Illustrations from the children’s book “Детки Земли (Children of the Earth,” done by Sibylle von Olfers who also illustrated “Zochna in the Land of Snowdrops: Adventures in Verse.” From a 1917 Russian translation of the original German published in 1904.

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Front cover. . Image 1 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archivehttps://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/mode/1up
The earth mother awakening her children in early spring. Image 2 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n2/mode/1up
The earth mother’s children shout ‘Spring! Spring! and start sewing. The forget-me-not is cutting out a little blue cloak. The dandelion is sewing a golden caftan. The delicate, snow-white lily of the valley is sewing a beautiful outfit. The daisy and the chamomile are hurrying to sew little shirts. The poppy is sewing a dress from bright red fabric. The bellflower is ringing out in song with the others joining in, singing ‘Soon, very soon—tram-tram-tram—we will scatter through the forests, over the hills and meadows.’ Image 4 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n3/mode/1up
The children finish their sewing and show it to their mother, who says: ‘You can confidently go out into God’s world in these lovely dresses. Now, go and take a walk! Give my regards to the streams, the woods, the ravines, the butterflies, the beetles, the insects, the melodious birds, the crimson dawns, the pure dews, the light, fleeting clouds, the carefree breezes, the sky, the sun, and the stars!’ Image 6 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n5/mode/1up
The children awaken the roots of trees and are joined in their underground workshop by lady bugs and other insects helping. Above the sun shines brightly as the children sing: “Come to us! to us! – the flowers of curly birch trees, thin-trunked aspens, pines, and shaggy fir trees beckon to the flowers. – We will shelter you from the summer heat with branches, we will amuse you with fun games with golden sun bunnies.
– Come to us! to us!’ – the hills with lawns invite them.’ Image 8 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n7/mode/1up

 
The little ones live wonderfully above the ground. In the morning, the tender crimson dawn kisses the little ones, during the day the bright sun caresses them, the melodious birds entertain them with their singing, the evenings are adorned with dew, and the nights whisper wonderful fairy tales. ‘Look! – the silvery lily-of-the-valley tinkles softly – a butterfly is flying! Come, sit on my back under the little green leaf: I’ve saved a pure drop of dew for you to drink.’ Image 10 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n9/mode/1up

 
A little stream flows through the cheerful meadow and all day the little ones frolic with their forget-me-not and snail friends. Image 12 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n11/mode/1up
The rye has ripened, turned yellow. When the wind blows, the field sways like a golden sea; it rolls waves with a quiet rustle – further and further – over the boundary, like golden foam, scattering in a lush, golden crest. On the boundary, tiny flowers: poppy, chamomile, cornflower, bellflower, caraway, and others, dance in a round.The bellflower replies and the others respond:  ‘The princess-queen! the princess-queen!’ Image 13 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n13/mode/1up
The bellflower replies and the others respond:  ‘The princess-queen! the princess-queen!’ Image 16 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n15/mode/1up
The beautiful summer flew by very quickly. The bright sun shines less often, warms less, and the air grows colder.  Over the deserted fields, over the yellowing forests, various birds stretched out in long lines, heading south. There’s no time for games, no time for songs, no time for jokes. 
Often, the cold rain made the little ones shiver. Often, like a hungry beast, the wind howled, mercilessly bending the flower stems, instilling fear with its ominous roar. The little ones grow cold and, their little cloaks fluttering in the wind, return to their mother who says:  
“Hurry up, my dears! I have long since made up the beds in the little chambers for you, my little ones.” Image 18 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n17/mode/1up

These lithographs don’t actually have captions nor can I read Cyrillic. I have gone through the text, run it through Google Translate and then quoted much of the text or paraphrased it.

Published by sarahbguestperry

On a voyage to see how much mileage I can get from the creative ability and eye for images that my family thought was useless. On line art curator, fiction writer and now blogger. Historian's daughter. Follow me . . .even I have no idea where I'm going next.

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