-Althea Randolph

 The Bath

I play the bath-tub is a boat, 

And I a sailor boy,

I lift the anchor, blow a horn, 

And then I shout "Ahoy!"

I sail away across the bay,

Until I near the land,

I steer my boat upon the shore,

And leave it on the sand,

While Nursie comes and washes me,

Until I'm nice and clean;

And then I turn the water on,--

That's how I get up steam!

I start to sail away again

And turn my boat about,

But just when I am having fun,

My Nursie takes me out!

 Crystal Dew Drop

 Pictures in the Sky

Little crystal Dew-drop,

Sparkling like a star,

Tell me where you come from,

And what you really are.

You 'light upon my flowers,

And kiss their petals bright;

You flit about my garden,

And play all through the night.

But when I try to catch you,

Or pick you from a rose,

You fly away to nothing!--

You're a Fairy, I suppose!

I like to look way up so high

To see the Pictures in the sky;

There're valleys, mountains, hills and dales,

And pretty boats with cloudy sails.

There're flowers and animals and things

Which look like birds with fleecy wings;

But while I look, I wonder why

My Picture-clouds may all blow by!

 Contented

I did not like to have red hair,

I wanted golden curls,

Like Sister Sue and Cousin Mai,

And other little girls.

And so I took my brush and paints

And mixed a yellow bright;

But when I'd painted all my hear,

I looked a dreadful fright!

My Mamma came and scolded me,

And put me into bed.

So after this I guess I'll be

Content with my hair red!

I fill with light the earth and sky,

I climb upon the mountains high,

I drive the darkness all away,

For where I live 'tis always day.

I sparkle on the waters blue,

I make the world a golden hue,

I whisper to the hills and dales,

The prettiest little fairy-tales!