Be a truant—­know no place
    Of prison under heaven’s rim! 
  Front the Father’s smiling face—­
      Smiling, that you smile the brighter
      For the heavy hearts made lighter,
    Since you smile with Him. 
  Take—­and thank Him for His grace—­
        The Book of Joyous Children.

* * * * *

AN IMPROMPTU FAIRY-TALE

[Illustration]

  When I wuz ist a little bit
      o’ weenty-teenty kid
  I maked up a Fairy-tale,
      all by myse’f, I did:—­

  I

  Wunst upon a time wunst
    They wuz a Fairy King,
  An’ ever’thing he have wuz gold—­,
    His clo’es, an’ ever’thing! 
  An’ all the other Fairies
    In his goldun Palace-hall
  Had to hump an’ hustle—­
    ’Cause he wuz bosst of all!

  II

  He have a goldun trumput,
    An’ when he blow’ on that,
  It’s a sign he want’ his boots,
    Er his coat er hat: 
  They’s a sign fer ever’thing,—­
    An’ all the Fairies knowed
  Ever’ sign, an’ come a-hoppin’
    When the King blowed!

[Illustration]

  III

  Wunst he blowed an’ telled ’em all: 
    “Saddle up yer bees—­
  Fireflies is gittin’ fat
    An’ sassy as you please!—­
  Guess we’ll go a-huntin’!”
    So they hunt’ a little bit,
  Till the King blowed “Supper-time,”
    Nen they all quit.

[Illustration]

  IV

  Nen they have a Banqut
    In the Palace-hall,
  An’ ist et! an’ et! an’ et! 
    Nen they have a Ball;
  An’ when the Queen o’ Fairyland
    Come p’omenadin’ through,
  The King says an’ halts her,—­
    “Guess I’ll marry you!”

[Illustration]

* * * * *

DREAM-MARCH

  “Wasn’t it a funny dream!—­perfectly bewild’rin’!—­
    Last night, and night before, and night before that,
  Seemed like I saw the march o’ regiments o’ children,
    Marching to the robin’s fife and cricket’s rat-ta-tat! 
  Lily-banners overhead, with the dew upon ’em,
    On flashed the little army, as with sword and flame;
  Like the buzz o’ bumble-wings, with the honey on ’em,
    Came an eerie, cheery chant, chiming as it came:—­

[Illustration]

  Where go the children?  Travelling!  Travelling!
    Where go the children, travelling ahead?
  Some go to kindergarten; some go to day-school;
    Some go to night-school; and some go to bed!

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

  Smooth roads or rough roads, warm or winter weather,
    On go the children, tow-head and brown,
  Brave boys and brave girls, rank and file together,
    Marching out of Morning-Land, over dale and down: