 | When life is young |  |
134
CAT'S-CRADLE
“It's criss-cross high, and it's criss-cross flat;
Then four straight lines for the pussy cat;
Then criss-cross under; ah, now there'll be
A nice deep cradle, dear Grandpa! See!
Then four straight lines for the pussy cat;
Then criss-cross under; ah, now there'll be
A nice deep cradle, dear Grandpa! See!
“Now change again, and it 's flat once more—
A lattice-window! But where 's the door?
Why, change once more, and, holding it so,
We can have a very good door, you know.
A lattice-window! But where 's the door?
Why, change once more, and, holding it so,
We can have a very good door, you know.
“Now over, now under, now pull it tight;
See-saw, Grandpa!—exactly right!”
So prattled the little one, Grandfather's pet,
As deftly she wrought. “See, now it 's a net!
See-saw, Grandpa!—exactly right!”
So prattled the little one, Grandfather's pet,
As deftly she wrought. “See, now it 's a net!
“But where did you learn cat's-cradle so well?”
She suddenly asked; and he could not tell.
He could not tell, for his heart was sore,
As he gravely said, “I have played it before.”
She suddenly asked; and he could not tell.
He could not tell, for his heart was sore,
As he gravely said, “I have played it before.”
What could the sweet little maiden know
Of beautiful summers long ago?
Of the merry sports, and the games he played,
When “Mama,” herself, was a little maid?
Of beautiful summers long ago?
Of the merry sports, and the games he played,
When “Mama,” herself, was a little maid?
135
What could she know of the thoughts that ran
Through the weary brain of the world-worn man?
But she knew, when she kissed him, dear Grandpa smiled,
And that was enough for the happy child.
Through the weary brain of the world-worn man?
But she knew, when she kissed him, dear Grandpa smiled,
And that was enough for the happy child.
| When life is young | |