A CHILD-WORLD
First published for the Christmas season of 1896, this book became one of the first true "best sellers" of America. It also established Riley's reputation as "America's Children's Poet." In it Riley's "The Bear Story" was first published although Riley had told the story on numerous engagements on the lyceum circuit throughout the United States. Its American representation of childhood accompanied by the British representation of Rudyard Kipling's "Child's Garden of Verses" remain the two vehicles for understanding children of the turn of the 19th century. Incidentally, the two national "children's poets" corresponded and wrote poetry back and forth.
Part 1, A Child-World, The Garden and the
Martin-Box, The Lovely Neighborhood, The Old Home Folks, Bud and the
Superlative, Mayme and Alex, Little Lizzie and the Parents, The Gentle Mother,
The Silent Poem, Old Scenes and Sounds.
Part 2. Household Harmonies, Cousin Rugus and Uncle
Mart, The Tree House, The Dinner and the Guests, At Almon Kiefers, Almon's
Literary Leanings, The Robber-Chief, While the Heart Beats Young.
Part 3.A Prospective Visit, At Noe's House, The Owl,
the Terrier and the Bolivur, Jason, The Loehrs and the Hammonds, The Girl
Friend, The Silent Poem, A Summons from Floretty, The Hired Man and Floretty.
Part 4 The Evening Company, An Impromptu Artist,
Maymie's Story of Red Riding Hood, Limitations of Genius, Mr. Hammond's Parable:
The Dreamer.
Part 5 Floretty's Musical Contribution, A Modern Fairy,
Bud's Fairy Tale, A Delicious Interuption, Moey's Night-Piece.
Part 6 Cousin Rufus' Story, Bewildering Emotions, The
Bear Story That Alex 'Ist Maked Up His-Own-Se'f", The Pathos of Applause
Part 7 Told by "The Noted Traveler"
Part 8 Heat Lightning, The Old Snowman
Part 9. Little Jack Janitor
To set the scene for this work, let us take a quick look at Riley's childhood home where the stories and events of "A Child-World" unfold. This home remains open for public visitation to this day as one of America's foremost "home museums" and is located on West Main Street in the poet's birthtown of Greenfield, Indiana.
The kitchen of Riley's birthhome
where the poet was born.
The
parlor
where
the
tales
of
A Child-World
were
told
The
dining room
of
the
Riley
home.
Upstairs
bedroom
with
trundle
bed
beneath.
"
Rafter
room"
where
Riley
slept
with
"roundabout"
(boy's outfit)
on
door.
Alcove
where
hired
girl
slept