| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1516. The Elf and the Dormouse |
| | | By Oliver Herford |
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| UNDER a toadstool | |
| Crept a wee Elf, | |
| Out of the rain, | |
| To shelter himself. | |
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| Under the toadstool, | 5 |
| Sound asleep, | |
| Sat a big Dormouse | |
| All in a heap. | |
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| Trembled the wee Elf, | |
| Frightened, and yet | 10 |
| Fearing to fly away | |
| Lest he get wet. | |
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| To the next shelter— | |
| Maybe a mile! | |
| Sudden the wee Elf | 15 |
| Smiled a wee smile, | |
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| Tugged till the toadstool | |
| Toppled in two. | |
| Holding it over him, | |
| Gayly he flew. | 20 |
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| Soon he was safe home, | |
| Dry as could be. | |
| Soon woke the Dormouse— | |
| “Good gracious me! | |
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| “Where is my toadstool?” | 25 |
| Loud he lamented. | |
| —And that ’s how umbrellas | |
| First were invented. | |
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