Volume I Part 17 (1/2)
See him in the corners hidin' frae the licht, See him at the window gloomin' at the nicht; Turn up the gas licht, close the shutters a', An' Auld Daddy Darkness will flee far awa'.
Awa' to hide the birdie within its cosy nest, Awa' to lap the wee flooers on their mither's breast, Awa' to loosen Gaffer Toil frae his daily ca', For Auld Daddy Darkness is kindly to a'.
He comes when we're weary to wean's frae oor waes, He comes when the bairnies are getting aff their claes; To cover them sae cosy, an' bring bonnie dreams, So Auld Daddy Darkness is better than he seems.
Steek yer een, my wee tot, ye'll see Daddy then; He's in below the bed claes, to cuddle ye he's fain; Noo nestle to his bosie, sleep and dream yer fill, Till Wee Davie Daylicht comes keekin' owre the hill.
James Ferguson [18--?]
WILLIE WINKIE
Wee Willie Winkie rins through the town, Upstairs and doon stairs, in his nicht-gown, Tirlin' at the window, cryin' at the lock, ”Are the weans in their bed?--for it's noo ten o'clock.”
Hey, Willie Winkie! are ye comin' ben?
The cat's singin' gay thrums to the sleepin' hen, The doug's speldered on the floor, and disna gie a cheep; But here's a waukrife laddie, that winna fa' asleep.
Onything but sleep, ye rogue!--glowrin' like the moon, Rattlin' in an airn jug wi' an airn spoon, Rumblin', tumblin' roun' about, crawin' like a c.o.c.k, Skirlin' like a kenna-what--wauknin' sleepin' folk!
Hey, Willie Winkie! the wean's in a creel!
Waumblin' aff a bodie's knee like a vera eel, Ruggin' at the cat's lug, and ravellin' a' her thrums: Hey, Willie Winkie!--See, there he comes!
William Miller [1810-1872]
THE SANDMAN
The rosy clouds float overhead, The sun is going down; And now the sandman's gentle tread Comes stealing through the town.
”White sand, white sand,” he softly cries, And as he shakes his hand, Straightway there lies on babies' eyes His gift of s.h.i.+ning sand.
Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town.
From sunny beaches far away-- Yes, in another land-- He gathers up at break of day His stone of s.h.i.+ning sand.
No tempests beat that sh.o.r.e remote, No s.h.i.+ps may sail that way; His little boat alone may float Within that lovely bay.
Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town.
He smiles to see the eyelids close Above the happy eyes; And every child right well he knows,-- Oh, he is very wise!
But if, as he goes through the land, A naughty baby cries, His other hand takes dull gray sand To close the wakeful eyes.
Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town.
So when you hear the sandman's song Sound through the twilight sweet, Be sure you do not keep him long A-waiting in the street.
Lie softly down, dear little head, Rest quiet, busy hands, Till, by your bed his good-night said, He strews the s.h.i.+ning sands.
Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town.