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true。 And as we read some much…loved masterpiece； Read it as long ago
the author read； With eyes that brimmed with tears as he saw The message
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he believed in stamped in type Inviolable for the slow…coming years； We
know a certain subtle sympathy； We seem to clasp his hand across the past；
His words become related to the time； He is at one with his own glorious
creed And all that in his world was dared and done。 The long； still； fruitful
hours slip away Shedding their influences as they pass； We know
ourselves the richer to have sat Upon this dusty floor and dreamed our
dreams。 No other place to us were quite the same； No other dreams so
potent in their charm； For this is ours！ Every twist and turn Of every
narrow stair is known and loved； Each nook and cranny is our very own；
The dear； old； sleepy place is full of spells For us； by right of long
inheritance。 The building simply bodies forth a thought Peculiarly inherent
to the race。 And we； descendants of that elder time； Have learnt to love the
very form in which The thought has been embodied to our years。 And here
we feel that we are not alone； We too are one with our own richest past；
And here that veiled； but ever smouldering fire Of race； which rarely seen
yet never dies； Springs up afresh and warms us with its heat。 And must
they take away this treasure house； To us so full of thoughts and memories；
To all the world beside a dismal place Lacking in all this modern age
requires To tempt along the unfamiliar paths And leafy lanes of old time
literatures？ It takes some time for moss and vines to grow And warmly
cover gaunt and chill stone walls Of stately buildings from the cold North
Wind。 The lichen of affection takes as long； Or longer； ere it lovingly
enfolds A place which since without it were bereft； All stript and bare；
shorn of its chiefest grace。 For what to us were halls and corridors
However large and fitting； if we part With this which is our birthright； if
we lose A sentiment profound； unsoundable； Which Time's slow ripening
alone can make； And man's blind foolishness so quickly mar。
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Verses for Children
Sea Shell
Sea Shell； Sea Shell； Sing me a song； O Please！ A song of ships； and
sailor men； And parrots； and tropical trees；
Of islands lost in the Spanish Main Which no man ever may find again；
Of fishes and corals under the waves； And seahorses stabled in great green
caves。
Sea Shell； Sea Shell； Sing of the things you know so well。
Fringed Gentians
Near where I live there is a lake As blue as blue can be； winds make It
dance as they go blowing by。 I think it curtseys to the sky。
It's just a lake of lovely flowers And my Mamma says they are ours；
But they are not like those we grow To be our very own； you know。
We have a splendid garden； there Are lots of flowers everywhere；
Roses； and pinks； and four o'clocks And hollyhocks； and evening stocks。
Mamma lets us pick them； but never Must we pick any gentians ever！
For if we carried them away They'd die of homesickness that day。
The Painted Ceiling
My Grandpapa lives in a wonderful house With a great many
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windows and doors； There are stairs that go up； and stairs that go down；
And such beautiful； slippery floors。
But of all of the rooms； even mother's and mine； And the bookroom；
and parlour and all； I like the green dining…room so much the best
Because of its ceiling and wall。
Right over your head is a funny round hole With apples and pears
falling through； There's a big bunch of grapes all purply and sweet； And
melons and pineapples too。
They tumble and tumble； but never come down Though I've stood
underneath a long while With my mouth open wide； for I always have
hoped Just a cherry would drop from the pile。
No matter how early I run there to look It has always begun to fall
through； And one night when at bedtime I crept in to see； It was falling
by candle…light too。
I am sure they are magical fruits； and each one Makes you hear
things； or see things； or go Forever invisible； but it's no use； And of
course I shall just never know。
For the ladder's too heavy to lift； and the chairs Are not nearly so tall
as I need。 I've given up hope； and I feel I shall die Without having
accomplished the deed。
It's a little bit sad； when you seem very near To adventures and
things of that sort； Which nearly begin； and then don't； and you know It
is only because you are short。
The Crescent Moon
Slipping softly through the sky Little horned； happy moon； Can you
hear me up so high？ Will you come down soon？
On my nursery window…sill Will you stay your steady flight？ And
then float away with me Through the summer night？
Brushing over tops of trees； Playing hide and seek with stars；
Peeping up through shiny clouds At Jupiter or Mars。
I shall fill my lap with roses Gathered in the milky way； All to carry
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home to mother。 Oh！ what will she say！
Little rocking； sailing moon； Do you hear me shout Ahoy！ Just a
little nearer； moon； To please a little boy。
Climbing
High up in the apple tree climbing I go； With the sky above me； the
earth below。 Each branch is the step of a wonderful stair Which leads to
the town I see shining up there。
Climbing； climbing； higher and higher； The branches blow and I see a
spire； The gleam of a turret； the glint of a dome； All sparkling and bright；
like white sea foam。
On and on； from bough to bough； The leaves are thick； but I push my
way through； Before； I have always had to stop； But to…day I am sure I
shall reach the top。
Today to the end of the marvelous stair； Where those glittering
pinacles flash in the air！ Climbing； climbing； higher I go； With the sky
close above me； the earth far below。
The Trout
Naughty little speckled trout； Can't I coax you to come out？ Is it such
great fun to play In the water every day？
Do you pull the Naiads' hair Hiding in the lilies there？ Do you hunt for
fishes' eggs； Or watch tadpoles grow their legs？
Do the little trouts have school In some deep sun…glinted pool； And in
recess play at tag Round that bed of purple flag？
I have tried so hard to catch you； Hours and hours I've sat to watch you；
But you never will come out； Naughty little speckled trout！
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Wind
He shouts in the sails of the ships at sea； He steals the down from the
honeybee； He makes the forest trees rustle and sing； He twirls my kite till
it breaks its string。 Laughing； dancing； sunny wind； Whistling；
howling； rainy wind； North； South； East and West； Each is the
wind I like the best。
He calls up the fog and hides the hills； He whirls the wings of the great
windmills； The weathercocks love him and turn to discover His
whereabouts but he's gone； the rover！ Laughing； dancing； sunny
wind； Whistling； howling； rainy wind； North； South； East and
West； Each is the wind I like the best。
The pine trees toss him their cones with glee； The flowers be