Was read aloud to me by you!
Friend of my boyhood, therefore take
It back from me, for old times' sake--
The selfsame "Tales" first read to me,
Under "the old sweet apple tree,"
Ere I myself could read such great
Big words,--but listening all elate,
At your interpreting, until
Brain, heart, and soul were all athrill
With wonder, awe, and sheer excess
Of wildest childish happiness.

So take the book again--forget
All else,--long years, lost hopes, regret;
Sighs for the joys we ne'er attain,
Prayers we have lifted all in vain;
Tears for the faces seen no more,
Once as the roses at the door!
Take the enchanted book--And lo,
On grassy swards of long ago,
Sprawl out again, beneath the shade
The breezy old-home orchard made,
The veriest barefoot boy indeed--
And I will listen as you read.

TO--"THE J. W. R. LITERARY CLUB"

Well, it's enough to turn his head to have a feller's name
Swiped with a _Literary_ Club!--But _you're_ the ones to blame!--
I call the World to witness that I never _agged_ ye to it
By ever writin' _Classic-like_--_because I couldn't_ do it:
I never run to "Hellicon," ner writ about "Per-nassus,"
Ner ever tried to rack or ride around on old "P-_gassus_"!
When "Tuneful Nines" has cross'd my lines, the ink 'ud blot and
blur it,
And pen 'ud jest putt back fer home, and take the short way fer it!
And so, as I'm a-sayin',--when you name your Literary
In honor o' this name o' mine, it's railly nessessary--
Whilse I'm _a-thankin'_ you and all--to _warn_ you, ef you do it,
I'll haf to jine the thing myse'f 'fore I can live up to it!

LITTLE MAID-O'-DREAMS

Little Maid-o'-Dreams, with your
Eery eyes so clear and pure
Gazing, where we fain would see
Into far futurity,--
Tell us what you there behold,
In your visions manifold!
What is on beyond our sight,
Biding till the morrow's light,
Fairer than we see to-day,
As our dull eyes only may?

Little Maid-o'-Dreams, with face
Like as in some woodland place
Lifts a lily, chaste and white,
From the shadow to the light;--
Tell us, by your subtler glance,
What strange sorcery enchants
You as now,--here, yet afar
As the realms of moon and star?--
Have you magic lamp and ring,
And genii for vassaling?

L