Complete Works of L. Frank Baum
Page 870
SHE INVESTIGATES THE ORIGINAL PACKAGE DEAL WITH DOUBTFUL RESULTS
SHE RAISES THE PRICE OF BOARD, BUT LOWERS IT AGAIN THROUGH STERN NECESSITY
SHE MANUFACTURES HASH AND GIVES THE BOARDERS A FEW POINTERS ON THE ABERDEEN GUARDS
SHE TACKLES RELIGION AND GIVES HER IDEAS OF THE SUNDAY ENFORCEMENT LAW
SHE PREPARES A TREAT FOR THE BOARDERS WHICH LEADS TO A STRANGE COMEDY OF ERRORS
SHE ANNOUNCES HER BIRTHDAY AND MAKES AN EVEN EXCHANGE WITH THE BOARDERS
SHE CELEBRATES THE FOURTH AND RELATES HER VARIED EXPERIENCES
SHE DISCOURSES UPON LOVE AND POLITICS
SHE BUYS A COW AND THE BOARDERS HELP HER MILK IT
SHE TALKS ABOUT RAILROADS AND VARIOUS MINOR MATTERS
OUR LANDLADY (1)
SHE EXPOSES A PRACTICAL JOKE AND TELLS ABOUT THE GOOSE QUILL KISS
OUR LANDLADY (2)
SHE GIVES A PICNIC TO THE BOARDERS AND WRITES A PROCLAMATION
SHE ATTENDS THE CONVENTION AND IS DISGUSTED WITH POLITICS
SHE RETURNS FROM HER VACATION AND VISITS THE FAIR
SHE DISCUSSES TIMELY TOPICS AND CRITICISES SOME ABERDEEN PEOPLE
SHE DISCOURSES ON THE “HARD TIMES CLUB,” AND TELLS A STORY
SHE CONFIDES TO THE BOARDERS A DEAL TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF EQUAL SUFFRAGE
SHE RELATES SOME EXCITING ANCEDOTES AND ATTENDS THE INDEPENDENT BARBECUE
SHE GETS HER DANDER UP AND GOES BACK ON POLITICS
SHE HAS HER LAST SAY CONCERNING POLITICS, AND CRITICISES A SOCIETY EVENT
SHE ORGANIZES A READING CLUB IN THE MOST APPROVED STYLE OF THE ART
SHE GIVES THE BOARDERS A THANKSGIVING DINNER AND DISCUSSES HER BLESSINGS
OUR LANDLADY (3)
SHE ENJOYS A PLEASANT CHAT WITH THE BOARDERS
SHE FILLS THE COLONEL’S STOCKING AND TALKS OF THE CHARITY BALL
SHE VISITS THE GREAT DOWNDITCH FARM AND TELLS THE BOARDERS OF ITS WONDERS
SHE TELLS THE BOARDERS HOW TO MAKE A FORTUNE
CHOICE SELECTIONS FROM HER RAMBLING REMARKS
SHE READS A CHAPTER IN “LOOKING BACKWARD” TO THE ASTONISHED AND INTERESTED BOARDERS
SHE DISCUSSES NEW INVENTIONS WITH THE BOARDERS
SING A SONG O’ SIXPENCE
THE STORY OF LITTLE BOY BLUE
THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE
THE BLACK SHEEP
OLD KING COLE
MISTRESS MARY
THE WOND’ROUS WISE MAN
WHAT JACK HORNER DID
THE MAN IN THE MOON
THE JOLLY MILLER
THE LITTLE MAN AND HIS LITTLE GUN
HICKORY, DICKORY, DOCK
LITTLE BO-PEEP
THE STORY OF TOMMY TUCKER
PUSSY-CAT MEW
HOW THE BEGGARS CAME TO TOWN
TOM, THE PIPER’S SON
HUMPTY DUMPTY
THE WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE
LITTLE MISS MUFFET
THREE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM
LITTLE BUN RABBIT
THE COWARDLY LION AND THE HUNGRY TIGER
LITTLE DOROTHY AND TOTO
TIKTOK AND THE NOME KING
OZMA AND THE LITTLE WIZARD
JACK PUMPKINHEAD AND THE SAWHORSE
THE SCARECROW AND THE TIN WOODMAN
THE BOX OF ROBBERS
THE GLASS DOG
THE QUEEN OF QUOK
THE GIRL WHO OWNED A BEAR
THE ENCHANTED TYPES
THE LAUGHING HIPPOPOTAMUS
THE MAGIC BON BONS
THE CAPTURE OF FATHER TIME
THE WONDERFUL PUMP
THE DUMMY THAT LIVED
THE KING OF THE POLAR BEARS
THE MANDARIN AND THE BUTTERFLY
MR WOODCOCK
BANDIT JIM CROW
PRARIE-DOG TOWN
PRINCE MUD-TURTLE
TWINKLE’S ENCHANTMENT
SUGAR-LOAF MOUNTAIN
THE STORY OF JAGLON
THE STUFFED ALLIGATOR
THE DISCONTENTED GOPHER
THE FOREST ORACLE
THE ENCHANTED BUFFALO
THE PEA-GREEN POODLE
THE JOLLY GIRAFFE OF JOMB
THE TROUBLES OF POP WOMBAT
THE TRANSFORMATION OF BAYAL THE PORCUPINE
THE QUEER VISITORS FROM OZ
THE MATING DAY
THE RETURN OF DICK WEEMINS
THE EXTRAVAGANCE OF DAN
NELEBEL’S FAIRYLAND
TO MACATAWA
THE EQUINE PARADOX
MY RUBY WEDDING RING
THE RUNAWAY SHADOWS
JACK BURGITT’S HONOR
AUNT PHRONEY’S BOY
WHO CALLED “PERRY?”
HALDEMAN
THE KING WHO CHANGED HIS MIND
A KIDNAPPED SANTA CLAUS.
JUGGERJOOK
A COLD DAY ON THE RAILROAD
A SHADOW CAST BEFORE
AUNT HULDA’S GOOD TIME
BESSIE’S FAIRY TALE
THE MAN-FAIRY
THE SUICIDE OF KIAROS
THE TIGER’S EYE
THEY PLAYED A NEW HAMLET
YESTERDAY AT THE EXPOSITION
HOW THE SCROGGS WON THE REWARD
THE LOVERIDGE BURGLARY
THE BAD MAN
THE DIAMOND BACK
THE MAN WITH THE RED SHIRT
THE WITCHCRAFT OF MARY-MARIE
THE RYL OF THE LILLIES
THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF AN EASTER EGG
THE TRAMP AND THE BABY
THE YELLOW RYL
THE LITTLEST GIANT
LIST OF SHORT STORIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
A COLD DAY ON THE RAILROAD
A KIDNAPPED SANTA CLAUS.
A SHADOW CAST BEFORE
AUNT HULDA’S GOOD TIME
AUNT PHRONEY’S BOY
BANDIT JIM CROW
BESSIE’S FAIRY TALE
CHOICE SELECTIONS FROM HER RAMBLING REMARKS
HALDEMAN
HER EXPERIENCES IN ATTEMPTING TO PHOTOGRAPH A BABY, AND THE SEVERE MENTAL STRAIN THAT ENSUED
HICKORY, DICKORY, DOCK
HOW THE BEGGARS CAME TO TOWN
HOW THE SCROGGS WON THE REWARD
HUMPTY DUMPTY
JACK BURGITT’S HONOR
JACK PUMPKINHEAD AND THE SAWHORSE
JUGGERJOOK
LITTLE BO-PEEP
LITTLE BUN RABBIT
LITTLE DOROTHY AND TOTO
LITTLE MISS MUFFET
MISTRESS MARY
MR WOODCOCK
MY RUBY WEDDING RING
NELEBEL’S FAIRYLAND
OLD KING COLE
OUR LANDLADY (1)
OUR LANDLADY (2)
OUR LANDLADY (3)
OZMA AND THE LITTLE WIZARD
PRARIE-DOG TOWN
PRINCE MUD-TURTLE
PUSSY-CAT MEW
SHE ANNOUNCES HER BIRTHDAY AND MAKES AN EVEN EXCHANGE WITH THE BOARDERS
SHE ASPIRES TO RIVAL ELLA WHEELER WILCOX AND CONCOCTS ANOTHER SCHEME
SHE ATTENDS THE CONVENTION AND IS DISGUSTED WITH POLITICS
SHE BUYS A COW AND THE BOARDERS HELP HER MILK IT
SHE CELEBRATES THE FOURTH AND RELATES HER VARIED EXPERIENCES
SHE CONFIDES TO THE BOARDERS A DEAL TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF EQUAL SUFFRAGE
SHE DABBLES IN POLITICS AND ASPIRES TO A GREAT OFFICE
SHE DISCOURSES ON MANY TOPICS AND TELLS HOW ALLEY DEALS OUT THE CORN
SHE DISCOURSES ON THE “HARD TIMES CLUB,” AND TELLS A STORY
SHE DISCOURSES UPON LOVE AND POLITICS
SHE DISCUSSES NEW INVENTIONS WITH THE BOARDERS
SHE DISCUSSES THE DISADVANTAGES OF PROHIBITION, AND INVENTS A NEW METHOD OF BAKING PIES
SHE DISCUSSES TIMELY TOPICS AND CRITICISES SOME ABERDEEN PEOPLE
SHE ENJOYS A PLEASANT CHAT WITH THE BOARDERS
SHE EXPOSES A PRACTICAL JOKE AND TELLS ABOUT THE GOOSE QUILL KISS
SHE FILLS THE COLONEL’S STOCKING AND TALKS OF THE CHARITY BALL
> SHE GETS A LETTER FROM HER BROTHER IN HARRIMAN THAT NEARLY BREAKS UP THE ESTABLISHMENT
SHE GETS HER DANDER UP AND GOES BACK ON POLITICS
SHE GIVES A PICNIC TO THE BOARDERS AND WRITES A PROCLAMATION
SHE GIVES AWAY THE INITIATION CEREMONIES OF THE UNITED WORKMEN AND HAS A FRUITLESS SEARCH FOR THE CHIEF OF POLICE
SHE GIVES THE BOARDERS A THANKSGIVING DINNER AND DISCUSSES HER BLESSINGS
SHE GOES TO A BALL AND LETS A CAT OUT OF THE BAG
SHE HAS HER LAST SAY CONCERNING POLITICS, AND CRITICISES A SOCIETY EVENT
SHE INSISTS ON HER BOARDERS KEEPING LENT, WITH INDIFFERENT SUCCESS
SHE INVESTIGATES THE ORIGINAL PACKAGE DEAL WITH DOUBTFUL RESULTS
SHE LECTURES THE BOARDERS FOR UNSEEMLY CONDUCT AND FEEDS THEM A GREEN APPLE PIE
SHE MAKES A TERRIBLE MISTAKE AND QUOTES A PROVERB
SHE MANUFACTURES HASH AND GIVES THE BOARDERS A FEW POINTERS ON THE ABERDEEN GUARDS
SHE ORGANIZES A READING CLUB IN THE MOST APPROVED STYLE OF THE ART
SHE OUTDOES NELLIE BLY AND MAKES A TRIP AROUND ABERDEEN IN 72 MINUTES AND 6 SECONDS
SHE PREPARES A TREAT FOR THE BOARDERS WHICH LEADS TO A STRANGE COMEDY OF ERRORS
SHE RAISES THE PRICE OF BOARD, BUT LOWERS IT AGAIN THROUGH STERN NECESSITY
SHE READS A CHAPTER IN “LOOKING BACKWARD” TO THE ASTONISHED AND INTERESTED BOARDERS
SHE RELATES SOME EXCITING ANCEDOTES AND ATTENDS THE INDEPENDENT BARBECUE
SHE REMARKS EMPHATICALLY ON SOME TIMELY AND TRUTHFUL TOPICS
SHE REMONSTRATES ON THE GIDDINESS OF CHURCH SOCIALS
SHE RETURNS FROM HER VACATION AND VISITS THE FAIR
SHE TACKLES RELIGION AND GIVES HER IDEAS OF THE SUNDAY ENFORCEMENT LAW
SHE TALKS ABOUT RAILROADS AND VARIOUS MINOR MATTERS
SHE TELLS THE BOARDERS HOW TO MAKE A FORTUNE
SHE TELLS WHY FARMERS SHOULD BE HAPPY AND DISPLAYS REMARKABLE FORETHOUGHT
SHE VISITS THE GREAT DOWNDITCH FARM AND TELLS THE BOARDERS OF ITS WONDERS
SHE WORRIES OVER SEED WHEAT, AND GETS LECTURED BY THE BOARDERS
SING A SONG O’ SIXPENCE
SUGAR-LOAF MOUNTAIN
THE BAD MAN
THE BLACK SHEEP
THE BOX OF ROBBERS
THE CAPTURE OF FATHER TIME
THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE
THE COWARDLY LION AND THE HUNGRY TIGER
THE DIAMOND BACK
THE DISCONTENTED GOPHER
THE DUMMY THAT LIVED
THE ENCHANTED BUFFALO
THE ENCHANTED TYPES
THE EQUINE PARADOX
THE EXTRAVAGANCE OF DAN
THE FOREST ORACLE
THE GIRL WHO OWNED A BEAR
THE GLASS DOG
THE JOLLY GIRAFFE OF JOMB
THE JOLLY MILLER
THE KING OF THE POLAR BEARS
THE KING WHO CHANGED HIS MIND
THE LAUGHING HIPPOPOTAMUS
THE LITTLE MAN AND HIS LITTLE GUN
THE LITTLEST GIANT
THE LOVERIDGE BURGLARY
THE MAGIC BON BONS
THE MAN IN THE MOON
THE MAN WITH THE RED SHIRT
THE MANDARIN AND THE BUTTERFLY
THE MAN-FAIRY
THE MATING DAY
THE PEA-GREEN POODLE
THE QUEEN OF QUOK
THE QUEER VISITORS FROM OZ
THE RETURN OF DICK WEEMINS
THE RUNAWAY SHADOWS
THE RYL OF THE LILLIES
THE SCARECROW AND THE TIN WOODMAN
THE STORY OF JAGLON
THE STORY OF LITTLE BOY BLUE
THE STORY OF TOMMY TUCKER
THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF AN EASTER EGG
THE STUFFED ALLIGATOR
THE SUICIDE OF KIAROS
THE TIGER’S EYE
THE TRAMP AND THE BABY
THE TRANSFORMATION OF BAYAL THE PORCUPINE
THE TROUBLES OF POP WOMBAT
THE WITCHCRAFT OF MARY-MARIE
THE WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE
THE WOND’ROUS WISE MAN
THE WONDERFUL PUMP
THE YELLOW RYL
THEY PLAYED A NEW HAMLET
THREE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM
TIKTOK AND THE NOME KING
TO MACATAWA
TOM, THE PIPER’S SON
TWINKLE’S ENCHANTMENT
WHAT JACK HORNER DID
WHO CALLED “PERRY?”
YESTERDAY AT THE EXPOSITION
The Poetry Collections
A recent view of L. Frank Baum’s house at Coronado Island, San Diego, California
BY THE CANDELABRA’S GLARE
By the Candelabra’s Glare was L. Frank Baum’s first collection of verse, privately printed in 1898. Baum obtained a small printing press and printed the book’s 99 copies himself. He solicited the help of friends in its design, including eight illustrators, among them his future collaborator on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, W.W. Denslow. The volume’s 41 poems include a variety of sentimental and humorous verses, some previously published in newspapers. They range in subject from a humorous glimpse at feminists, to a farm wife in South Dakota, to a look at that era’s mania for bicycles. Its final section featured nine poems for children. Baum expanded on the idea the following year with Father Goose: His Book, which gained his first great commercial success.
A first edition copy of By the Candelabra’s Glare
CONTENTS
Semi-Sentimental Verse by the Candelabra’s Glare
T’ other Day
Right at Last
Time’s Vagaries
Her Answer
My Quandary
My First Love
The Green-Eyed Monster
Jessie, My Queen!
A Sonnet to My Lady’s Eye
Tell Me
At Last
The Answer
Cycling Verse: A Header
A Ruse
The Proud Miss MacNeal
Farmer Benson on the Motocycle
Then and Now
Unassorted Verse
Johnson
La Reine Est Mort1--
Vive la Reine!
Ye Warming Pan
The Egotist
The Youngster
Nance Adkins
A Bird Dog
When the Whistle Blows
The Heretic
A Rare Bit
The Fisher Man
When Mc Guffy
Two Women
Homo Sum
That New Leaf
Children’s Verse
Dan’l
The Tramp
The Big Black Bear
A Romance of a Broken Window
My Little Maid
Where Do They Go?
The Greedy Gold-fish
Who’s Afraid?
Young America
I am under obligations to Mr. A.H. Dwight, of the Dwight Brothers Paper Company, for the Paper on which these pages are printed, to Mr. Chauncey L. Williams for the end papers; to Mr. H.C. Maley, of the Illinois engraving company, for the zinc etchings; to Mr. Will A. Grant of Marsh and Grant, for the inks and sundry favors, and to Mr. George R. Smith, of The American Type Founding Company, for the types and press.
FOREWORD
A friend of mine, who has attained eminence as a critic, once found me glancing through a book of verse.
“What are you looking for?” he demanded.
“His excuse,” said I.
“My dear boy,” returned the eminent critic, frowning severely, “there can be no excuse for a book of verse.”
“Not if it chances to be poetry?” I asked.
“Ah, said my friend, lightly, “that is another matter.”
My best friends have never called me a poet, and I have been forced to admire their restraint. Nevertheless, this little book has an excuse. Unaided, I have set the types and turned the press and accomplished the binding. Such as it is, the book is “my very own.”
An
other peculiar thing about this volume, which, I believe, renders it unique, is the fact that there has not been a penny of expense attending its production. For my good friends, when they found I was going to make a book, insisted upon furnishing all the pictures and material, and I have generously allowed them to do so.
I have done my work in the evenings, when my business cares were over. It has been my recreation.
I know a man whose battles with the world have never impaired his cheery disposition, his faith in humanity, his generous optimism. Although essentially a man of business, he joys in living, and those who meet him drop from their shoulders the mantle and care of perplexity and live while in his presence. With full appreciation of my privilege to call him friend, I dedicate this modest volume to Harrison H. Roundtree, of Chicago.
Semi-Sentimental Verse by the Candelabra’s Glare
OFT at night, while on my bed--
Tossing here and turning there--
Vagrant thoughts crowd in my head,
Lingering, till in despair
I arise, and to my desk
Draw my well-worn easy chair
And transfer the thoughts to words
By the candelabra’s glare.
Vain imaginings, no doubt,
Meaning little, rhyming fair;
And when they are written down
And upon me coldly stare
In their new-born black and white,
I am tempted to declare
Never more I’ll scribble verse
By the candelabra’s glare.
(Honestly, I never owned a candelabrum. And I believe they seldom glare unless highly polished. But my good friend, Mr. Costello, considered the title of this book a good one and straightway designed me a cover and made the plates. So I wrote the verses to give the cover countenance, and substituting prosaic gas-light for the candelabra, the matter is true enough.)
T’ other Day
SUSIE tripped across the green
T’ other day;
Sweeter maiden ne’er was seen,
I must say.
Golden locks a bonnet covered,
On her cheeks the dimples hovered,
Pearly teeth her smile discovered
T’ other day.
I was passing ‘long and fell
In her way,
And thought it might be well
To delay
While in words that stuck and stumbled
All my bashful love I mumbled
And my heart before her humbled,
T’ other day.
Susie’s cheeks flushed like the rose
Straight away;
Seemed as if those blushes chose
To betray
She was not indifferent;
So I pleaded with intent