صفحة 1
A
Child's
Garden
of Verses
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
Illustrated by
Jessie Willcox Smith
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS, New York
Copyright, 1905, By CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
Printed in the United States of America
All rights reserved. No part of this book
may be reproduced in any form without the
permission of Charles Scribner's Sons
DD-3.64[H]
Reset March 1955
TO ALISON CUNNINGHAM
FROM HER BOY
For the long nights you lay awake
And watched for my unworthy sake:
For your most comfortable hand
That led me through the uneven land:
For all the story-books you read:
For all the pains you comforted:
And watched for my unworthy sake:
For your most comfortable hand
That led me through the uneven land:
For all the story-books you read:
For all the pains you comforted:
For all you pitied, all you bore,
In sad and happy days of yore:—
My second Mother, my first Wife,
The angel of my infant life—
From the sick child, now well and old,
Take, nurse, the little book you hold!
In sad and happy days of yore:—
My second Mother, my first Wife,
The angel of my infant life—
From the sick child, now well and old,
Take, nurse, the little book you hold!
And grant it, Heaven, that all who read
May find as dear a nurse at need,
And every child who lists my rhyme,
In the bright, fireside, nursery clime,
May hear it in as kind a voice
As made my childish days rejoice!
May find as dear a nurse at need,
And every child who lists my rhyme,
In the bright, fireside, nursery clime,
May hear it in as kind a voice
As made my childish days rejoice!
R. L. S.
THE ORIGINAL
TITLE PAGE
FOR
A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES
BY
JESSIE WILLCOX SMITH
A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES
ROBERT LOVIS STEVENSON
WITH ILLVSTRATIONS BY
JESSIE WILLCOX SMITH
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
NEW YORK
MCMV
CONTENTS
TO ALISON CUNNINGHAM vii BED IN SUMMER 3 A THOUGHT 4 AT THE SEA-SIDE 5 YOUNG NIGHT-THOUGHT 6 WHOLE DUTY OF CHILDREN 7 RAIN 7 PIRATE STORY 8 FOREIGN LANDS 9 WINDY NIGHTS 10 TRAVEL 11 SINGING 13 LOOKING FORWARD 14 A GOOD PLAY 15 WHERE GO THE BOATS? 16 AUNTIE'S SKIRTS 17 THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE 18 THE LAND OF NOD 19 MY SHADOW 20 SYSTEM
صفحة 2
href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@25609@[email protected]#SYSTEM" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">22 A GOOD BOY 23 ESCAPE AT BEDTIME 24 MARCHING SONG 25 THE COW 26 HAPPY THOUGHT 27 THE WIND 28 KEEPSAKE MILL 29 GOOD AND BAD CHILDREN 31 FOREIGN CHILDREN 33 THE SUN TRAVELS 35 THE LAMPLIGHTER 36 MY BED IS A BOAT 37 THE MOON 39 THE SWING 40 TIME TO RISE 41 LOOKING-GLASS RIVER 42 FAIRY BREAD 44 FROM A RAILWAY CARRIAGE 45 WINTER-TIME 46 THE HAYLOFT 47 FAREWELL TO THE FARM 49 NORTH-WEST PASSAGE 50 1. Good-Night 50 2. Shadow March 51 3. In Port 52 THE CHILD ALONE THE UNSEEN PLAYMATE 57 MY SHIP AND I 59 MY KINGDOM 61 PICTURE-BOOKS IN WINTER 63 MY TREASURES 65 BLOCK CITY 67 THE LAND OF STORY-BOOKS 69 ARMIES IN THE FIRE 71 THE LITTLE LAND 73
صفحة 3
align="left">GARDEN DAYS NIGHT AND DAY 79 NEST EGGS 82 THE FLOWERS 84 SUMMER SUN 86 THE DUMB SOLDIER 87 AUTUMN FIRES 89 THE GARDENER 90 HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS 92 ENVOYS TO WILLIE AND HENRIETTA 97 TO MY MOTHER 98 TO AUNTIE 99 TO MINNIE 100 TO MY NAME-CHILD 103 TO ANY READER 105
ILLUSTRATIONS
FROM DRAWINGS IN COLOR
BY JESSIE WILLCOX SMITH
FACING PAGE Bed in Summer 4 Foreign Lands 10 The Land of Counterpane 18 My Shadow 20 Foreign Children 34 Looking-glass River 42 The Hayloft 48 North-west Passage 50 Picture-books in Winter
In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
And dress by yellow candle-light.
I held the trunk with both my hands
And looked abroad on foreign lands.
And looked abroad on foreign lands.
I was the giant great and still
That sits upon the pillow-hill,
That sits upon the pillow-hill,
He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!
Little Indian, Sioux or Crow,
Little frosty Eskimo,
Little Turk or Japanee,
Oh! don't you wish that you were me?
Little frosty Eskimo,
Little Turk or Japanee,
Oh! don't you wish that you were me?
We can see our coloured faces
Floating on the shaken pool
Floating on the shaken pool
Oh, what a joy to clamber there,
Oh, what a place for play,
With the sweet, the dim, the dusty air,
The happy hills of hay!
Oh, what a place for play,
With the sweet, the dim, the dusty air,
The happy hills of hay!
And face with an undaunted tread
The long black passage up to bed.
The long black passage up to bed.
صفحة 4
href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@25609@[email protected]#Page_64" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">64 The Little Land 74 The Flowers 84 To Auntie 100
Water now is turned to stone
Nurse and I can walk upon;
Still we find the flowing brooks
In the picture story-books.
Nurse and I can walk upon;
Still we find the flowing brooks
In the picture story-books.
I have just to shut my eyes
To go sailing through the skies—
To go sailing far away
To the pleasant Land of Play;
To go sailing through the skies—
To go sailing far away
To the pleasant Land of Play;
All the names I know from nurse:
Gardener's garters, Shepherd's purse,
Bachelor's buttons, Lady's smock,
And the Lady Hollyhock.
Gardener's garters, Shepherd's purse,
Bachelor's buttons, Lady's smock,
And the Lady Hollyhock.
What did the other children do?
And what were childhood, wanting you?
And what were childhood, wanting you?
A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES
BED IN SUMMER
In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.
I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people's feet
Still going past me in the street.
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people's feet
Still going past me in the street.
And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?
Mary
Hans
A THOUGHT
It is very nice to think
The world is full of meat and drink,
With little children saying grace
In every Christian kind of place.
The world is full of meat and drink,
With little children saying grace
In every Christian kind of place.
Biddy
Fifine
BED IN SUMMER
AT THE SEA-SIDE
When I was down beside the sea
A wooden spade they gave to me
To dig the sandy shore.
A wooden spade they gave to me
To dig the sandy shore.
My holes were empty like a cup.
In every hole the sea came up,
Till it could come no more.
In every hole the sea came up,
Till it could come no more.
YOUNG NIGHT-THOUGHT
All night long and every night,
When my mama puts out the light,
I see the people marching by,
As plain as day, before my eye.
When my mama puts out the light,
I see the people marching by,
As plain as day, before my eye.
Armies and emperors and kings,
All carrying different kinds of things,
And marching in so grand a way,
You never saw the like by day.
All carrying different kinds of things,
And marching in so grand a way,
You never saw the like by day.
So fine a show was never seen
At the great circus on the green;
For every kind of beast and man
Is marching in that caravan.
At the great circus on the green;
For every kind of beast and man
Is marching in that caravan.
At first they move a little slow,
But still the faster on they go,
And still beside them close I keep
Until we reach the town of Sleep.
But still the faster on they go,
And still beside them close I keep
Until we reach the town of Sleep.
WHOLE DUTY OF CHILDREN
A child should always say what's true
صفحة 5
class="i0">And speak when he is spoken to,
And behave mannerly at table;
At least as far as he is able.
And behave mannerly at table;
At least as far as he is able.
RAIN
The rain is raining all around,
It falls on field and tree,
It rains on the umbrellas here,
And on the ships at sea.
It falls on field and tree,
It rains on the umbrellas here,
And on the ships at sea.
PIRATE STORY
Three of us afloat in the meadow by the swing,
Three of us aboard in the basket on the lea.
Winds are in the air, they are blowing in the spring,
And waves are on the meadow like the waves there are at sea.
Three of us aboard in the basket on the lea.
Winds are in the air, they are blowing in the spring,
And waves are on the meadow like the waves there are at sea.
Where shall we adventure, to-day that we're afloat,
Wary of the weather and steering by a star?
Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat,
To Providence, or Babylon, or off to Malabar?
Wary of the weather and steering by a star?
Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat,
To Providence, or Babylon, or off to Malabar?
Hi! but here's a squadron a-rowing on the sea—
Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar!
Quick, and we'll escape them, they're as mad as they can be,
The wicket is the harbour and the garden is the shore.
Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar!
Quick, and we'll escape them, they're as mad as they can be,
The wicket is the harbour and the garden is the shore.
FOREIGN LANDS
Up into the cherry tree
Who should climb but little me?
I held the trunk with both my hands
And looked abroad on foreign lands.
Who should climb but little me?
I held the trunk with both my hands
And looked abroad on foreign lands.
I saw the next door garden lie,
Adorned with flowers, before my eye,
And many pleasant places more
That I had never seen before.
Adorned with flowers, before my eye,
And many pleasant places more
That I had never seen before.
I saw the dimpling river pass
And be the sky's blue looking-glass;
The dusty roads go up and down
With people tramping in to town.
And be the sky's blue looking-glass;
The dusty roads go up and down
With people tramping in to town.
If I could find a higher tree
Farther and farther I should see,
To where the grown-up river slips
Into the sea among the ships,
Farther and farther I should see,
To where the grown-up river slips
Into the sea among the ships,
To where the roads on either hand
Lead onward into fairy land,
Where all the children dine at five,
And all the playthings come alive.
Lead onward into fairy land,
Where all the children dine at five,
And all the playthings come alive.
WINDY NIGHTS
Whenever the moon and stars are set,
Whenever the wind is high,
All night long in the dark and wet,
A man goes riding by.
Late in the night when the fires are out,
Why does he gallop and gallop about?
Whenever the wind is high,
All night long in the dark and wet,
A man goes riding by.
Late in the night when the fires are out,
Why does he gallop and gallop about?
Whenever the trees are crying aloud,
And ships are tossed at sea,
By, on the highway, low and loud,
By at the gallop goes he.
By at the gallop he goes, and then
By he comes back at the gallop again.
And ships are tossed at sea,
By, on the highway, low and loud,
By at the gallop goes he.
By at the gallop he goes, and then
By he comes back at the gallop again.
FOREIGN LANDS
TRAVEL
I should like to rise and go
Where the golden apples grow;—
Where below another sky
Parrot islands anchored lie,
And, watched by cockatoos and goats,
Lonely Crusoes building boats;—
Where in sunshine reaching out
Eastern cities, miles about,
Are with mosque and minaret
Among sandy gardens set,
And the rich goods from near and far
Hang for sale in the bazaar;—
Where the Great Wall round China goes,
And on one side the desert blows,
And with bell and voice and drum,
Cities on the other hum;—
Where are forests, hot as fire,
Wide as England, tall as a spire,
Full of apes and cocoa-nuts
And the negro hunters' huts;—
Where the knotty crocodile
Lies and blinks in the Nile,
And the red flamingo flies
Hunting fish before his eyes;—
Where in jungles, near and far,
Man-devouring tigers are,
Lying close and giving ear
Lest the hunt be drawing near,
Where the golden apples grow;—
Where below another sky
Parrot islands anchored lie,
And, watched by cockatoos and goats,
Lonely Crusoes building boats;—
Where in sunshine reaching out
Eastern cities, miles about,
Are with mosque and minaret
Among sandy gardens set,
And the rich goods from near and far
Hang for sale in the bazaar;—
Where the Great Wall round China goes,
And on one side the desert blows,
And with bell and voice and drum,
Cities on the other hum;—
Where are forests, hot as fire,
Wide as England, tall as a spire,
Full of apes and cocoa-nuts
And the negro hunters' huts;—
Where the knotty crocodile
Lies and blinks in the Nile,
And the red flamingo flies
Hunting fish before his eyes;—
Where in jungles, near and far,
Man-devouring tigers are,
Lying close and giving ear
Lest the hunt be drawing near,
Or a comer-by be seen
Swinging in a palanquin;—
Where among the desert sands
Some deserted city stands,
All its children, sweep and prince,
Grown to manhood ages since,
Not a foot in street or house,
Not a stir of child or mouse,
And when kindly falls the night,
In all the town no spark of light.
There I'll come
Swinging in a palanquin;—
Where among the desert sands
Some deserted city stands,
All its children, sweep and prince,
Grown to manhood ages since,
Not a foot in street or house,
Not a stir of child or mouse,
And when kindly falls the night,
In all the town no spark of light.
There I'll come
صفحة 6
when I'm a man
With a camel caravan;
Light a fire in the gloom
Of some dusty dining-room;
See the pictures on the walls,
Heroes, fights, and festivals;
And in a corner find the toys
Of the old Egyptian boys.
With a camel caravan;
Light a fire in the gloom
Of some dusty dining-room;
See the pictures on the walls,
Heroes, fights, and festivals;
And in a corner find the toys
Of the old Egyptian boys.
SINGING
Of speckled eggs the birdie sings
And nests among the trees;
The sailor sings of ropes and things
In ships upon the seas.
And nests among the trees;
The sailor sings of ropes and things
In ships upon the seas.
The children sing in far Japan,
The children sing in Spain;
The organ with the organ man
Is singing in the rain.
The children sing in Spain;
The organ with the organ man
Is singing in the rain.
LOOKING FORWARD
When I am grown to man's estate
I shall be very proud and great,
And tell the other girls and boys
Not to meddle with my toys.
I shall be very proud and great,
And tell the other girls and boys
Not to meddle with my toys.
A GOOD PLAY
We built a ship upon the stairs
All made of the back-bedroom chairs,
And filled it full of sofa pillows
To go a-sailing on the billows.
All made of the back-bedroom chairs,
And filled it full of sofa pillows
To go a-sailing on the billows.
We took a saw and several nails,
And water in the nursery pails;
And Tom said, "Let us also take
An apple and a slice of cake;"—
Which was enough for Tom and me
To go a-sailing on, till tea.
And water in the nursery pails;
And Tom said, "Let us also take
An apple and a slice of cake;"—
Which was enough for Tom and me
To go a-sailing on, till tea.
We sailed along for days and days
And had the very best of plays;
But Tom fell out and hurt his knee,
So there was no one left but me.
And had the very best of plays;
But Tom fell out and hurt his knee,
So there was no one left but me.
WHERE GO THE BOATS?
Dark brown is the river,
Golden is the sand.
It flows along for ever,
With trees on either hand.
Golden is the sand.
It flows along for ever,
With trees on either hand.
Green leaves a-floating,
Castles of the foam,
Boats of mine a-boating—
Where will all come home?
Castles of the foam,
Boats of mine a-boating—
Where will all come home?
On goes the river
And out past the mill,
Away down the valley,
Away down the hill.
And out past the mill,
Away down the valley,
Away down the hill.
Away down the river,
A hundred miles or more,
Other little children
Shall bring my boats ashore.
A hundred miles or more,
Other little children
Shall bring my boats ashore.
AUNTIE'S SKIRTS
Whenever Auntie moves around,
Her dresses make a curious sound,
They trail behind her up the floor,
And trundle after through the door.
Her dresses make a curious sound,
They trail behind her up the floor,
And trundle after through the door.
THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE
When I was sick and lay a-bed,
I had two pillows at my head,
And all my toys beside me lay
To keep me happy all the day.
I had two pillows at my head,
And all my toys beside me lay
To keep me happy all the day.
And sometimes for an hour or so
I watched my leaden soldiers go,
With different uniforms and drills,
Among the bed-clothes, through the hills;
I watched my leaden soldiers go,
With different uniforms and drills,
Among the bed-clothes, through the hills;
And sometimes sent my ships in fleets
All up and down among the sheets;
Or brought my trees and houses out,
And planted cities all about.
All up and down among the sheets;
Or brought my trees and houses out,
And planted cities all about.
I was the giant great and still
That sits upon the pillow-hill,
And sees before him, dale and plain,
The pleasant land of counterpane.
That sits upon the pillow-hill,
And sees before him, dale and plain,
The pleasant land of counterpane.
THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE
THE LAND OF NOD
From breakfast on through all the day
At home among my friends I stay,
But every night I go abroad
Afar into the land of Nod.
At home among my friends I stay,
But every night I go abroad
Afar into the land of Nod.
All by myself I have to go,
With none to tell me what to do—
All alone beside the streams
And up the mountain-sides of dreams.
With none to tell me what to do—
All alone beside the streams
And up the mountain-sides of dreams.
The strangest things are there for me,
Both things to eat and things to see,
And many frightening sights abroad
Till morning in the land of Nod.
Both things to eat and things to see,
And many frightening sights abroad
Till morning in the land of Nod.
Try as I
صفحة 7
like to find the way,
I never can get back by day,
Nor can remember plain and clear
The curious music that I hear.
I never can get back by day,
Nor can remember plain and clear
The curious music that I hear.