love-songs of childhood-第3节
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Keep singing that sweet song over
Of wee little Luddy…Dud。
〃'T is little Luddy…Dud in the morning …
'T is little Luddy…Dud at night；
And all day long
'T is the same dear song
Of that growing； crowing； knowing little sprite；
Luddy…Dud。〃
Luddy…Dud's cradle is swinging
Where softly the night winds blow；
And Luddy…Dud's mother is singing
A song that is sweet and low：
〃'T is little Luddy…Dud in the morning …
'T is little Luddy…Dud at night；
And all day long
'T is the same sweet song
Of my nearest and my dearest heart's delight；
Luddy…Dud！〃
THE DUEL
The gingham dog and the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat；
'T was half…past twelve； and （what do you think！）
Nor one nor t' other had slept a wink！
The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat。
（I wasn't there； I simply state
What was told to me by the Chinese plate！）
The gingham dog went 〃bow…wow…wow！〃
And the calico cat replied 〃mee…ow！〃
The air was littered； an hour or so；
With bits of gingham and calico；
While the old Dutch clock in the chimney place
Up with its hands before its face；
For it always dreaded a family row！
（Now mind： I'm only telling you
What the old Dutch clock declares is true！）
The Chinese plate looked very blue；
And wailed； 〃Oh； dear！ what shall we do！〃
But the gingham dog and the calico cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled that；
Employing every tooth and claw
In the awfullest way you ever saw …
And； oh！ how the gingham and calico flew！
（Don't fancy I exaggerate …
I got my news from the Chinese plate！）
Next morning； where the two had sat
They found no trace of dog or cat；
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole that pair away！
But the truth about the cat and pup
Is this： they ate each other up！
Now what do you really think of that！
（The old Dutch clock it told me so；
And that is how I came to know。）
GOOD…CHILDREN STREET
There's a dear little home in Good…Children street …
My heart turneth fondly to…day
Where tinkle of tongues and patter of feet
Make sweetest of music at play；
Where the sunshine of love illumines each face
And warms every heart in that old…fashioned place。
For dear little children go romping about
With dollies and tin tops and drums；
And； my！ how they frolic and scamper and shout
Till bedtime too speedily comes！
Oh； days they are golden and days they are fleet
With little folk living in Good…Children street。
See； here comes an army with guns painted red；
And swords； caps； and plumes of all sorts；
The captain rides gaily and proudly ahead
On a stick…horse that prances and snorts！
Oh； legions of soldiers you're certain to meet …
Nice make…believe soldiers … in Good…Children street。
And yonder Odette wheels her dolly about …
Poor dolly！ I'm sure she is ill；
For one of her blue china eyes has dropped out
And her voice is asthmatic'ly shrill。
Then； too； I observe she is minus her feet；
Which causes much sorrow in Good…Children street。
'T is so the dear children go romping about
With dollies and banners and drums；
And I venture to say they are sadly put out
When an end to their jubilee comes：
Oh； days they are golden and days they are fleet
With little folk living in Good…Children street！
But when falleth night over river and town；
Those little folk vanish from sight；
And an angel all white from the sky cometh down
And guardeth the babes through the night；
And singeth her lullabies tender and sweet
To the dear little people in Good…Children Street。
Though elsewhere the world be o'erburdened with care；
Though poverty fall to my lot；
Though toil and vexation be always my share；
What care I … they trouble me not！
This thought maketh life ever joyous and Sweet：
There's a dear little home in Good…Children street。
THE DELECTABLE BALLAD OF THE WALLER LOT
Up yonder in Buena Park
There is a famous spot；
In legend and in history
Yclept the Waller Lot。
There children play in daytime
And lovers stroll by dark；
For 't is the goodliest trysting…place
In all Buena Park。
Once on a time that beauteous maid；
Sweet little Sissy Knott；
Took out her pretty doll to walk
Within the Waller Lot。
While thus she fared； from Ravenswood
Came Injuns o'er the plain；
And seized upon that beauteous maid
And rent her doll in twain。
Oh； 't was a piteous thing to hear
Her lamentations wild；
She tore her golden curls and cried：
〃My child！ My child！ My child！〃
Alas； what cared those Injun chiefs
How bitterly wailed she？
They never had been mothers；
And they could not hope to be！
〃Have done with tears；〃 they rudely quoth；
And then they bound her hands；
For they proposed to take her off
To distant border lands。
But； joy！ from Mr。 Eddy's barn
Doth Willie Clow behold
The sight that makes his hair rise up
And all his blood run cold。
He put his fingers in his mouth
And whistled long and clear；
And presently a goodly horde
Of cow…boys did appear。
Cried Willie Clow： 〃My comrades bold；
Haste to the Waller Lot；
And rescue from that Injun band
Our charming Sissy Knott！〃
〃Spare neither Injun buck nor squaw；
But smite them hide and hair！
Spare neither sex nor age nor size；
And no condition spare！〃
Then sped that cow…boy band away；
Full of revengeful wrath；
And Kendall Evans rode ahead
Upon a hickory lath。
And next came gallant Dady Field
And Willie's brother Kent；
The Eddy boys and Robbie James；
On murderous purpose bent。
For they were much beholden to
That maid … in sooth； the lot
Were very； very much in love
With charming Sissy Knott。
What wonder？ She was beauty's queen；
And good beyond compare；
Moreover； it was known she was
Her wealthy father's heir！
Now when the Injuns saw that band
They trembled with affright；
And yet they thought the cheapest thing
To do was stay and fight。
So sturdily they stood their ground；
Nor would their prisoner yield；
Despite the wrath of Willie Clow
And gallant Dady Field。
Oh； never fiercer battle raged
Upon the Waller Lot；
And never blood more freely flowed
Than flowed for Sissy Knott！
An Injun chief of monstrous size
Got Kendall Evans down；
And Robbie James was soon o'erthrown
By one of great renown。
And Dady Field was sorely done；
And Willie Clow was hurt；
And all that gallant cow…boy band
Lay wallowing in the dirt。
But still they strove with might and main
Till all the Waller Lot
Was strewn with hair and gouts of gore …
All； all for Sissy Knott！
Then cried the maiden in despair：
〃Alas； I sadly fear
The battle and my hopes are lost；
Unless some help appear！〃
Lo； as she spoke； she saw afar
The rescuer looming up …
The pride of all Buena Park；
Clow's famous yellow pup！
〃Now； sick'em； Don；〃 the maiden cried；
〃Now； sick'em； Don！〃 cried she；
Obedient Don at once complied …
As ordered； so did he。
He sicked'em all so passing well
That； overcome by fright；
The Indian horde gave up the fray
And safety sought in flight。
They ran and ran and ran and ran
O'er valley； plain； and hill；
And if they are not walking now；
Why； then； they're running still。
The cow…boys rose up from the dust
With faces black and blue；
〃Remember； beauteous maid；〃 said they；
〃We've bled and died for you！〃
〃And though we suffer grievously；
We gladly hail the lot
That brings us toils and pains and wounds
For charming Sissy Knott！〃
But Sissy Knott still wailed and wept；
And still her fate reviled；
For who could patch her dolly up …
Who； who could mend her child？
Then out her doting mother came；
And soothed her daughter then；
〃Grieve not； my darling； I will sew
Your dolly up again！〃
Joy soon succeeded unto grief；
And tears were soon dried up；
And dignities were heaped upon
Clow's noble yellow pup。
Him all that goodly company
Did as deliverer hail …
They tied a ribbon round his neck；
Another round his tail。
And every anniversary day
Upon the Waller Lot
They celebrate the victory won
For charming Sissy Knott。
And I； the poet of these folk；
Am ordered to compile
This truly famous history
In good old ballad style。
Which having done as to have earned
The sweet rewards of fame；
In what same style I did begin
I now shall end the same。
So let us sing： Long live the King；
Long live the Queen and Jack；
Long live the ten…spot and the ace；
And also all the pack。
THE STORK
Last night the Stork came stalking；
And； Stork； beneath your wing
Lay； lapped in dreamless slumber；
The tiniest little thing！
From Babyland； out yonder
Beside a silver sea；
You brought a priceless treasure
