Through The Looking-Glass

1. Alice meets R. Q.

            1. R. Q. to K. R.’s 4th

2. Alice through Q.’s 3d (by railway) to 4th (Tweedledum and Tweedledee)

            2. W. Q. to Q. B.’s 4th (after shawl)

3. Alice meets W. Q. (with shawl)

            3. W. Q. to Q.B.’s 5th (becomes sheep)

4. Alice to Q.’s 5th (shop, river, shop)

            4. W. Q. to K. B.’s 8th (leaves egg on shelf)

5. Alice to Q.’s 6th (Humpty Dumpty)

            5. W. Q. to Q. B.’s 8th (flying from R. Kt.)

6. Alice to Q.’s 7th (forest)

            6. R. Kt. to K.’s 2nd (ch.)

7. W.Kt. takes R.Kt.

            7. W. Kt. to K. B’s 5th

8. Alice to Q.’s 8th (coronation)

            8. R. Q. to K.’s sq. (examination)

9. Alice becomes Queen

            9. Queens castle

10. Alice castles (feast)

            10. W.Q. to Q.R.’s 6th (soup)

11. Alice takes R.Q. & wins

Child of the pure unclouded brow

    And dreaming eyes of wonder!

Though time be fleet, and I and thou

    Are half a life asunder,

Thy loving smile will surely hail

The love-gift of a fairy-tale.

I have not seen thy sunny face,

    Nor heard thy silver laughter;

No thought of me shall find a place

    In thy young life’s hereafter—

Enough that now thou wilt not fail

To listen to my fairy-tale.

A tale begun in other days,

    When summer suns were glowing—

A simple chime, that served to time

    The rhythm of oar rowing—

Whose echoes live in memory yet,

Though envious years would say ‘forget.’

Come, hearken then, ere voice of dread.

    With bitter tidings laden,

Shall summon to unwelcome bed

    A melancholy maiden!

We are but older children, dear,

Who fret to find our bedtime near.

Without, the frost, the blinding snow.

    The storm-wind’s moody madness—

Within, the firelight’s ruddy glow,

    And childhood’s nest of gladness.

The magic words shall hold thee fast:

Thou shalt not heed the raving blast.

And though the shadow of a sigh

    May tremble through the story,

For ‘happy summer days’ gone by,

    And vanish’d summer glory—

It shall not touch with breath of bale

The pleasance of our fairy-tale.