 | The Vision of Repining Robert |  |
Mamma.
But, Bob, you are not well to-day,
And you shall not go out to play.
Bob
(fretting).
I am a most unhappy boy,
And never have the smallest joy!
Mamma.
Think of the pleasures you have had!
Bob.
What pleasures? Things were always bad
With me. I am weary of my life.
Why, Bill has got a new jack-knife,
And Jack a boat, and James a kite,
And every boy has some delight
But me!
Mamma.
Oh, Bob, you sad forgetter!
You will be wiser when you're better.
Bob.
Oh, will I though? You shall just see!
Mamma.
Come, lay your head upon my knee,
And go to sleep.
[He drops off, whimpering.
Well, that's a mercy. He is off;
A little warmth will cure his cough.
Poor Bob!—those tear-stains on his cheek—
[Bob stirs.
He dreams: he must not hear me speak.
Enter, visible to Robert only, a Plum Cake, and a New Suit of Clothes.
Plum Cake.
Regard me, Bob! I am a suit,
Spick-and-span new, from head to foot;
How eagerly you put me on,
One morning not so far agone;
You stroked my buttons and my braid,
And I was beautiful, you said.
New Suit.
Do you remember me, Bob, me—
When Uncle John came home from sea—
The plum cake that was made for you,
With spice in it, and citron too?
How you did eat!
Bob
(in his sleep).
Which are the clothes?
Which is the cake?
Mamma.
Now, goodness knows
What dream it is that makes him start:
He little knows his mother's heart.
Enter the Tower of London and the Crystal
Palace.
The Tower.
Think of the pleasure and the play,
Robert, you had with me one day;
And how the fountains made you stare,
Also the fireworks in the air;
Of extinct creatures, there were some,
Robert! a megatherium,
A pterodactyle,—and you said,
“How glad I am that they are dead!”
You clapped your hands that happy hour,
To see my Rosery in full flower!
Crystal Palace.
Oh, Bob, do you remember me?
The armoury you came to see,
With shields and helms, and swords and guns,—
And you had lemonade and buns,—
And then the beef-eaters,—I mean
You saw them; and the moat, grown green;
The axe, the block, the Traitor's Gate;
And the Regalia, all in state;
The different dungeons, and all that;
The Tunnel—
Bob
(in his sleep).
Oh, what are you at?
Which is the Tower?—perplexed I am,—
And which that place at Sydenham?
Mamma.
Dreaming! But even broken sleep
Does good, so I will quiet keep.
[Goes on mending something for Bob to wear; every now and then pausing to have a good look at him. The clock ticks. The afternoon declines.
Enter the Arabian Nights in spatterdashes, with a Goat, and an Umbrella; also Robinson Crusoe in a Turban, with a Crescent for an ornament, and wearing a scimitar at his side.
Robinson Crusoe.
Yes, we are the Arabian Nights;
Do you remember our delights;
The way in which we all began;
And the Prince Camaralzaman;
The Barber's Brothers; and the Three
Calenders; Sindbad's trips by sea;
Haroun-al-Raschid, rocs, and such?
You used to think you liked us much.
Arabian Nights.
Bob, surely me you recollect,
Upon a desolate island wrecked;
And how I made myself a raft;
My safe rock-castle; all my craft
In using ladders; ah! and Man
Friday, you know; and how he ran,
And how he liked the roasted kid,
And always did as he was bid;
Will Atkins; and the Caribbees;
And Xury, and the lion, please!
Bob
(in his sleep).
Princess Crusoe Badroulbadeur!
I do not understand, I'm sure!
Mamma.
Sh! Sh! my darling! Well, it seems
Poor Bob is having curious dreams.
Enter Pilgrim's Progress, Paul and Virginia, Puss-in-Boots, the Lowther Arcade, the British Museum, Buttercups and Daisies, several Panoramas, and the Zoological Gardens, with a variety of animals, such as the Giraffes, the Kangaroos, the Polar Bear, the Hippopotamus, the Wolf, the Zebra, the Alligator, the Ai-ai, the Apteryx, the Boa-Constrictor, the Ornithoryncus-paradoxus, the Lion and the Unicorn, the Elephant and Castle, with others. Great confusion. Enter also a large Aquarium, which is accidentally broken—Lizards, Tadpoles, and Water-Tigers dart about the room. All the creatures being about to speak at once—
Bob
(starting up).
No, no! I did not mean it! Stay!
I have had pleasures; and to-day
I have been wrong!
Mamma.
You have slept, and now
A wholesome dew is on your brow—
You are better, Bob!
Bob
(hides his face in her lap; his jacket and trousers blush crimson, and try to hide themselves, but cannot).
I have often had
Much joy!
Mamma.
And shall again be glad,
My Bob, in proper time and place.
Now, laugh; and go and wash your face.
[Exit for that purpose.
But, Bob, you are not well to-day,
And you shall not go out to play.
Bob
(fretting).
I am a most unhappy boy,
And never have the smallest joy!
Mamma.
Think of the pleasures you have had!
Bob.
What pleasures? Things were always bad
With me. I am weary of my life.
Why, Bill has got a new jack-knife,
And Jack a boat, and James a kite,
And every boy has some delight
But me!
Mamma.
Oh, Bob, you sad forgetter!
You will be wiser when you're better.
Bob.
Oh, will I though? You shall just see!
Mamma.
Come, lay your head upon my knee,
And go to sleep.
[He drops off, whimpering.
127
A little warmth will cure his cough.
Poor Bob!—those tear-stains on his cheek—
[Bob stirs.
He dreams: he must not hear me speak.
Enter, visible to Robert only, a Plum Cake, and a New Suit of Clothes.
Plum Cake.
Regard me, Bob! I am a suit,
Spick-and-span new, from head to foot;
How eagerly you put me on,
One morning not so far agone;
You stroked my buttons and my braid,
And I was beautiful, you said.
New Suit.
Do you remember me, Bob, me—
When Uncle John came home from sea—
The plum cake that was made for you,
With spice in it, and citron too?
How you did eat!
Bob
(in his sleep).
Which are the clothes?
Which is the cake?
Mamma.
Now, goodness knows
What dream it is that makes him start:
He little knows his mother's heart.
128
The Tower.
Think of the pleasure and the play,
Robert, you had with me one day;
And how the fountains made you stare,
Also the fireworks in the air;
Of extinct creatures, there were some,
Robert! a megatherium,
A pterodactyle,—and you said,
“How glad I am that they are dead!”
You clapped your hands that happy hour,
To see my Rosery in full flower!
Crystal Palace.
Oh, Bob, do you remember me?
The armoury you came to see,
With shields and helms, and swords and guns,—
And you had lemonade and buns,—
And then the beef-eaters,—I mean
You saw them; and the moat, grown green;
The axe, the block, the Traitor's Gate;
And the Regalia, all in state;
The different dungeons, and all that;
The Tunnel—
Bob
(in his sleep).
Oh, what are you at?
129
And which that place at Sydenham?
Mamma.
Dreaming! But even broken sleep
Does good, so I will quiet keep.
[Goes on mending something for Bob to wear; every now and then pausing to have a good look at him. The clock ticks. The afternoon declines.
Enter the Arabian Nights in spatterdashes, with a Goat, and an Umbrella; also Robinson Crusoe in a Turban, with a Crescent for an ornament, and wearing a scimitar at his side.
Robinson Crusoe.
Yes, we are the Arabian Nights;
Do you remember our delights;
The way in which we all began;
And the Prince Camaralzaman;
The Barber's Brothers; and the Three
Calenders; Sindbad's trips by sea;
Haroun-al-Raschid, rocs, and such?
You used to think you liked us much.
Arabian Nights.
Bob, surely me you recollect,
Upon a desolate island wrecked;
And how I made myself a raft;
My safe rock-castle; all my craft
130
Friday, you know; and how he ran,
And how he liked the roasted kid,
And always did as he was bid;
Will Atkins; and the Caribbees;
And Xury, and the lion, please!
Bob
(in his sleep).
Princess Crusoe Badroulbadeur!
I do not understand, I'm sure!
Mamma.
Sh! Sh! my darling! Well, it seems
Poor Bob is having curious dreams.
Enter Pilgrim's Progress, Paul and Virginia, Puss-in-Boots, the Lowther Arcade, the British Museum, Buttercups and Daisies, several Panoramas, and the Zoological Gardens, with a variety of animals, such as the Giraffes, the Kangaroos, the Polar Bear, the Hippopotamus, the Wolf, the Zebra, the Alligator, the Ai-ai, the Apteryx, the Boa-Constrictor, the Ornithoryncus-paradoxus, the Lion and the Unicorn, the Elephant and Castle, with others. Great confusion. Enter also a large Aquarium, which is accidentally broken—Lizards, Tadpoles, and Water-Tigers dart about the room. All the creatures being about to speak at once—
131
(starting up).
No, no! I did not mean it! Stay!
I have had pleasures; and to-day
I have been wrong!
Mamma.
You have slept, and now
A wholesome dew is on your brow—
You are better, Bob!
Bob
(hides his face in her lap; his jacket and trousers blush crimson, and try to hide themselves, but cannot).
I have often had
Much joy!
Mamma.
And shall again be glad,
My Bob, in proper time and place.
Now, laugh; and go and wash your face.
[Exit for that purpose.
| The Vision of Repining Robert | |