IN THE NURSERY.

Where do you go, Bob, when you‘ re fast asleep?’

‘ Where? O well, once I went into a deep

Mine, father told of, and a cross man said

He'd make me help to dig, and eat black bread.

I saw the Queen once, in her room, quite near.

She said, “You rude boy, Bob, how came you here? "’

‘ Was it like mother's boudoir?’

‘ Grander far,

Gold chairs and things — all over diamonds — Ah!’

‘ You're sure it was the Queen?’

‘ Of course, a crown

Was on her, and a spangly purple gown.’

‘ I went to heaven last night.’

‘ O Lily, no,

How could you?’

‘ Yes I did, they told me so,

And my best doll, my favourite, with the blue

Frock, Jasmine, I took her to heaven too.’

‘ What was it like?’

‘ A kind of — I can n't tell —

A sort of orchard place in a long dell,

With trees all over flowers. And there were birds

Who could do talking, say soft pretty words;

They let me stroke them, and I showed it all

To Jasmine. And I heard a blue dove call,

“Child, this is heaven.” I was not frightened when

It spoke, I said “Where are the angels then? "’

‘ Well.’

‘ So it said, “Look up and you shall see.”

There were two angels sitting in the tree,

As tall as mother; they had long gold hair.

They let drop down the fruit they gather'd there

And little angels came for it — so sweet.

Here they were beggar children in the street,

And the dove said they had the prettiest things,

And wore their best frocks every day.’

‘ And wings,

Had they no wings?’

‘ O yes, and lined with white

Like swallow wings, so soft — so very light

Fluttering about.’

‘ Well.’

‘ Well, I did not stay,

So that was all.’

‘ They made you go away?’

‘ I did not go — but — I was gone.’

‘ I know.’

‘ But it's a pity, Bob, we never go

Together.’

‘ Yes, and have no dreams to tell,

But the next day both know it all quite well.’

‘ And, Bob, if I could dream you came with me

You would be there perhaps.’

‘ Perhaps — we'll see.’