Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume I. Of Home: of Friendship. 1904. | | | | Poems of Home: II. For Children | | The Elf and the Dormouse | | Oliver Herford (1863–1935) |
| | | UNDER a toadstool | |
| Crept a wee Elf, | |
| Out of the rain, | |
| To shelter himself. | |
| |
| Under the toadstool, | 5 |
| Sound asleep, | |
| Sat a big Dormouse | |
| All in a heap. | |
| |
| Trembled the wee Elf, | |
| Frightened, and yet | 10 |
| Fearing to fly away | |
| Lest he get wet. | |
| |
| To the next shelter— | |
| Maybe a mile! | |
| Sudden the wee Elf | 15 |
| Smiled a wee smile, | |
| |
| Tugged till the toadstool | |
| Toppled in two. | |
| Holding it over him, | |
| Gayly he flew. | 20 |
| |
| Soon he was safe home, | |
| Dry as could be. | |
| Soon woke the Dormouse— | |
| “Good gracious me! | |
| |
| “Where is my toadstool?” | 25 |
| Loud he lamented. | |
| —And that ’s how umbrellas | |
| First were invented. | | | | |
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