LOOKING-GLASS RIVER MOOTH it slides upon its travel, O the smooth stream! Sailing blossoms, silver fishes, To live down there! We can see our coloured faces Till a wind or water wrinkle, Dipping marten, plumping trout, And blots all out. See the rings pursue each other; All below grows black as night, Had blown out the light! Patience, children, just a minute — See the spreading circles die; The stream and all in it Will clear by-and-by. C% FAIRY BREAD OME up here, O dusty feet! Here is fairy bread to eat. Here in my retiring room, Children, you may dine On the golden smell of broom And the shade of pine; And when you have eaten well, Fairy stories hear and tell. XXXVII FROM A RAILWAY CARRIAGE 'ASTER than fairies, faster than witches, and hedges and And charging along like troops in a battle, Fly as thick as driving rain; And ever again, in the wink of an eye, Here is a child who clambers and scrambles, All by himself and gathering brambles; Here is a tramp who stands and gazes; And there is the green for stringing the daisies! XXXVIII WINTER-TIME ATE lies the wintry sun a-bed, A frosty, fiery sleepy-head; Blinks but an hour or two; and then, A blood-red orange, sets again. Before the stars have left the skies, Close by the jolly fire I sit To warm my frozen bones a bit; The colder countries round the door. When to go out, my nurse doth wrap The cold wind burns my face, and blows Black are my steps on silver sod; |