love-songs of childhood-第4章
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Her wealthy father's heir！
Now when the Injuns saw that band
They trembled with affright；
And yet they thought the cheapest thing
To do was stay and fight。
So sturdily they stood their ground；
Nor would their prisoner yield；
Despite the wrath of Willie Clow
And gallant Dady Field。
Oh； never fiercer battle raged
Upon the Waller Lot；
And never blood more freely flowed
Than flowed for Sissy Knott！
An Injun chief of monstrous size
Got Kendall Evans down；
And Robbie James was soon o'erthrown
By one of great renown。
And Dady Field was sorely done；
And Willie Clow was hurt；
And all that gallant cow…boy band
Lay wallowing in the dirt。
But still they strove with might and main
Till all the Waller Lot
Was strewn with hair and gouts of gore …
All； all for Sissy Knott！
Then cried the maiden in despair：
〃Alas； I sadly fear
The battle and my hopes are lost；
Unless some help appear！〃
Lo； as she spoke； she saw afar
The rescuer looming up …
The pride of all Buena Park；
Clow's famous yellow pup！
〃Now； sick'em； Don；〃 the maiden cried；
〃Now； sick'em； Don！〃 cried she；
Obedient Don at once complied …
As ordered； so did he。
He sicked'em all so passing well
That； overcome by fright；
The Indian horde gave up the fray
And safety sought in flight。
They ran and ran and ran and ran
O'er valley； plain； and hill；
And if they are not walking now；
Why； then； they're running still。
The cow…boys rose up from the dust
With faces black and blue；
〃Remember； beauteous maid；〃 said they；
〃We've bled and died for you！〃
〃And though we suffer grievously；
We gladly hail the lot
That brings us toils and pains and wounds
For charming Sissy Knott！〃
But Sissy Knott still wailed and wept；
And still her fate reviled；
For who could patch her dolly up …
Who； who could mend her child？
Then out her doting mother came；
And soothed her daughter then；
〃Grieve not； my darling； I will sew
Your dolly up again！〃
Joy soon succeeded unto grief；
And tears were soon dried up；
And dignities were heaped upon
Clow's noble yellow pup。
Him all that goodly company
Did as deliverer hail …
They tied a ribbon round his neck；
Another round his tail。
And every anniversary day
Upon the Waller Lot
They celebrate the victory won
For charming Sissy Knott。
And I； the poet of these folk；
Am ordered to compile
This truly famous history
In good old ballad style。
Which having done as to have earned
The sweet rewards of fame；
In what same style I did begin
I now shall end the same。
So let us sing： Long live the King；
Long live the Queen and Jack；
Long live the ten…spot and the ace；
And also all the pack。
THE STORK
Last night the Stork came stalking；
And； Stork； beneath your wing
Lay； lapped in dreamless slumber；
The tiniest little thing！
From Babyland； out yonder
Beside a silver sea；
You brought a priceless treasure
As gift to mine and me！
Last night my dear one listened …
And； wife； you knew the cry …
The dear old Stork has sought our home
A many times gone by！
And in your gentle bosom
I found the pretty thing
That from the realm out yonder
Our friend the Stork did bring。
Last night a babe awakened；
And； babe； how strange and new
Must seem the home and people
The Stork has brought you to；
And yet methinks you like them …
You neither stare nor weep；
But closer to my dear one
You cuddle； and you sleep！
Last night my heart grew fonder …
0 happy heart of mine；
Sing of the inspirations
That round my pathway shine！
And sing your sweetest love…song
To this dear nestling wee
The Stork from 'Way…Out…Yonder
Hath brought to mine and me！
THE BOTTLE TREE
A bottle tree bloometh in Winkyway land …
Heigh…ho for a bottle； I say！
A snug little berth in that ship I demand
That rocketh the Bottle…Tree babies away
Where the Bottle Tree bloometh by night and by day
And reacheth its fruit to each wee； dimpled hand；
You take of that fruit as much as you list；
For colic's a nuisance that doesn't exist！
So cuddle me and cuddle me fast；
And cuddle me snug in my cradle away；
For I hunger and thirst for that precious repast …
Heigh…ho for a bottle； I say！
The Bottle Tree bloometh by night and by day！
Heigh…ho for Winkyway land！
And Bottle…Tree fruit （as I've heard people say）
Makes bellies of Bottle…Tree babies expand …
And that is a trick I would fain understand！
Heigh…ho for a bottle to…day！
And heigh…ho for a bottle to…night …
A bottle of milk that is creamy and white！
So cuddle me close； and cuddle me fast；
And cuddle me snug in my cradle away；
For I hunger and thirst for that precious repast …
Heigh…ho for a bottle； I say！
GOOGLY…GO0
Of mornings； bright and early；
When the lark is on the wing
And the robin in the maple
Hops from her nest to sing；
From yonder cheery chamber
Cometh a mellow coo …
'T is the sweet； persuasive treble
Of my little Googly…Goo！
The sunbeams hear his music；
And they seek his little bed；
And they dance their prettiest dances
Round his golden curly head：
Schottisches； galops； minuets；
Gavottes and waltzes； too；
Dance they unto the music
Of my googling Googly…Goo。
My heart … my heart it leapeth
To hear that treble tone；
What music like thy music；
My darling and mine own！
And patiently … yes； cheerfully
I toil the long day through …
My labor seemeth lightened
By the song of Googly…Goo！
I may not see his antics；
Nor kiss his dimpled cheek：
I may not smooth the tresses
The sunbeams love to seek；
It mattereth not … the echo
Of his sweet； persuasive coo
Recurreth to remind me
Of my little Googly…Goo。
And when I come at evening；
I stand without the door
And patiently I listen
For that dear sound once more；
And oftentimes I wonder；
〃Oh； God！ what should I do
If any ill should happen
To my little Googly…Goo！〃
Then in affright I call him …
I hear his gleeful shouts！
Begone； ye dread forebodings …
Begone； ye killing doubts！
For； with my arms about him；
My heart warms through and through
With the oogling and the googling
Of my little Googly…Goo！
THE BENCH…LEGGED FYCE
Speakin' of dorgs； my bench…legged fyce
Hed most o' the virtues； an' nary a vice。
Some folks called him Sooner； a name that arose
From his predisposition to chronic repose；
But； rouse his ambition； he couldn't be beat …
Yer bet yer he got thar on all his four feet！
Mos' dorgs hez some forte … like huntin' an' such；
But the sports o' the field didn't bother him much；
Wuz just a plain dorg； an' contented to be
On peaceable terms with the neighbors an' me；
Used to fiddle an' squirm； and grunt 〃Oh； how nice！〃
When I tickled the back of that bench…legged fyce！
He wuz long in the bar'l； like a fyce oughter be；
His color wuz yaller as ever you see；
His tail； curlin' upward； wuz long； loose； an' slim …
When he didn't wag it； why； the tail it wagged him！
His legs wuz so crooked； my bench…legged pup
Wuz as tall settin' down as he wuz standin' up！
He'd lie by the stove of a night an' regret
The various vittles an' things he had et；
When a stranger； most likely a tramp； come along；
He'd lift up his voice in significant song …
You wondered； by gum！ how there ever wuz space
In that bosom o' his'n to hold so much bass！
Of daytimes he'd sneak to the road an' lie down；
An' tackle the country dorgs comin' to town；
By common consent he wuz boss in St。 Joe；
For what he took hold of he never let go！
An' a dude that come courtin' our girl left a slice
Of his white flannel suit with our bench…legged fyce！
He wuz good to us kids … when we pulled at his fur
Or twisted his tail he would never demur；
He seemed to enjoy all our play
