Page:The Cambridge History of American Literature, v2.djvu/425

 Verse for Children 409 hood songs; and other women followed with no partictolar success. Eugene Field' and James Whitcomb Riley* wrote many tender and charming poems about children, but with some notable exceptions they are as much from the adult point of view as were Longfellow's. The point of view of youthful patriots was skilfully considered in Poems and Ballads upon Important Episodes in American History (1887) by Hezeldah Butterworth, long connected with The Youth's Companion. The best verse is scattered in magazines and newspapers, partictilarly as pubUshers have learned from librarians that American children as a rule do not care for poetry, Mrs. Dodge wrote for her magazine many neat and attractive rhymes. In this field there are, however, several living writers of conspicuous artistic success. Nor is it surprising that some of the best work in fiction also must, similarly, go unmentioned here. The juvenile has only lately received artistic cultivation, and its fiowering is very recent. More striking than in any other department of litera- ture, where contrasts are all striking enough, is the comparison of the earlier with the latter part of the century. Where then existed not a single book of value, there could now be mentioned half a thousand of real merit. American literature for children has reached a comparative eminence which it shows in no other department. ' See also Book II, Chap, xxiii, and Book III, Chap. ix.
 * See also Book III, Chap. x.