Rain, rain, go away

Rain, rain, go away.
Come again another day.

A very appropriate little rhyme it may be, but we certainly don't want the stuff to 'come again another day', not for quite a while anyway.

I'm a great fan of Robert Louis Stevenson's book 'A Child's Garden of Verses'. I was given a copy by my parents when I was a child and have always treasured it. The book has been published many times over the years and hundreds of illustrators have interpreted the verses in their own distinctive styles. The version I have was illustrated by A.H. Watson. Here is what R.L.S. has to say about rain. Not very inspiring in this day and age perhaps, but better than the 'come again another day' version! Illustration is by A.H.Watson.

The cover is green cloth

 

I have another 'A Child's Garden of Verses' that I acquired recently. It was published in 1909. I bought it for the lavish illustrations by Charles Robinson. His inimitable style is very typical of the time.

 
  

 
The red cloth cover has gorgeous gilt tooling

A Child's Garden of Verses was first published in 1885 and its popularity shows no sign of waning.

I've just seen the weather forecast for the weekend. As if to add insult to injury, if we don't get washed away we'll get blown away. Strong winds are on the way!

This poem by R.L.S. has always been a perennial favourite.

Windy Nights

Whenever the moon and stars are set,
     Whenever the wind is high,
All night long in the dark and wet,
     A man goes riding by.
Late in the night when the fires are out,
Why does he gallop and gallop about?

Whenever the trees are crying aloud,
     And ships are tossed at sea,
By, on the highway, low and loud,
     By at the gallop goes he.
By at the gallop he goes, and then
By he comes back at the gallop again.

 
illustration by A.H. Watson

 
Illustration by Charles Robinson

Overheard by my husband (somewhere). Two old fellows in conversation.

First old fellow - "Don't worry, it's just a clearing up shower. It'll clear up soon".
Second old fellow -"That's what Noah said!".

Comments

[Michele]

Hello Eli.. what an absolute pleasure it is to find your blog and thank you for your visit that led me here today!
We have much in common and I have so enjoyed looking at all your charming knitted creations.. the acorns are so sweet!
Blue and white china... a passion of mine.. childhood literature..another.. Tasha Tudor.. book illustrators.. it is all so comforting to see it here at Flutter by patch..
I will be back for more very soon!
Michele x