
A lively, turn‑of‑the‑century collection, this volume gathers a dozen‑plus poems that wander from whimsical encounters with sprite‑like maidens to heartfelt musings on family and everyday life. The opening verses playfully converse with a tiny, otherworldly woman, mixing gentle humor with a tender undercurrent that hints at love’s unexpected grip. Throughout, the poet’s knack for vivid, sing‑song language turns simple scenes—tea‑time chatter, a church bell’s toll, a child’s lullaby—into miniature celebrations of the ordinary.
The book also dips into a rich variety of forms: folk‑song parodies, classical imitations, and light‑hearted ditties that echo the rhythms of street markets, frontier towns, and quiet domestic corners. Readers will find affectionate nods to parents, playful jests about everyday mishaps, and lyrical snapshots of places like Dordrecht and Cheyenne. Altogether, the collection offers a charming, accessible listening experience that captures both the humor and the quiet reverence of a bygone era.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (151K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Charlene Taylor, Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) Music by Linda Cantoni.
Release date
2010-04-03
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1850–1895
Best remembered for warm, playful poems for children, this American writer mixed humor, tenderness, and an ear for everyday speech. His verses helped make him one of the most popular newspaper poets of the late 19th century.
View all books