[Pg 101] SH-H-H-H! “Mr. Mabie is now reading the summer books.” —The Ladies’ Home Journal. —The Ladies’ Home Journal. What shall we buy for a summer’s day? What is good reading and what is not? Mabie will tell us—we wait his say; For Mabie alone can know what’s what. Meanwhile the world is as still as death; Mute inquiry is in men’s looks; Everybody is holding his breath— Mabie is reading the summer books. The suns are at pause in the cosmic race; The mills of the gods have ceased to grind; The only sound that is heard in space Is the rhythmic clicking of Mabie’s mind. Elsewhere silence, or near or far— Chattering Pleiads or babbling brooks; For the whisper has passed from star to star: “Mabie is reading the summer books.” “Mabie is reading the summer books.” [Pg 102] [Pg 102] THE VANISHED FAY Tell me, whither do they go, All the Little Ones we know? They “grow up” before our eyes, And the fairy spirit flies. Time the Piper, pied and gay— Does he lure them all away? Do they follow after him, Over the horizon’s brim? Daughter’s growing fair to see, Slim and straight as popple tree. Still a child in heart and head, But—the fairy spirit’s fled. As a fay at break of day, Little One has flown away, On the stroke of fairy bell— When and whither, who can tell? Still her childish fancies weave In the Land of Make Believe; And her love of magic lore Is as avid as before. Dollies big and dollies small Still are at her beck and call. But for all this pleasant play, Little One has gone away. [Pg 103] Whither, whither have they flown, All the fays we all have known? To what “faery lands forlorn” On the sound of elfin horn? As she were a woodland sprite, Little One has vanished quite. Waves the wand of Oberon: Cock has crowed—the fay is gone! [Pg 103] [Pg 104] [Pg 104]
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