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Little Gustava

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By Staff Middle Land

February 28, 2024
4:56 pm
Los Angeles, CA

CELIA THAXTER LITTLE Gustava sits in the sun, –J Safe in the porch, and the little drops run From the icicles under the eaves so fast; For the bright spring sun shines warm at last, And glad is little Gustava. She wears a quaint little scarlet cap, And a little green bowl she holds in her lap, Filled with bread and milk to the brim, And a wreath of marigolds round the rim; “Fla! ha!” laughs little Gustava. Up comes her little gray, coaxing cat, With her little pink nose, and she mews, “What’s that?” Gustava feeds her—she begs for more, And a little brown hen walks in at the door. “Good day!” cries little Gustava. From Stories and Poems for Children. Used by permission of, and by special

CELIA THAXTER

LITTLE Gustava sits in the sun,
–J Safe in the porch, and the little drops run
From the icicles under the eaves so fast;
For the bright spring sun shines warm at last,
And glad is little Gustava.
She wears a quaint little scarlet cap,
And a little green bowl she holds in her lap,
Filled with bread and milk to the brim,
And a wreath of marigolds round the rim;
“Fla! ha!” laughs little Gustava.
Up comes her little gray, coaxing cat,
With her little pink nose, and she mews, “What’s that?”
Gustava feeds her—she begs for more,
And a little brown hen walks in at the door.
“Good day!” cries little Gustava.

From Stories and Poems for Children. Used by permission of, and by special arrangement with Houghton,
Mifflin Company

She scatters crumbs for the little brown hen. There
comes a rush and a flutter, and then Down fly her
little white doves so sweet,
With their snowy wings and their crimson feet.
“Welcome!” cries little Gustava.
So dainty and eager they pick up the crumbs. But
who is this through the doorway comes? Little
Scotch terrier, little dog Rags,
Looks in her face and his funny tail wags.
“Ha! ha!” laughs little Gustava.
“You want some breakfast, too?” And down She
sets her bowl on the brick floor, brown; And little
dog Rags drinks up her milk, While she strokes his
shaggy locks, like silk. “Dear Rags!” says little Gustava.

Waiting without stood sparrow and crow, Cooling
their feet in the melting snow.
‘‘Won’t you come in, good folk?” she cried.
But they were too bashful, and stayed outside, Though
“Pray come in!” cried Gustava.
So the last she threw them, and knelt on the mat With
doves, and biddy, and dog, and cat.
And her mother came to the open house door; “Dear
little daughter, I bring you some more, My merry little
Gustava!”
Kitty and terrier, biddy and doves,
All things harmless Gustava loves.
The shy, kind creatures is joy to feed,
And oh, her breakfast is sweet indeed To happy little Gustava!