My Truant Shadow by Ruth Collie — Read

I envied little girls to-day: I envied little boys. For part of me / just longed to play with Springtime's jolly toys. I longed to have a / hoop to bowl, a spinning top and whip, a bright red ball to bounce / and roll -- a rope so I might skip. A rope with handles very gay, on / each a painted rose. Then little girls who passed my way would say, / "Oh! look at those! " But I, alas! this morning walked with silly, / grown-up tread; so wisely my companion talked, such solemn things he / said. But suddenly my shadow tripped a little way ahead. And with a / brand new rope it skipped -- I feared it would drop dead. So fast it / skipped, such slender feet, it really made me wince. And then it / skipped across the street; I have not seen it since. But what it's / doing I can guess, that naughty, truant, Shadow-me! It's spinning / tops (oh! happiness) and bowling hoops with ecstasy!