The Girl's Own Poetry Book. Edited by E. Davenport

Front matter

THE GIRLS' OWN FAVOURITE LIBRARY. Crown Sro, cloth elegant, gilt edges. Each Volume contains from 300 to 400 pages of solid reading, well illustrated by the best Artists. Price Three .Shillings and Sixpence. 1. Guide, Philosopher, and Friend. By Mrs Herbert Martin. 2. Her Title Of Honour. By Holme Lee. 3. Michaelmas Daisy. By Sarah Doudney. 4. The Oak Staircase. By M. and 0. Lee. 5. For a Dream's Sake. By Mrs Herbert Martin. 6. My Mother's Diamonds. By Maria J. Greer. 7. " Bonnie Lesley." By Mrs Herbert Martin. S. Left Alone. By Francis Carr. 0. Very Genteel. By the Author of " Mrs Jerningham's Journal." io. Gladys the Reaper. By Anne Beale. n. Stephen the Schoolmaster. By Mi-b m. e. Geilie. 12. Court and Cottage. By Mrs Emma Marshall. 13. Rosamond Fane. By M. and O. Lee. H- Simplicity and Fascination.

By Anne Beale. 15. Aunt Hetty's Will. By M. M. Pollard. 16. Silver Linings. By Mrs Brat. 1" A Generous Friendship. 18. A Country Mouse. By Mrs Herbert Martin. 19. Kind Hearts. By Mrs Krifta. l'l\ GRIFFITH FlRElrT OKEDEN & WELSH LONDON AND SYDNEY. EDITED BY E. DAVENPORT " Praise then my song where'er it comes, Ladies, whose innocence makes bright England, the land of courtly homes, The world's exemplar and delight." Coventry Patmore GRIFFITH FARRAN OKEDEN & WELSH NEWBERY HOUSE CHARING CROSS ROAD, LONDON AND SYDNEY [The Rights of Translation and of Reproduction are reserved _

Preface

. 0 As in the companion volume, The Boy's Own Poetry Book, the object of the present collection of poems by English and American authors is to provide young people with suitable reading for hours of recreation. It does not profess to give of necessity the best work of the writers represented, but that most suited to the interests and capacities of the juvenile public whom it addresses ; and an effort has been made to consult the wants of girls of various ages and all orders of intelligence. Hitherto, very little has been done by our poets in the way of celebrating matters of purely girlish interest ; but, in the good time to come, it may be hoped that they, especially women-writers, may find occasion to sing of the new day dawning before English maidens. The Girl's Own Poetry Book has been kept totally dis tinct from its predecessor, in the hope that the two volumes may find places side by side on the young folk's own shelf in many a home.

It is the Editor's experience that girls and boys are led to look upon poetry too much in the light of a task ; — they rarely make great friends with school text-books, and complete editions of popular poets do not, as a rule, find their way into juvenile hands. The Editor regrets the absence of certain poems owing to copyright difficulties, and the considerations of space which have excluded others ; but it is hoped that every kind of appropriate verse is duly exemplified. Most generous assistance his, in almost every case, been given by the many poets of the present day, whose lighter work is peculiarly attractive to the young people of our generation. But for the kindness and courtesy which have lent to this volume over a hundred copyright pieces, it must have lost that atmosphere of freshness whicli its readers will be quick to appreciate.

Cordial thanks are therefore offered to the authors, publishers, and other holders of copyrights whose names follow : — W. H. Davenport Adams, Alfred Austin, Sir Edwin Arnold, Isabella Banks, W. C. Bennett, J. S. Blackie, Lewis

PREFACE.

. VI Carroll, Cotsford Dick, Austin Dobson, C. W. Franklyn, W. S. Gilbert, Marion von Glehn, Maxwell Gray, James Hedderwick, Jean Ingelow, W. Beatty-Kingstori, F. Locker-Lampson, F. Langbridge, J. L. Latey, Lizzie M. Little, Louise I. Lumsden, Lord Lytton, Gerald Massey, Cardinal J. H. Newman, F. T. Palgrave, Walter Parke, Isa bella Postgate, Christina Rossetti, J. Ashby-Sterry, S. J. Stone, A. J. Symington, Bertha Synge, Aubrey de Vere. Messrs Macmillan & Co. (Dinah M. Craik, Sir F. H. Doyle, Canon Kingsley, Christina Rossetti, C. Tennyson- Turner.) Messrs Chatto & Windus. (H. S. Leigh, George Mac donald, R. L. Stevenson, A. C. Swinburne.) Messrs Longmans & Co. (Margaret Deland, Jean Ingelow, J. H. Riley.) MessrsBellifcSon. (C.S.Calverly.) Messrs Nisbetifc Co. (Frances R. Havergal.) Miss Clementina Black (Amy Levy), Mr Lewes (George Eliot), Mrs Banks (G. Linnæus Banks), Miss Brough (Robert Brough), Lord Houghton (the late Lord Houghton), Rev. R. Wilton (George Morine).

Messrs Harper Brothers, and the authors named, for poems from Harper's Magazine by Constantina E. Brookes and J. T. Fields. The Century Company, and the authors named, for poems from the Century Magazine by C. Webb, and from St Nicholas by Margaret Johnson, Emma Opper, and R. W. M 'Alpine. Poems are included by consent of the late W. Allingham, Westland Marston, and Francis Bennoch. The Editor offers thanks for information and assistance to the Lady Principals of Girton (Miss Welsh), Newnhani (Miss Clough), North London Collegiate (Miss Buss), Cheltenham College (Miss Beale), Edgbaston High School (Miss Cooper), Mr C. Morgan of University College, South Wales, and others. Young girls looking forward to a University career will be especially interested in the poems which have been written for this book by Miss Louise I. Lumsden, late student and Classical Tutor of Girton, and Miss Isabella Postgate, late student of Newnham, in honour of their respective Colleges.

PAGE Preface, v GIRLS AND GIRL-LIFE, AUTHOR. Geraldine, F. Loclter-Lampson, . . 1 J. Ashby-Stery, . . 3 /. R. Lowell, ... 4 Miss Sailor-Boy, Allegra, .... Neighbour Nelly, To Mistress Margaret Hussey, The Kitten, Robert Brough, . . 5 John Skelton, ... 6 /. Ashby-Sterry, . . 7 Oerald Massey, . . 8 C. Tennyson-Turner, . 10 E. Barrett-Browning, . 1] Christie's Portrait, . Letty's Globe, . A Portrait, Daisy's Valentines, . Winny, .... A Little Life (Babe Christabcl), Polly Austin Bobson, . . 13 William Allingham, . 14 Oerald Massey, . . 15 W. B. Rands, ... 17 E. Barrett- Browning, . 18 Romance of the Swan's Nest, To a very Young Lady, . England's Maidens, . Three Little Maidens, Mortimer Collins, . . 20 Dorothy Winton, . . 21 Gerald Massey, . . 22 J. G. Whittier, . . 22 F. R. Havergal, . . 23 J. G. Whittier, . . 29 Vesta, Alice's Story, .

Red Riding-Hood, Maidenhood, . H. W. Longfellow, . . 31 Perdita, Ruth, Isabella Postgate, . . 33 Thomas Hood, ... 33 To a Virtuous Young Lady, The Violet Girl, The Demon of the Pit, . The Cry of the Children, . The Song of the Shirt, Sleighing Song, To a Child Swinging, A Game of Lawn Tennis, . May Garlands, . John Milton, ... 34 Lord Houghton, . . 34 Frederick Langbridge, . 35 E. Barrett-Browning, . 39 Thomas Hood, ... 44 Sarah Williams, . . 46 W. C. Bennett, ... 47 Amy Levy, ... 47 John Keble, ... 48 W. C. Bennett, . . 49 May-Day Song, AUTHOR. ?iar- On the River, .... W. H. Davenport Adams, . 51 A School of Young Ladies, . Lydia Sigourney, . . ot The Return of the Scholars, . Jane C. Simpson, . . 05 SCHOOL AND COLLEGE. As We think of Times Olden, . Edith Kemp, . . . " 54 We work in Hope, ...

"".','' kg Rule the Third, . . . E. Maud Griffiths. . . Ob In the Joyful Springtime, . L. Clint Miles, 58 A Model High Schoolite, . . Lucy Freeman, 59 What the School says, . . Edith Kemp, ... 61 Song for Foundation Day, . ... 62 Opening of the New School, "I _ _ g3 Edgbaston, . . . I L'Envoi Lizzie M. Little, . . 64 Ravings of ia Mathematical \A QiHon Sludmt. . . 68 Tripos Candidate, . . | Twenty Years After : Louisc L Lumsden, . . \f0 „ » Girton, J I /- Sonnet to Girton College, . . A Girton Student, . . 74 Daffodils: A Reminiscence of 1 Jsai_ua p0_tgate, . . . 75 Newnham, . . .J Ode : Opening of the New Hall, \ M_ Uul _ _ 7? Alexandra College, Duldm, J Our Girls, .... „ ,, ■ • • S1 Carmen Seculare, University "1 go College, S. Wales, . . j ' HEROINES IN POETRY. Dorcas, ..... .George Macdonald, . . 87 Mrs Fry at Newgate, . .

Lydia Sigourney, . . 87 Sister Dora Cecil W. Franllyn, . . 90 The Story of Alice Ayres, . Sir F. Hastings Doyle, . 91 A Ballad of Brave Women, . Philip Bourhe Marston, . 94 Grace Darling, . . . . William Wordsworth, . 98 Boadicea, William Cowper, . . 101 Marguerite of France, . . Felicia Hemans, . . 102 Agnes Hatot, .... Henry Abbey, . . . 106 Jeanne D'Arc, .... Francis T. Palgrave, . 107 Catherine Douglas, . . . Charles Swain, . . 109 Elizabeth at Tilbury, . . Francis T. Palgrave, . Ill Of the Queen, .... Edmund Waller, . . 112 The Fall of Wardour Castle, . J. Daniell, . . .113 Santa Filomena, H. W. Longfellow, . . 116 Florence Nightingale, . . Francis Bennoch, . . 117 A Knight of To-Day, . . Cecil W. Franklyn, . .118 ATJTUOB. PAGE ' Dinna Ye hear it ? ' . . Alexander Muclagan, . 122 The Angels of Buena Vista, . /.

G.' Whittier, . . 123 Barbara Frietchie, ... ,, ,, . . . 127 Lady Jane Grey, . . . Lydia Sigourney, . . 129 Princess Elizabeth, C. Tennyson-Turner, . 132 Cassandra Southwick, . . /. G. Whittier, . . 132 Edith of England, . . . Francis T. Palgrave, . 139 Eleanore, . .... Mortimer Collins, . .142 Gertrude,. .... Felicia Hemans, . . 144 Saint Frideswida, . . . Aubrey de Vere, . .146 The B,oses of St. Elizabeth, . Maxwell Gray, . . .156 Pocahontas, . . . W. M. Thackeray, . . 159 Legend of Bregenz, . . . Adelaide Procter, . .160 The Last Redoubt, . . . Alfred Austin, . . . 165 Corinne at the Capitol, . . Felicia Hemans, . . 167 Iphigenia, . . . . J. S. Blachie, . . .168 SONGS OF THE HOME. 'Home is where there's one to I charles Swain . . 177 love us, . . . . \ The Homes of England, . . Felicia Hemans, . . 177 Homely Joys, ....

Nathaniel Cotton, . .179 Home, ..... Anne Bronte, . . .180 Thanksgiving for His House, . Robert Herrick, . .181 Spells of Home, . . . Felicia Hemans, . .182 Home-sick 8. T. Coleridge, . .183 Come Home ! . . . A. H. C'lough, . . . 184 Come Back! .... „ „ ... 185 A Thought of Home at Sea, . Felicia Hemans, . . 186 The Dream of Home, . . Thomas Moore, . .187 Thoughts of Home, . . . Emily Bronte, . . . 1S8 The Quiet Joys of Home, . . G. Linnæus Banks, . . 189 Baby-Bird; . . . . A. C. Swinburne, . . 190 The Baby 1>. Hinds, . . .191 Baby, ..... George Macdonald, . .192 The Angel's Whisper, . . Samuel Lover, . . .193 The Lost Kiss, ... J. W, Riley, . . .194 Fairies of the Home, . . .... 195 Household Treasures, . . G. Linnæus Banks, . . 196 Children at Play, . . . Gerald Mousey, . . 197 Monsieur et Mademoiselle, .

Dinah M. Craik, . . 197 The Little People, . . . J.G. Whittier, . . 198 Wooden Legs, .... 'A.' .... 199 The Children's Triumph, . . F. R. Havergal, . . 201 Brother and Sister, . . . George Eliot, . . .201 The Sisters J- G. Whittier, . . X ADTBOE. PAGE To my Sister . . . William Wordsworth, . 207 Little Mamma,' . . . Charles H. Webb, . . 209 When will Father come Home . W.Parkinson, . . -12 On my Mother's Birthday, . Felicia Hemans, . . 214 The Mother's Return, . . William Wordsworth, . 214 My Mother Dear, . . . Samuel Lover, . . .216 Mending Stockings, . . . R. P. Reed, . . . 217 The Goodest Mother, . . Margaret Sangster, . .218 The Family Picture, . . Sir Aubrey de Vert, . . 219 An Orphan Family's Christmas, Gerald Massey, . . 220 A Poor Man's Wife, . „ • 23jj Saturday, .... Ebenezcr Elliott, . . 237 To a Shred of Linen, . .

Lydia Sigourney, . . 238 The Good Housekeeper, . . .... 241 SONGS FOE, EVERY DAY. To-Day Thomas Carlyle, . . 245 A Farewell, .... Charles Kingsley, . . 245 The Stream of Life, . . . A. H. Clough, . . .246 Life, Charlotte Bronte, . . 247 Work, ..... Jean Ingelow, . . . 248 Labour, F. S. Osgood, . . .248 Perseverance, . . . . J. R. Lowell, . . . 250 Idleness, Sir Aubrey de Vere, . . 250 Lights and Shades, . . . Felicia Hemans, . . 251 Sun and Shadow, ... 0. W. Holmes, . . .251 Adequacy, . . . . E. Barrett-Browning, . 252 Exaggeration, . . . . „ „ . . 252 Virtue, ..... George Herbert, . . 253 Happiness, .... Lord Houghton, . . 253 Faith, ..... Frances A. Kcmble, . .254 For an Autograph, . . . J. R. Lowell, . . .254 Success, ..... Bertha Syngc, . . . 255 Content, ..... Alfred Austin, . . 255 Gentleness, ....

James Heddenoick, . . 256 ' Like Unto Ships,' . . . H. W. Longfellow, . . 256 The Narrow Way, . . . Anne Bronte, . . . 257 Sowing and Reaping, . . David Holt, . . . 258 Bread on the Waters, . . Lord Kinloch, . . . 259 Be Good, ..... William Sawyer, . . 260 ' There is ever a Song,' . . /. JJr. Riley, . . . 260 Work is Prayer, W. Wilson, . . .261 Angel of Charity, . . . Thomas Moore, . . 262 Consider, ..... Christina Rossetti, . . 262 Hope on, Hope ever, . . George Morine, . . 263 Song, ..... John Dryden, . . . AUTHOR. PAGE Our Daily Paths, . . . Felicia Hemans, . . 264 Hearts Good and True, . . G. F. Faber, . . .267 A Dream of Summer, . . J. G. Whittier, . . 267 The Good Spirit, . . . Isabella Banks, . . 268 A Well of Love, . . . George Macdonald, . . 269 Flowers without Fruit, . . J. H. Newman, . . 269 Black and White, . . .

Frederick Langbridge . . 270 Cheer, . . . . A. J. Symington, . . 271 ' Hark, 'tis the Breeze,' . . Thomas Moore, . . 271 The Light of Stars, . . . H. W. Longfellow, . . 2T2. Prayer, ..... Jane Simpson, . . . 273 Evening Hymn, . . . R. C. Trench, . . . 11Z Eventide, .... Dora Green-well, . . 274 TALES IN POETRY. Lay of a Cracked Fiddle, . . Frederick Langbridge, . 277 The Three Crowns, ... 5s. Baring-Gould, . . 281 A Poor Man Earl of Lytton, . . 285 The Emigrant Lassie, . . J. S. Blackie, . . . 289 Two Surprises, . . . R. W. M'Alpine, . . 290 A Greyport Legend, . ■ Bret Harte, . . . 292 The Opening of the Piano, . 0. W. Holmes, . . .293 The Widow's Mite, F. Lockcr-Lampson, . . 295 The Knight of Intercession, . S. J. Stone, . . . 295 The Brave Roland, . . . Thomas Campbell, . . 301 Rosabelle Sir Walter Scott, . . 302 Anecdote of the French Re- 1 „q . volution, . . . . ) The Blind Beggar of Bednalll 0ld BMad _ . s05 Green J The Nobleman's Generous Kind- 1 „,, ness, . . . . . j " " The Singing Leaves, . .

J. R. Lowell, . . . 315 Piccola R. H. Newall, . . .318 A North Pole Story, . . M. B. Smcdley, . . 320 The Stonecutter's Six Wishes, . D. laing Purvcs, . . 323 The Three Kingdoms, . . J.E. Bendall, . . .326 The Dervish, .... Constantine E. Brookes, . 328 Jaffkr, Leigh Hunt, . . .329 The Gift of Tritemius, . ./.<?. Whittier, . . 331 A Desert Flower, . . . Lizzie M. LittU, . . 332 Orpheus and the Sirens, . . R. C. Trench, . . . 335 Galatea J. S. Blackie, . . .340 Peter and the Cherries, . . IF. B. Rands, . . . 345 The Christ-Crown, ... „„ ... 347 The Stranger and His Friend, . /. Montgomery, . . SONGS AND STORIES OF ANIMAL LIFE. AUTHOR. PAGE A Word for the Dumb, . . Chris'ina Rossetti, . . 355 To Flush, my Dog, . . . E. Barrett-Browning, . 355 Incident characteristic of a Fa- > WiUiam Wordswort^ . 359 vourite Dog, . . . \ The Dog and the Water-Lily, .

William Cowper, . . 360 Fidelity, ..... William Wordsworth, . 361 Any Maid to Her Tabby's Shade, Cotsford Dick, . . . 363 A Poet's Cat, .... Lewis Morris, . . . 365 The Retired Cat, . . . William Cowper, . . 365 Loulou and Her Cat, . . F. Lockcr-Lampson, . . 369 On the Death of a Favourite Cat, Thomas Gray, . . . 370 The Kitten, .... Joanna Baillie, . . 371 Felis Felix, .... W. Beatty-Kingston, . 374 Una and the Lion, . . . Edmund Spenser, . . 376 The Bell of Atri, . . . H. W. Longfellow, . . 378 A Needless Alarm, . . . William Cowper, . . 381 Tlie Last of the Flock, . . William Wordsworth, . 384 To a Fly, .... William Oldys, . . 387 The Town and Country Mouse, Alexander Pope, . . 388 The Adventurous Frog, . . Christina Rossetti, . . 390 The Child aud the Snake, . Mary Lamb, . . . 391 The Emperor's Bird's Nest, .

H. W. Longfellow, . . 392 To the Nightingale Tohn Milton, . . . 394 To the Skylark, . . . P. B. Shelley, . . .394 The Parrot, T. Campbell, . . .397 Robert of Lincoln, ... IF. O. Bryant, . . . 398 The Faithful Bird, . . . William Cowper, . . 400 The Falcon's Reward, . . R. C. Trench. . . . 402 The Songs of Birds, . . . John Lyly, . . . 404 The Sparrow and the Caged Bird, James Hcdderwick, . . 404 My House, . . . . R. L. Stevenson, . . 406 The Redbreast, ... Dora Greenwell, . . 406 Kobin Redbreast chasing the ) rr,,- rw , __ ,™ Butteiflv 1 dliam Wordsworth, . 409 Redbreast in Church. . . John Keble, . . . 410 A Tale William Cowper, . . 411 The Thrush's Nest, . . . John Clare, . . .414 The Bird, .... William Allingham, . 414 FAIRY SONGS, A Fairy Tale Austin Dobson, . . 419 Fairy Song, .... Shakespeare, . . . 420 Lullaby for Titania, ... „ ... 420 The Fairies, ....

William Allingham, . . AUTHOR. PAG2 The Fairy Queen, . . .Old Poem, . . . 423 The Fairy Queen's Chariot, . Michael Drayton, . . 424 Facts from Fairyland, . . William Motherwcll, . 426 Puck /. W. Rilcy, . . . 427 Fairies' Recall, . . . Felicia Hemans, . . 428 The Fairies' Shopping, . . Margaret Deland, . . 428 Song, Thomas Hood, . . 430 Fairy Song, T. Haynes Bayly, . . 431 Fairy Homes F. R. Havcrgal, . . 431 Garden Fairies, . . . P. B. Marston, . . 433 Song of the Water-Sprite, . A. J. Symington, . . 434 The Fairy Tempter, . . . Samuel Lover, . . 436 A Lay of Fairy Land, . . John Wilson, . . . 436 The Last Voyage of the Fairies, W. H. Davenport Adams, . 444 MISCELLANEOUS POETRY. Shadows on the Wall, . . James Macfarlan, . . 449 My Lady Naturei and Her) T „ ,. ,_n J t^ J,. • } J- H. Newman, . . 4o0 Daughters, . . . ) Flowers, . . . . .

H. W. Longfellow, . . 452 This World is full of Beauty,' . Gerald Massey, . . 454 Wayside Crosses, . . . Westland Marston, . . 456 Where the Lilies used to spring, David Gray, . . 456 Time's Garden, . . . Cecil W. Franklyn, . . 457 The White Dove, . . . Frcderika Bremcr, . . 459 Sonnet, . ... . . William Wordsworth, . 459 The Three Fishers, . . . Charles Kingsley, . . 460 A Child's First Impression of a) „ _,.„.... . . Star {."*..'■.".■ Gifts, ..... Aubrey de Vere, . . 461 Ode to Spring, . . . . Anne L. Barbauld, . . 461 ( in Westminster Bridge, . . William Wordsworth, . 463 From my Arm-chair, . . H. W. Longfellow, . . 463 The Rainbow, .... Cecil W. Franklyn, . . 465 Nightfall, .... Sir Aubrey dc Vere,. . 466 The First Sound, . . . Hartley Coleridge, . . 466 A Spring Song, . . W. C. 'Bennett, . . 467 Lost, ...../.

Lash Latcy, . . 468 Fancy in Nubibus, . . . S. T. Coleridge, .... 468 Hymn to Diana, . . . Ben Jonson, . . . 469 A Song for St. Cecilia's Day, . John Drydcn, . . . 469 The Children Band, . . Sir Aubrey dc Vere, . 471 An April Day, H. W. Longfellow, . . 472 The Flower of Friendship, . Lord Houghton, . .473 The Potter's Clay, . . . Marian von Glehn, . . 474 To an Early Primrose, . . H. Kirke White, . . LLST OF CONTENTS. XIV AUTHOR. PAGE Great Silences, . . • Isabella Banks, . . 475 A Summer's Day, . . . Alexander Hume, . . 476 The rarting of Summer, . . Felicia Hemans . . 47H Le Bien ne meurt jamais, . . Dora Greenwell, . . 4/9 To Meadows, .... Robert Herrick, . . 4S0 Sabbath Sonnet, . . . Felicia Hemans, . . 480 To Autumn {Pi*? **' , ' ' ' % Autumn Woods, . . . %•**?«* „ ■ ' fJt The Four Crowns, . . .

Sir Edwin Arnold, . . 483 September, 1815, . . . William Wordsworth, . 484 November, .... Hartley Coleridge, . . 485 The Luck of Eden Hall, . . W. C. Bennett, . . 485 The Seen and Unseen, . . Isabella Banks, . . 4b7 'Blow, blow,' .... Shakespeare, . . . 4bt> ' Under the Greenwood Tree,' . ,, •••*?" The Snow Storm, . . . Lydia Sigourney, . . 490 Bells across the Snow, . . F. R. Havcrgal, . . 491 Christmas, .... Alfred Domett, . . 492 The Christ-Child, . . . ■ • • ■ *°* The Waits, .... Margaret Dcland, . . 494 The Christmas Tree, . . Dora Greenwell, . . 49o Woman .... Ebenczer Elliott, . . 497 The Good Part, . . . H. W. Longfellow, . . 498 Lines on a Fly -Leaf, . . /• <?■ Whittier . . 499 'She was a Phantom of Delight,' William .] ordsworth, . 502 • This or on This,' . . . R. C. Trench, . . 503 The Goddess, ....

Bret Harte, . . . 504 ' She walks in Beauty,' . . Lord Byron, . . . 505 Roses or Laurels, . . . Lizzie M. Little, . ■ 506 A True Woman, . . . J. G. Whittier, . . 509 Irene, J- *■ Lowell, . . 510 HUMOROUS FANCIES. A Greek Gift .... Austin Dobson, . . 517 The Silver Churn, . . . W. S. Gilbert, . . 517 The Bear Pit F. Locker-Lampson, . 518 The Whiting and the Snail, . Lewis Carroll, . . 519 The Wise Old Man, . . . Emma A. Opper, . . 520- Shelter, C. S. Calvcrley, . . 521 The Duke's Jest, . . . Margaret Johnson, . . 521 A Clumsy Servant, . . . H. S. Leigh, . . .523 The Owl Critic, . . . Janus Fields, . . . 524 To One of Tender Age, . . Walter Parke, . . 527 Chivalry for the Cradle, . . H. S. Leigh, . .528 Sad Memories, . . . C. S. Calvcrley, . . 530 Ferdinando and Elvira, . . W. S. Gilbert, . .

GIRLS AND GIRL-LIFE. Light and Peace be with you ever, Clearness, strength, and high endeavour, Will that works, and falters never, Lead you upright into Light! Life may give to thee her treasures, Flowers, and songs, and heaped-up pleasures, FoamiDg cups and brimming measures, Hopes that sparkle in their flight: Friends may cheer the way before thee ; Love may sing the old, old story ; Art display to thee her glory ; Fair success her laurelled height : May you then have strength in choosing ; Joy in seeing, and in using; Joy that brings no after losing, Holds no subtle taint of blight. Clifford Harrison. The Girl's Own Poetry Book. GIRLS AND GIRL-LIFE. GERALDINE. A simple child has claims On your sentiment, her name's Geraldine. Be tender, but beware, She's frolicsome as fair, — And fifteen.

She has gifts to grace allied, And each she has applied, And improved : She has bliss that lives and leans On loving, — ah, that means She is loved. Her beauty is refined By sweet harmony of mind, And the art, And the blessed nature, too, Of a tender, of a true Little heart. A THE GLRL'S OWN POETRY

Book. 2

And yet I must not vault Over any foolish fault That she owns ; Or others might rebel, And enviously swell In their zones. For she's tricksy as the fays, Or her pussy when it plays With a string : She's a goose about her cat, Her ribbons, and all that Sort of thing. These foibles are a blot, Still she never can do what Is not nice; Such as quarrel, and give slaps — As I've known her get, perhaps, Once or twice. The spells that draw her soul Are subtle — sad or droll : She can show That virtuoso whim Which consecrates our dim Lon«-a"o. A love that is not sham For Stothard, Blake, and Lamb • And I've known Cordelia's sad eyes Cause angel-tears to rise In her own. Her gentle spirit yearns When she reads of Robin Burns ; — Luckless Bard Had she blossom'd in thy time, Oh, how rare had been thy rhyme — And reward !

Thrice happy then is he Who, planting such a Tree, Sees it bloom To shelter him ; indeed We have joyance as we speed To our doom ! I am happy, having grown Such a Sapling of my own : And I crave No garland for my brows, But rest beneath its boughs To the grave. Frederick Locker-Lampson. MISS SALLOR-BOY. Her age is twelve ; half bold, half coy — Her friends all call her " Sailor-Boy " — With sweet brown eyes beyond compare, And close-cropped, curling, sunny hair ; Her smart straw hat you'll notice, and See " Jennie " broidered on the band, Her sailor's knot, and lanyard too, With jersey trim of navy blue ; Her short serge frock distinctly shows Well-shapen legs in sable hose, And symphonies in needle-work, Where dimpled pearly shadows lurk — Which, as she swings her skirts, you note Peep out beneath her petticoat.

This sunburnt baby dives and floats. She manages canoes or boats ; Can steer and scull, can reef or row, Or punt or paddle, fish or tow. The lithest lass you e'er could see In all Short-petticoaterie ! J. Ashby-Sterry. ALLEGE A. 1 would more natures were like thine, That never casts a glance before, — Thou Hebe, who thy heart's bright wine So lavishly to all dost pour, That we who drink forget to pine, And can but dream of bliss in store. Thou canst not see a shade in life; With sunward instinct thou dost rise, And, leaving clouds below at strife, Gazest undazzled at the skies, With all their blazing splendours rife, A songful lark with eagle's eyes. Thou wast some foundling whom the Hours Nursed, laughing, with the milk of Mirth; Some influence more gay than ours Hath ruled thy nature from its birth, As if thy natal stars were flowers That shook their seeds round thee on earth And thou, to lull thine infant rest, Wast cradled like an Indian child; All pleasant winds from south and west With lullabies thine ears beguiled, Rocking thee in thine oriole's nest, Till Nature looked at thee and smiled.

Thine every fancy seems to borrow A sunlight from thy childish years, Making a golden cloud of sorrow, A hope-lit rainbow out of tears, — Thy heart is certain of to-morrow, Though 'yond to-day it never peers. I would more natures were like thine, So innocently wild and free, Whose sad thoughts, even, leap and shine, Like sunny wavelets in the sea, Making us mindless of the brine, In gazing on the brilliancy. J. R. Lowell. NEIGHBOUR NELLY. I'm in love with neighbour Nelly, Though I know she's only ten, While, alas! I'm eight-and-forty — And the marriedst of men ! I've a wife who weighs me double, I've three daughters all with beaux. I've a son with noble whiskers, Who at me turns up his nose. Though a square-toes, and a fogey, Still I've sunshine in my heart : ►St ill I'm fond of cakes and marbles, Can appreciate a tart.