By Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Author of The Rundelstone of Oz, Merry Go Round in Oz, The Forbidden Fountain of Oz, The Moorchild, etc.
Originally published under her maiden name Eloise Jarvis in Literary Youth, November 1929, Oklahoma City Junior High Schools.
A keen, invigorating breeze sweeps the woods, resplendent in a myriad of gypsy colors, and some waxy, curled leaves swirl to the ground. They lie ankle-deep on the brown earth, swirling and twirling upward with every gust of fresh October wind. The gentians add a tinge of royal purple to the scene. And in and out through the gaily bedecked trees dances October.
A gypsy maiden, black of hair, scarlet of lip, flings her brown arms up in glee, and laughs at the scolding squirrel above her.
Her black eyes dance and her feet seem to flit over the top of the carpet of golden and red autumn leaves. She spins and twirls and skips like a black and red autumn leaf among the trees, from which she has copied her gaudy scarlet and gold gown. A bunch of red berries are wreathed in her hair, and an aster tucked in her belt. She’s as carefree and beautiful as the splendid woods in which she plays, and the whole world seems to catch some of her gaiety and blytheness in the fall of the year. May it always be so!
Originally published in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, December 29, 1918.
Sir Solomon on Skating
Sir Solomon approached the King
With sober face.
“There is a time for everything—
A time and place!
“Your Highness, and
I must admit—
A time and place
I find unfit.
“Take skating,
’Tis a worthy art
And full of thrills
That warm the heart.
“But ’tis unseemly
In some places
And times. Beau Sire,
Your kingdom faces
“A season when
The snow and ice
Forbid a gait
Safe and precise.
“The Highways turn
To skating rinks
Unfit for man
And beast—methinks!
“Skating’s a joyous thing,
Of course,
But unbecoming
In a horse.
“To keep four legs
In motion nice
Upon a highway
Full of ice
“Is quite impossible,
His load
And self oft tumble
In the road.
“Therefore, in time
Let us prepare.
I’ve fashioned shoes
For steeds to wear,
“And for our sundry
Selves and those
Whose gait with time
Unsteady grows!
“Therefore, O King!
I’ve brought them here.”
The King smiled on
His kindly seer.
“Adopted now
Upon the spot,
And let there be
No steed who’s not
“Equipped with safety
Shoes, and all
My subjects who’d
Avoid a fall
“Shall have them too.
Pray let this be
Made forthwith to
A High Decree!”
(So it was—and very sensible I call it.)
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