_And grant it, Heaven, that all who read May find as dear a nurse at need, And every child who lists my rhyme, In the bright, fireside, nursery clime, May hear it in as kind a voice As made my childish days rejoice!_ R. L. S. CONTENTS PAGE I. BED IN SUMMER 15 II. A THOUGHT 17 III. AT THE SEASIDE 18 IV. YOUNG NIGHT THOUGHT 19 V. WHOLE DUTY OF CHILDREN 21 VI. RAIN 22 VII. PIRATE STORY 23 VIII. FOREIGN LANDS 25 IX. WINDY NIGHTS 29 X. TRAVEL 30 XI. SINGING 34 XII. LOOKING FORWARD 35 XIII. A GOOD PLAY 36 XIV. WHERE GO THE BOATS? 38 XV. AUNTIE'S SKIRTS 40 XVI. THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE 41 XVII. THE LAND OF NOD 43 XVIII. MY SHADOW 45 XIX. SYSTEM 49 XX. A GOOD BOY 50 XXI. ESCAPE AT BEDTIME 53 XXII. MARCHING SONG 55 XXIII. THE COW 57 XXIV. HAPPY THOUGHT 59 XXV. THE WIND 60 XXVI. KEEPSAKE MILL 62 XXVII. GOOD AND BAD CHILDREN 65 XXVIII. FOREIGN CHILDREN 69 XXIX. THE SUN'S TRAVELS 73 XXX. THE LAMPLIGHTER 75 XXXI. MY BED IS A BOAT 77 XXXII. THE MOON 79 XXXIII. THE SWING 81 XXXIV. TIME TO RISE 83 XXXV. LOOKING-GLASS RIVER 84 XXXVI. FAIRY BREAD 87 XXXVII. FROM A RAILWAY CARRIAGE 88 XXXVIII. WINTER-TIME 90 XXXIX. THE HAYLOFT 93 XL. FAREWELL TO THE FARM 95 XLI. NORTH-WEST PASSAGE: _1. Good Night_ 97 _2. Shadow March_ 99 _3. In Port_ 101 THE CHILD ALONE PAGE I. THE UNSEEN PLAYMATE 105 II. MY SHIP AND I 109 III. MY KINGDOM 111 IV. PICTURE-BOOKS IN WINTER 115 V. MY TREASURES 119 VI. BLOCK CITY 121