 | Bits of Talk, in verse and prose, for young folks |  |
195
BY STAGE TO BOSTON.
I have been young, and now I have grown old,
But never until yesterday I knew
How many living souls a stage can hold,
And make the quickest time its journey through.
But never until yesterday I knew
How many living souls a stage can hold,
And make the quickest time its journey through.
I came upon the stage so suddenly,—
And, for a stage, in such a funny place;
I stood stock still, surprised as I could be,
With blank amazement written in my face.
And, for a stage, in such a funny place;
I stood stock still, surprised as I could be,
With blank amazement written in my face.
'Twas just behind old Deacon Thatcher's shed;
The wheels in butter-cups sunk to the hubs;
The pole stretched over a white clover-bed,
And almost into Mrs. Thatcher's tubs.
The wheels in butter-cups sunk to the hubs;
The pole stretched over a white clover-bed,
And almost into Mrs. Thatcher's tubs.
From every window looked out laughing eyes;
From every window came a scream and shout;
Before, behind, the children swarmed like flies,
And madly rocked the old blue stage about.
From every window came a scream and shout;
Before, behind, the children swarmed like flies,
And madly rocked the old blue stage about.
196
“O ho!” I said, and felt as young as they;
“Whose stage is this? To what town does it go?
And is there room for me to go to-day?
And how much is the fare, I want to know?”
“Whose stage is this? To what town does it go?
And is there room for me to go to-day?
And how much is the fare, I want to know?”
As quick as lightning all the children cried:
“We go to Boston, and we've got our load;
But you can go if you will ride outside;
The fare is just a dollar for each rod!”
“We go to Boston, and we've got our load;
But you can go if you will ride outside;
The fare is just a dollar for each rod!”
“Oh dear!” said I, “your fare is much too high;
The money that I have would not begin”—
“Jump on! jump on!” they all began to cry,
“We'll take you once for nothing; you are thin!”
The money that I have would not begin”—
“Jump on! jump on!” they all began to cry,
“We'll take you once for nothing; you are thin!”
I knew much better than to spoil their fun;
So I went on and found a shady place,
And watched, and saw that till the day was done
They travelled tireless, at their quickest pace.
So I went on and found a shady place,
And watched, and saw that till the day was done
They travelled tireless, at their quickest pace.
But all the time I watched I could not win
My heart from thinking, while I dreamed and smiled,
Of that fair kingdom none can enter in
Without becoming first a little child.
My heart from thinking, while I dreamed and smiled,
Of that fair kingdom none can enter in
Without becoming first a little child.
| Bits of Talk, in verse and prose, for young folks | |