Page:Field Poems of Childhood.djvu/131

 Floated from the misty heather,

And around my trundle-bed

Frisked, and looked, and whispering said

Solemnlike and all together:

"You shall kiss him, Ganderfeather!"

Ganderfeather kissed me then—

Ganderfeather, quaint and merry!

No attenuate sprite was he,

—But as buxom as could be;—

Kissed me twice, and once again,

And the others shouted when

On my cheek uprose a berry

Somewhat like a mole, mayhap,

But the kiss-mark of that chap

Ganderfeather, passing merry—

Humorsome, but kindly, very!

I was just a tiny thing

When the prankish Ganderfeather

Brought this curious gift to me

With his fairy kisses three;

Yet with honest pride I sing

That same gift he chose to bring

Out of yonder haunted heather.

Other charms and friendships fly—

Constant friends this mole and I,

Who have been so long together.

Thank you, little Ganderfeather!