 | The poetical works of Lucy Larcom |  |
PEEPSY.
Girl-Peepsy to the baby sang
A drowsy little tune;
But all the while the baby lay
And whimpered for the moon.
A drowsy little tune;
But all the while the baby lay
And whimpered for the moon.
“Dear little baby!” Peepsy said,
“Don't reach your arms out so!
But shut your eyes, and right away
To fetch the moon I'll go.”
“Don't reach your arms out so!
But shut your eyes, and right away
To fetch the moon I'll go.”
“Now breaking promises is bad,—
As bad as telling lies,”
Said Peepsy, for the babe in sleep
That instant closed his eyes.
As bad as telling lies,”
Said Peepsy, for the babe in sleep
That instant closed his eyes.
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“And I must go and fetch the moon
Before my brother wakes:
He shall not say that Peepsy-girl
Her promise ever breaks.
Before my brother wakes:
He shall not say that Peepsy-girl
Her promise ever breaks.
“And there the moon hangs on the hill,
Our cottage door close by.
I must run fast, or it will slip
Out into the deep sky.”
Our cottage door close by.
I must run fast, or it will slip
Out into the deep sky.”
The crickets chirped, “Quick! Peepsy!—quick!”
“Quick! quick!” the katydid
Called from the elm-tree by the gate:
Down from her chair she slid.
“Quick! quick!” the katydid
Called from the elm-tree by the gate:
Down from her chair she slid.
She could not reach her broad-brimmed hat;
Upon the peg it hung.
She shut the cottage door; the gate
Behind her softly swung.
Upon the peg it hung.
She shut the cottage door; the gate
Behind her softly swung.
The rippling brook laughed up at her,
With all its twinkling eyes;
But rustling leaves to forest-birds
Were whispering lullabies;
With all its twinkling eyes;
But rustling leaves to forest-birds
Were whispering lullabies;
And trees and rocks were fast asleep,
Folded in shadows black,
As little Peepsy trudged along
The ferny mountain-track.
Folded in shadows black,
As little Peepsy trudged along
The ferny mountain-track.
The whippoorwills went gossiping
From silent tree to tree,
Among the gray eavesdropping bats;
So strange it was to see
From silent tree to tree,
Among the gray eavesdropping bats;
So strange it was to see
A little girl at nightfall climb
The steep and lonesome hill!
But bravely Peepsy hastened on,
Beneath the starlight still.
The steep and lonesome hill!
But bravely Peepsy hastened on,
Beneath the starlight still.
A wind came rushing down the rocks,
And sighed, “Where, Peepsy, where?”
“After the moon!” The light wind laughed,
And lifted Peepsy's hair,
And sighed, “Where, Peepsy, where?”
“After the moon!” The light wind laughed,
And lifted Peepsy's hair,
And kissed her forehead, and went on.
An owl called, “Who, child, who?”
“My name is Peepsy, if you please!
May I just pass by you?
An owl called, “Who, child, who?”
“My name is Peepsy, if you please!
May I just pass by you?
“I'm only going to get the moon,
You 're willing, Mr. Owl?”
Poor Peepsy trembled;—such a laugh!
It sounded like a howl.
You 're willing, Mr. Owl?”
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It sounded like a howl.
And all the forest rang, “Hoo—hoo!
The like was never heard!”
Ten owls flew down and stared at her;
But she said not a word.
The like was never heard!”
Ten owls flew down and stared at her;
But she said not a word.
For now the moon seemed close at hand;
But oh! she almost cried:
It was too large for her to lift
Down to the baby's side.
But oh! she almost cried:
It was too large for her to lift
Down to the baby's side.
If she could only reach its edge,
So even and so round,
And send it trundling like a hoop
Along the mossy ground!
So even and so round,
And send it trundling like a hoop
Along the mossy ground!
Alas! it was too far! too far!
Though she on tiptoe stood.
“Oh, pretty stars!” she called aloud,
“Will you be very good,
Though she on tiptoe stood.
“Oh, pretty stars!” she called aloud,
“Will you be very good,
“And give the moon a push this way?”
The silly stars, they wink,
But will not budge. She sits her down
Upon a rock to think;
The silly stars, they wink,
But will not budge. She sits her down
Upon a rock to think;
And wonder why boys ask for things
Girls cannot get for them:—
But look! the Lady Moon lifts off
Her crescent-diadem,
Girls cannot get for them:—
But look! the Lady Moon lifts off
Her crescent-diadem,
And slips the happy Peepsy in!
See! like a silver sledge
It dashes down the gloomy hill,
Past glen and gorge and ledge!
See! like a silver sledge
It dashes down the gloomy hill,
Past glen and gorge and ledge!
It glides along the garden walk,
It stops beside the door!
Has katydid or cricket seen
Wonders like this before?
It stops beside the door!
Has katydid or cricket seen
Wonders like this before?
“Keep it!” the Moon said, “I have more;
Twelve new ones every year.
Ride in it with him every night,
The baby-brother dear!
Twelve new ones every year.
Ride in it with him every night,
The baby-brother dear!
“But tell him not to cry for me,
Since I must walk my round
Through my great nursery of stars:
So let his sleep be sound!
Since I must walk my round
Through my great nursery of stars:
So let his sleep be sound!
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“And I will kiss him every night
As I am passing by:
And you two, in your silver sledge,
May chase me through the sky.”
As I am passing by:
And you two, in your silver sledge,
May chase me through the sky.”
Girl-Peepsy rubbed her dazzled eyes;
“I thank you, Lady Moon!
I think the baby's not awake,
I have come back so soon.”
“I thank you, Lady Moon!
I think the baby's not awake,
I have come back so soon.”
She rubbed her eyes: the baby slept.—
A strange thing does it seem
That Peepsy went and brought the moon?
She did it in a dream.
A strange thing does it seem
That Peepsy went and brought the moon?
She did it in a dream.
| The poetical works of Lucy Larcom | |