the little
People of the Snow.
BY
WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.
Illustrated
FROM DESIGNS BY ALFRED FREDERICKS, ENGRAVED BY A. BOBBETT.
NEW YORK:
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,
549 & 551 BROADWAY.1873.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872,
By D. APPLETON & CO.,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
By D. APPLETON & CO.,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
 | |
 | THE LITTLE PEOPLE OF THE SNOW.Alice.—One of your old-world stories, Uncle John,Such as you tell us by the winter fire, Till we all wonder it has grown so late. Uncle John.—The story of the witch that ground to death Two children in her mill, or will you have The tale of Goody Cutpurse? |
[6]
Alice.— Nay, now, nay;
Those stories are too childish, Uncle John,
Too childish even for little Willy here,
And I am older, two good years, than he;
No, let us have a tale of elves that ride,
By night, with jingling reins, or gnomes of the mine,
Or water-fairies, such as you know how
Alice.— Nay, now, nay;
Those stories are too childish, Uncle John,
Too childish even for little Willy here,
And I am older, two good years, than he;
No, let us have a tale of elves that ride,
By night, with jingling reins, or gnomes of the mine,
Or water-fairies, such as you know how
To spin, till Willy's eyes forget to wink,
And good Aunt Mary, busy as she is,
Lays down her knitting.
And good Aunt Mary, busy as she is,
Lays down her knitting.
Uncle John.— Listen to me, then.
'Twas in the olden time, long, long ago,
And long before the great oak at our door
Was yet an acorn, on a mountain's side
'Twas in the olden time, long, long ago,
And long before the great oak at our door
Was yet an acorn, on a mountain's side