My Dearie

BY FRANK L. STANTON.

She's kissin' of my cares away-
My dearie, O my dearie!
A sunbeam on the darkest day-
My dearie, O my dearie!

An' when in storms no stars I see
An' all my life grows weary,
She comes an' cuddles close to me—
My dearie, O my dearie!

She sees the bright tears fallin' fast,
When all the world is dreary,
An' says she'll love me to the last-
My dearie, O my dearie!

Bobbie's Exchanges

BY JOHN KENDRICK BANGS.

I wish I owned a motor-car-a slashing big red-dragon. I'd swap it in a minute for a handsome horse and wagon. And then I'd take that horse and cart, delaying not a minute,

And swap 'em for a new canoe, with nice soft cushions in it.

And then I'd take that new canoe-I wouldn't wait a

jiffy

And swap it for a puppy dog with manners fine and

sniffy.

And then I'd take that sniffy dog for fear that I'd be

bitten,

And swap it off with someone who preferred it to a kitten.

And then I'd take that kitty-cat and sell it for a quarter. The which I'd swap for one big pail of fizzy sode-water.

Pretty Peggy

BY CAROLINE WELLS.

His gold beams a-spinning, I asked of the sun
If he ever had any to spare;

"Only once," he replied, "too many I spun,
And I gave them to Peggy for hair."

I asked of the sky if his stars were all right,
Or if he had over supplies;

He said, "I had two which were rather too bright,
So I gave them to Peggy for eyes."

I asked of some fays who were cutting out flowers,
If they had any remnants or snips;

They said: "We had scraps of these popies of ours,
But we gave them to Peggy for lips."

I said to the rain, "What becomes of the drops
That you may not have used when it clears?"
He said, "If there are any left when it stops,
I'll give them to Peggy for tears."

I artfully coaxed him to spill them all out,
And scatter them over the miles,

And that is the reason, I haven't a doubt,
That Peg's always dimpling with smiles.

Kissing No Sin

Some say that kissin's a sin;
But I think that it's nane ava,
For kissing has woun'd in this warld
Since ever there was twa.

Suppose I put my babe to sleep

In a nest in a tree-top high,

Where the wind would blow it to and fro

And sing this lullaby:

"Rest, Rest, babe in a nest!

Little white bird in a tree!

The old tree shall keep a watch o'er thy sleep,

The little leaves guard over thee;

And one little leaf lays its palm on thy brow

Soft, cool little leaf—

Go to sleep, baby-now! now! soon ceaseth thy grief. "Sh! Sh! Sh!" says the leaves-that is their lullaby; But old tree-mother and green little leaves,

My baby still would cry.

II.

Suppose I put my babe to sleep

In a tiny boat on the sea,

Where the waters would move it softly with love,

And sing this melody:

"Waft! waft, wee little craft,

Afloat on the silver sea!

Rock on the deep, white little one! Sleep!

Canst trust thyself with me.

For each little wave holds a star in its hands,
To frighten away the dark;

And a far-off wind brings a song from the lands,—
Hear little baby! Hark!

"Sh! Sh! Sh!" breathe the waves-that is their lullaby; But kind sea-mother and gray little waves,

My baby still would cry.

III.

Suppose I put my baby to sleep
Upon her pillow white,

Where I can watch the golden head
Gleam through the lonely night:
Not near enough! Not close enough!
I strain her to my breast.

Now Rosy-lips! Now Finger-tips!

Now Weary-lids we rest!

Thou and mother the whole night through;
All night mother and thou;

At last my hungry arms are filled;
Thy homesick cry at last is stilled;
We both can sleep-sleep now!

With a smile on my lips for thy little hands,
And a prayer in my heart that understands,
For "Hush! oh hush! says a voice in the sky,
And we-we do not cry.