THUMBPAGECAMPING OUT.CAMPING OUT.BY MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES.grasshopper talks to antDame Spiderhad spun herself lank and thinWith trying to take her neighbors in;Grasshopper had traveled so far and so fastThat he found he must give up at last;And the maiden Ant had bustled aboutThe village till she was all worn out.Old Bumble Bee had lived on sweetTill he couldn’t help but overeat;Miss Worm had measured her puny lengthTill she had no longer any strength;And Mr. Beetle was shocked to findHis eyes were failing and almost blind.beetle and bumblebee converseinsects under a mushroomSo they all decided that they must seekTheir health in the country for a week.And they made a mixed but a merry throng,For those who had children took them along.They pitched their tent and made their camp,Shelter from possible cold and damp.’Twas novel, and each in his own waySought to make happy the holiday.Grasshopper took his youngest daughterOut for a stroll along the water;She shrieked with joy, “O, see the cherries!”When they found some low-bush huckleberries.grasshopper with daughterTHUMBPAGEspider fishing from a branchDame Spider, with mischief in her eye,Thought she would angle for a fly;So, spinning a silk thread, long and fine,With wicked skill she cast the line;While Bumble Bee, in his gold-laced clothes,In the shade of a clover leaf lay for a doze.Miss Worm, who was full of sentiment,With the maiden Ant for a ramble went;Here was a flower, and there a flower—But suddenly rose a thunder shower.They screamed; but they got on very well,For they found what the Ant called an “umberell.”insects under umbrellabeetle paddlingA leaf on the water lay afloat,Which the blundering Beetle thought a boat.Far down in his heart his dearest wishWas to find some hitherto unfound fish.He never came back from that fatal swim,So ’twas always thought that a fish found him.At night when the cheery fire was litThey heaped dry branches over it,And in the light of the crackling blazeTold funny stories of other days,And smoked, till the Ant yawned wide and said:“’Tis time we folks were all abed!”beetle smokes a pipeinsects gather under mushroomBut scarce was each to his slumber laid,When the country folks came to serenade;With twang of fiddle, and toot of horn,And shriek of fife, they stayed till morn!Poor Campers! never a wink got they!So they started for home at break of day.
THUMBPAGE
Dame Spiderhad spun herself lank and thin
With trying to take her neighbors in;
Grasshopper had traveled so far and so fast
That he found he must give up at last;
And the maiden Ant had bustled about
The village till she was all worn out.
Old Bumble Bee had lived on sweet
Till he couldn’t help but overeat;
Miss Worm had measured her puny length
Till she had no longer any strength;
And Mr. Beetle was shocked to find
His eyes were failing and almost blind.
So they all decided that they must seek
Their health in the country for a week.
And they made a mixed but a merry throng,
For those who had children took them along.
They pitched their tent and made their camp,
Shelter from possible cold and damp.
’Twas novel, and each in his own way
Sought to make happy the holiday.
Grasshopper took his youngest daughter
Out for a stroll along the water;
She shrieked with joy, “O, see the cherries!”
When they found some low-bush huckleberries.
Dame Spider, with mischief in her eye,
Thought she would angle for a fly;
So, spinning a silk thread, long and fine,
With wicked skill she cast the line;
While Bumble Bee, in his gold-laced clothes,
In the shade of a clover leaf lay for a doze.
Miss Worm, who was full of sentiment,
With the maiden Ant for a ramble went;
Here was a flower, and there a flower—
But suddenly rose a thunder shower.
They screamed; but they got on very well,
For they found what the Ant called an “umberell.”
A leaf on the water lay afloat,
Which the blundering Beetle thought a boat.
Far down in his heart his dearest wish
Was to find some hitherto unfound fish.
He never came back from that fatal swim,
So ’twas always thought that a fish found him.
At night when the cheery fire was lit
They heaped dry branches over it,
And in the light of the crackling blaze
Told funny stories of other days,
And smoked, till the Ant yawned wide and said:
“’Tis time we folks were all abed!”
But scarce was each to his slumber laid,
When the country folks came to serenade;
With twang of fiddle, and toot of horn,
And shriek of fife, they stayed till morn!
Poor Campers! never a wink got they!
So they started for home at break of day.
THUMBPAGE
LittleDame Spider had finished her spinning,
Just as the warm summer day was beginning,
And the white threads of her beautiful curtain
Tied she and glued she to make them more certain.
Dressed in her old-fashioned feathers and fringes,
Then she sat down to wait; on silken hinges
Swung the light fleece with a moonshiny glisten;
Nothing for her but to watch and to listen.
Presently, going off early to labor,—
Bowing politely, as neighbor to neighbor,
When he caught sight of this little old woman,—
Sailed by a honey-bee, serge-clad and common.
“Are you so scornful because I am humble?
Many a time your rich relatives, Bumble,
Pause in their flying to chat for an hour!”
She called out after him, half gay, half sour.
“O, no,” he cried. “I am off to discover
What I can find fresh in the way of white clover;
But since your window is cosy and shady,
Iwillsit down half a minute, dear Lady.”
Little Dame Spider arose with a rustle,
Welcomed him with ceremonious bustle;
Quick as a flash threw her long arms around him,
Heeded no buzzing, but held him and bound him;
Tied knots so tight that he could not undo them;
Wove snares so strong that he could not break through them;
Then, witha relish, stood chuckling and grinning,
“This is to pay me for my early spinning!”
·····
At the home-hive the bees going and coming
Kept up all day their industrious humming,
Nor did it one of their busy heads bother
That Madame Spider had dined off their brother.
THUMBPAGEHICKORY DICKORY DOCK.Tick-Tack! tick-tack!This way, that way, forward, back,Swings the pendulum to and fro,Always regular, always slow.Grave and solemn on the wall,—Hear it whisper! hear it call!Little Ginx knows naught of Time,But has heard the mystic rhyme,—“Hickory, dickory, dock!The mouse ran up the clock!”Tick-tack! tick-tack!White old face with figures black!So when dismal, stormy daysKeep him from his out-door plays,Most that he cares for is to sitWatching, always watching it.And when the hour strikes he thinks,—(A dear, wise head has the little Ginx!)“The clock strikes one,The mice ran down!”Tick-tack! tick-tack!This way, that way, forward, back!Though so measured and precise,Ginx believes it full of mice.A mouse runs up at every tick,But when the stroke comes, scampering quick,Mice run down again; so they go,Up and down, and to and fro!Hickory, dickory, dock,Full of mice is the clock!
THUMBPAGE
Tick-Tack! tick-tack!
This way, that way, forward, back,
Swings the pendulum to and fro,
Always regular, always slow.
Grave and solemn on the wall,—
Hear it whisper! hear it call!
Little Ginx knows naught of Time,
But has heard the mystic rhyme,—
“Hickory, dickory, dock!
The mouse ran up the clock!”
Tick-tack! tick-tack!
White old face with figures black!
So when dismal, stormy days
Keep him from his out-door plays,
Most that he cares for is to sit
Watching, always watching it.
And when the hour strikes he thinks,—
(A dear, wise head has the little Ginx!)
“The clock strikes one,
The mice ran down!”
Tick-tack! tick-tack!
This way, that way, forward, back!
Though so measured and precise,
Ginx believes it full of mice.
A mouse runs up at every tick,
But when the stroke comes, scampering quick,
Mice run down again; so they go,
Up and down, and to and fro!
Hickory, dickory, dock,
Full of mice is the clock!
THUMBPAGEDAME FIDGET AND HER SILVER PENNY.Dame Fidget And Her Silver Penny. / Versified By Mrs. Clara Doty Bates.Dame Fidget sweepingAWee, wee womanWas little old Dame Fidget,And she lived by herselfIn a wee, wee room,And early every morning,So tidy was her habit,She began to sweep it outWith a wee, wee broom.To sweep for the cinders,Though never were there any,She whisked about, and brushed about,Humming like a bee;When, odd enough, one dayShe found a silver penny,Shining in a corner,As bright as bright could be.Dame Fidget makes teaShe eyed it, she took itBetween her thumb and finger;She put it in the sugar bowlAnd quickly shut the lid;And after planning over carefullyThe way to spend it,She resolved to go to marketAnd to buy herself a kid.And that she did next day; but, ah,The kid proved very lazy!And it moved toward home so slowlyShe could scarcely see it crawl;At first she coaxed and petted it,And then she stormed and scolded,Till at last, when they had reached the bridge,It would not go at all.Just then Dame Fidget saw a dog run by,And whistled to him,And cried:—“Pray dog bite kid,Kid won’t go!I see by the moonlight’Tis almost midnight,And time kid and I were homeHalf an hour ago!”Dame Fidget talks to the stickBut no, he said he wouldn’t;So to the stick she pleaded:—“Pray stick beat dog, dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!I see by the moonlight’Tis almost midnight,And time kid and I were homeHalf an hour ago!”THUMBPAGEDame Fidget talks to the fireBut the stick didn’t stir,So she called upon the fire:—“Pray fire burn stick, stick won’t beat dog,Dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!And I see by the moonlight’Tis almost midnight,And time kid and I were homeHalf an hour ago!”But the fire only smoked,So she turned and begged the water:—“Pray water quench fire, fire won’t burn stick,Stick won’t beat dog, dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!I see by the moonlight’Tis already midnight,And time kid and I were homeAn hour and a half ago!”“Ha, ha!” the water gurgled,So to the ox appealing:—“Pray ox drink water, water won’t quench fire,Fire won’t burn stick, stick won’t beat dog,Dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!And I see by the moonlight’Tis already midnight,And time kid and I were homeAn hour and a half ago!”But the ox bellowed “no!”So she shouted to the butcher:—“Pray butcher kill ox, ox won’t drink water,Water won’t quench fire, fire won’t burn stick,Stick won’t beat dog, dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!I see by the moonlight’Tis getting past midnight,And time kid and I were homeAn hour and a half ago!”But the butcher only laughed at her,And to the rope she hurried:—“Pray rope hang butcher, butcher won’t kill ox,Ox won’t drink water, water won’t quench fire,Fire won’t burn stick, stick won’t beat dog,Dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!And I see by the moonlight’Tis getting past midnight,And time kid and I were homeAn hour and a half ago.”THUMBPAGEThe rope swayed round for “nay!”So to the rat she beckoned:—“Pray rat gnaw rope, rope won’t hang butcher,Butcher won’t kill ox, ox won’t drink water,Water won’t quench fire, fire won’t burn stick,Stick won’t beat dog, dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!And I see by the moonlight’Tis long past midnight,And time kid and I were homeA couple of hours ago!”kidA scornful squeak was all he deigned,And so she called the kitten:—“Pray cat eat rat, rat won’t gnaw rope,Rope won’t hang butcher, butcher won’t kill ox,Ox won’t drink water, water won’t quench fire,Fire won’t burn stick, stick won’t beat dog,Dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!And I see by the moonlight’Tis long past midnight,And time kid and I were homeHours and hours ago!”chasing: cat, rat, rope, butcher, knife, oxDame Fidget heads home with kidNow pussy loved a rat,So she seized him in a minute:And the cat began to eat the rat,The rat began to gnaw the rope,The rope began to hang the butcher,The butcher began to kill the ox,The ox began to drink the water,The water began to quench the fire,The fire began to burn the stick,The stick began to beat the dog,The dog began to bite the kid,And the kid began to go!And home through the moonlight,Long after midnight,The little dame and little kidWent trudging—oh,soslow!ox drinkingfire burns stick
THUMBPAGE
Dame Fidget And Her Silver Penny. / Versified By Mrs. Clara Doty Bates.
Dame Fidget sweepingAWee, wee womanWas little old Dame Fidget,And she lived by herselfIn a wee, wee room,And early every morning,So tidy was her habit,She began to sweep it outWith a wee, wee broom.To sweep for the cinders,Though never were there any,She whisked about, and brushed about,Humming like a bee;When, odd enough, one dayShe found a silver penny,Shining in a corner,As bright as bright could be.Dame Fidget makes tea
AWee, wee woman
Was little old Dame Fidget,
And she lived by herself
In a wee, wee room,
And early every morning,
So tidy was her habit,
She began to sweep it out
With a wee, wee broom.
To sweep for the cinders,
Though never were there any,
She whisked about, and brushed about,
Humming like a bee;
When, odd enough, one day
She found a silver penny,
Shining in a corner,
As bright as bright could be.
She eyed it, she took itBetween her thumb and finger;She put it in the sugar bowlAnd quickly shut the lid;And after planning over carefullyThe way to spend it,She resolved to go to marketAnd to buy herself a kid.
She eyed it, she took it
Between her thumb and finger;
She put it in the sugar bowl
And quickly shut the lid;
And after planning over carefully
The way to spend it,
She resolved to go to market
And to buy herself a kid.
And that she did next day; but, ah,The kid proved very lazy!And it moved toward home so slowlyShe could scarcely see it crawl;At first she coaxed and petted it,And then she stormed and scolded,Till at last, when they had reached the bridge,It would not go at all.
And that she did next day; but, ah,
The kid proved very lazy!
And it moved toward home so slowly
She could scarcely see it crawl;
At first she coaxed and petted it,
And then she stormed and scolded,
Till at last, when they had reached the bridge,
It would not go at all.
Just then Dame Fidget saw a dog run by,And whistled to him,And cried:—“Pray dog bite kid,Kid won’t go!I see by the moonlight’Tis almost midnight,And time kid and I were homeHalf an hour ago!”
Just then Dame Fidget saw a dog run by,
And whistled to him,
And cried:—“Pray dog bite kid,
Kid won’t go!
I see by the moonlight
’Tis almost midnight,
And time kid and I were home
Half an hour ago!”
Dame Fidget talks to the stick
But no, he said he wouldn’t;So to the stick she pleaded:—“Pray stick beat dog, dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!I see by the moonlight’Tis almost midnight,And time kid and I were homeHalf an hour ago!”
But no, he said he wouldn’t;
So to the stick she pleaded:—
“Pray stick beat dog, dog won’t bite kid,
Kid won’t go!
I see by the moonlight
’Tis almost midnight,
And time kid and I were home
Half an hour ago!”
Dame Fidget talks to the fire
But the stick didn’t stir,So she called upon the fire:—“Pray fire burn stick, stick won’t beat dog,Dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!And I see by the moonlight’Tis almost midnight,And time kid and I were homeHalf an hour ago!”But the fire only smoked,So she turned and begged the water:—“Pray water quench fire, fire won’t burn stick,Stick won’t beat dog, dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!I see by the moonlight’Tis already midnight,And time kid and I were homeAn hour and a half ago!”
But the stick didn’t stir,
So she called upon the fire:—
“Pray fire burn stick, stick won’t beat dog,
Dog won’t bite kid,
Kid won’t go!
And I see by the moonlight
’Tis almost midnight,
And time kid and I were home
Half an hour ago!”
But the fire only smoked,
So she turned and begged the water:—
“Pray water quench fire, fire won’t burn stick,
Stick won’t beat dog, dog won’t bite kid,
Kid won’t go!
I see by the moonlight
’Tis already midnight,
And time kid and I were home
An hour and a half ago!”
“Ha, ha!” the water gurgled,So to the ox appealing:—“Pray ox drink water, water won’t quench fire,Fire won’t burn stick, stick won’t beat dog,Dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!And I see by the moonlight’Tis already midnight,And time kid and I were homeAn hour and a half ago!”
“Ha, ha!” the water gurgled,
So to the ox appealing:—
“Pray ox drink water, water won’t quench fire,
Fire won’t burn stick, stick won’t beat dog,
Dog won’t bite kid,
Kid won’t go!
And I see by the moonlight
’Tis already midnight,
And time kid and I were home
An hour and a half ago!”
But the ox bellowed “no!”So she shouted to the butcher:—“Pray butcher kill ox, ox won’t drink water,Water won’t quench fire, fire won’t burn stick,Stick won’t beat dog, dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!I see by the moonlight’Tis getting past midnight,And time kid and I were homeAn hour and a half ago!”
But the ox bellowed “no!”
So she shouted to the butcher:—
“Pray butcher kill ox, ox won’t drink water,
Water won’t quench fire, fire won’t burn stick,
Stick won’t beat dog, dog won’t bite kid,
Kid won’t go!
I see by the moonlight
’Tis getting past midnight,
And time kid and I were home
An hour and a half ago!”
But the butcher only laughed at her,And to the rope she hurried:—“Pray rope hang butcher, butcher won’t kill ox,Ox won’t drink water, water won’t quench fire,Fire won’t burn stick, stick won’t beat dog,Dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!And I see by the moonlight’Tis getting past midnight,And time kid and I were homeAn hour and a half ago.”
But the butcher only laughed at her,
And to the rope she hurried:—
“Pray rope hang butcher, butcher won’t kill ox,
Ox won’t drink water, water won’t quench fire,
Fire won’t burn stick, stick won’t beat dog,
Dog won’t bite kid,
Kid won’t go!
And I see by the moonlight
’Tis getting past midnight,
And time kid and I were home
An hour and a half ago.”
THUMBPAGE
The rope swayed round for “nay!”So to the rat she beckoned:—“Pray rat gnaw rope, rope won’t hang butcher,Butcher won’t kill ox, ox won’t drink water,Water won’t quench fire, fire won’t burn stick,Stick won’t beat dog, dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!And I see by the moonlight’Tis long past midnight,And time kid and I were homeA couple of hours ago!”kid
The rope swayed round for “nay!”So to the rat she beckoned:—“Pray rat gnaw rope, rope won’t hang butcher,Butcher won’t kill ox, ox won’t drink water,Water won’t quench fire, fire won’t burn stick,Stick won’t beat dog, dog won’t bite kid,
The rope swayed round for “nay!”
So to the rat she beckoned:—
“Pray rat gnaw rope, rope won’t hang butcher,
Butcher won’t kill ox, ox won’t drink water,
Water won’t quench fire, fire won’t burn stick,
Stick won’t beat dog, dog won’t bite kid,
Kid won’t go!
And I see by the moonlight
’Tis long past midnight,
And time kid and I were home
A couple of hours ago!”
A scornful squeak was all he deigned,And so she called the kitten:—“Pray cat eat rat, rat won’t gnaw rope,Rope won’t hang butcher, butcher won’t kill ox,Ox won’t drink water, water won’t quench fire,Fire won’t burn stick, stick won’t beat dog,Dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!And I see by the moonlight’Tis long past midnight,And time kid and I were homeHours and hours ago!”
A scornful squeak was all he deigned,
And so she called the kitten:—
“Pray cat eat rat, rat won’t gnaw rope,
Rope won’t hang butcher, butcher won’t kill ox,Ox won’t drink water, water won’t quench fire,Fire won’t burn stick, stick won’t beat dog,Dog won’t bite kid,Kid won’t go!And I see by the moonlight’Tis long past midnight,And time kid and I were homeHours and hours ago!”
Rope won’t hang butcher, butcher won’t kill ox,
Ox won’t drink water, water won’t quench fire,
Fire won’t burn stick, stick won’t beat dog,
Dog won’t bite kid,
Kid won’t go!
And I see by the moonlight
’Tis long past midnight,
And time kid and I were home
Hours and hours ago!”
chasing: cat, rat, rope, butcher, knife, oxDame Fidget heads home with kidNow pussy loved a rat,So she seized him in a minute:And the cat began to eat the rat,The rat began to gnaw the rope,The rope began to hang the butcher,The butcher began to kill the ox,The ox began to drink the water,The water began to quench the fire,The fire began to burn the stick,The stick began to beat the dog,The dog began to bite the kid,And the kid began to go!And home through the moonlight,Long after midnight,The little dame and little kidWent trudging—oh,soslow!ox drinkingfire burns stick
Now pussy loved a rat,
So she seized him in a minute:
And the cat began to eat the rat,
The rat began to gnaw the rope,
The rope began to hang the butcher,
The butcher began to kill the ox,
The ox began to drink the water,
The water began to quench the fire,
The fire began to burn the stick,
The stick began to beat the dog,
The dog began to bite the kid,
And the kid began to go!
And home through the moonlight,
Long after midnight,
The little dame and little kid
Went trudging—oh,soslow!
THUMB
The little Boy in the Barn, / Lay down on some hay. / The Owl came out, / And flew about, / And the little Boy ran away.
THUMBPAGEFOOLISH BOBOLINK.FOOLISH BOBOLINK.BY MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES.Whata silly bobolink,Down in the meadow grasses!What can the noisy fellow think,When, to everyone who passes,He calls out cheerily,“Here, here is my nest! See! see!”He could hide the summer throughIn the thick, sweet-smelling clover,Nor could anyone from dawn to dew,His little house discover,Did he not make so freeWith the secret—“Here! see! see!”Little Ted has ears and eyes,And how can he keep from knowingJust where the cosy treasure lies,When bobolink, coming, going,Shouts, plain as plain can be,“Here, here is a nest! See! see!”And Teddy would like to creepTip-toe across the meadow,And for just one minute stoop and peepUnder the clover shadow.He would do no harm—not he!But would only see, see, see!And what would he find belowThe sheltering grass, you wonder?Why, a nest, of course, and an eggor so,A mother’s dark wings under.But bobolink—he would fleeIn a fright—“A boy! see! see!”So Teddy, whose heart is kind,Though he longs to venture near him,Sighs to himself, “Ah, never mind!”And listens, glad to hear himShouting, in tireless glee,“Here, here is my nest! See! see!”Teddy
THUMBPAGE
Whata silly bobolink,
Down in the meadow grasses!
What can the noisy fellow think,
When, to everyone who passes,
He calls out cheerily,
“Here, here is my nest! See! see!”
He could hide the summer through
In the thick, sweet-smelling clover,
Nor could anyone from dawn to dew,
His little house discover,
Did he not make so free
With the secret—“Here! see! see!”
Little Ted has ears and eyes,And how can he keep from knowingJust where the cosy treasure lies,
Little Ted has ears and eyes,
And how can he keep from knowing
Just where the cosy treasure lies,
When bobolink, coming, going,Shouts, plain as plain can be,“Here, here is a nest! See! see!”
When bobolink, coming, going,
Shouts, plain as plain can be,
“Here, here is a nest! See! see!”
And Teddy would like to creep
Tip-toe across the meadow,
And for just one minute stoop and peep
Under the clover shadow.
He would do no harm—not he!
But would only see, see, see!
And what would he find below
The sheltering grass, you wonder?
Why, a nest, of course, and an eggor so,
A mother’s dark wings under.
But bobolink—he would flee
In a fright—“A boy! see! see!”
So Teddy, whose heart is kind,
Though he longs to venture near him,
Sighs to himself, “Ah, never mind!”
And listens, glad to hear him
Shouting, in tireless glee,
“Here, here is my nest! See! see!”
THUMB
Green gravel, Green gravel, / The grass is so green, / The fairest young maiden, that ever was seen, / Oh Mary, oh Mary, your true love is dead. / He’s sent you a green bough / To tie round your head.
THUMBPAGEALADDIN.Aladdin / Versified by Clara Doty BatesIseea little group about my chair,Lovers of stories all!First, Saxon Edith, of the corn-silk hair,Growing so strong and tall!Then little brother, on whose sturdy faceSoft baby dimples fly,As fear or pleasure give each other placeWhen wonders multiply;Then Gold-locks—summers nine their goldenestHave showered on her head,And tinted it, of all the colors best,Warm robin-red breast red;Then, close at hand, on lowly haunches set,With pricked up, tasseled ear,Is Tony, little cleared-eyed spaniel pet,Waiting, like them, to hear.I say I have no story—all are told!Not to be daunted thus,They only crowd more confident and bold,And laugh, incredulous.And so, remembering how, once on a time,I, too, loved such delights,I choose this one and put it into rhyme,From the “Arabian Nights.”AladdinA poor little lad was Aladdin!His mother was wretchedly poor;A widow, who scarce ever had inHer cupboard enough of a storeTo frighten the wolf from the door.No doubt he was quite a fine fellowFor the country he lived in—but, ah!His skin was a dull, dusky yellow,And his hair was as long as ’twould grow.(’Tis the fashion in China, you know.)But however he looked, or howeverHe fared, a strange fortune was his.None of you, dears, though fair-faced and clever,Can have anything like to this,So grand and so marvelous it is!Well, one day—for so runs the tradition—While idling and lingering aboutThe low city streets, a MagicianFrom Africa, swarthy and stout,With his wise, prying eyes spied him out,THUMBPAGEmagician and AladdinAnd went up to him very politely,And asked what his name was and cried:“My lad, if I judge of you rightly,You’re the son of my brother who died—My poor Mustafa!”—and he sighed.“Ah, yes, Mustafa was my father,”Aladdin cried back, “and he’s dead!”“Well, then, both yourself and your motherI will care for forever,” he said,“And you never shall lack wine nor bread.”And thus did the wily old wizardDeceive with his kindness the twoFor a deed of dark peril and hazardHe had for Aladdin to do,At the risk of his life, too, he knew.Far down in the earth’s very centreThere burned a strange lamp at a shrine;Great stones marked the one place to enter;Down undert’wasdark as a mine;What further—no one could divine!And that was the treasure AladdinWas sent to secure. First he toreThe huge stones away, for he had inAn instant the strength of a score;Then he stepped through the cavern-like door.Down, down, through the darkness so chilly!On, on, through the long galleries!Coming now upon gardens of lilies,And now upon fruit-burdened trees,Filled full of the humming of bees.magician and Aladdin at the underground entranceBut, ah, should one tip of his fingerTouch aught as he passed, it was death!Not a fruit on the boughs made him linger,Nor the great heaps of gold underneath.But on he fled, holding his breath,Aladdin sees the lampUntil he espied, brightly burning,The mystical lamp in its place!He plucked the hot wick out, and, turning,With triumph and joy in his face,Set out his long way to retrace.At last he saw where daylight shed aSoft ray through a chink overhead,Where the crafty Magician was readyTo catch the first sound of his tread.“Reach the lamp up to me, first!” he said.Aladdin with luck had grown bolder,And he cried, “Wait a bit, and we’ll see!”Then with huge, ugly push of his shoulder,And with strong, heavy thrust of his knee,The wizard—so angry was he—THUMBPAGEPried up the great rock, rolled it overThe door with an oath and a stamp;“Stay there under that little cover,And die of the mildew and damp,”He shouted, “or give me the lamp!”Aladdin saw darkness fall o’er him;He clutched at the lamp in his hand,And, happening to rub it, before himA Genius stood, stately and grand.Whence he came he could not understand.“I obey you,” it said, “and whateverYou ask for, or wish, you shall have!Rub the lamp but the least bit soever,It calls me, for I am its slave!”Aladdin said, “Open this cave!”He was freed from the place in a minute;And he rubbed once again: “Take me home!”Home he was. And as blithe as a linnetRubbed again for the Genius with: “Come,I am dying for food; get me some!”Thus at first he but valued his treasureBecause simple wants it supplied.Grown older it furnished him pleasure;And then it brought riches beside;And, at last, it secured him his bride.Now the Princess most lovely of anyWas Badroulboudour, (what a name!)Who, though sought for and sued for by many,No matter how grandly they came,Yet merrily laughed them to shame,Until with his riches and splendor,Aladdin as lover enrolled!For the first thing he did was to send herSome forty great baskets of gold,And all the fine gems they would hold.Then he built her a palace, set thicklyWith jewels at window and door;And all was completed so quicklyShe saw bannered battlements soarWhere was nothing an hour before.THUMBPAGEThere millions of servants attended,Black slaves and white slaves, thick as bees,Obedient, attentive, and splendidIn purple and gold liveries,Fine to see, swift to serve, sure to please!Him she wedded. They lived without troubleAs long as the lamp was their own;But one day, like the burst of a bubble,The palace and Princess were gone;Without wings to fly they had flown!And Aladdin, dismayed to discoverThat the lamp had been stolen away,Bent all of his strength to recoverThe treasure, and day after day,He journeyed this way and that way;And at last, after terrible hazard,After many a peril and strife,He found that the vengeful old wizard,Who had made the attempt on his life,Had stolen lamp, princess and wife.With a shrewdness which would have done creditTo even a Yankee boy, heSought the lamp where the wizard had hid it,And, turning a mystical key,Brought it forth, and then, rubbing with glee,“Back to China!” he cried. In a minuteThe marvellous palace uprose,With the Princess Badroulboudour in itUnruffled in royal repose,With her jewels and cloth-of-gold clothes;And with gay clouds of banners and towers,With its millions of slaves, white and black.It was borne by obedient Powers,As swift as the wind on its track,And ere one could count ten it was back!And ever thereafter, AladdinClung close to the lamp of his fate,Whatever the robe he was clad in,Or whether he fasted or ate;And at all hours, early and late!Right lucky was Lord Aladdin!
THUMBPAGE
Aladdin / Versified by Clara Doty Bates
Iseea little group about my chair,Lovers of stories all!First, Saxon Edith, of the corn-silk hair,Growing so strong and tall!
Iseea little group about my chair,
Lovers of stories all!
First, Saxon Edith, of the corn-silk hair,
Growing so strong and tall!
Then little brother, on whose sturdy faceSoft baby dimples fly,As fear or pleasure give each other placeWhen wonders multiply;
Then little brother, on whose sturdy face
Soft baby dimples fly,
As fear or pleasure give each other place
When wonders multiply;
Then Gold-locks—summers nine their goldenestHave showered on her head,And tinted it, of all the colors best,Warm robin-red breast red;
Then Gold-locks—summers nine their goldenest
Have showered on her head,
And tinted it, of all the colors best,
Warm robin-red breast red;
Then, close at hand, on lowly haunches set,With pricked up, tasseled ear,Is Tony, little cleared-eyed spaniel pet,Waiting, like them, to hear.
Then, close at hand, on lowly haunches set,
With pricked up, tasseled ear,
Is Tony, little cleared-eyed spaniel pet,
Waiting, like them, to hear.
I say I have no story—all are told!Not to be daunted thus,They only crowd more confident and bold,And laugh, incredulous.
I say I have no story—all are told!
Not to be daunted thus,
They only crowd more confident and bold,
And laugh, incredulous.
And so, remembering how, once on a time,I, too, loved such delights,I choose this one and put it into rhyme,From the “Arabian Nights.”
And so, remembering how, once on a time,
I, too, loved such delights,
I choose this one and put it into rhyme,
From the “Arabian Nights.”
Aladdin
A poor little lad was Aladdin!His mother was wretchedly poor;A widow, who scarce ever had inHer cupboard enough of a storeTo frighten the wolf from the door.
A poor little lad was Aladdin!
His mother was wretchedly poor;
A widow, who scarce ever had in
Her cupboard enough of a store
To frighten the wolf from the door.
No doubt he was quite a fine fellowFor the country he lived in—but, ah!His skin was a dull, dusky yellow,And his hair was as long as ’twould grow.(’Tis the fashion in China, you know.)
No doubt he was quite a fine fellow
For the country he lived in—but, ah!
His skin was a dull, dusky yellow,
And his hair was as long as ’twould grow.
(’Tis the fashion in China, you know.)
But however he looked, or howeverHe fared, a strange fortune was his.None of you, dears, though fair-faced and clever,Can have anything like to this,So grand and so marvelous it is!
But however he looked, or however
He fared, a strange fortune was his.
None of you, dears, though fair-faced and clever,
Can have anything like to this,
So grand and so marvelous it is!
Well, one day—for so runs the tradition—While idling and lingering aboutThe low city streets, a MagicianFrom Africa, swarthy and stout,With his wise, prying eyes spied him out,
Well, one day—for so runs the tradition—
While idling and lingering about
The low city streets, a Magician
From Africa, swarthy and stout,
With his wise, prying eyes spied him out,
And went up to him very politely,
And asked what his name was and cried:
“My lad, if I judge of you rightly,
You’re the son of my brother who died—
My poor Mustafa!”—and he sighed.
“Ah, yes, Mustafa was my father,”
Aladdin cried back, “and he’s dead!”
“Well, then, both yourself and your mother
I will care for forever,” he said,
“And you never shall lack wine nor bread.”
And thus did the wily old wizard
Deceive with his kindness the two
For a deed of dark peril and hazard
He had for Aladdin to do,
At the risk of his life, too, he knew.
Far down in the earth’s very centre
There burned a strange lamp at a shrine;
Great stones marked the one place to enter;
Down undert’wasdark as a mine;
What further—no one could divine!
And that was the treasure Aladdin
Was sent to secure. First he tore
The huge stones away, for he had in
An instant the strength of a score;
Then he stepped through the cavern-like door.
Down, down, through the darkness so chilly!
On, on, through the long galleries!
Coming now upon gardens of lilies,
And now upon fruit-burdened trees,
Filled full of the humming of bees.
But, ah, should one tip of his fingerTouch aught as he passed, it was death!Not a fruit on the boughs made him linger,Nor the great heaps of gold underneath.But on he fled, holding his breath,
But, ah, should one tip of his finger
Touch aught as he passed, it was death!
Not a fruit on the boughs made him linger,
Nor the great heaps of gold underneath.
But on he fled, holding his breath,
Until he espied, brightly burning,
The mystical lamp in its place!
He plucked the hot wick out, and, turning,
With triumph and joy in his face,
Set out his long way to retrace.
At last he saw where daylight shed a
Soft ray through a chink overhead,
Where the crafty Magician was ready
To catch the first sound of his tread.
“Reach the lamp up to me, first!” he said.
Aladdin with luck had grown bolder,And he cried, “Wait a bit, and we’ll see!”Then with huge, ugly push of his shoulder,And with strong, heavy thrust of his knee,The wizard—so angry was he—
Aladdin with luck had grown bolder,
And he cried, “Wait a bit, and we’ll see!”
Then with huge, ugly push of his shoulder,
And with strong, heavy thrust of his knee,
The wizard—so angry was he—
Pried up the great rock, rolled it overThe door with an oath and a stamp;“Stay there under that little cover,And die of the mildew and damp,”He shouted, “or give me the lamp!”
Pried up the great rock, rolled it over
The door with an oath and a stamp;
“Stay there under that little cover,
And die of the mildew and damp,”
He shouted, “or give me the lamp!”
Aladdin saw darkness fall o’er him;
He clutched at the lamp in his hand,
And, happening to rub it, before him
A Genius stood, stately and grand.
Whence he came he could not understand.
“I obey you,” it said, “and whatever
You ask for, or wish, you shall have!
Rub the lamp but the least bit soever,
It calls me, for I am its slave!”
Aladdin said, “Open this cave!”
He was freed from the place in a minute;
And he rubbed once again: “Take me home!”
Home he was. And as blithe as a linnet
Rubbed again for the Genius with: “Come,
I am dying for food; get me some!”
Thus at first he but valued his treasureBecause simple wants it supplied.Grown older it furnished him pleasure;And then it brought riches beside;And, at last, it secured him his bride.
Thus at first he but valued his treasure
Because simple wants it supplied.
Grown older it furnished him pleasure;
And then it brought riches beside;
And, at last, it secured him his bride.
Now the Princess most lovely of anyWas Badroulboudour, (what a name!)Who, though sought for and sued for by many,No matter how grandly they came,Yet merrily laughed them to shame,
Now the Princess most lovely of any
Was Badroulboudour, (what a name!)
Who, though sought for and sued for by many,
No matter how grandly they came,
Yet merrily laughed them to shame,
Until with his riches and splendor,Aladdin as lover enrolled!For the first thing he did was to send herSome forty great baskets of gold,And all the fine gems they would hold.
Until with his riches and splendor,
Aladdin as lover enrolled!
For the first thing he did was to send her
Some forty great baskets of gold,
And all the fine gems they would hold.
Then he built her a palace, set thickly
With jewels at window and door;
And all was completed so quickly
She saw bannered battlements soar
Where was nothing an hour before.
THUMBPAGE
There millions of servants attended,Black slaves and white slaves, thick as bees,Obedient, attentive, and splendidIn purple and gold liveries,Fine to see, swift to serve, sure to please!
There millions of servants attended,
Black slaves and white slaves, thick as bees,
Obedient, attentive, and splendid
In purple and gold liveries,
Fine to see, swift to serve, sure to please!
Him she wedded. They lived without troubleAs long as the lamp was their own;But one day, like the burst of a bubble,The palace and Princess were gone;Without wings to fly they had flown!
Him she wedded. They lived without trouble
As long as the lamp was their own;
But one day, like the burst of a bubble,
The palace and Princess were gone;
Without wings to fly they had flown!
And Aladdin, dismayed to discoverThat the lamp had been stolen away,Bent all of his strength to recoverThe treasure, and day after day,He journeyed this way and that way;
And Aladdin, dismayed to discover
That the lamp had been stolen away,
Bent all of his strength to recover
The treasure, and day after day,
He journeyed this way and that way;
And at last, after terrible hazard,After many a peril and strife,He found that the vengeful old wizard,Who had made the attempt on his life,Had stolen lamp, princess and wife.
And at last, after terrible hazard,
After many a peril and strife,
He found that the vengeful old wizard,
Who had made the attempt on his life,
Had stolen lamp, princess and wife.
With a shrewdness which would have done creditTo even a Yankee boy, heSought the lamp where the wizard had hid it,And, turning a mystical key,Brought it forth, and then, rubbing with glee,
With a shrewdness which would have done credit
To even a Yankee boy, he
Sought the lamp where the wizard had hid it,
And, turning a mystical key,
Brought it forth, and then, rubbing with glee,
“Back to China!” he cried. In a minuteThe marvellous palace uprose,With the Princess Badroulboudour in itUnruffled in royal repose,With her jewels and cloth-of-gold clothes;
“Back to China!” he cried. In a minute
The marvellous palace uprose,
With the Princess Badroulboudour in it
Unruffled in royal repose,
With her jewels and cloth-of-gold clothes;
And with gay clouds of banners and towers,With its millions of slaves, white and black.It was borne by obedient Powers,As swift as the wind on its track,And ere one could count ten it was back!
And with gay clouds of banners and towers,
With its millions of slaves, white and black.
It was borne by obedient Powers,
As swift as the wind on its track,
And ere one could count ten it was back!
And ever thereafter, AladdinClung close to the lamp of his fate,Whatever the robe he was clad in,Or whether he fasted or ate;And at all hours, early and late!Right lucky was Lord Aladdin!
And ever thereafter, Aladdin
Clung close to the lamp of his fate,
Whatever the robe he was clad in,
Or whether he fasted or ate;
And at all hours, early and late!
Right lucky was Lord Aladdin!
THUMBPAGEBLUE-BEARD.Blue BeardOnceon a time there was a man so hideous and uglyThat little children shrank and tried to hide when he appeared;His eyes were fierce and prominent, his long hair stiff like bristles,His stature was enormous, and he wore a long blue beard—He took his name from that through all the country round about him,—And whispered tales of dreadful deeds but helped to make him feared.children runningYet he was rich, O! very rich; his home was in a castle,Whose turrets darkened on the sky, so grand and black and boldThat like a thunder-cloud it looked upon the blue horizon.He had fertile lands and parks and towns and hunting-grounds and gold,And tapestries a queen might covet, statues, pictures, jewels,While his servants numbered hundreds, and his wines were rare and old.Bluebeard courts daughtersNow near to this old Blue-beard’s castle lived a lady neighbor,Who had two daughters, beautiful as lilies on a stem;And he asked that one of them be given him in marriage—He did not care which one it was, but left the choice to them.But, oh, the terror that they felt, their efforts to evade him,With careless art, with coquetry, with wile and stratagem!Bluebeard dances with youngest daughterHe saw their high young spirits scorned him, yet he meant to conquer.He planned a visit for them,—or, ’twas rather one long fête;And to charming guests and lovely feasts, to music and to dancing,Swung wide upon its hinges grim the gloomy castle gate.And, sure enough, before a week was ended, blinded, dazzled,The youngest maiden whispered “yes,” and yielded to her fate.THUMBPAGEBluebeard and his brideAnd so she wedded Blue-beard—like a wise and wily spiderHe had lured into his web the wished-for, silly little fly!And, before the honeymoon was gone, one day he stood beside her,And with oily words of sorrow, but with evil in his eye,Said his business for a month or more would call him to a distance,And he must leave her—sorry to—but then, she must not cry!closed doorHe bade her have her friends, as many as she liked, about her,And handed her a jingling bunch of something, saying, “TheseWill open vaults and cellars and the heavy iron boxesWhere all my gold and jewels are, or any door you please.Go where you like, do what you will, one single thing excepted!”And here he look a little key from out the bunch of keys.“This will unlock the closet at the end of the long passage,But that you must not enter! I forbid it!”—and he frowned.So she promised that she would not, and he went upon his journey.And no sooner was he gone than all her merry friends aroundCame to visit her, and made the dim old corridors and chambersWith their silken dresses whisper, with laugh and song resound.Up and down the oaken stairways flitted dainty-footed ladies,Lighting up the shadowy twilight with the lustre of their bloom;Like the varied sunlight streaming through an old cathedral windowWent their brightness glancing through the unaccustomed gloom,But Blue-beard’s wife was restless, and a strong desire possessed herThrough it all to get a single peep at that forbidden room.dainty-footed ladiesbride unlocks the doorAnd so one day she slipped away from all her guests, unnoted,Down through the lower passage, till she reached the fatal door,Put in the key and turned the lock, and gently pushed it open—But, oh the horrid sight that met her eyes! Upon the floorThere were blood-stains dark and dreadful, and like dresses in a wardrobe,There were women hung up by their hair, and dripping in their gore!THUMBPAGEbride sees what is behind the doorThen, at once, upon her mind the unknown fate that had befallenThe other wives of Blue-beard flashed—’twas now no mystery!She started back as cold as icicles, as white as ashes,And upon the clammy floor her trembling fingers dropped the key.She caught it up, she whirled the bolt to, shut the sight behind her,And like a startled deer at sound of hunter’s gun, fled she!bride sees bloodstained key (top)bride sees bloodstained key (bottom)She reached her room with gasping breath,—behold, another terror!Upon the key within her hand; she saw a ghastly stain;She rubbed it with her handkerchief, she washed in soap and water,She scoured it with sand and stone, but all was done in vain!For when one side, by dint of work, grew bright, upon the other(It was bewitched, you know,) came out that ugly spot again!Bluebeard returns (left)And then, unlooked-for, who should come next morning, bright and early,But old Blue-beard himself who hadn’t been away a week!He kissed his wife, and, after a brief pause, said, smiling blandly:“I’d like my keys, my dear.” He saw a tear upon her cheek,And guessed the truth. She gave him all but one. He scowled and grumbled:“I want the key to thesmall room!” Poor thing, she could not speak!Bluebeard returns (right)Bluebeard threatens brideHe saw at once the stain it bore while she turned pale and paler,“You’ve been where I forbade you! Now you shall go thereto stay!Prepare yourself to die at once!” he cried. The frightened ladyCould only fall before him pleading: “Give me time to pray!”Just fifteen minutes by the clock he granted. To her chamberShe fled, but stopped to call her sister Anne by the way.bride speaks to sister (left)bride speaks to sister (right)“O, sister Anne, go to the tower and watch!” she cried, “Our brothersWere coming here to-day, and I have got to die!Oh, fly, and if you see them, wave a signal! Hasten! hasten!”And Anne went flying like a bird up to the tower high.“Oh, Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”Called the praying lady up the tower-stairs with piteous cry.THUMBPAGEbride calls up stairs“Oh Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”“I see the burning sun,” she answered, “and the waving grass!”Meanwhile old Blue-beard down below was whetting up his cutlass,And shouting: “Come down quick, or I’ll come after you, my lass!”“One little minute more to pray, one minute more!” she pleaded—To hope how slow the minutes are, to dread how swift they pass!Bluebeard holding sword“Oh Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”She answered: “Yes I see a cloud of dust that moves this way.”“Is it our brothers, Anne?” implored the lady. “No, my sister,It is a flock of sheep.” Here Blue-beard thundered out: “I say,Come down or I’ll come after you!” Again the only answer:“Oh, just one little minute more,—one minute more to pray!”Bluebeard threatens bride with sword“Oh, Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”“I see two horsemen riding, but they yet are very far!”She waved them with her handkerchief; it bade them, “hasten, hasten!”Then Blue-beard stamped his foot so hard it made the whole house jar;And, rushing up to where his wife knelt, swung his glittering cutlass,As Indians do a tomahawk, and shrieked: “How slow you are!”Just then, without, was heard the beat of hoofs upon the pavement,The doors flew back, the marble floors rang to a hurried tread.Two horsemen, with their swords in hand, came storming up the stairway,And with one swoop of their good swords they cut off Blue-beard’s head!Down fell his cruel arm, the heavy cutlass falling with it,And, instead of its old, ugly blue, his beard was bloody red!brothers attack BluebeardweddingOf course, the tyrant dead, his wife had all his vast possessions;She gave her sister Anne a dower to marry where she would;The brothers were rewarded with commissions in the army;And as for Blue-beard’s wife, she did exactly as she should,—She wore no weeds, she shed no tears; but very shortly afterMarried a man as fair to look at as his heart was good.
THUMBPAGE
Blue Beard
Onceon a time there was a man so hideous and uglyThat little children shrank and tried to hide when he appeared;His eyes were fierce and prominent, his long hair stiff like bristles,His stature was enormous, and he wore a long blue beard—He took his name from that through all the country round about him,—And whispered tales of dreadful deeds but helped to make him feared.
Onceon a time there was a man so hideous and ugly
That little children shrank and tried to hide when he appeared;
His eyes were fierce and prominent, his long hair stiff like bristles,
His stature was enormous, and he wore a long blue beard—
He took his name from that through all the country round about him,—
And whispered tales of dreadful deeds but helped to make him feared.
Yet he was rich, O! very rich; his home was in a castle,Whose turrets darkened on the sky, so grand and black and boldThat like a thunder-cloud it looked upon the blue horizon.He had fertile lands and parks and towns and hunting-grounds and gold,And tapestries a queen might covet, statues, pictures, jewels,While his servants numbered hundreds, and his wines were rare and old.
Yet he was rich, O! very rich; his home was in a castle,
Whose turrets darkened on the sky, so grand and black and bold
That like a thunder-cloud it looked upon the blue horizon.
He had fertile lands and parks and towns and hunting-grounds and gold,
And tapestries a queen might covet, statues, pictures, jewels,
While his servants numbered hundreds, and his wines were rare and old.
Now near to this old Blue-beard’s castle lived a lady neighbor,Who had two daughters, beautiful as lilies on a stem;And he asked that one of them be given him in marriage—He did not care which one it was, but left the choice to them.But, oh, the terror that they felt, their efforts to evade him,With careless art, with coquetry, with wile and stratagem!
Now near to this old Blue-beard’s castle lived a lady neighbor,
Who had two daughters, beautiful as lilies on a stem;
And he asked that one of them be given him in marriage—
He did not care which one it was, but left the choice to them.
But, oh, the terror that they felt, their efforts to evade him,
With careless art, with coquetry, with wile and stratagem!
He saw their high young spirits scorned him, yet he meant to conquer.He planned a visit for them,—or, ’twas rather one long fête;And to charming guests and lovely feasts, to music and to dancing,Swung wide upon its hinges grim the gloomy castle gate.And, sure enough, before a week was ended, blinded, dazzled,The youngest maiden whispered “yes,” and yielded to her fate.
He saw their high young spirits scorned him, yet he meant to conquer.
He planned a visit for them,—or, ’twas rather one long fête;
And to charming guests and lovely feasts, to music and to dancing,
Swung wide upon its hinges grim the gloomy castle gate.
And, sure enough, before a week was ended, blinded, dazzled,
The youngest maiden whispered “yes,” and yielded to her fate.
THUMBPAGE
And so she wedded Blue-beard—like a wise and wily spiderHe had lured into his web the wished-for, silly little fly!And, before the honeymoon was gone, one day he stood beside her,And with oily words of sorrow, but with evil in his eye,Said his business for a month or more would call him to a distance,And he must leave her—sorry to—but then, she must not cry!
And so she wedded Blue-beard—like a wise and wily spider
He had lured into his web the wished-for, silly little fly!
And, before the honeymoon was gone, one day he stood beside her,
And with oily words of sorrow, but with evil in his eye,
Said his business for a month or more would call him to a distance,
And he must leave her—sorry to—but then, she must not cry!
He bade her have her friends, as many as she liked, about her,And handed her a jingling bunch of something, saying, “TheseWill open vaults and cellars and the heavy iron boxesWhere all my gold and jewels are, or any door you please.Go where you like, do what you will, one single thing excepted!”And here he look a little key from out the bunch of keys.
He bade her have her friends, as many as she liked, about her,
And handed her a jingling bunch of something, saying, “These
Will open vaults and cellars and the heavy iron boxes
Where all my gold and jewels are, or any door you please.
Go where you like, do what you will, one single thing excepted!”
And here he look a little key from out the bunch of keys.
“This will unlock the closet at the end of the long passage,But that you must not enter! I forbid it!”—and he frowned.So she promised that she would not, and he went upon his journey.And no sooner was he gone than all her merry friends aroundCame to visit her, and made the dim old corridors and chambersWith their silken dresses whisper, with laugh and song resound.
“This will unlock the closet at the end of the long passage,
But that you must not enter! I forbid it!”—and he frowned.
So she promised that she would not, and he went upon his journey.
And no sooner was he gone than all her merry friends around
Came to visit her, and made the dim old corridors and chambers
With their silken dresses whisper, with laugh and song resound.
Up and down the oaken stairways flitted dainty-footed ladies,Lighting up the shadowy twilight with the lustre of their bloom;Like the varied sunlight streaming through an old cathedral windowWent their brightness glancing through the unaccustomed gloom,But Blue-beard’s wife was restless, and a strong desire possessed herThrough it all to get a single peep at that forbidden room.
Up and down the oaken stairways flitted dainty-footed ladies,
Lighting up the shadowy twilight with the lustre of their bloom;
Like the varied sunlight streaming through an old cathedral window
Went their brightness glancing through the unaccustomed gloom,
But Blue-beard’s wife was restless, and a strong desire possessed her
Through it all to get a single peep at that forbidden room.
And so one day she slipped away from all her guests, unnoted,Down through the lower passage, till she reached the fatal door,Put in the key and turned the lock, and gently pushed it open—But, oh the horrid sight that met her eyes! Upon the floorThere were blood-stains dark and dreadful, and like dresses in a wardrobe,There were women hung up by their hair, and dripping in their gore!
And so one day she slipped away from all her guests, unnoted,
Down through the lower passage, till she reached the fatal door,
Put in the key and turned the lock, and gently pushed it open—
But, oh the horrid sight that met her eyes! Upon the floor
There were blood-stains dark and dreadful, and like dresses in a wardrobe,
There were women hung up by their hair, and dripping in their gore!
THUMBPAGE
Then, at once, upon her mind the unknown fate that had befallenThe other wives of Blue-beard flashed—’twas now no mystery!She started back as cold as icicles, as white as ashes,And upon the clammy floor her trembling fingers dropped the key.She caught it up, she whirled the bolt to, shut the sight behind her,And like a startled deer at sound of hunter’s gun, fled she!
Then, at once, upon her mind the unknown fate that had befallen
The other wives of Blue-beard flashed—’twas now no mystery!
She started back as cold as icicles, as white as ashes,
And upon the clammy floor her trembling fingers dropped the key.
She caught it up, she whirled the bolt to, shut the sight behind her,
And like a startled deer at sound of hunter’s gun, fled she!
She reached her room with gasping breath,—behold, another terror!Upon the key within her hand; she saw a ghastly stain;She rubbed it with her handkerchief, she washed in soap and water,She scoured it with sand and stone, but all was done in vain!For when one side, by dint of work, grew bright, upon the other(It was bewitched, you know,) came out that ugly spot again!
She reached her room with gasping breath,—behold, another terror!
Upon the key within her hand; she saw a ghastly stain;
She rubbed it with her handkerchief, she washed in soap and water,
She scoured it with sand and stone, but all was done in vain!
For when one side, by dint of work, grew bright, upon the other
(It was bewitched, you know,) came out that ugly spot again!
And then, unlooked-for, who should come next morning, bright and early,But old Blue-beard himself who hadn’t been away a week!He kissed his wife, and, after a brief pause, said, smiling blandly:“I’d like my keys, my dear.” He saw a tear upon her cheek,And guessed the truth. She gave him all but one. He scowled and grumbled:“I want the key to thesmall room!” Poor thing, she could not speak!
And then, unlooked-for, who should come next morning, bright and early,
But old Blue-beard himself who hadn’t been away a week!
He kissed his wife, and, after a brief pause, said, smiling blandly:
“I’d like my keys, my dear.” He saw a tear upon her cheek,
And guessed the truth. She gave him all but one. He scowled and grumbled:
“I want the key to thesmall room!” Poor thing, she could not speak!
He saw at once the stain it bore while she turned pale and paler,“You’ve been where I forbade you! Now you shall go thereto stay!Prepare yourself to die at once!” he cried. The frightened ladyCould only fall before him pleading: “Give me time to pray!”Just fifteen minutes by the clock he granted. To her chamberShe fled, but stopped to call her sister Anne by the way.
He saw at once the stain it bore while she turned pale and paler,
“You’ve been where I forbade you! Now you shall go thereto stay!
Prepare yourself to die at once!” he cried. The frightened lady
Could only fall before him pleading: “Give me time to pray!”
Just fifteen minutes by the clock he granted. To her chamber
She fled, but stopped to call her sister Anne by the way.
“O, sister Anne, go to the tower and watch!” she cried, “Our brothersWere coming here to-day, and I have got to die!Oh, fly, and if you see them, wave a signal! Hasten! hasten!”And Anne went flying like a bird up to the tower high.“Oh, Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”Called the praying lady up the tower-stairs with piteous cry.
“O, sister Anne, go to the tower and watch!” she cried, “Our brothers
Were coming here to-day, and I have got to die!
Oh, fly, and if you see them, wave a signal! Hasten! hasten!”
And Anne went flying like a bird up to the tower high.
“Oh, Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”
Called the praying lady up the tower-stairs with piteous cry.
THUMBPAGE
“Oh Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”“I see the burning sun,” she answered, “and the waving grass!”Meanwhile old Blue-beard down below was whetting up his cutlass,And shouting: “Come down quick, or I’ll come after you, my lass!”“One little minute more to pray, one minute more!” she pleaded—To hope how slow the minutes are, to dread how swift they pass!
“Oh Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”
“I see the burning sun,” she answered, “and the waving grass!”
Meanwhile old Blue-beard down below was whetting up his cutlass,
And shouting: “Come down quick, or I’ll come after you, my lass!”
“One little minute more to pray, one minute more!” she pleaded—
To hope how slow the minutes are, to dread how swift they pass!
“Oh Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”She answered: “Yes I see a cloud of dust that moves this way.”“Is it our brothers, Anne?” implored the lady. “No, my sister,It is a flock of sheep.” Here Blue-beard thundered out: “I say,Come down or I’ll come after you!” Again the only answer:“Oh, just one little minute more,—one minute more to pray!”
“Oh Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”
She answered: “Yes I see a cloud of dust that moves this way.”
“Is it our brothers, Anne?” implored the lady. “No, my sister,
It is a flock of sheep.” Here Blue-beard thundered out: “I say,
Come down or I’ll come after you!” Again the only answer:
“Oh, just one little minute more,—one minute more to pray!”
“Oh, Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”“I see two horsemen riding, but they yet are very far!”She waved them with her handkerchief; it bade them, “hasten, hasten!”Then Blue-beard stamped his foot so hard it made the whole house jar;And, rushing up to where his wife knelt, swung his glittering cutlass,As Indians do a tomahawk, and shrieked: “How slow you are!”
“Oh, Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”
“I see two horsemen riding, but they yet are very far!”
She waved them with her handkerchief; it bade them, “hasten, hasten!”
Then Blue-beard stamped his foot so hard it made the whole house jar;
And, rushing up to where his wife knelt, swung his glittering cutlass,
As Indians do a tomahawk, and shrieked: “How slow you are!”
Just then, without, was heard the beat of hoofs upon the pavement,The doors flew back, the marble floors rang to a hurried tread.Two horsemen, with their swords in hand, came storming up the stairway,And with one swoop of their good swords they cut off Blue-beard’s head!Down fell his cruel arm, the heavy cutlass falling with it,And, instead of its old, ugly blue, his beard was bloody red!
Just then, without, was heard the beat of hoofs upon the pavement,
The doors flew back, the marble floors rang to a hurried tread.
Two horsemen, with their swords in hand, came storming up the stairway,
And with one swoop of their good swords they cut off Blue-beard’s head!
Down fell his cruel arm, the heavy cutlass falling with it,
And, instead of its old, ugly blue, his beard was bloody red!
Of course, the tyrant dead, his wife had all his vast possessions;She gave her sister Anne a dower to marry where she would;The brothers were rewarded with commissions in the army;And as for Blue-beard’s wife, she did exactly as she should,—She wore no weeds, she shed no tears; but very shortly afterMarried a man as fair to look at as his heart was good.
Of course, the tyrant dead, his wife had all his vast possessions;
She gave her sister Anne a dower to marry where she would;
The brothers were rewarded with commissions in the army;
And as for Blue-beard’s wife, she did exactly as she should,—
She wore no weeds, she shed no tears; but very shortly after
Married a man as fair to look at as his heart was good.
THUMB
The little brown owl sits up in the Tree, / And if you look well / His big eyes you may see. / He says Whit a whoo, when the night grows dark, / And he hears the dogs and the little foxes bark.