
The Book of the Little Past - by Josephine Preston Peabody - Illustrated by Elizabeth Shippen Green - Houghton Mifflin Company Boston 1910 New York
COPYRIGHT 1903 BY JOSEPHINE PRESTON PEABODY COPYRIGHT 1908 BY JOSEPHINE PEABODY MARKS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Illustrations
Making a house
The Busy Child
Sunset
Wind
Late
Cakes and Ale
The Journey
A gentle chorus of childhood moments unfolds in this lively collection of verses, where everyday scenes become tiny adventures. From drawing smoke trails before a house to watching rain race down a windowpane, each poem captures the wonder of a curious mind celebrating the ordinary. The narrator’s voice darts from building imaginary cities on carpet squares to sailing far‑off seas in a single sunset, turning simple observations into bright, rhythmic snapshots. Playful sketches of pigeons, clouds, and wind weave through the words, reminding listeners that even the smallest details can hold an entire world.
The work’s tone is warm and unhurried, inviting listeners to pause and listen to the music of a child’s imagination. Lighthearted humor peeks through musings on curls, kittens, and secret “little pasts,” while a subtle undercurrent of awe gives each piece lasting resonance. Together, the poems create a tapestry of wonder that feels both nostalgic and fresh, perfect for anyone who remembers—or wishes to rediscover—the magic of looking at life through youthful eyes.
Language
en
Duration
~23 minutes (22K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Jennifer Sahmoun, Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2012-03-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1874–1922
An American poet and dramatist whose writing moved between fairy-tale wonder and sharp social feeling, she brought lyric beauty to both children’s stories and the stage. Her best-known work, The Piper, won major recognition in its day and helped secure her place in early 20th-century American literature.
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