
ELFIN LAND.
THE DANCE ON THE BEACH
The Bee’s Mistake.
A Light Headed Family
The Sunflower Dance.
Seven Little Fairies.
Which Shall Win?
Little Dame Pansy.
Bad Luck.
A Very Polite Little Boy.
In this charming collection the listener is invited into a seaside of giggling star‑fish, twinkling elves on the sand, and a bee that flirts with a shy garden girl. Each poem bursts with rhythm—polkas, waltzes, and jaunty hornpipes that sway the imagination as characters dance, tumble, and chase the moon’s light. From a light‑headed family that balloons toward the moon to sunflowers that twirl like partners in a midnight ball, the verses celebrate the joyous absurdity of everyday wonder.
The book weaves together playful scenes of fairies clearing storm clouds, a daring boy wrestling a giant turtle, and a humble maid sharing bread with a cheeky magpie. Its lively meter and vivid images make it perfect for listeners of all ages, turning a quiet afternoon or bedtime into a miniature theater of rhyme. With each turn, new creatures and curious adventures await, encouraging listeners to imagine the world a little more brightly.
Language
en
Duration
~11 minutes (11K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: George W. Harlan & Co., 1882.
Credits
Bob Taylor, Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2023-04-07
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1834–1892
A prolific 19th-century American writer, she created poems, hymns, and stories that helped shape children's reading in the years after the Civil War. Her work blended warmth, faith, and a strong sense of everyday family life.
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