Dolly's Wings

DOLLY'S WINGS.

Mamma Biddy, look up here,

See my dolly; ain't her dear?

Love your chickens? So does I.

Wish my dolly''d learn to fly.

Mamma Biddy, how get wings?

Buy 'em with the pedlar things?

Guess I'se got free cents and two;

Mamma Biddy, won't that do?

by Laura Loring, in Wide Awake.

Old photo from 1900; children in studio with doll.

Baby

Baby

Where did you come from, baby dear?

Out of the everywhere into here.

Where did you get those eyes so blue?

Out of the sky as I came through.

What makes the light in them sparkle and spin?

Some of the starry spikes left in.

Where did you get that little tear?

I found it waiting when I got here.

What makes your forehead so smooth and high?

A soft hand stroked it as I went by.

What makes your cheek like a warm white rose?

I saw something better than any one knows.

Whence that three-cornered smile of bliss?

Three angels gave me at once a kiss.

Where did you get this pearly ear?

God spoke, and it came out to hear.

Where did you get those arms and hands?

Love made itself into bonds and bands.

Feet, whence did you come, you darling things?

From the same box as the cherubs' wings.

How did they all just come to be you?

God thought about me, and so I grew.

But how did you come to us, you dear?

God thought about you, and so I am here.

 by George MacDonald

A Child's Troubles

A CHILD'S TROUBLES.

I wish I knew my letters well,

So I might learn to read and spell;

I'd find them on my pretty card,

If they were not so very hard.

"Now S is crooked - don't you see?

And G is making mouths at me,

And O is something like a ball, -

It hasn't any end at all.

And all the rest are - my! so queer!

They look like crooked sticks - oh, dear!

Ma counted six, and twenty more;

What do they have so many for?

From St. Nicholas

I'm Such A Little Tot

I'M SUCH A LITTLE TOT

They said I couldn't speak a piece,

I'm such a little tot;

That they were little once themselves,

They surely have forgot.

I've made my bow as prettily

As did my bigger brother.

I've made my bow - you're laughing so -

I guess I'll make another.

by J. H. G.

Grandma Always Does

GRANDMA ALWAYS DOES

I wants to mend my wagon,

And has to have some nails, -

Jus' two, free will be plenty, -

We're going to haul our rails.

The splendidest cob-fences

We're makin', ever was!

I wis' you'd help us find 'em -

Gran'ma ollers does!

My horse's name is Betsy;

She jumped and broked her head ;

I put her in the stable.

And fed her milk and bread.

The stable 's in the parlor, -

We didn't make no muss, -

I wis' you'd let it stay there -

Gran'ma ollers does !

I wants some bread and butter,

I's hungry worstest kind;

But Toddie mustn't have none,

'Cause she wouldn't mind.

Put plenty sugar on it.

Just lots of it, because

It's right to put on sugar -

Gran'ma ollers does!

Charley Boy

Charley Boy

O, LOOK at my hat.

How nicely it suits!

O, look at my feet,

I've got on new boots!

Hurrah, for Charley boy!

My boots, they are stiff.

My boots, they are tall.

And they hold me up straight,

So I cannot fall.

Hurrah, for Charley boy!

I'll do mother's errands

As well as I can;

I've got on new boots.

And so I'm a man.

Hurrah, for Charley boy !

by Eliza Lee Follen

Going To Bed

GOING TO BED

It isn't time to go to bed.

The clock goes round too quick;

It hurts my back to lie in bed,

And almost makes me sick.

I want to show my uncle George

My pretty birthday ring;

And sing him "Jesus loves me,"

For he likes to hear me sing;.

My dollie, Haddenewya,

Her yellow dress is thin,

And she's sitting on the horse-block,

I forgot to bring her in;

I want to go and get her, -

She'll catch a cold and die ;

I want to get my nankerchick,

I guess I'se got to cry.

I said I'd wait till papa comes,

I wonder what he'd think;

There's something hurts me in my throat,

I want to get a drink.

I guess I'd rather get it in

My little silver cup, -

What makes me have to go to bed

When you are staying up?