"Mamma! I see something
Quite dark on the wall;--
It moves up and down,
And it looks very strange!
Sometimes it is large,
And sometimes it is small;
Pray, tell me what it is,
And why does it change?"
"It is Mamma's shadow
That puzzles you so,
And there is your own
Close beside it, my love!
Now run round the room,
It will go where you go;
It rests where you sit,
When you rise it will move.
"These wonderful shadows
Are caused by the light
From fire and from candles
Upon us that falls;
If we were not here,
All that place would be bright,
But light can't shine
Through us to lighten the wall.
"And when you are out
Some fine day in the sun,
I'll take you where shadows
Of apple-trees lie;
And houses and cottages too--
Every one
Repose on their shadows
Beneath the bright sky.
"Now hold up your mouth,
And give me a sweet kiss;
Our shadows kiss too!--
Don't you see it quite plain?"
"O yes! and I thank you
For telling me this,
I'll not be afraid
Of a shadow again."