Out to his little finger-tips! Josiah Gilbert Holland [1819-1881] AN IRISH LULLABY I'VE found my bonny babe a nest I'll rock you there to rosy rest, Oh, lulla lo! sing all the leaves Till everything that hurts or grieves I've put my pretty child to float Within the new moon's silver boat On Slumber Sea. And when your starry sail is o'er My precious one, you'll step to shore Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 CRADLE SONG SLEEP, baby, sleep! Thy father's watching the sheep, Thy mother's shaking the dreamland tree, Sleep, baby, sleep! The large stars are the sheep, The little stars are the lambs, I guess, The bright moon is the shepherdess. Sleep, baby, sleep! Song Sleep, baby, sleep! And cry not like a sheep, Else the sheep-dog will bark and whine Sleep, baby, sleep! The Saviour loves his sheep; He is the Lamb of God on high Who for our sakes came down to die. Sleep, baby, sleep! Away to tend the sheep, Away, thou sheep-dog fierce and wild 85 Elizabeth Prentiss [1818-1878] SONG SLEEP, O my darling, sleep, The faint stars lie in the quiet sky, Wake, O my darling, wake, The birds upon the linden tree Are calling merrily to thee; The whole glad earth is rimmed with mirth, O, wake, my darling, wake. C. Kathleen Carman [18 MOTHER-SONG From "Prince Lucifer" WHITE little hands! Pink little feet! Sweet, sweet, sweet! What dost thou wail for? The unknown? the unseen? The ills that are coming, The joys that have been? Cling to me closer, Closer and closer, Till the pain that is purer Hath banished the grosser. Along with thy being! Little fingers that feel For their home on my breast, Little lips that appeal For their nurture, their rest! Nay, stifle thy cries, Till the dew of thy sleep, dear, Lies soft on thine eyes. Alfred Austin [1835 MY LITTLE GIRL My little girl is nested With amber ringlets crested Around her dainty head; She lies so calm and stilly, She breathes so soft and low, She calls to mind a lily Half-hidden in the snow. Kentucky Babe A weary little mortal Has gone to slumberland; The Pixies at the portal Have caught her by the hand. She dreams her broken dolly Will soon be mended there, That looks so melancholy. Upon the rocking-chair. I kiss your wayward tresses, I know you have caresses From floating forms unseen. O, Angels, let me keep her To kiss away my cares, This darling little sleeper, Who has my love and prayers! 87 KENTUCKY BABE 'SKEETERS am a hummin' on de honeysuckle vine, Sleep, Kentucky Babe! GM Sandman am a comin' to dis little coon of mine,→ Silv'ry moon am shinin' in de heabens up above, Bobolink am pinin' fo' his little lady love: Yo' is mighty lucky, Babe of old Kentucky,- Fly away, Fly away, Kentucky Babe, fly away to rest, Fly away, Lay yo' kinky, woolly head on yo' mammy's breast,- Close yo' eyes in sleep. Daddy's in de cane-brake wid his little dog and gun,— Sleep, Kentucky Babe! 'Possum fo' yo' breakfast when yo' sleepin' time is done,— Sleep, Kentucky Babe! Bogie man'll catch yo' sure unless yo' close yo' eyes, Waitin' jes outside de doo' to take yo' by surprise: Bes' be keepin' shady, Little colored lady, Close yo' eyes in sleep. Richard Henry Buck [1869 LITTLE ALABAMA COON I's a little Alabama Coon, And I hasn't been born very long; I 'member seein' a great big round moon; When dey tote me down to de cotton field, Dar I roll and I tumble in de sun; While my daddy pick de cotton, mammy watch me grow, And dis am de song she sung: Go to sleep, my little pickaninny, Bre'r Fox'll catch you if yo' don't; Slumber on de bosom of yo' ole Mammy Jinny,— Mammy's gwine to swat yo' if you won't. Sh! sh! sh! Lu-la, lu-la lu-la lu-la lu! Underneaf de silver Southern moon; Rock-a-by! hush-a-by! Mammy's little baby, Mammy's little Alabama Coon. Dis hyar little Alabama Coon Specks to be a growed-up man some day; Go to sleep, my little pickaninny, Bre'r Fox'll catch you if yo' don't; Slumber on de bosom of yo' ole Mammy Jinny,- |