LESSON 50 MY SHADOW

MY SHADOW

1. I 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.

2. The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow— Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow; For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber [1] ball, And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.

3. He hasn't any notion [2] of how children ought to play, And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way. 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!

4. 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 [3] sleepy-head, Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

—R. L. STEVENSON

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[1] india-rubber: Rubber at one time was found only in India.

[2] notion: Idea.

[3] arrant: Thorough, downright.