Part 6 (1/2)

THE CLOCK THAT AUTUMN WINDS

School is like a clock that stops In vacation time.

--Tick, tock; tick, tock-- A sing-song rhyme.

Every school day is a minute.

This clock has long minutes in it!

In vacation time it stops!

Not a sound at all!-- Not a tick, not a tock!

--Hanging on the wall Waits the clock until Fall finds it, Stands upon a chair and winds it!

CONVERSATION

In proper sentences of purr And monosyllables of mews When I have told my news to her, My kitten tells me kitten news.

THE HOMESICK STAR

The candle stood beside my bed And dropped a little tear; I sat up, s.h.i.+vering, and said, ”I know you're lonesome here;

”You'd rather have the sky than me; You've been too kind by far To say so. Now I've guessed, you see, That you're a homesick star!

”I'll send you home again, for I Was homesick once, and know; And when you're safely in the sky And I am here below,

”Then don't forget me, candle, please, But twinkle very plain On dark, dark nights about like these Above my window pane.”

Then, (though I am afraid at night That thieves might be about,) I screwed my eyes up very tight And blew the candle out!

THE LONESOMEST FAIRY

There's a dewdrop s.h.i.+ning bright On the gra.s.s by the sun undried, It's a tear that fell in the night When the lonesomest fairy cried.

THE PRESENT

The sky is like a Christmas tree, The burning stars its candles be; The moon's a bulky gift and odd, Marked, ”To the World, With Love, From G.o.d.”

GRIEF

Forget it soon? It's 'cause I know That I'll forget, I'm crying so!