He dreamed of fair green fields and meadows, of silent lakes bordered with rushes, out of which sprang wild fowl slowly flapping their broad wings; of forests thick and dark, where on fallen trees the green moss had grown in velvet softness; of mountains lifting their purple tops into the fleecy clouds, and of long shady country roads winding in and out and about the hills; of lanes bordered with blackberry bushes and sumac, clematis and wild rose; of dewy nooks full of ferns; of the songs of birds and the chirp of insects; and it seemed to him that he must put some of all this beauty into some shape of his own creation--picture or poem, song or speech; and then came a sudden sharp twinge of pain, and the brightness faded, and the room was dark, and he was hungry, and only poor little Phil, sick and sad and weary and poor.
Here is a chorus Of boys and girls, Wee little darlings, Dear little pearls. Hear their sweet voices, Like tinkling chimes, Merrily singing Pinafore rhymes.
Mothers and sisters, Cousins and aunts, Listen delighted To their little chants. Here they are printed, So you may see What they are singing So merrily.
Annie, Mary, and Kate, Each busy with pencil and slate, Three pretty pictures are making; Just see the pains they are taking, So eager, and still, and sedate!
But now it is growing quite late, They put away pencil and slate; And because they've been good in their classes, They get some nice bread and molasses, And swing on the garden gate.
Your servant, madam! I must say The bathing's very bad to-day; The water never was so wet, And colder, too, than ever yet; I'm sure 'tis down to five degrees, And I'm afraid you'd surely freeze. A shark and sword-fish, too, have come, And made themselves too much at home; And just now, on the bath-house stair, A water-witch sat combing her hair. You can try it, madam, if you please, But if they don't eat you up, you'll freeze.
Cuckoo! Where are you? I've been hunting all about, And I wish you would come out! Have you hid in the big fire-place, Or the clock, or the porcelain vase, Or flown to the top of the house, Or crawled into his hole with the mouse? It's awful mean to hide away, When I want you to go out and play!