_When I wuz ist a little bit_ _o' weenty-teenty kid_ _I maked up a Fairy-tale,_ _all by myse'f, I did:--_ I Wunst upon a time wunst They wuz a Fairy King, An' ever'thing he have wuz _gold--_, His clo'es, an' _ever_'thing! An' all the other Fairies In his goldun Palace-hall Had to hump an' hustle-- 'Cause he wuz bosst of all! II He have a goldun trumput, An' when he blow' on that, It's a sign he want' his boots, Er his coat er hat: They's a sign fer ever'thing,-- An' all the Fairies knowed Ever' sign, an' come a-hoppin' When the King blowed! [Illustration] III Wunst he blowed an' telled 'em all: "Saddle up yer bees-- Fireflies is gittin' fat An' sassy as you please!-- Guess we'll go a-huntin'!" So they hunt' a little bit, Till the King blowed "Supper-time," Nen they all quit. [Illustration] IV Nen they have a Banqut In the Palace-hall, An' ist et! an' et! an' et! Nen they have a _Ball_; An' when the _Queen_ o' Fairyland Come p'omenadin' through, The King says an' halts her,-- "Guess I'll marry you!" [Illustration] * * * * * DREAM-MARCH "Wasn't it a funny dream!--perfectly bewild'rin'!-- Last night, and night before, and night before that, Seemed like I saw the march o' regiments o' children, Marching to the robin's fife and cricket's rat-ta-tat! Lily-banners overhead, with the dew upon 'em, On flashed the little army, as with sword and flame; Like the buzz o' bumble-wings, with the honey on 'em, Came an eerie, cheery chant, chiming as it came:-- [Illustration] _Where go the children? Travelling! Travelling_! _Where go the children, travelling ahead_? _Some go to kindergarten; some go to day-school_; _Some go to night-school; and some go to bed_! [Illustration] [Illustration] Smooth roads or rough roads, warm or winter weather, On go the children, tow-head and brown, Brave boys and brave girls, rank and file together, Marching out of Morning-Land, over dale and down: [Illustration] Some go a-gypsying out in country places-- Out through the orchards, with blossoms on the boughs Wild, sweet, and pink and white as their own glad faces; And some go, at evening, calling home the cows. [Illustration] _Where go the children? Travelling! Travelling_! _Where go the children, travelling ahead_? _Some go to foreign wars, and camps by the firelight_-- _Some go to glory so; and some go to bed_! [Illustration]