CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
from
A Child's Garden of Verses
by
Robert Louis Stevenson

Introduction:

Do you remember when
you had to go to bed
at a certain time
no matter how light
it was outside?

In wintertime
it was still dark
when you got up.

You had to
turn on the lights.

But in summertime
it was still light
when you went to bed.

Even though
Robert Louis Stevenson
lived over 100 years ago
he had the same experience.

There were
some differences.

No one had
electric lights.

People had to use candles
for light
which made the night
even darker!

BED IN SUMMER

In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people's feet
Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?

What do you remember
about your childhood?

Did you feel
you were missing out
on something
when you had to
go to bed earlier
than older people?