Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
Poems of Home: II. For ChildrenThe Elf and the Dormouse
Oliver Herford (18631935)U
Crept a wee Elf,
Out of the rain,
To shelter himself.
Sound asleep,
Sat a big Dormouse
All in a heap.
Frightened, and yet
Fearing to fly away
Lest he get wet.
Maybe a mile!
Sudden the wee Elf
Smiled a wee smile,
Toppled in two.
Holding it over him,
Gayly he flew.
Dry as could be.
Soon woke the Dormouse—
“Good gracious me!
Loud he lamented.
—And that ’s how umbrellas
First were invented.