The Book of Joyous Children   By: James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916)

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JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

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THE BOOK OF JOYOUS CHILDREN

JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Illustrated by

J.W. VAWTER

NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 1902

Copyright, 1902, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Published October, 1902

THE BOOK OF JOYOUS CHILDREN

[Illustration: "NOT IN CLASSIC LORE, BUT RICH IN THE CHILD SAGAS OF THE KITCHEN."]

GRATEFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED TO JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS

You who to the rounded prime Of a life of toil and stress , Still have kept the morning time Of glad youth in heart and spirit , So your laugh, as children hear it , Seems their own, no less , Take this book of childish rhyme The Book of Joyous Children .

Their first happiness on earth Here is echoed their first glee : Rich, in sooth, the volume's worth Not in classic lore, but rich in The child sagas of the kitchen ; Therefore, take from me To your heart of childish mirth The Book of Joyous Children .

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CONTENTS

PROEM THE BOOK OF JOYOUS CHILDREN AN IMPROMPTU FAIRY TALE DREAM MARCH ELMER BROWN NO BOY KNOWS WHEN WE FIRST PLAYED "SHOW" A DIVERTED TRAGEDY THE RAMBO TREE FIND THE FAVORITE THE BOY PATRIOT EXTREMES INTELLECTUAL LIMITATIONS A MASQUE OF THE SEASONS THOMAS THE PRETENDER LITTLE DICK AND THE CLOCK FOOL YOUNGENSZ THE KATYDIDS BILLY AND HIS DRUM THE NOBLE OLD ELM THE PENALTY OF GENIUS EVENSONG THE TWINS THE LITTLE LADY "COMPANY MANNERS" IN FERVENT PRAISE OF PICNICS THE GOOD, OLD FASHIONED PEOPLE THE BEST TIMES "HIK TEE DIK!" A CHRISTMAS MEMORY "OLD BOB WHITE"

A SESSION WITH UNCLE SIDNEY:

I ONE OF HIS ANIMAL STORIES II UNCLE BRIGHTENS UP III SINGS A "WINKY TOODEN" SONG IV AND MAKES NURSERY RHYMES 1 THE DINERS IN THE KITCHEN 2 THE IMPERIOUS ANGLER 3 THE GATHERING OF THE CLANS 4 "IT" 5 THE DARING PRINCE

A DUBIOUS "OLD KRISS" A SONG OF SINGING THE JAYBIRD A BEAR FAMILY

SOME SONGS AFTER MASTER SINGERS: I SONG II TO THE CHILD JULIA III THE DOLLY'S MOTHER IV WIND OF THE SEA V SUBTLETY VI BORN TO THE PURPLE

OLD MAN WHISKERY WHEE KUM WHEEZE LITTLE GIRL TWO LITTLE GIRLS A GUSTATORY ACHIEVEMENT CLIMATIC SORCERY A PARENT REPRIMANDED THE TREASURE OF THE WISE MAN

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FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS

NOT IN CLASSIC LOOK, BUT RICH IN THE CHILD SAGAS OF THE KITCHEN KNEEL, ALL GLOWING, TO THE COOL SPRING NO BOY KNOWS WHEN HE GOES TO SLEEP JAMESY ON THE SLACK ROPE ACROSS THE ORCHARD WHILE ALL THE ARMY, FOLLOWING, IN CHORUS CHEERS AND SINGS WHERE IT GOES WHEN THE FIRE GOES OUT? THE FAIRY QUEEN OF THE SEASONS PORE PA! PORE PA! SQUINT' OUR EYES AN' LAUGH' AGAIN HE'S A MARCHIN' ROUND THE ROOM THE OLD TREE SAYS HE'S ALL OUR TREE THEREFORE READ NO LONGER SHE'S BUT A RACING SCHOOL GIRL THEY WAS GOD'S PEOPLE THEM WUZ THE BEST TIMES EVER WUZ HE'S GO' HITCH UP, CHRIS'MUS DAY, AN' COME TAKE ME BACK AGAIN WHEN WE DROVE TO HARMONY A BIG, HOLLOW, OLD OAK TREE, WHICH HAD BEEN BLOWN DOWN BY A STORM THE YOUNG FOXES IN IT, ON THE HEARTH BESIDE HER AN' ALL BE POETS AN' ALL RECITE ALONG THE BRINK OF WILD BROOK WAYS I LIKE TO WATCH HIM WHILE KATE PICKS BY, YET LOOKS NOT THERE LEND ME THE BREATH OF A FRESHENING GALE BOW TO ME IN THE WINDER THERE OUR "OLD KRISS" MILKMAN THE CHILDISH DREAMS IN HIS WISE OLD HEAD

THE BOOK OF JOYOUS CHILDREN