Poems Every Child Should Know 11 Free Audiobooks Children's Book Club Public Domain.
poems every child should know edited by mary e burt section 11 read for librivox.org by kara shallenberg this section contains the following poems jack frost the owl and little billy

part two the little child the frost jack frost by hannah flagg gould 1789-1865

is perhaps 100 years old but he is the same rollicking fellow today as of yore the poem puts his merry pranks to the front and prepares the way for science to give him a true analysis

the frost looked forth one still clear night and whispered now i shall be out of sight so through the valley and over the height in silence i'll take my way i will not go on with that blustering train the wind and the snow the hail and the rain who make so much bustle and noise in vain but i'll be as busy as they then he flew to the mountain and powdered its crest he lit on the trees and their boughs he dressed in diamond beads and over the breast of the quivering lake he spread a coat of mail that it need not fear the downward point of many a spear that hung on its margin far and near where a rock could rear its head he went to the windows of those who slept and over each pain like a fairy crept wherever he breathed wherever he slept by the light of the moon were seen most beautiful things there were flowers and trees there were bevies of birds and swarms of bees there were cities with temples and towers and these all pictured in silver sheen but he did one thing that was hardly fair he peeped in the cupboard and finding there that all had forgotten for him to prepare now just to set them a thinking i'll bite this basket of fruit said he this costly pitcher i'll burst in three and the glass of water they've left for me shall cheech to tell them i'm drinking

hannah flag gould

the owl when cats run home and light has come and dew is cold upon the ground and the far off stream is dumb and the whoring sail goes round and the whirring sail goes round alone and warming his five wits the white owl in the belfry sits when merry milkmaids click the latch and rarely smells the new moon hay and the [ __ ] hath sung beneath the thatch twice or thrice his round delay twice or thrice his roundalay alone and warming his five wits the white owl in the belfry sits alfred tennyson

little billy little billy by william make peace thackeray 1811-1863 finds a place here because it carries a good lesson good naturally rendered an accomplished teacher recommends it and i recollect two young children in chicago who sang it frequently for years without getting tired of it

there were three sailors of bristol city who took a boat and went to sea but first with beef and captain's biscuits and pickled pork they loaded she there was gorging jack and guzzling jimmy and the youngest he was little billy now when they got so far as the equator they had nothing left but one split pea says gorging jack to guzzling jimmy i am extremely hungry two gorging jack says guzzling jimmy we've nothing left us must eat we says gorging jack to guzzling jimmy with one another we shouldn't agree there's little bill he's young and tender we're old and tough so let's eat he oh billy we're going to kill and eat you so undo the button of your shimmy when bill received this information he used his pocket handkerchief first let me say my catechism which my poor mammy taught to me make haste make haste says guzzling jimmy while jack pulled out his snickers knee so billy went up to the main top gallant mast and down he fell on his bended knee he scarce had come to the 12th commandment went up he jumps there's land i see jerusalem and madagascar and north and south america there's the british flag arriving at anchor with admiral napier kcb so when they got aboard of the admirals he hanged fat jack and flogged jimmy but as for little bill he made him the captain of a 73.

Poems Every Child Should Know 11 Free Audiobooks Children's Book Club Public Domain.
poems every child should know edited by mary e burt section 11 read for librivox.org by kara shallenberg this section contains the following poems jack frost the owl and little billy

part two the little child the frost jack frost by hannah flagg gould 1789-1865

is perhaps 100 years old but he is the same rollicking fellow today as of yore the poem puts his merry pranks to the front and prepares the way for science to give him a true analysis

the frost looked forth one still clear night and whispered now i shall be out of sight so through the valley and over the height in silence i'll take my way i will not go on with that blustering train the wind and the snow the hail and the rain who make so much bustle and noise in vain but i'll be as busy as they then he flew to the mountain and powdered its crest he lit on the trees and their boughs he dressed in diamond beads and over the breast of the quivering lake he spread a coat of mail that it need not fear the downward point of many a spear that hung on its margin far and near where a rock could rear its head he went to the windows of those who slept and over each pain like a fairy crept wherever he breathed wherever he slept by the light of the moon were seen most beautiful things there were flowers and trees there were bevies of birds and swarms of bees there were cities with temples and towers and these all pictured in silver sheen but he did one thing that was hardly fair he peeped in the cupboard and finding there that all had forgotten for him to prepare now just to set them a thinking i'll bite this basket of fruit said he this costly pitcher i'll burst in three and the glass of water they've left for me shall cheech to tell them i'm drinking

hannah flag gould

the owl when cats run home and light has come and dew is cold upon the ground and the far off stream is dumb and the whoring sail goes round and the whirring sail goes round alone and warming his five wits the white owl in the belfry sits when merry milkmaids click the latch and rarely smells the new moon hay and the [ __ ] hath sung beneath the thatch twice or thrice his round delay twice or thrice his roundalay alone and warming his five wits the white owl in the belfry sits alfred tennyson

little billy little billy by william make peace thackeray 1811-1863 finds a place here because it carries a good lesson good naturally rendered an accomplished teacher recommends it and i recollect two young children in chicago who sang it frequently for years without getting tired of it

there were three sailors of bristol city who took a boat and went to sea but first with beef and captain's biscuits and pickled pork they loaded she there was gorging jack and guzzling jimmy and the youngest he was little billy now when they got so far as the equator they had nothing left but one split pea says gorging jack to guzzling jimmy i am extremely hungry two gorging jack says guzzling jimmy we've nothing left us must eat we says gorging jack to guzzling jimmy with one another we shouldn't agree there's little bill he's young and tender we're old and tough so let's eat he oh billy we're going to kill and eat you so undo the button of your shimmy when bill received this information he used his pocket handkerchief first let me say my catechism which my poor mammy taught to me make haste make haste says guzzling jimmy while jack pulled out his snickers knee so billy went up to the main top gallant mast and down he fell on his bended knee he scarce had come to the 12th commandment went up he jumps there's land i see jerusalem and madagascar and north and south america there's the british flag arriving at anchor with admiral napier kcb so when they got aboard of the admirals he hanged fat jack and flogged jimmy but as for little bill he made him the captain of a 73.

Poems Every Child Should Know 10 Free Audiobooks Children's Book Club Public Domain.
poems every child should know edited by mary e burt section 10 read for librivox.org by kara shallenberg this section contains two poems father william and the nightingale and the glowworm

part one continued father william father william a parody by lewis carroll born 1833 is even more clever than the original harmless fun brightens the world it takes a real genius to create wit that carries no sting you are old father william the young man said and your hair has become very white and yet you incessantly stand on your head do you think at your age it is right in my youth father william replied to his son i feared it might injure the brain but now that i'm perfectly sure i have none why i do it again and again you are old said the youth as i mentioned before and have grown most uncommonly fat yet you turned back somersault in at the door pray what is the reason of that in my youth said the sage as he shook his gray locks i kept all my limbs very supple by the use of this ointment one shilling the box allow me to sell you a couple you are old said the youth and your jaws are too weak for anything tougher than suet yet you finished the goose with the bones and the beak pray how did you manage to do it in my youth said his father i took to the law and argued each case with my wife and the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw has lasted the rest of my life you are old said the youth one would hardly suppose that your eye was as steady as ever yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose what made you so awfully clever i have answered three questions and that is enough said his father don't give yourself heirs do you think i can listen all day to such stuff be off or i'll kick you downstairs lewis carroll

the nightingale and the glowworm the nightingale by william cowper 1731-1800 is a favorite with a teacher of good taste and i include it at her request a nightingale that all day long had cheered the village with his song nor yet at eve his note suspended nor yet when eventide was ended began to feel as well he might the keen demands of appetite when looking eagerly around he spied far off upon the ground a something shining in the dark and knew the glowworm by his spark so stooping down from hawthorne top he thought to put him in his crop the worm aware of his intent harangued him thus right eloquent did you admire my lamp quoth he as much as i your minstrel see you would abhor to do me wrong as much as i to spoil your song for twas the selfsame power divine taught you to sing and me to shine that you with music i with light might beautify and cheer the night the songster heard his short oration and warbling out his app probation released him as my story tells and found a supper somewhere else

william cowper end of section 10 read by kara shallenberg on october 10 2006 in oceanside california

Poems Every Child Should Know 10 Free Audiobooks Children's Book Club Public Domain.
poems every child should know edited by mary e burt section 10 read for librivox.org by kara shallenberg this section contains two poems father william and the nightingale and the glowworm

part one continued father william father william a parody by lewis carroll born 1833 is even more clever than the original harmless fun brightens the world it takes a real genius to create wit that carries no sting you are old father william the young man said and your hair has become very white and yet you incessantly stand on your head do you think at your age it is right in my youth father william replied to his son i feared it might injure the brain but now that i'm perfectly sure i have none why i do it again and again you are old said the youth as i mentioned before and have grown most uncommonly fat yet you turned back somersault in at the door pray what is the reason of that in my youth said the sage as he shook his gray locks i kept all my limbs very supple by the use of this ointment one shilling the box allow me to sell you a couple you are old said the youth and your jaws are too weak for anything tougher than suet yet you finished the goose with the bones and the beak pray how did you manage to do it in my youth said his father i took to the law and argued each case with my wife and the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw has lasted the rest of my life you are old said the youth one would hardly suppose that your eye was as steady as ever yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose what made you so awfully clever i have answered three questions and that is enough said his father don't give yourself heirs do you think i can listen all day to such stuff be off or i'll kick you downstairs lewis carroll

the nightingale and the glowworm the nightingale by william cowper 1731-1800 is a favorite with a teacher of good taste and i include it at her request a nightingale that all day long had cheered the village with his song nor yet at eve his note suspended nor yet when eventide was ended began to feel as well he might the keen demands of appetite when looking eagerly around he spied far off upon the ground a something shining in the dark and knew the glowworm by his spark so stooping down from hawthorne top he thought to put him in his crop the worm aware of his intent harangued him thus right eloquent did you admire my lamp quoth he as much as i your minstrel see you would abhor to do me wrong as much as i to spoil your song for twas the selfsame power divine taught you to sing and me to shine that you with music i with light might beautify and cheer the night the songster heard his short oration and warbling out his app probation released him as my story tells and found a supper somewhere else

william cowper end of section 10 read by kara shallenberg on october 10 2006 in oceanside california

Poems Every Child Should Know 9 Free Audiobooks Children's Book Club Public Domain.

poems every child should know edited by mary e burt section 9 read for librivox.org by kara schallenberg this section contains two poems a visit from saint nicholas and the star-spangled banner part one continued

a visit from saint nicholas a visit from saint nicholas by clement clark moore 1779-1860

is the most popular christmas poem ever written it carries santa claus on from year to year and the spirit of santa claus

twas the night before christmas when all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse the stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that saint nicholas soon would be there the children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads and mama in her kerchief and i in my cap had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap when out on the lawn there arose such a clatter i sprang from the bed to see what was the matter away to the window i flew like a flash tore open the shutters and threw up the sash

the moon on the breast of the new fallen snow gave the lustre of midday to objects below when what to my wondering eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer with a little old driver so lively and quick i knew in a moment it must be saint nick more rapid than eagles his coursers they came and he whistled and shouted and called them by name now dasher now dancer now prancer and vixen on comet on cupid on donder and blitzen to the top of the porch to the top of the wall now dash away dash away dash away all as dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly when they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky so up to the housetop the coursers they flew with a sleigh full of toys and saint nicholas too and then in a twinkling i heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof as i drew in my head and was turning around down the chimney saint nicholas came with a bound he was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot a bundle of toys he had flung on his back and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack his eyes how they twinkled his dimples how merry his cheeks were like roses his nose like a cherry his droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow the stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath he had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly he was chubby and plump a right jolly old elf and i laughed when i saw him in spite of myself a wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know i had nothing to dread he spoke not a word but went straight to his work and filled all the stockings then turned with a jerk and laying his finger aside of his nose and giving a nod up the chimney he rose he sprang to his sleigh to his team gave a whistle and away they all flew like the down on a thistle but i heard him exclaim air he drove out of sight happy christmas to all and to all a good night clement clark moore

the star-spangled banner oh say can you see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight or the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming and the rocket's red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave or the land of the free and the home of the brave on that sure dimly scene through the mists of the deep where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes what is that which the breeze or the towering steep as it fitfully blows now conceals now discloses

now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam in full glory reflected now shines...

Poems Every Child Should Know 9 Free Audiobooks Children's Book Club Public Domain.

poems every child should know edited by mary e burt section 9 read for librivox.org by kara schallenberg this section contains two poems a visit from saint nicholas and the star-spangled banner part one continued

a visit from saint nicholas a visit from saint nicholas by clement clark moore 1779-1860

is the most popular christmas poem ever written it carries santa claus on from year to year and the spirit of santa claus

twas the night before christmas when all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse the stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that saint nicholas soon would be there the children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads and mama in her kerchief and i in my cap had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap when out on the lawn there arose such a clatter i sprang from the bed to see what was the matter away to the window i flew like a flash tore open the shutters and threw up the sash

the moon on the breast of the new fallen snow gave the lustre of midday to objects below when what to my wondering eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer with a little old driver so lively and quick i knew in a moment it must be saint nick more rapid than eagles his coursers they came and he whistled and shouted and called them by name now dasher now dancer now prancer and vixen on comet on cupid on donder and blitzen to the top of the porch to the top of the wall now dash away dash away dash away all as dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly when they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky so up to the housetop the coursers they flew with a sleigh full of toys and saint nicholas too and then in a twinkling i heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof as i drew in my head and was turning around down the chimney saint nicholas came with a bound he was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot a bundle of toys he had flung on his back and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack his eyes how they twinkled his dimples how merry his cheeks were like roses his nose like a cherry his droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow the stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath he had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly he was chubby and plump a right jolly old elf and i laughed when i saw him in spite of myself a wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know i had nothing to dread he spoke not a word but went straight to his work and filled all the stockings then turned with a jerk and laying his finger aside of his nose and giving a nod up the chimney he rose he sprang to his sleigh to his team gave a whistle and away they all flew like the down on a thistle but i heard him exclaim air he drove out of sight happy christmas to all and to all a good night clement clark moore

the star-spangled banner oh say can you see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight or the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming and the rocket's red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave or the land of the free and the home of the brave on that sure dimly scene through the mists of the deep where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes what is that which the breeze or the towering steep as it fitfully blows now conceals now discloses

now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam in full glory reflected now shines...

Poems Every Child Should Know 8 Free Audiobooks Children's Book Club Public Domain.

poems every child should know edited by mary e burt section 8 read for librivox.org by kara schallenberg this section contains the following poems the village blacksmith sweet and low the violet and the rainbow part one continued the village blacksmith longfellow 1807-1882 is truly the children's poet his poems are as simple pathetic artistic and philosophical as if they were intended to tell the plain everyday story of life to older people the village blacksmith has been learned by thousands of children and there is no criticism to be put upon it the age of the child has nothing whatever to do with his learning it age does not grade children nor is poetry holy to be so graded time is the false reply under a spreading chestnut tree the village smithy stands the smith a mighty man is he with large and sinewy hands and the muscles of his brawny arms are strong as iron bands his hair is crisp and black and long his face is like the tan his brow is wet with honest sweat he earns whatever he can and looks the whole world in the face for he owes not any man week in week out from more until night you can hear his bellows blow you can hear him swing his heavy sledge with measured beat and slow like a sexton ringing the village bell when the evening sun is low and children coming home from school look in at the open door they love to see the flaming forge and hear the bellows roar and catch the burning sparks that fly like chaff from a threshing floor he goes on sunday to the church and sits among his boys he hears the parson pray and preach he hears his daughter's voice singing in the village choir and it makes his heart rejoice it sounds to him like her mother's voice singing in paradise he needs must think of her once more how in the grave she lies and with his hard rough hand he wipes a tear out of his eyes toiling rejoicing sorrowing onward through life he goes each morning sees some task begin each evening sees it close something attempted something done has earned a night's repose thanks thanks to thee my worthy friend for the lesson thou hast taught thus at the flaming forge of life our fortunes must be wrought thus on its sounding anvil shaped each burning deed and thought henry w longfellow

sweet and low sweet and low sweet and low wind of the western sea low low breathe and blow wind of the western sea over the rolling waters go come from the dropping moon and blow blow him again to me while my little one my pretty one sleeps sleep and rest sleep and rest father will come to thee soon rest rest on mother's breast father will come to thee soon father will come to his babe in the nest silver sails all out of the west under the silver moon sleep my little one sleep my pretty one sleep alfred tennyson

the violet the violet by jane taylor 1783-1824

is another of those dear old-fashioned poems pure poetry and pure violet it is included in this volume out of respect to my own love for it when i was a child down in a green and shady bed a modest violet grew its stalk was bent it hung its head as if to hide from view and yet it was a lovely flower no colors bright and fair it might have graced a rosy bower instead of hiding there yet there it was content to bloom in modest tints arrayed and there diffused its sweet perfume within the silent shade

then let me to the valley go this pretty flower to see that i may also learn to grow in sweet humility jane taylor the rainbow a fragment the rainbow by william wordsworth 1770-1850 accords with every child's feelings it voices the spirit of all ages that would love to imagine it a bridge to heaven

my heart leaps up when i behold a rainbow in the sky so was it when my life began so is it now i am a man so be it when i shall grow old or let me die the child is father of the man and i could wish my days to be bound each to each by natural...

Poems Every Child Should Know 8 Free Audiobooks Children's Book Club Public Domain.

poems every child should know edited by mary e burt section 8 read for librivox.org by kara schallenberg this section contains the following poems the village blacksmith sweet and low the violet and the rainbow part one continued the village blacksmith longfellow 1807-1882 is truly the children's poet his poems are as simple pathetic artistic and philosophical as if they were intended to tell the plain everyday story of life to older people the village blacksmith has been learned by thousands of children and there is no criticism to be put upon it the age of the child has nothing whatever to do with his learning it age does not grade children nor is poetry holy to be so graded time is the false reply under a spreading chestnut tree the village smithy stands the smith a mighty man is he with large and sinewy hands and the muscles of his brawny arms are strong as iron bands his hair is crisp and black and long his face is like the tan his brow is wet with honest sweat he earns whatever he can and looks the whole world in the face for he owes not any man week in week out from more until night you can hear his bellows blow you can hear him swing his heavy sledge with measured beat and slow like a sexton ringing the village bell when the evening sun is low and children coming home from school look in at the open door they love to see the flaming forge and hear the bellows roar and catch the burning sparks that fly like chaff from a threshing floor he goes on sunday to the church and sits among his boys he hears the parson pray and preach he hears his daughter's voice singing in the village choir and it makes his heart rejoice it sounds to him like her mother's voice singing in paradise he needs must think of her once more how in the grave she lies and with his hard rough hand he wipes a tear out of his eyes toiling rejoicing sorrowing onward through life he goes each morning sees some task begin each evening sees it close something attempted something done has earned a night's repose thanks thanks to thee my worthy friend for the lesson thou hast taught thus at the flaming forge of life our fortunes must be wrought thus on its sounding anvil shaped each burning deed and thought henry w longfellow

sweet and low sweet and low sweet and low wind of the western sea low low breathe and blow wind of the western sea over the rolling waters go come from the dropping moon and blow blow him again to me while my little one my pretty one sleeps sleep and rest sleep and rest father will come to thee soon rest rest on mother's breast father will come to thee soon father will come to his babe in the nest silver sails all out of the west under the silver moon sleep my little one sleep my pretty one sleep alfred tennyson

the violet the violet by jane taylor 1783-1824

is another of those dear old-fashioned poems pure poetry and pure violet it is included in this volume out of respect to my own love for it when i was a child down in a green and shady bed a modest violet grew its stalk was bent it hung its head as if to hide from view and yet it was a lovely flower no colors bright and fair it might have graced a rosy bower instead of hiding there yet there it was content to bloom in modest tints arrayed and there diffused its sweet perfume within the silent shade

then let me to the valley go this pretty flower to see that i may also learn to grow in sweet humility jane taylor the rainbow a fragment the rainbow by william wordsworth 1770-1850 accords with every child's feelings it voices the spirit of all ages that would love to imagine it a bridge to heaven

my heart leaps up when i behold a rainbow in the sky so was it when my life began so is it now i am a man so be it when i shall grow old or let me die the child is father of the man and i could wish my days to be bound each to each by natural...

Poems Every Child Should Know 7 Free Audiobooks Children's Book Club Public Domain.
poems every child should know edited by mary e burt section 7 read for librivox.org by kara schallenberg this section contains two poems casa bianca and the captain's daughter

part one continued casa bianca casa bianca by felicia hemmons 1793-18 is the portrait of a faithful heart an example of unreasoning obedience it is right that a child should obey even to the death the commands of a loving parent the boy stood on the burning deck whence all but him had fled the flame that lit the battle's wreck shone round him or the dead yet beautiful and bright he stood as born to rule the storm a creature of heroic blood a proud though childlike form the flames rolled on he would not go without his father's word that father faint in death below his voice no longer heard he called aloud say father say if yet my task is done he knew not that the chieftain lay unconscious of his son speak father once again he cried if i may yet be gone and but the booming shots replied and fast the flames rolled on upon his brow he felt their breath and in his waving hair and looked from that lone post of death in still yet brave despair and shouted but once more aloud my father must i stay while o'er him fast through sail and shroud the wreathing fires made way they wrapped the ship in splendor wild they caught the flag on high and streamed above the gallant child like banners in the sky then came a burst of thunder sound the boy oh where was he ask of the winds that far around with fragments through the sea with mast and helm and pen and fair that well had borne their part but the noblest thing that perished there was that young faithful heart hemmons

the captain's daughter the captain's daughter by james t fields 1816-1881 carries weight with every young audience it is pointed to an end that children love viz trust in a higher power

we were crowded in the cabin not a soul would dare to sleep it was midnight on the waters and a storm was on the deep tis a fearful thing in winter to be shattered by the blast and to hear the rattling trumpet thunder cut away the mast so he shuddered there in silence for the stoutest held his breath while the hungry sea was roaring and the breakers talked with death as thus we sat in darkness each one busy with his prayers we are lost the captain shouted as he staggered down the stairs but his little daughter whispered as she took his icy hand isn't god upon the ocean just the same as on the land then we kissed the little maiden and we spoke in better cheer and we anchored safe in harbor when the mourn was shining clear t shields

end of section seven read by kara shallenberg and two noisy parakeets on october 9 2006 in oceanside california

Poems Every Child Should Know 7 Free Audiobooks Children's Book Club Public Domain.
poems every child should know edited by mary e burt section 7 read for librivox.org by kara schallenberg this section contains two poems casa bianca and the captain's daughter

part one continued casa bianca casa bianca by felicia hemmons 1793-18 is the portrait of a faithful heart an example of unreasoning obedience it is right that a child should obey even to the death the commands of a loving parent the boy stood on the burning deck whence all but him had fled the flame that lit the battle's wreck shone round him or the dead yet beautiful and bright he stood as born to rule the storm a creature of heroic blood a proud though childlike form the flames rolled on he would not go without his father's word that father faint in death below his voice no longer heard he called aloud say father say if yet my task is done he knew not that the chieftain lay unconscious of his son speak father once again he cried if i may yet be gone and but the booming shots replied and fast the flames rolled on upon his brow he felt their breath and in his waving hair and looked from that lone post of death in still yet brave despair and shouted but once more aloud my father must i stay while o'er him fast through sail and shroud the wreathing fires made way they wrapped the ship in splendor wild they caught the flag on high and streamed above the gallant child like banners in the sky then came a burst of thunder sound the boy oh where was he ask of the winds that far around with fragments through the sea with mast and helm and pen and fair that well had borne their part but the noblest thing that perished there was that young faithful heart hemmons

the captain's daughter the captain's daughter by james t fields 1816-1881 carries weight with every young audience it is pointed to an end that children love viz trust in a higher power

we were crowded in the cabin not a soul would dare to sleep it was midnight on the waters and a storm was on the deep tis a fearful thing in winter to be shattered by the blast and to hear the rattling trumpet thunder cut away the mast so he shuddered there in silence for the stoutest held his breath while the hungry sea was roaring and the breakers talked with death as thus we sat in darkness each one busy with his prayers we are lost the captain shouted as he staggered down the stairs but his little daughter whispered as she took his icy hand isn't god upon the ocean just the same as on the land then we kissed the little maiden and we spoke in better cheer and we anchored safe in harbor when the mourn was shining clear t shields

end of section seven read by kara shallenberg and two noisy parakeets on october 9 2006 in oceanside california