Auld Daddy Darkness Then the top is a burden, the bugle a bane; (Oh, weary, my Dearie, so weary!) When one would be faring down Dream-a-way Lane. (So hush-a-by, weary my Dearie!) When one would be wending in Lullaby Wherry, (Oh, weary, my Dearie, so weary!) To Sleepy Man's Castle, by Comforting Ferry. (So hush-a-by, weary my Dearie!) Charles G. D. Roberts [1860 67 AULD DADDY DARKNESS AULD Daddy Darkness creeps frae his hole, See him in the corners hidin' frae the licht, Awa' to hide the birdie within its cosy nest, He comes when we're weary to wean's frae oor waes, Steek yer een, my wee tot, ye'll see Daddy then; WILLIE WINKIE WEE Willie Winkie rins through the town, "Are the weans in their bed?-for it's noo ten o'clock." Hey, Willie Winkie! are ye comin' ben? The cat's singin' gay thrums to the sleepin' hen, The doug's speldered on the floor, and disna gie a cheep; But here's a waukrife laddie, that winna fa' asleep. Onything but sleep, ye rogue!-glowrin' like the moon, Rumblin', tumblin' roun' about, crawin' like a cock, Hey, Willie Winkie! the wean's in a creel! Ruggin' at the cat's lug, and ravellin' a' her thrums: William Miller [1810-1872] THE SANDMAN THE rosy clouds float overhead, The sun is going down; And now the sandman's gentle tread Comes stealing through the town. His gift of shining sand. Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town. From sunny beaches far away— Yes, in another land— He gathers up at break of day His store of shining sand. The Dustman 69 No tempests beat that shore remote, No ships may sail that way; His little boat alone may float Within that lovely bay. Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town. He smiles to see the eyelids close Above the happy eyes; And every child right well he knows, But if, as he goes through the land," A naughty baby cries, His other hand takes dull gray sand To close the wakeful eyes. Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town. So when you hear the sandman's song Sound through the twilight sweet, Be sure you do not keep him long A-waiting in the street. Lie softly down, dear little head, Rest quiet, busy hands, Till, by your bed his good-night said, He strews the shining sands. Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town. Margaret Thomson Janvier (1845-1913] THE DUSTMAN WHEN the toys are growing weary, When the nursery still echoes With the children's merry din; Then unseen, unheard, unnoticed Softly smiles the good old Dustman; And their weary eyes must close. Leads them through the sweet green shadows, Far away in slumberland. Frederic Edward Weatherly [1848 SEPHESTIA'S LULLABY From "Menaphon" WEEP not, my wanton, smile upon my knee; Father's sorrow, father's joy; Last his sorrow, first his joy. Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee; When thou art old there's grief enough for thee. Streaming tears that never stint, Like pearl-drops from a flint, Fell by course from his eyes, That one another's place supplies; Thus he grieved in every part, When he left his pretty boy, Father's sorrow, father's joy. "Sleep, Baby, Sleep" Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee; When thou art old there's grief enough for thee. More he crowed, more we cried, Father's sorrow, father's joy. 71 Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee, GOLDEN SLUMBERS KISS YOUR EYES" GOLDEN slumbers kiss your eyes, Rock them, rock them, lullaby. Care is heavy, therefore sleep you, You are care, and care must keep you. Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry, And I will sing a lullaby. Rock them, rock them, lullaby. Thomas Dekker [1570?-1641?] "SLEEP, BABY, SLEEP" SLEEP, baby, sleep! what ails my dear, My pretty lamb, forbear to weep; |