Today is the birthdate of Robert Louis Stevenson. (November 13, 1850 - December 3, 1894) In addition to his books of adventure, he also wrote A Child's Garden of Verses. This is one I remember from my own childhood.
My Shadow
I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.
The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow—
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.
He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!
One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.
Five years ago granddaughter Katrina's family got a Golden Retriever. They named him Shadow. If I remember correctly it was because he 'shadowed' Rodney and Brynley.
Last week they got another Golden Retriever. Her name is Sunny.
I imagine her disposition will match her name.
As you can see, she is already a big hit with Brynley.
And Rodney.
As Charles Schultz said: Happiness is a warm puppy.
