Poems Every Child Should Know: The What-Every-Child-Should-Know-Library | Page 8

your nets wherever you wish,--
Never afeard are we!"?So cried the stars to the fishermen three,
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

All night long their nets they threw?To the stars in the twinkling foam,--?Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,?Bringing the fishermen home:?'Twas all so pretty a sail, it seemed
As if it could not be;?And some folk thought 'twas a dream they'd dreamed?Of sailing that beautiful sea;?But I shall name you the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,?And Nod is a little head,?And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies?Is a wee one's trundle-bed;?So shut your eyes while Mother sings?Of wonderful sights that be,?And you shall see the beautiful things?As you rock on the misty sea?Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three,
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

EUGENE FIELD.

THE DUEL.
"The Duel," by Eugene Field (1850-95), is almost the most popular humorous poem that has come under my notice. In making such a collection as this it is not easy to find poems at once delicate, witty, and graphic. I have taught "The Duel" hundreds of times, and children invariably love it.
The gingham dog and the calico cat?Side by side on the table sat;?'Twas half-past twelve, and (what do you think!)?Nor one nor t'other had slept a wink!?The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate?Appeared to know as sure as fate?There was going to be a terrible spat.?(_I wasn't there; I simply state?What was told to me by the Chinese plate_!)
The gingham dog went "bow-wow-wow!"?And the calico cat replied "mee-ow!"?The air was littered, an hour or so,?With bits of gingham and calico,?While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place?Up with its hands before its face,?For it always dreaded a family row!?(_Now mind: I'm only telling you?What the old Dutch clock declares is true_!)
The Chinese plate looked very blue,?And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we do!"?But the gingham dog and the calico cat?Wallowed this way and tumbled that,?Employing every tooth and claw?In the awfullest way you ever saw--?And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!?(_Don't fancy I exaggerate!?I got my views from the Chinese plate_!)
Next morning where the two had sat?They found no trace of the dog or cat;?And some folks think unto this day?That burglars stole the pair away!?But the truth about the cat and the pup?Is this: They ate each other up!?Now what do you really think of that!?(_The old Dutch clock it told me so,?And that is how I came to know_.)
EUGENE FIELD.
THE BOY WHO NEVER TOLD A LIE.
"The Boy Who Never Told a Lie" (anonymous), as well as "Whatever Brawls Disturb the Street," by Isaac Watts (1674-1748), are real gems. A few years ago they were more in favour than the poorer verse that has been put forward. But they are sure to be revived.
Once there was a little boy,?With curly hair and pleasant eye--?A boy who always told the truth,?And never, never told a lie.
And when he trotted off to school,?The children all about would cry,?"There goes the curly-headed boy--
The boy that never tells a lie."
And everybody loved him so,?Because he always told the truth,?That every day, as he grew up,?'Twas said, "There goes the honest youth."
And when the people that stood near?Would turn to ask the reason why,?The answer would be always this:?"Because he never tells a lie."
LOVE BETWEEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
Whatever brawls disturb the street,?There should be peace at home;?Where sisters dwell and brothers meet,?Quarrels should never come.
Birds in their little nests agree;?And 'tis a shameful sight,?When children of one family?Fall out and chide