But as the faithful years return
  And hearts unwounded sing again,
Comes Taffy dancing through the fern
  To lead the Surrey spring again.

Her brows are bound with bracken-fronds,
  And golden elf-locks fly above;
Her eyes are bright as diamonds
  And bluer than the sky above.

In mocassins and deer-skin cloak,
  Unfearing, free and fair she flits,
And lights her little damp-wood smoke
  To show her Daddy where she flits.

For far—­oh, very far behind,
  So far she cannot call to him,
Comes Tegumai alone to find
  The daughter that was all to him.

OLD MOTHER LAIDINWOOL

’Old Mother Laidinwool had nigh twelve months been dead. 
She heard the hops was doing well, an’ so popped up her head,’
For said she:  ’The lads I’ve picked with when I was young and fair,
They’re bound to be at hopping and I’m bound to meet ’em there!’

Let me up and go Back to the work I know, Lord!  Back to the work I know, Lord!  For it’s dark where I lie down, My Lord!  An’ it’s dark where I lie down!

Old Mother Laidinwool, she give her bones a shake,
An’ trotted down the churchyard path as fast as she could make. 
She met the Parson walking, but she says to him, says she: 
‘Oh don’t let no one trouble for a poor old ghost like me!’

‘Twas all a warm September an’ the hops had flourished grand,
She saw the folks get into ’em with stockin’s on their hands;
An’ none of ’em was foreigners but all which she had known,
And old Mother Laidinwool she blessed ’em every one.

She saw her daughters picking, an’ their children them beside,
An’ she moved among the babies an’ she stilled ’em when they cried. 
She saw their clothes was bought, not begged, an’ they was clean an’ fat,
An’ old Mother Laidinwool she thanked the Lord for that.

Old Mother Laidinwool she waited on all day
Until it come too dark to see an’ people went away—­
Until it come too dark to see an’ lights began to show,
An’ old Mother Laidinwool she hadn’t where to go.

Old Mother Laidinwool she give her bones a shake,
An’ trotted back to churchyard-mould as fast as she could make. 
She went where she was bidden to an’ there laid down her ghost, ... 
An’ the Lord have mercy on you in the Day you need it most!

Let me in again, Out of the wet an’ rain, Lord!  Out of the dark an rain, Lord!  For it’s best as you shall say, My Lord!  An’ it’s best as you shall say!

CHAPTER HEADINGS

JUST-SO STORIES

When the cabin port-holes are dark and green
  Because of the seas outside;
When the ship goes wop (with a wiggle between)
And the steward falls into the soup-tureen,
  And the trunks begin to slide;
When Nursey lies on the floor in a heap,
And Mummy tells you to let her sleep,
And you aren’t waked or washed or dressed,
Why, then you will know (if you haven’t guessed)
You’re ‘Fifty North and Forty West!’