“Hey, Bud! O Bud!” rang out a gleeful call,– “The Loehrs is come to your house!” And a small But very much elated little chap, In snowy linen-suit and tasseled cap, Leaped from the back-fence just across the street From Bixlers’, and came galloping to meet His equally delighted little pair Of playmates, hurrying out […]

At Noey’s house–when they arrived with him– How snug seemed everything, and neat and trim: The little picket-fence, and little gate– It’s little pulley, and its little weight,– All glib as clock-work, as it clicked behind Them, on the little red brick pathway, lined With little paint-keg-vases and teapots Of wee moss-blossoms and forgetmenots: And […]

W’y, one time wuz a little-weenty dirl, An’ she wuz named Red Riding Hood, ’cause her– Her Ma she maked a little red cloak fer her ‘At turnt up over her head–An’ it ‘uz all Ist one piece o’ red cardinal ‘at ‘s like The drate-long stockin’s the store-keepers has.– O! it ‘uz purtiest cloak […]

Within the sitting-room, the company Had been increased in number. Two or three Young couples had been added: Emma King, Ella and Mary Mathers–all could sing Like veritable angels–Lydia Martin, too, And Nelly Millikan.–What songs they knew!– “‘Ever of Thee–wherever I may be, Fondly I’m drea-m-ing ever of thee!'” And with their gracious voices blend […]

I He was a Dreamer of the Days: Indolent as a lazy breeze Of midsummer, in idlest ways Lolling about in the shade of trees. The farmer turned–as he passed him by Under the hillside where he kneeled Plucking a flower–with scornful eye And rode ahead in the harvest field Muttering–“Lawz! ef that-air shirk Of […]

The audience entire seemed pleased–indeed Extremely pleased. And little Maymie, freed From her task of instructing, ran to show Her wondrous colored picture to and fro Among the company. “And how comes it,” said Some one to Mr. Hammond, “that, instead Of the inventor’s life you did not choose The artist’s?–since the world can better […]

All seemed delighted, though the elders more, Of course, than were the children.–Thus, before Much interchange of mirthful compliment, The story-teller said his stories “went” (Like a bad candle) best when they went out,– And that some sprightly music, dashed about, Would wholly quench his “glimmer,” and inspire Far brighter lights. And, answering this desire, […]

All were quite gracious in their plaudits of Bud’s Fairy; but another stir above That murmur was occasioned by a sweet Young lady-caller, from a neighboring street, Who rose reluctantly to say good-night To all the pleasant friends and the delight Experienced,–as she had promised sure To be back home by nine. Then paused, demure, […]

Some peoples thinks they ain’t no Fairies now No more yet!–But they is, I bet! ‘Cause ef They wuzn’t Fairies, nen I’ like to know Who’d w’ite ’bout Fairies in the books, an’ tell What Fairies does, an’ how their picture looks, An’ all an’ ever’thing! W’y, ef they don’t Be Fairies anymore, nen little […]

My little story, Cousin Rufus said, Is not so much a story as a fact. It is about a certain willful boy– An aggrieved, unappreciated boy, Grown to dislike his own home very much, By reason of his parents being not At all up to his rigid standard and Requirements and exactions as a son […]

“They ain’t much ‘tale’ about it!” Noey said.– “K’tawby grapes wuz gittin’ good-n-red I rickollect; and Tubb Kingry and me ‘Ud kindo’ browse round town, daytime, to see What neighbers ‘peared to have the most to spare ‘At wuz git-at-able and no dog there When we come round to git ’em, say ’bout ten O’clock […]

THAT ALEX “IST MAKED UP HIS-OWN-SE’F” W’y, wunst they wuz a Little Boy went out In the woods to shoot a Bear. So, he went out ‘Way in the grea’-big woods–he did.–An’ he Wuz goin’along–an’goin’along, you know, An’ purty soon he heerd somepin’ go “Wooh!”— Ist thataway–“Woo-ooh!” An’ he wuz skeered, He wuz. An’ so […]

The merriment that followed was subdued– As though the story-teller’s attitude Were dual, in a sense, appealing quite As much to sorrow as to mere delight, According, haply, to the listener’s bent Either of sad or merry temperament.– “And of your two appeals I much prefer The pathos,” said “The Noted Traveler,”– “For should I […]

Coming, clean from the Maryland-end Of this great National Road of ours, Through your vast West; with the time to spend, Stopping for days in the main towns, where Every citizen seemed a friend, And friends grew thick as the wayside flowers,– I found no thing that I might narrate More singularly strange or queer […]

The greeting of the company throughout Was like a jubilee,–the children’s shout And fusillading hand-claps, with great guns And detonations of the older ones, Raged to such tumult of tempestuous joy, It even more alarmed than pleased the boy; Till, with a sudden twitching lip, he slid Down to the floor and dodged across and […]

Ho! the old Snow-Man That Noey Bixler made! He looked as fierce and sassy As a soldier on parade!– ‘Cause Noey, when he made him, While we all wuz gone, you see, He made him, jist a-purpose, Jist as fierce as he could be!– But when we all got ust to him, Nobody wuz afraid […]

There was a curious quiet for a space Directly following: and in the face Of one rapt listener pulsed the flush and glow Of the heat-lightning that pent passions throw Long ere the crash of speech.–He broke the spell– The host:–The Traveler’s story, told so well, He said, had wakened there within his breast A […]

The ordered intermingling of the real and the dream,– The mill above the river, and the mist above the stream; The life of ceaseless labor, brave with song and cheery call– The radiant skies of evening, with its rainbow o’er us all. AN OLD SWEETHEART OF MINE!–Is this her presence here with me, Or but […]

DEDICATION To HEWITT HANSON HOWLAND WITH HALEST CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AND FRATERNAL Little Boy! Halloo!–halloo! Can’t you hear me calling you?– Little Boy that used to be, Come in here and play with me. A Defective Santa Claus Allus when our Pa he’s away Nen Uncle Sidney comes to stay At our house here–so Ma an’ […]

The pipes of Pan! Not idler now are they Than when their cunning fashioner first blew The pith of music from them: Yet for you And me their notes are blown in many a way Lost in our murmurings for that old day That fared so well, without us.–Waken to The pipings here at hand:–The […]