovely thing to wearUpon a mother's bosom.Mrs. BrowningJULY THIRTIETHThe gracious boy, who did adornThe world whereunto he was born,And by his countenance repayThe favor of the loving day.EmersonJULY THIRTY-FIRSTYet the hearts must childlike be,Where such heavenly guests abide;Unto children in their glee,All the year is Christmas-tide.Lewis CarrollAUGUSTAUGUST FIRSTWeave him a beautiful dream, little breeze!Little leaves, nestle around him!He will remember the song of the trees,When age with silver has crowned him.Rock-a-bye baby, wake by and by,Rock-a-bye.Lucy LarcomAUGUST SECONDThou art thy mother's glass and she in theeCalls back the lovely April of her prime.ShakespeareAUGUST THIRDBut surely, the just sky will never winkAt men who take delight in childish throe,And stripe the nether urchin like a pink.HoodAUGUST FOURTHHappy he!With such a mother, faith in womankindBeats with his blood, and trust in all things highComes easy to him.TennysonAUGUST FIFTHI have not so far left the coasts of lifeTo travel inland, that I cannot hearThat murmur of the outer InfiniteWhich unweaned babies smile at in their sleep,When wondered at for smiling.Mrs. BrowningAUGUST SIXTHIn rearing a child think of its old age.JoubertAUGUST SEVENTHWhither went the lovely hoyden?Disappeared in blessed wife,Servant to a wooden cradle,Living in a baby's life.EmersonAUGUST EIGHTHAnd yet methinks she looks so calm and good,God must be with her in her solitude.Hartley ColeridgeAUGUST NINTHChildish unconsciousness is rest in God.FroebelAUGUST TENTHThe seasons of the year did swiftly whirl,They measured time by one small life alone.Jean IngelowAUGUST ELEVENTHOh, my own baby on my knee,My leaping, dimpled treasure.Mrs. BrowningAUGUST TWELFTHCrazy with laughter and babble and earth's new wine,Now that the flower of a year and a half are thine,O, little blossom, O mine and of mine!Glorious poet who never has written a line!TennysonAUGUST THIRTEENTHOn the lapOf his mother, as he standsStretching out his tiny hands,And his little lips the while,Half-open, on his father smile.CatullusAUGUST FOURTEENTHBut the breezes of childish laughter,And the light in a baby's eye,To the homeliest road bring a freshnessAs free as the blue of the sky.Lucy LarcomAUGUST FIFTEENTHMy little ones kissed me a thousand times o'er.CampbellAUGUST SIXTEENTHFor all its warm, sweet body seems one smileAnd mere men's love too vile to meet it.SwinburneAUGUST SEVENTEENTHA child of light, a radiant lass,And gamesome as the morning air.Jean IngelowAUGUST EIGHTEENTHShall we never cease to stamp human nature, evenin childhood, like coins.FroebelAUGUST NINETEENTHMy business is to suck, and sleep, and flingThe cradle clothes about me all day long,Or, half asleep, hear my sweet mother sing,And to be washt in water clean and warm,And husht and kist and kept secure from harm.ShelleyAUGUST TWENTIETHGolden slumbers kiss your eyes,Smiles awake you when you rise:Sleep pretty wantons, do not cry,And I will sing a lullaby.Rock them, rock them, lullaby.Thomas DekkerAUGUST TWENTY-FIRSTAs the moon on the lake's face flashes,So, happy may gleam, at whiles,A dream through the dear deep lashesWhereunder a child's eye smiles.SwinburneAUGUST TWENTY-SECONDChildhood was the bough, where slumberedBirds and blossoms many-numbered.LongfellowAUGUST TWENTY-THIRDTo the royal soul of a babyOne fairy realm is the earth.Lucy LarcomAUGUST TWENTY-FOURTHSo rounds he to a separate mindFrom which clear memory may begin.TennysonAUGUST TWENTY-FIFTHI dream of those two little ones at play,Making the threshold vocal with their cries,Half tears, half laughter, mingled sport and strife,Like two flowers blown together by the wind.Victor HugoAUGUST TWENTY-SIXTHThat woman's toy,A baby!Mrs. BrowningAUGUST TWENTY-SEVENTHPerpetual care and joy of our life, our despoticflatterers, greedy for the very least pleasure, franklyselfish, instinctively sure of their too legitimateindependence—children are our masters, no matterhow firm we may pretend to be with them.George SandAUGUST TWENTY-EIGHTHAnd now, the rosy children come to play,And romp and struggle with the new-mown hay;Their clear high voices sound from far away.Edmund GosseAUGUST TWENTY-NINTHFor the house that was childless awhile, and thelight of it darkened, and the pulse of it dwindled,Rings radiant again with a child's bright feet,with the light of his face is rekindled.SwinburneAUGUST THIRTIETHMy teachers are the children themselves, withall their purity, their innocence, theirunconsciousness and their irresistible charms.FroebelAUGUST THIRTY-FIRSTWomen-folks said she was like her father—men-folkssaid she was like her mother—but the wisestpeople always said she was like us both.From "The Finest Baby in the World"SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER FIRSTPreserve him from the bad teacher, forthe unfortunate and road-lost one will makehim as himself.Sa'diSEPTEMBER SECONDAll unkissed by innocent beauty,All unloved by guileless heart,All uncheered by sweetest duty,Childless man how poor thou art!TupperSEPTEMBER THIRDWe cannot measure the needOf even the tiniest flower,Nor check the flow of the golden sandsThat run through a single hour.But the morning dew must fallAnd the sun and the summer rainMust do their part, and perform it allOver and over again.Josephine PollardSEPTEMBER FOURTHWhen you stood up in the houseWith your little childish feet,And, in touching life's first shows,First the touch of love did meet.Mrs. BrowningSEPTEMBER FIFTHEven as a child that after piningFor the sweet absent mother, hearsHer voice, and round her neck, entwiningYoung arms, vents all its soul in tears.SchillerSEPTEMBER SIXTHWho takes the children on his knee,And winds their curls about his hand.TennysonSEPTEMBER SEVENTHHe's such a kicking, crowing, wakeful rogue,He almost wears our lives out with his noise,Just at day-dawning when we wish to sleep.Jean IngelowSEPTEMBER EIGHTHHappy little children, skies are bright above you,Trees bend down to kiss you, breeze and blossom love you.Lucy LarcomSEPTEMBER NINTHA baby's eyes ere speech begins;Ere lips learn words or sighs,Bless all things bright enough to winA baby's eyes.SwinburneSEPTEMBER TENTHSome day you'll knowHow closely to one's heart a son can cling.RacineSEPTEMBER ELEVENTHThy sports, thy wanderings, when a child,Were ever in the sylvan wild,And all the beauty of the placeIs in thy heart and on thy face.BryantReprinted from Bryant's Complete Poetical Works by permission of D. Appleton & Co.SEPTEMBER TWELFTHIt was a childish ignorance,But now 't is little joyTo know I'm farther off from heavenThan when I was a boy.HoodSEPTEMBER THIRTEENTHSweet babe! True portrait of thy father's face,Sleep on the bosom that thy lips have pressed!Sleep little one; and closely, gently placeThy drowsy eyelids on thy mother's breast.LongfellowSEPTEMBER FOURTEENTHThat land of glorious mysteryWhither we all are wending,A lonely sort of heaven will be,If there no baby-familyAwait my love and tending.Lucy LarcomSEPTEMBER FIFTEENTHWhat note of song have weFit for the birds and theeFair nestling couched beneath the mother-dove?SwinburneSEPTEMBER SIXTEENTHThou closely clingest to thy mother's arms,Nestling thy little face in that fond breastWhose anxious heavings lull thee to thy rest!Man's breathing miniature.S. T. ColeridgeSEPTEMBER SEVENTEENTHA lisping voice and glancing eyes are near,And ever restless feet of one, who nowGathers the blossoms of her fourth bright year.BryantReprinted from Bryant's Complete Poetical Works by permission of D. Appleton & Co.SEPTEMBER EIGHTEENTHOnce was she wealthy, with small cares,And small hands clinging to her knees.Lizette Woodworth ReeseSEPTEMBER NINETEENTHI, a woman, wife and mother,What have I to do with art?Are ye not my noblest pictures,Portraits painted from my heart?Margaret J. PrestonSEPTEMBER TWENTIETHIt was a little Child who swungWide back that city's portalsWhere hearts remain forever young;And all things good and pure among,Shall childhood be immortal.Lucy LarcomSEPTEMBER TWENTY-FIRSTThe mother, with sweet pious face,Turns toward her little children from her seat,Gives one a kiss, another an embrace,Takes this upon her knees, that upon her feet:And, while from actions, looks, complaints, pretences,She learns their feelings and their various will,To this a look, to that a word dispenses,And, whether stern or smiling, loves them still.FilicaiaSEPTEMBER TWENTY-SECONDA living book is mine—In age three years: in it I read no lies,In it to myriad truths I find the clue—A tender little child; but I divineThoughts high as Dante's in her clear blue eyes.Maurice Francis EganSEPTEMBER TWENTY-THIRDThat pure shrineOf childhood, though my love be trueIs hidden from my dim confine.Author unknownSEPTEMBER TWENTY-FOURTHTheir glance might cast out pain and sin,Their speech make dumb the wise;By mute glad Godhead felt withinA baby's eyes.SwinburneSEPTEMBER TWENTY-FIFTHLulla-lo! to the rise and fall of mother's bosom't is sleep has bound you,And oh, my child, what cosier nest for rosier restcould love have found you?Sleep, baby dear,Sleep without fear:Mother's two arms are clasped around you.Alfred Percival GatesSEPTEMBER TWENTY-SIXTHAnd if no clustering swarm of beesOn thy sweet mouth distilled their golden dew,'T was that such vulgar miraclesHeaven had not leisure to renew:For all the blest fraternity of loveSolemnized there thy birth, and kept thy holiday above.John DrydenSEPTEMBER TWENTY-SEVENTHSublimity always is simpleBoth in sermon and song, a child can seize on the meaning.LongfellowSEPTEMBER TWENTY-EIGHTHTake thy joy and revel in it,Living through each golden minute,Trusting God who gave you thisBaby child to love and kiss.From "The Finest Baby in the World"SEPTEMBER TWENTY-NINTHStill smile at even on the bedded child,And close his eyelids with thy silver wand.HoodSEPTEMBER THIRTIETHOf such is the kingdom of heaven,No glory that ever was shedFrom the crowning star of the sevenThat crown the North world's head,No word that ever was spokenOf human or godlike tongueGave ever such godlike tokenSince human harps were strung.SwinburneOCTOBEROCTOBER FIRSTLittle lamb, asleep and still,God protect thee from all ill;Those who love thee ne'er can beFree from pain in loving thee.From "The Finest Baby in the World"OCTOBER SECONDThen, when Mamma goes by to bed,She shall come in with tiptoe tread,And see me lying warm and fastAnd in the land of Nod at last.Robert Louis Stevenson

JULY TWENTIETH

Love that lives and stands up recreated,Then when life has ebbed and anguish fled,Love more strong than death or all things fated,Child's and mother's, lit by love and led.Swinburne

Love that lives and stands up recreated,Then when life has ebbed and anguish fled,Love more strong than death or all things fated,Child's and mother's, lit by love and led.Swinburne

Love that lives and stands up recreated,

Then when life has ebbed and anguish fled,

Love more strong than death or all things fated,

Child's and mother's, lit by love and led.

Swinburne

Swinburne

JULY TWENTY-FIRST

Let us live with our children; so shall their livesbring peace and joy to us; so shall we begin to beand to become wise.Froebel

Let us live with our children; so shall their livesbring peace and joy to us; so shall we begin to beand to become wise.Froebel

Let us live with our children; so shall their lives

bring peace and joy to us; so shall we begin to be

and to become wise.

Froebel

Froebel

JULY TWENTY-SECOND

And thou, my boy, that silent at my knee,Dost lift to mine thy soft, dark, earnest eyes,Filled with the love of childhood, which I see,Pure through its depths, a thing without disguise.Hemans

And thou, my boy, that silent at my knee,Dost lift to mine thy soft, dark, earnest eyes,Filled with the love of childhood, which I see,Pure through its depths, a thing without disguise.Hemans

And thou, my boy, that silent at my knee,

Dost lift to mine thy soft, dark, earnest eyes,

Filled with the love of childhood, which I see,

Pure through its depths, a thing without disguise.

Hemans

Hemans

JULY TWENTY-THIRD

Turning to mirth all things of earth,As only boyhood can.Hood

Turning to mirth all things of earth,As only boyhood can.Hood

Turning to mirth all things of earth,

As only boyhood can.

Hood

Hood

JULY TWENTY-FOURTH

A tiny thing,Whom, when it slept, the lovely mother nursedWith reverent love; whom, when it woke she fedAnd wondered at, and lost herself in longRapture of watching and contentment deep.Jean Ingelow

A tiny thing,Whom, when it slept, the lovely mother nursedWith reverent love; whom, when it woke she fedAnd wondered at, and lost herself in longRapture of watching and contentment deep.Jean Ingelow

A tiny thing,

A tiny thing,

Whom, when it slept, the lovely mother nursed

With reverent love; whom, when it woke she fed

And wondered at, and lost herself in long

Rapture of watching and contentment deep.

Jean Ingelow

Jean Ingelow

Jean Ingelow

JULY TWENTY-FIFTH

But more sweetShone lower the loveliest lamp for earthly feet,The light of little children and their love.Swinburne

But more sweetShone lower the loveliest lamp for earthly feet,The light of little children and their love.Swinburne

But more sweet

But more sweet

Shone lower the loveliest lamp for earthly feet,

The light of little children and their love.

Swinburne

Swinburne

Swinburne

JULY TWENTY-SIXTH

Full often it falls out, by fortune from God,That a man and a maid may marry in this world,Find cheer in the child whom they nourish and care forTenderly tend it until the time comes,Beyond the first years, when, the young limbs increasing,Grown firm with life's fulness, are formed for their work;Fond father and mother so guide it and feed it,Give gifts to it, clothe it: God only can knowWhat lot to its latter days life has to bring.Anglo-Saxon Poem

Full often it falls out, by fortune from God,That a man and a maid may marry in this world,Find cheer in the child whom they nourish and care forTenderly tend it until the time comes,Beyond the first years, when, the young limbs increasing,Grown firm with life's fulness, are formed for their work;Fond father and mother so guide it and feed it,Give gifts to it, clothe it: God only can knowWhat lot to its latter days life has to bring.Anglo-Saxon Poem

Full often it falls out, by fortune from God,

That a man and a maid may marry in this world,

Find cheer in the child whom they nourish and care for

Tenderly tend it until the time comes,

Beyond the first years, when, the young limbs increasing,

Grown firm with life's fulness, are formed for their work;

Fond father and mother so guide it and feed it,

Give gifts to it, clothe it: God only can know

What lot to its latter days life has to bring.

Anglo-Saxon Poem

Anglo-Saxon Poem

JULY TWENTY-SEVENTH

But children holds he dearest of the dear.Ingemann

But children holds he dearest of the dear.Ingemann

But children holds he dearest of the dear.

Ingemann

Ingemann

JULY TWENTY-EIGHTH

Brightest and hardiest of roses anear and afar,Glitters the blithe little face of you, round as a star;Liberty bless you and keep you to be as you are.Swinburne

Brightest and hardiest of roses anear and afar,Glitters the blithe little face of you, round as a star;Liberty bless you and keep you to be as you are.Swinburne

Brightest and hardiest of roses anear and afar,

Glitters the blithe little face of you, round as a star;

Liberty bless you and keep you to be as you are.

Swinburne

Swinburne

JULY TWENTY-NINTH

We could not wish her whiter—herWho perfumed with pure blossomThe house—a lovely thing to wearUpon a mother's bosom.Mrs. Browning

We could not wish her whiter—herWho perfumed with pure blossomThe house—a lovely thing to wearUpon a mother's bosom.Mrs. Browning

We could not wish her whiter—her

Who perfumed with pure blossom

The house—a lovely thing to wear

Upon a mother's bosom.

Mrs. Browning

Mrs. Browning

JULY THIRTIETH

The gracious boy, who did adornThe world whereunto he was born,And by his countenance repayThe favor of the loving day.Emerson

The gracious boy, who did adornThe world whereunto he was born,And by his countenance repayThe favor of the loving day.Emerson

The gracious boy, who did adorn

The world whereunto he was born,

And by his countenance repay

The favor of the loving day.

Emerson

Emerson

JULY THIRTY-FIRST

Yet the hearts must childlike be,Where such heavenly guests abide;Unto children in their glee,All the year is Christmas-tide.Lewis Carroll

Yet the hearts must childlike be,Where such heavenly guests abide;Unto children in their glee,All the year is Christmas-tide.Lewis Carroll

Yet the hearts must childlike be,

Where such heavenly guests abide;

Unto children in their glee,

All the year is Christmas-tide.

Lewis Carroll

Lewis Carroll

AUGUST

AUGUST FIRST

Weave him a beautiful dream, little breeze!Little leaves, nestle around him!He will remember the song of the trees,When age with silver has crowned him.Rock-a-bye baby, wake by and by,Rock-a-bye.Lucy Larcom

Weave him a beautiful dream, little breeze!Little leaves, nestle around him!He will remember the song of the trees,When age with silver has crowned him.Rock-a-bye baby, wake by and by,Rock-a-bye.Lucy Larcom

Weave him a beautiful dream, little breeze!

Little leaves, nestle around him!

He will remember the song of the trees,

When age with silver has crowned him.

Rock-a-bye baby, wake by and by,

Rock-a-bye.Lucy Larcom

Rock-a-bye.

Lucy Larcom

Lucy Larcom

AUGUST SECOND

Thou art thy mother's glass and she in theeCalls back the lovely April of her prime.Shakespeare

Thou art thy mother's glass and she in theeCalls back the lovely April of her prime.Shakespeare

Thou art thy mother's glass and she in thee

Calls back the lovely April of her prime.

Shakespeare

Shakespeare

AUGUST THIRD

But surely, the just sky will never winkAt men who take delight in childish throe,And stripe the nether urchin like a pink.Hood

But surely, the just sky will never winkAt men who take delight in childish throe,And stripe the nether urchin like a pink.Hood

But surely, the just sky will never wink

At men who take delight in childish throe,

And stripe the nether urchin like a pink.

Hood

Hood

AUGUST FOURTH

Happy he!With such a mother, faith in womankindBeats with his blood, and trust in all things highComes easy to him.Tennyson

Happy he!With such a mother, faith in womankindBeats with his blood, and trust in all things highComes easy to him.Tennyson

Happy he!

Happy he!

Happy he!

With such a mother, faith in womankind

Beats with his blood, and trust in all things high

Comes easy to him.Tennyson

Comes easy to him.

Tennyson

Tennyson

Tennyson

AUGUST FIFTH

I have not so far left the coasts of lifeTo travel inland, that I cannot hearThat murmur of the outer InfiniteWhich unweaned babies smile at in their sleep,When wondered at for smiling.Mrs. Browning

I have not so far left the coasts of lifeTo travel inland, that I cannot hearThat murmur of the outer InfiniteWhich unweaned babies smile at in their sleep,When wondered at for smiling.Mrs. Browning

I have not so far left the coasts of life

To travel inland, that I cannot hear

That murmur of the outer Infinite

Which unweaned babies smile at in their sleep,

When wondered at for smiling.

Mrs. Browning

Mrs. Browning

AUGUST SIXTH

In rearing a child think of its old age.Joubert

In rearing a child think of its old age.Joubert

In rearing a child think of its old age.

Joubert

Joubert

AUGUST SEVENTH

Whither went the lovely hoyden?Disappeared in blessed wife,Servant to a wooden cradle,Living in a baby's life.Emerson

Whither went the lovely hoyden?Disappeared in blessed wife,Servant to a wooden cradle,Living in a baby's life.Emerson

Whither went the lovely hoyden?

Disappeared in blessed wife,

Servant to a wooden cradle,

Living in a baby's life.

Emerson

Emerson

AUGUST EIGHTH

And yet methinks she looks so calm and good,God must be with her in her solitude.Hartley Coleridge

And yet methinks she looks so calm and good,God must be with her in her solitude.Hartley Coleridge

And yet methinks she looks so calm and good,

God must be with her in her solitude.

Hartley Coleridge

Hartley Coleridge

AUGUST NINTH

Childish unconsciousness is rest in God.Froebel

Childish unconsciousness is rest in God.Froebel

Childish unconsciousness is rest in God.

Froebel

Froebel

AUGUST TENTH

The seasons of the year did swiftly whirl,They measured time by one small life alone.Jean Ingelow

The seasons of the year did swiftly whirl,They measured time by one small life alone.Jean Ingelow

The seasons of the year did swiftly whirl,

They measured time by one small life alone.

Jean Ingelow

Jean Ingelow

AUGUST ELEVENTH

Oh, my own baby on my knee,My leaping, dimpled treasure.Mrs. Browning

Oh, my own baby on my knee,My leaping, dimpled treasure.Mrs. Browning

Oh, my own baby on my knee,

My leaping, dimpled treasure.

Mrs. Browning

Mrs. Browning

AUGUST TWELFTH

Crazy with laughter and babble and earth's new wine,Now that the flower of a year and a half are thine,O, little blossom, O mine and of mine!Glorious poet who never has written a line!Tennyson

Crazy with laughter and babble and earth's new wine,Now that the flower of a year and a half are thine,O, little blossom, O mine and of mine!Glorious poet who never has written a line!Tennyson

Crazy with laughter and babble and earth's new wine,

Now that the flower of a year and a half are thine,

O, little blossom, O mine and of mine!

Glorious poet who never has written a line!

Tennyson

Tennyson

AUGUST THIRTEENTH

On the lapOf his mother, as he standsStretching out his tiny hands,And his little lips the while,Half-open, on his father smile.Catullus

On the lapOf his mother, as he standsStretching out his tiny hands,And his little lips the while,Half-open, on his father smile.Catullus

On the lap

On the lap

Of his mother, as he stands

Stretching out his tiny hands,

And his little lips the while,

Half-open, on his father smile.

Catullus

Catullus

Catullus

AUGUST FOURTEENTH

But the breezes of childish laughter,And the light in a baby's eye,To the homeliest road bring a freshnessAs free as the blue of the sky.Lucy Larcom

But the breezes of childish laughter,And the light in a baby's eye,To the homeliest road bring a freshnessAs free as the blue of the sky.Lucy Larcom

But the breezes of childish laughter,

And the light in a baby's eye,

To the homeliest road bring a freshness

As free as the blue of the sky.

Lucy Larcom

Lucy Larcom

AUGUST FIFTEENTH

My little ones kissed me a thousand times o'er.Campbell

My little ones kissed me a thousand times o'er.Campbell

My little ones kissed me a thousand times o'er.

Campbell

Campbell

AUGUST SIXTEENTH

For all its warm, sweet body seems one smileAnd mere men's love too vile to meet it.Swinburne

For all its warm, sweet body seems one smileAnd mere men's love too vile to meet it.Swinburne

For all its warm, sweet body seems one smile

And mere men's love too vile to meet it.

Swinburne

Swinburne

AUGUST SEVENTEENTH

A child of light, a radiant lass,And gamesome as the morning air.Jean Ingelow

A child of light, a radiant lass,And gamesome as the morning air.Jean Ingelow

A child of light, a radiant lass,

And gamesome as the morning air.

Jean Ingelow

Jean Ingelow

AUGUST EIGHTEENTH

Shall we never cease to stamp human nature, evenin childhood, like coins.Froebel

Shall we never cease to stamp human nature, evenin childhood, like coins.Froebel

Shall we never cease to stamp human nature, even

in childhood, like coins.

Froebel

Froebel

AUGUST NINETEENTH

My business is to suck, and sleep, and flingThe cradle clothes about me all day long,Or, half asleep, hear my sweet mother sing,And to be washt in water clean and warm,And husht and kist and kept secure from harm.Shelley

My business is to suck, and sleep, and flingThe cradle clothes about me all day long,Or, half asleep, hear my sweet mother sing,And to be washt in water clean and warm,And husht and kist and kept secure from harm.Shelley

My business is to suck, and sleep, and fling

The cradle clothes about me all day long,

Or, half asleep, hear my sweet mother sing,

And to be washt in water clean and warm,

And husht and kist and kept secure from harm.

Shelley

Shelley

AUGUST TWENTIETH

Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,Smiles awake you when you rise:Sleep pretty wantons, do not cry,And I will sing a lullaby.Rock them, rock them, lullaby.Thomas Dekker

Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,Smiles awake you when you rise:Sleep pretty wantons, do not cry,And I will sing a lullaby.Rock them, rock them, lullaby.Thomas Dekker

Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,

Smiles awake you when you rise:

Sleep pretty wantons, do not cry,

And I will sing a lullaby.

Rock them, rock them, lullaby.

Thomas Dekker

Thomas Dekker

AUGUST TWENTY-FIRST

As the moon on the lake's face flashes,So, happy may gleam, at whiles,A dream through the dear deep lashesWhereunder a child's eye smiles.Swinburne

As the moon on the lake's face flashes,So, happy may gleam, at whiles,A dream through the dear deep lashesWhereunder a child's eye smiles.Swinburne

As the moon on the lake's face flashes,

So, happy may gleam, at whiles,

A dream through the dear deep lashes

Whereunder a child's eye smiles.

Swinburne

Swinburne

AUGUST TWENTY-SECOND

Childhood was the bough, where slumberedBirds and blossoms many-numbered.Longfellow

Childhood was the bough, where slumberedBirds and blossoms many-numbered.Longfellow

Childhood was the bough, where slumbered

Birds and blossoms many-numbered.

Longfellow

Longfellow

AUGUST TWENTY-THIRD

To the royal soul of a babyOne fairy realm is the earth.Lucy Larcom

To the royal soul of a babyOne fairy realm is the earth.Lucy Larcom

To the royal soul of a baby

One fairy realm is the earth.

Lucy Larcom

Lucy Larcom

AUGUST TWENTY-FOURTH

So rounds he to a separate mindFrom which clear memory may begin.Tennyson

So rounds he to a separate mindFrom which clear memory may begin.Tennyson

So rounds he to a separate mind

From which clear memory may begin.

Tennyson

Tennyson

AUGUST TWENTY-FIFTH

I dream of those two little ones at play,Making the threshold vocal with their cries,Half tears, half laughter, mingled sport and strife,Like two flowers blown together by the wind.Victor Hugo

I dream of those two little ones at play,Making the threshold vocal with their cries,Half tears, half laughter, mingled sport and strife,Like two flowers blown together by the wind.Victor Hugo

I dream of those two little ones at play,

Making the threshold vocal with their cries,

Half tears, half laughter, mingled sport and strife,

Like two flowers blown together by the wind.

Victor Hugo

Victor Hugo

AUGUST TWENTY-SIXTH

That woman's toy,A baby!Mrs. Browning

That woman's toy,A baby!Mrs. Browning

That woman's toy,

A baby!Mrs. Browning

A baby!

Mrs. Browning

Mrs. Browning

AUGUST TWENTY-SEVENTH

Perpetual care and joy of our life, our despoticflatterers, greedy for the very least pleasure, franklyselfish, instinctively sure of their too legitimateindependence—children are our masters, no matterhow firm we may pretend to be with them.George Sand

Perpetual care and joy of our life, our despoticflatterers, greedy for the very least pleasure, franklyselfish, instinctively sure of their too legitimateindependence—children are our masters, no matterhow firm we may pretend to be with them.George Sand

Perpetual care and joy of our life, our despotic

flatterers, greedy for the very least pleasure, frankly

selfish, instinctively sure of their too legitimate

independence—children are our masters, no matter

how firm we may pretend to be with them.

George Sand

George Sand

AUGUST TWENTY-EIGHTH

And now, the rosy children come to play,And romp and struggle with the new-mown hay;Their clear high voices sound from far away.Edmund Gosse

And now, the rosy children come to play,And romp and struggle with the new-mown hay;Their clear high voices sound from far away.Edmund Gosse

And now, the rosy children come to play,

And romp and struggle with the new-mown hay;

Their clear high voices sound from far away.

Edmund Gosse

Edmund Gosse

AUGUST TWENTY-NINTH

For the house that was childless awhile, and thelight of it darkened, and the pulse of it dwindled,Rings radiant again with a child's bright feet,with the light of his face is rekindled.Swinburne

For the house that was childless awhile, and thelight of it darkened, and the pulse of it dwindled,Rings radiant again with a child's bright feet,with the light of his face is rekindled.Swinburne

For the house that was childless awhile, and the

light of it darkened, and the pulse of it dwindled,

light of it darkened, and the pulse of it dwindled,

Rings radiant again with a child's bright feet,

with the light of his face is rekindled.Swinburne

with the light of his face is rekindled.

Swinburne

Swinburne

AUGUST THIRTIETH

My teachers are the children themselves, withall their purity, their innocence, theirunconsciousness and their irresistible charms.Froebel

My teachers are the children themselves, withall their purity, their innocence, theirunconsciousness and their irresistible charms.Froebel

My teachers are the children themselves, with

all their purity, their innocence, their

unconsciousness and their irresistible charms.

Froebel

Froebel

AUGUST THIRTY-FIRST

Women-folks said she was like her father—men-folkssaid she was like her mother—but the wisestpeople always said she was like us both.From "The Finest Baby in the World"

Women-folks said she was like her father—men-folkssaid she was like her mother—but the wisestpeople always said she was like us both.From "The Finest Baby in the World"

Women-folks said she was like her father—men-folks

said she was like her mother—but the wisest

people always said she was like us both.

From "The Finest Baby in the World"

From "The Finest Baby in the World"

SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER FIRST

Preserve him from the bad teacher, forthe unfortunate and road-lost one will makehim as himself.Sa'di

Preserve him from the bad teacher, forthe unfortunate and road-lost one will makehim as himself.Sa'di

Preserve him from the bad teacher, for

the unfortunate and road-lost one will make

him as himself.

Sa'di

Sa'di

SEPTEMBER SECOND

All unkissed by innocent beauty,All unloved by guileless heart,All uncheered by sweetest duty,Childless man how poor thou art!Tupper

All unkissed by innocent beauty,All unloved by guileless heart,All uncheered by sweetest duty,Childless man how poor thou art!Tupper

All unkissed by innocent beauty,

All unloved by guileless heart,

All uncheered by sweetest duty,

Childless man how poor thou art!

Tupper

Tupper

SEPTEMBER THIRD

We cannot measure the needOf even the tiniest flower,Nor check the flow of the golden sandsThat run through a single hour.But the morning dew must fallAnd the sun and the summer rainMust do their part, and perform it allOver and over again.Josephine Pollard

We cannot measure the needOf even the tiniest flower,Nor check the flow of the golden sandsThat run through a single hour.But the morning dew must fallAnd the sun and the summer rainMust do their part, and perform it allOver and over again.Josephine Pollard

We cannot measure the need

Of even the tiniest flower,

Nor check the flow of the golden sands

That run through a single hour.

But the morning dew must fall

And the sun and the summer rain

Must do their part, and perform it all

Over and over again.

Josephine Pollard

Josephine Pollard

SEPTEMBER FOURTH

When you stood up in the houseWith your little childish feet,And, in touching life's first shows,First the touch of love did meet.Mrs. Browning

When you stood up in the houseWith your little childish feet,And, in touching life's first shows,First the touch of love did meet.Mrs. Browning

When you stood up in the house

With your little childish feet,

And, in touching life's first shows,

First the touch of love did meet.

Mrs. Browning

Mrs. Browning

SEPTEMBER FIFTH

Even as a child that after piningFor the sweet absent mother, hearsHer voice, and round her neck, entwiningYoung arms, vents all its soul in tears.Schiller

Even as a child that after piningFor the sweet absent mother, hearsHer voice, and round her neck, entwiningYoung arms, vents all its soul in tears.Schiller

Even as a child that after pining

For the sweet absent mother, hears

Her voice, and round her neck, entwining

Young arms, vents all its soul in tears.

Schiller

Schiller

SEPTEMBER SIXTH

Who takes the children on his knee,And winds their curls about his hand.Tennyson

Who takes the children on his knee,And winds their curls about his hand.Tennyson

Who takes the children on his knee,

And winds their curls about his hand.

Tennyson

Tennyson

SEPTEMBER SEVENTH

He's such a kicking, crowing, wakeful rogue,He almost wears our lives out with his noise,Just at day-dawning when we wish to sleep.Jean Ingelow

He's such a kicking, crowing, wakeful rogue,He almost wears our lives out with his noise,Just at day-dawning when we wish to sleep.Jean Ingelow

He's such a kicking, crowing, wakeful rogue,

He almost wears our lives out with his noise,

Just at day-dawning when we wish to sleep.

Jean Ingelow

Jean Ingelow

SEPTEMBER EIGHTH

Happy little children, skies are bright above you,Trees bend down to kiss you, breeze and blossom love you.Lucy Larcom

Happy little children, skies are bright above you,Trees bend down to kiss you, breeze and blossom love you.Lucy Larcom

Happy little children, skies are bright above you,

Trees bend down to kiss you, breeze and blossom love you.

Lucy Larcom

Lucy Larcom

SEPTEMBER NINTH

A baby's eyes ere speech begins;Ere lips learn words or sighs,Bless all things bright enough to winA baby's eyes.Swinburne

A baby's eyes ere speech begins;Ere lips learn words or sighs,Bless all things bright enough to winA baby's eyes.Swinburne

A baby's eyes ere speech begins;

Ere lips learn words or sighs,

Bless all things bright enough to win

A baby's eyes.Swinburne

A baby's eyes.

Swinburne

Swinburne

SEPTEMBER TENTH

Some day you'll knowHow closely to one's heart a son can cling.Racine

Some day you'll knowHow closely to one's heart a son can cling.Racine

Some day you'll know

How closely to one's heart a son can cling.

Racine

Racine

SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH

Thy sports, thy wanderings, when a child,Were ever in the sylvan wild,And all the beauty of the placeIs in thy heart and on thy face.Bryant

Thy sports, thy wanderings, when a child,Were ever in the sylvan wild,And all the beauty of the placeIs in thy heart and on thy face.Bryant

Thy sports, thy wanderings, when a child,

Were ever in the sylvan wild,

And all the beauty of the place

Is in thy heart and on thy face.

Bryant

Bryant

Reprinted from Bryant's Complete Poetical Works by permission of D. Appleton & Co.

SEPTEMBER TWELFTH

It was a childish ignorance,But now 't is little joyTo know I'm farther off from heavenThan when I was a boy.Hood

It was a childish ignorance,But now 't is little joyTo know I'm farther off from heavenThan when I was a boy.Hood

It was a childish ignorance,

But now 't is little joy

To know I'm farther off from heaven

Than when I was a boy.

Hood

Hood

SEPTEMBER THIRTEENTH

Sweet babe! True portrait of thy father's face,Sleep on the bosom that thy lips have pressed!Sleep little one; and closely, gently placeThy drowsy eyelids on thy mother's breast.Longfellow

Sweet babe! True portrait of thy father's face,Sleep on the bosom that thy lips have pressed!Sleep little one; and closely, gently placeThy drowsy eyelids on thy mother's breast.Longfellow

Sweet babe! True portrait of thy father's face,

Sleep on the bosom that thy lips have pressed!

Sleep little one; and closely, gently place

Thy drowsy eyelids on thy mother's breast.

Longfellow

Longfellow

SEPTEMBER FOURTEENTH

That land of glorious mysteryWhither we all are wending,A lonely sort of heaven will be,If there no baby-familyAwait my love and tending.Lucy Larcom

That land of glorious mysteryWhither we all are wending,A lonely sort of heaven will be,If there no baby-familyAwait my love and tending.Lucy Larcom

That land of glorious mystery

Whither we all are wending,

A lonely sort of heaven will be,

If there no baby-family

Await my love and tending.

Lucy Larcom

Lucy Larcom

SEPTEMBER FIFTEENTH

What note of song have weFit for the birds and theeFair nestling couched beneath the mother-dove?Swinburne

What note of song have weFit for the birds and theeFair nestling couched beneath the mother-dove?Swinburne

What note of song have we

Fit for the birds and thee

Fair nestling couched beneath the mother-dove?

Swinburne

Swinburne

SEPTEMBER SIXTEENTH

Thou closely clingest to thy mother's arms,Nestling thy little face in that fond breastWhose anxious heavings lull thee to thy rest!Man's breathing miniature.S. T. Coleridge

Thou closely clingest to thy mother's arms,Nestling thy little face in that fond breastWhose anxious heavings lull thee to thy rest!Man's breathing miniature.S. T. Coleridge

Thou closely clingest to thy mother's arms,

Nestling thy little face in that fond breast

Whose anxious heavings lull thee to thy rest!

Man's breathing miniature.

S. T. Coleridge

S. T. Coleridge

SEPTEMBER SEVENTEENTH

A lisping voice and glancing eyes are near,And ever restless feet of one, who nowGathers the blossoms of her fourth bright year.Bryant

A lisping voice and glancing eyes are near,And ever restless feet of one, who nowGathers the blossoms of her fourth bright year.Bryant

A lisping voice and glancing eyes are near,

And ever restless feet of one, who now

Gathers the blossoms of her fourth bright year.

Bryant

Bryant

Reprinted from Bryant's Complete Poetical Works by permission of D. Appleton & Co.

SEPTEMBER EIGHTEENTH

Once was she wealthy, with small cares,And small hands clinging to her knees.Lizette Woodworth Reese

Once was she wealthy, with small cares,And small hands clinging to her knees.Lizette Woodworth Reese

Once was she wealthy, with small cares,

And small hands clinging to her knees.

Lizette Woodworth Reese

Lizette Woodworth Reese

SEPTEMBER NINETEENTH

I, a woman, wife and mother,What have I to do with art?Are ye not my noblest pictures,Portraits painted from my heart?Margaret J. Preston

I, a woman, wife and mother,What have I to do with art?Are ye not my noblest pictures,Portraits painted from my heart?Margaret J. Preston

I, a woman, wife and mother,

What have I to do with art?

Are ye not my noblest pictures,

Portraits painted from my heart?

Margaret J. Preston

Margaret J. Preston

SEPTEMBER TWENTIETH

It was a little Child who swungWide back that city's portalsWhere hearts remain forever young;And all things good and pure among,Shall childhood be immortal.Lucy Larcom

It was a little Child who swungWide back that city's portalsWhere hearts remain forever young;And all things good and pure among,Shall childhood be immortal.Lucy Larcom

It was a little Child who swung

Wide back that city's portals

Where hearts remain forever young;

And all things good and pure among,

Shall childhood be immortal.

Lucy Larcom

Lucy Larcom

SEPTEMBER TWENTY-FIRST

The mother, with sweet pious face,Turns toward her little children from her seat,Gives one a kiss, another an embrace,Takes this upon her knees, that upon her feet:And, while from actions, looks, complaints, pretences,She learns their feelings and their various will,To this a look, to that a word dispenses,And, whether stern or smiling, loves them still.Filicaia

The mother, with sweet pious face,Turns toward her little children from her seat,Gives one a kiss, another an embrace,Takes this upon her knees, that upon her feet:And, while from actions, looks, complaints, pretences,She learns their feelings and their various will,To this a look, to that a word dispenses,And, whether stern or smiling, loves them still.Filicaia

The mother, with sweet pious face,

Turns toward her little children from her seat,

Gives one a kiss, another an embrace,

Takes this upon her knees, that upon her feet:

And, while from actions, looks, complaints, pretences,

She learns their feelings and their various will,

To this a look, to that a word dispenses,

And, whether stern or smiling, loves them still.

Filicaia

Filicaia

SEPTEMBER TWENTY-SECOND

A living book is mine—In age three years: in it I read no lies,In it to myriad truths I find the clue—A tender little child; but I divineThoughts high as Dante's in her clear blue eyes.Maurice Francis Egan

A living book is mine—In age three years: in it I read no lies,In it to myriad truths I find the clue—A tender little child; but I divineThoughts high as Dante's in her clear blue eyes.Maurice Francis Egan

A living book is mine—

A living book is mine—

In age three years: in it I read no lies,

In it to myriad truths I find the clue—

A tender little child; but I divine

Thoughts high as Dante's in her clear blue eyes.

Maurice Francis Egan

Maurice Francis Egan

Maurice Francis Egan

SEPTEMBER TWENTY-THIRD

That pure shrineOf childhood, though my love be trueIs hidden from my dim confine.Author unknown

That pure shrineOf childhood, though my love be trueIs hidden from my dim confine.Author unknown

That pure shrine

That pure shrine

Of childhood, though my love be true

Is hidden from my dim confine.

Author unknown

Author unknown

Author unknown

SEPTEMBER TWENTY-FOURTH

Their glance might cast out pain and sin,Their speech make dumb the wise;By mute glad Godhead felt withinA baby's eyes.Swinburne

Their glance might cast out pain and sin,Their speech make dumb the wise;By mute glad Godhead felt withinA baby's eyes.Swinburne

Their glance might cast out pain and sin,

Their speech make dumb the wise;

By mute glad Godhead felt within

A baby's eyes.Swinburne

A baby's eyes.

Swinburne

Swinburne

SEPTEMBER TWENTY-FIFTH

Lulla-lo! to the rise and fall of mother's bosom't is sleep has bound you,And oh, my child, what cosier nest for rosier restcould love have found you?Sleep, baby dear,Sleep without fear:Mother's two arms are clasped around you.Alfred Percival Gates

Lulla-lo! to the rise and fall of mother's bosom't is sleep has bound you,And oh, my child, what cosier nest for rosier restcould love have found you?Sleep, baby dear,Sleep without fear:Mother's two arms are clasped around you.Alfred Percival Gates

Lulla-lo! to the rise and fall of mother's bosom

't is sleep has bound you,

't is sleep has bound you,

And oh, my child, what cosier nest for rosier rest

could love have found you?Sleep, baby dear,Sleep without fear:

could love have found you?

Sleep, baby dear,Sleep without fear:

Sleep, baby dear,

Sleep without fear:

Mother's two arms are clasped around you.

Alfred Percival Gates

Alfred Percival Gates

Alfred Percival Gates

Alfred Percival Gates

SEPTEMBER TWENTY-SIXTH

And if no clustering swarm of beesOn thy sweet mouth distilled their golden dew,'T was that such vulgar miraclesHeaven had not leisure to renew:For all the blest fraternity of loveSolemnized there thy birth, and kept thy holiday above.John Dryden

And if no clustering swarm of beesOn thy sweet mouth distilled their golden dew,'T was that such vulgar miraclesHeaven had not leisure to renew:For all the blest fraternity of loveSolemnized there thy birth, and kept thy holiday above.John Dryden

And if no clustering swarm of bees

On thy sweet mouth distilled their golden dew,

'T was that such vulgar miracles

Heaven had not leisure to renew:

For all the blest fraternity of love

Solemnized there thy birth, and kept thy holiday above.

John Dryden

John Dryden

SEPTEMBER TWENTY-SEVENTH

Sublimity always is simpleBoth in sermon and song, a child can seize on the meaning.Longfellow

Sublimity always is simpleBoth in sermon and song, a child can seize on the meaning.Longfellow

Sublimity always is simple

Both in sermon and song, a child can seize on the meaning.

Longfellow

Longfellow

SEPTEMBER TWENTY-EIGHTH

Take thy joy and revel in it,Living through each golden minute,Trusting God who gave you thisBaby child to love and kiss.From "The Finest Baby in the World"

Take thy joy and revel in it,Living through each golden minute,Trusting God who gave you thisBaby child to love and kiss.From "The Finest Baby in the World"

Take thy joy and revel in it,

Living through each golden minute,

Trusting God who gave you this

Baby child to love and kiss.

From "The Finest Baby in the World"

From "The Finest Baby in the World"

SEPTEMBER TWENTY-NINTH

Still smile at even on the bedded child,And close his eyelids with thy silver wand.Hood

Still smile at even on the bedded child,And close his eyelids with thy silver wand.Hood

Still smile at even on the bedded child,

And close his eyelids with thy silver wand.

Hood

Hood

SEPTEMBER THIRTIETH

Of such is the kingdom of heaven,No glory that ever was shedFrom the crowning star of the sevenThat crown the North world's head,No word that ever was spokenOf human or godlike tongueGave ever such godlike tokenSince human harps were strung.Swinburne

Of such is the kingdom of heaven,No glory that ever was shedFrom the crowning star of the sevenThat crown the North world's head,No word that ever was spokenOf human or godlike tongueGave ever such godlike tokenSince human harps were strung.Swinburne

Of such is the kingdom of heaven,

No glory that ever was shed

From the crowning star of the seven

That crown the North world's head,

No word that ever was spoken

Of human or godlike tongue

Gave ever such godlike token

Since human harps were strung.

Swinburne

Swinburne

OCTOBER

OCTOBER FIRST

Little lamb, asleep and still,God protect thee from all ill;Those who love thee ne'er can beFree from pain in loving thee.From "The Finest Baby in the World"

Little lamb, asleep and still,God protect thee from all ill;Those who love thee ne'er can beFree from pain in loving thee.From "The Finest Baby in the World"

Little lamb, asleep and still,

God protect thee from all ill;

Those who love thee ne'er can be

Free from pain in loving thee.

From "The Finest Baby in the World"

From "The Finest Baby in the World"

OCTOBER SECOND

Then, when Mamma goes by to bed,She shall come in with tiptoe tread,And see me lying warm and fastAnd in the land of Nod at last.Robert Louis Stevenson

Then, when Mamma goes by to bed,She shall come in with tiptoe tread,And see me lying warm and fastAnd in the land of Nod at last.Robert Louis Stevenson

Then, when Mamma goes by to bed,

She shall come in with tiptoe tread,

And see me lying warm and fast

And in the land of Nod at last.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson


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