A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson To Alison Cunningham From Her Boy For the long nights you lay awake And watched for my unworthy sake: For your most comfortable hand That led me through the uneven land: For all the story-books you read: For all the pains you comforted: For all you pitied all you bore In sad and happy days of yore:-- My second Mother my first Wife The angel of my infant life-- From the sick child now well and old Take nurse the little book you hold! And grant it Heaven that all who read May find as dear a nurse at need And every child who lists my rhyme In the bright fireside nursery clime May hear it in as kind a voice As made my childish days rejoice! R. L. S.