f the editors of _Our Young Folks_, and wrote
a most fascinating autobiography called _A New
England Girlhood_. Several of her poems are
still used in schools. The one that follows is,
perhaps, the most popular of these. It is
semi-dramatic, and the three voices of the poem
can be easily discovered. Miss Larcom's finest
poem is the one entitled "Hannah Binding
Shoes."

THE BROWN THRUSH

LUCY LARCOM

There's a merry brown thrush sitting up in the tree,
He's singing to me! He's singing to me!
And what does he say, little girl, little boy?
"Oh, the world's running over with joy!
Don't you hear? Don't you see?
Hush! Look! In my tree
I'm as happy as happy can be!"

And the brown thrush keeps singing, "A nest do you see,
And five eggs hid by me in the juniper tree?
Don't meddle! Don't touch! little girl, little boy,
Or the world will lose some of its joy!
Now I'm glad! Now I'm free!
And I always shall be,
If you never bring sorrow to me."

So the merry brown thrush sings away in the tree,
To you and to me, to you and to me.
And he sings all the day, little girl, little boy,
"Oh, the world's running over with joy!"
But long it won't be,
Don't you know? don't you see?
Unless we are as good as can be.

277

Mrs. Child (1802-1880) was the editor of the
first monthly for children in the United
States, the _Juvenile Miscellany_. She wrote
and compiled several works for children, and
her optimistic outlook has led someone to speak
of her as the "Apostle of Cheer." She wrote a
novel, _Hobomak_ (1821), which is still spoken
of with respect, and she was a prominent figure
in the anti-slavery agitation. The two poems
following have held their own with children for
reasons easily recognized.

THANKSGIVING DAY

LYDIA MARIA CHILD

Over the river and through the wood,
To grandfather's house we go;
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh
Through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river and through the wood--
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes
And bites the nose,