I often passed the village 1
When going home from school－
And wondered what they did there－
And why it was so still－
I did not know the year then－ 5
In which my call would come－
Earlier, by the Dial,
Than the rest have gone.
It's stiller than the sundown. 9
It's cooler than the dawn－
The Daisies dare to come here－
And birds can flutter down－
So when you are tired－13
Or perplexed－or cold－
Trust the loving promise
Underneath the mould,
Cry "it's I," "take Dollie,"
And I will enfold!
When going home from school－
And wondered what they did there－
And why it was so still－
I did not know the year then－ 5
In which my call would come－
Earlier, by the Dial,
Than the rest have gone.
It's stiller than the sundown. 9
It's cooler than the dawn－
The Daisies dare to come here－
And birds can flutter down－
So when you are tired－13
Or perplexed－or cold－
Trust the loving promise
Underneath the mould,
Cry "it's I," "take Dollie,"
And I will enfold!
(F.41/J.51)
[1] village:: a small group of the burrows of prairie-dogs (OED 3).
[3] they:: prairie dogs, named for their barking like puppies.
[13] you:: a prairie dog.
[17] Dollie:: name of a pet.
[18] enfold:: prairie dogs hug and kiss each other often.
I learned that a burrow, or village, as it is termed, of prairie dogs, had been discovered on the level summit of a hill . . . The prairie dog is, in fact, one of the curiosities of the Far West, about which travellers delight to tell marvellous tales, endowing him at times with something of the politic and social habits of a rational being, . . . an animal of the coney kind, and about the size of a rabbit. . . . Sometimes, especially when the moon shines, they pass half the night in revelry, barking or yelping with short, quick, yet weak tones, like those of very young puppies. ─ A Tour on the Prairies (1850)
