My Shadow

HAVE a little shadow that goes in and out with me, And what can be the use of him is more than I can see. He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head; And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed. The funniest thing about him is the way he likes togrow- Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow; THE LOST DOLL For he sometimes shoots up taller like an indiarubber ball, And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all. He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play, Andcanonlymake afool of me in everysort ofway. He stays so close beside me, he's a coward, you can see ; I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me! One morning, very early, before the sun was up, I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup; But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepyhead, Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep inbed.