Help! Who wrote this poem?

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My grandfather memorized the following poem when he was in grade school. He taught it to all of his children and they taught it to theirs. I intend to teach it to mine. So it's sorta turned into a family tradition, but I would really like to know who wrote it and perhaps if there is more of this persons work that can be found. Any help would be appreciated! (The format and stanzas may be incorrect. I am writing it from memory and have never seen it in print)

Little Boy Blue

The little toy dog is covered with dust
But sturdy and staunch he stands.
The little tin soldier is red with rust
With the musket he holds in his hands.

Now time was, when they little toy dog was new
And the soldier was passing fair
That was the time that our Little Boy Blue
Kissed them and put them there.

"Now don't you go, until I come," he said
"And don't you make any noise."
So toddling off to his trundle bed
He dreamed of his pretty toys.

And while he was sleeping,
An angel songed, "Awaken my Little Boy Blue"
Oh the years are many and long
But the little toy friends are true.

All faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand.
Each in it's same old place.
Awaiting the touch of his little hand
And the smile of his pretty face.

And they wonder while waiting these long years through
In the dust of that little chair.
What has become of our Little Boy Blue
Since he kissed them and put them there.

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Eugene Field, it seems.

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1850 to 1895:

And here is a page of sites relating to him, from a Google search of his name.

http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22Eugene+Field%22&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

And here is the poem, as contained in Bartleby's:

Eugene Field. 1850?1895

5. Little Boy Blue

THE little toy dog is covered with dust,
But sturdy and staunch he stands;
The little toy soldier is red with rust,
And his musket moulds in his hands.
Time was when the little toy dog was new, 5
And the soldier was passing fair;
And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue
Kissed them and put them there.

"Now don't you go till I come," he said,
"And don't you make any noise!" 10
So, toddling off to his trundle bed,
He dreamt of the pretty toys;
And, as he was dreaming, an angel song
Awakened our Little Boy Blue?
Oh! the years are many, the years are long, 15
But the little toy friends are true!

Ay, faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand,
Each in the same old place,
Awaiting the touch of a little hand,
The smile of a little face; 20
And they wonder, as waiting the long years through
In the dust of that little chair,
What has become of our Little Boy Blue,
Since he kissed them and put them there.

Hope this helps - and welcome!

To find out who wrote the poem, I just copied the opening lines you gave into Google - www.google.com - it is one of the best known search engines.

Help! Who wrote this poem?

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