of the balusters, the shadow of the lamp,
The shadow of the child that goes to bed--
All the wicked shadows coming, tramp, tramp, tramp,
With the black night overhead.

[Illustration]

III. IN PORT

Last, to the chamber where I lie
My fearful footsteps patter nigh,
And come from out the cold and gloom
Into my warm and cheerful room.

There, safe arrived, we turn about
To keep the coming shadows out,
And close the happy door at last
On all the perils that we past.

Then, when mamma goes by to bed,
She shall come in with tip-toe tread,
And see me lying warm and fast
And in the Land of Nod at last.

[Illustration: _"In the Land of Nod at last."_]

TO MY MOTHER

You, too, my mother, read my rhymes
For love of unforgotten times,
And you may chance to hear once more
The little feet along the floor.

GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION

The following key explains the symbols which are used in the vocabulary of
"A Child's Garden of Verses," to indicate the pronunciation of the words.
It is based upon the 1901 edition of Webster's International Dictionary.

[=a] as in f[=a]te.

[+a] as in pref' [+a]ce.

[)a] as in [)a]dd.

[:a] as in f[:a]r.

[.a] as in gr[.a]ss.

[a:] as in [a:]ll.

[=e] as in [=e]ve.

[+e] as in [+e]-vent'.

[)e] as in [)e]nd.

[~e] as in h[~e]r.

[=i] as in [=i]ce.

[)i] as in p[)i]n.

[=o] as in r[=o]w.

[+o] as in [+o]-bey'.

[)o] as in n[)o]t.

[^o] as in l[^o]rd.

[=u] as in [=u]se.

[+u] as in [+u]-nite'.

[)u] as in [)u]p.

[^u] as in f[^u]rl.

[u:] as in r[u:]de.

[=y] as in fl[=y].

[)y] as in pit'[)y].

[=oo] as in m[=oo]n.

ou as in out.

oi as in oil.

[n=] = ng as in i[n=]k.

th as in this.

Certain vowels, as _a_ and _e_, when obscured, are italicized.

A WORD LIST

The definitions given in this list indicate the meanings of the words as
used in "A Child's Garden of Verses."

_adorned_ ([.a] dornd'). Made beautiful.

_adventure_ ([)a]d v[)e]n' t[+u]r). Venture; go in search of exciting
experiences.

_alert_ ([.a] l[~e]rt'). Watchful; quick.

_anchored_ ([)a]n' k[~e]rd). Held safely.

_ancient_ ([