BAKER THREE POEMS 



Courage, darlings, upward look; 

 Wipe the dewdrop tears away 

 From your azure eyes, I pray, 

 For no enemy is near. 



A Mystery 



Whence came, on the horse-chestnut's bark, 

 Those curious hoof -prints, wee? 



Did some sweet maid of Fairyland 

 In bygone days once flee 



From a pursuing ugly dwarf 

 For refuge to the tree? 



And did some gallant elfin knight, 

 Mounted on fleet winged steed, 



Half' fly, half gallop up the trunk 

 To aid her in her need? 



And do these prints remain to-day 

 Memorials of his deed? 



And was the dwarf in combat slain? 



And did the maiden plight, 

 In gratitude, her heart and hand 



Unto the brave young knight? 

 And were the couple, afterward, 



Forever happy, quite? 



Indian Fairies 



I'm sure that Indian fairies lived 



In days of long ago, 

 And danced their Indian dances, queer, 



By fireflies' fitful glow; 

 With blooms of moccasin flowers, I think. 



Their dainty feet were shod. 

 And in their raven hair were plumes 



Of yellow golden-rod. 



I know they battled and hunted, too, 



With leaves of arrowhead; 

 And, since they had no bark canoes, 



43 



