Child's Garden of Verses (version 2) — Singing, Looking Forward, A Good Play, Where Go the Boats?, Auntie's Skirts

SINGING

Of speckled eggs the birdie sings 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.

[Illustration] 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.

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.

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.

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.

[Illustration] [Illustration] WHERE GO THE BOATS?

Dark brown is the river, 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?

On goes the river 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.

[Illustration] 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.

[Illustration]