Thank the stars that watch over us in love that the great-hearted poets, and the children of the world--at least those little ones that a half-way Christian civilization has not robbed of childhood--know that "The world's an Eden still." From the prelude to "The Flower of Old Japan" comes that same note, like a bluebird in springtime, that note of belief, of trust, of hope: "Do you remember the blue stream; The bridge of pale bamboo; The path that seemed a twisted dream Where everything came true; The purple cheery-trees; the house With jutting eaves below the boughs; The mandarins in blue, With tiny tapping, tilted toes, With curious curved mustachios? * * * * * "Ah, let us follow, follow far Beyond the purple seas; Beyond the rosy foaming bar, The coral reef, the trees, The land of parrots and the wild That rolls before the fearless child In ancient mysteries: Onward, and onward if we can, To Old Japan, to Old Japan." Collected Poems by Alfred Noyes. And "The Forest of Wild Thyme" is full of the echos of fairy tales and childhood rhymes heard the world over. Little Peterkin, who went with the children to "Old Japan," is dead now: "Come, my brother pirates, I am tired of play; Come and look for Peterkin, little brother Peterkin, Our merry little comrade that the fairies took away." Collected Poems by Alfred Noyes. And so, they go to the last place they saw him, the old God's Acre, and fall asleep amid the wild thyme blooming there. As they dream the thyme grows to the size of trees, and they wander about in the forest hunting for Peterkin. As they hunted they found out who killed Cock Robin. They appeal to Little Boy Blue to help them hunt for Peterkin: "Little Boy Blue, you are gallant and brave, There was never a doubt in those clear, bright eyes. Come, challenge the grim, dark Gates of the Grave As the skylark sings to those infinite skies!" Collected Poems by Alfred Noyes. The King of Fairyland gives command to Pease-Blossom: "And cried, Pease-blossom, Mustard-Seed! You know the old command; Well; these are little children; you must lead them on to Peterkin!" Collected Poems by Alfred Noyes. They even discovered, as they were led on by Pease-Blossom and Mustard- Seed, how fairies were born: "Men upon earth Bring us to birth Gently at even and morn! When as brother and brother They greet one another And smile--then a fairy is born!" Collected Poems by Alfred Noyes. And, too, they found why fairies die: "But at each cruel word Upon earth that is heard, Each deed of unkindness or hate, Some fairy must pass From the games in the grass And steal through the terrible Gate." Collected Poems by Alfred Noyes. And they learned what it took to make a rose: