'If you climb my back' said the high haystack…
1911
A young boy with a flowing red scarf scrambles up a grassy hill, fleeing a haystack that just threatened to set itself on fire if he climbed it! In the distance, a charming town with red-tiled roofs and a tall church spire sits beside a river reflecting the warm, golden glow of the sky. This whimsical scene comes from a 1911 illustration by Florence Harrison, capturing a moment from a playful poem where the child chooses the safety of the church spire over the fiery haystack. Harrison was a prominent British illustrator during the Golden Age of Illustration, known for her dreamy, Art Nouveau-inspired style that brought fairy tales and poetry to life.