diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:16:46 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:16:46 -0700 |
| commit | e37c3c8b223dca7fa8e977c445b5f8121f4dc096 (patch) | |
| tree | ec05515a9a857be9586e4462a343649a33b21439 /25359.txt | |
Diffstat (limited to '25359.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 25359.txt | 15699 |
1 files changed, 15699 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/25359.txt b/25359.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..96ccc69 --- /dev/null +++ b/25359.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15699 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of +Character Building, Volume I (of 17), by Various, Edited by William Byron +Forbush, Herbert Treadwell Wade, Winton James Baltzell, Rossiter Johnson, +and Daniel Edwin Wheeler + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17) + Fun and Thought for Little Folk + + +Author: Various + +Editor: William Byron Forbush, Herbert Treadwell Wade, Winton James +Baltzell, Rossiter Johnson, and Daniel Edwin Wheeler + +Release Date: May 6, 2008 [eBook #25359] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOYS AND GIRLS BOOKSHELF; A +PRACTICAL PLAN OF CHARACTER BUILDING, VOLUME I (OF 17)*** + + +E-text prepared by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Anne Storer, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 25359-h.htm or 25359-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/3/5/25359/25359-h/25359-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/3/5/25359/25359-h.zip) + + +Transcriber's note: + + Text enclosed by equal signs is underlined (=underlined=). + + Text enclosed by pound (number) signs is in bold face + (#bold#). + + This book is heavily illustrated, so illustrations are not + denoted in the text file except where captioned, or alluded + to in the text. + + Inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been + retained. + + + + + +BOYS AND GIRLS BOOKSHELF + + _A Practical Plan of Character Building_ + + COMPLETE IN SEVENTEEN VOLUMES + + I Fun and Thought for Little Folk + II Folk-Lore, Fables, and Fairy Tales + III Famous Tales and Nature Stories + IV Things to Make and Things to Do + V True Stories from Every Land + VI Famous Songs and Picture Stories + VII Nature and Outdoor Life, Part I + VIII Nature and Outdoor Life, Part II + IX Earth, Sea, and Sky + X Games and Handicraft + XI Wonders of Invention + XII Marvels of Industry + XIII Every Land and its Story + XIV Famous Men and Women + XV Bookland--Story and Verse, Part I + XVI Bookland--Story and Verse, Part II + XVII Graded and Classified Index + + THE UNIVERSITY SOCIETY + INCORPORATED + _New York_ + + + + + [Illustration: MAROONED + FROM A DRAWING BY MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL] + + + + + BOYS AND GIRLS + BOOKSHELF + + _A Practical Plan of Character Building_ + + Little Folks' Section + + Prepared Under the Supervision of + THE EDITORIAL BOARD _of the_ UNIVERSITY SOCIETY + + Volume I + FUN AND THOUGHT FOR LITTLE FOLK + + THE UNIVERSITY SOCIETY + INCORPORATED + _New York_ + + + + + Copyright, 1920, By + THE UNIVERSITY SOCIETY INC. + + Copyright, 1912, 1915, By + THE UNIVERSITY SOCIETY INC. + + + _Manufactured in the U. S. A._ + + + + +THE EDITORIAL BOARD +OF +THE UNIVERSITY SOCIETY INC. + + _General Editor_: WILLIAM BYRON FORBUSH, PH.D., LITT.D. + Author of "The Boy Problem" + + _Technical Editor:_ + HERBERT TREADWELL WADE + Technical Editor of The New International Encyclopedia + + _Literature Editor:_ + ROSSITER JOHNSON, PH.D., LL.D. + Editor of "Little Classics" + + _Music Editor:_ + WINTON JAMES BALTZELL, A.B., MUS. BAC. + Secretary of The National Academy of Music + + _Associate Editor:_ + DANIEL EDWIN WHEELER + Editorial Director of the Edison Industries + + _Office Editor:_ JENNIE ELLIS BURDICK + Editor of "The Children's Own Library" + + +_PARTIAL LIST OF SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS_ + + JOSEPH H. ADAMS, + Editor of "Harper's Practical Books for Boys" + + T. GEORGE ALLEN, + Curator of the Oriental Museum, University of Chicago + + MARY W. ARTOIS, + Traveler and Writer + + ROGER W. BABSON, + Author of "Central America" + + GRACE GERTRUDE BARDEN, + Teacher of Domestic Science + + HARRY K. BEASLEY, + Electrical Engineer and Author + + C. S. BRAININ, Ph.D., + Professor of Astronomy, Columbia University + + M. ALSTON BUCKLEY, + Retold Tales and Fact Articles + + FRANK H. CHELEY, + Editor of the "Father and Son Library" + + LAURA CLARKE, + Author of Fact Articles + + CARL HARRY CLAUDY, + Author of "First Book of Photography" + + JOHN H. CLIFFORD, + Associate-Editor of "The Young Folks' + Treasury," "The Mother's Book," etc. + + CLAYTON S. COOPER + Author of "Understanding South America" + + LEE S. CRANDALL, + Curator, New York Zoological Park + + WALTER ALDEN DYER, + Author and former Managing Editor of _Country Life in America_ + + WILLIAM H. EASTON, Ph.D., + Publicity Department of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co. + + ARTHUR ELSON, + Musical Critic and Author of "The Book of Musical Knowledge" + + PHILIP D. FAGANS, + Executive Secretary of the Woodcraft League + + JOHN CLARKE FARBER, A.M., + Lieutenant, United States National Army + + LOUISE MAUNSELL FIELD, + Fiction Reviewer of _The New York Times_ + + EHRMA G. FILER, + Fact Articles + + HUGO FROELICH AND + BONNIE E. SNOW, + Authors of "Industrial Art" textbooks + + JULIA A. GLEASON, + Teacher of Sewing, Cornell University + + WILLIAM ELLIOT GRIFFIS, D.D., L.H.D., + Lecturer and Author + + ISABEL F. HAPGOOD, + Author of "Russian Rambles" + + HILDEGARDE HAWTHORNE, + Author and Critic + + ROSE HENDERSON, + Biographer and Travel Writer + + HENRY WALTON JONES, + Fact Articles + + GRACE LEE KNELL, + Teacher of Manual Training, Ridgewood, N.J., Schools + + O. IVAN LEE, + Analytical Chemist + + CHARLES HENRY LERRIGO, M.D., + Former President of the Kansas State Board of Health + + HARRIS W. MOORE, + Author of "Manual Training Toys" + + JOHN T. NICHOLS, + Curator of Fish at the American Museum of Natural History + + T. GILBERT PEARSON, + Executive Secretary of the National Association of Audubon Societies + + E. L. D. SEYMOUR, + Farm Editor of _Country Life_ + + MORGAN SHEPARD (JOHN MARTIN), + Writer of Illustrated Letters to Children + + ROBERT W. SHUFELDT, M.D., U.S.M.C., + Head of the Science Bureau, Washington, D. C. + + ELVA S. SMITH, + Children's Librarian of the Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh + + MABELL SHIPPIE CLARKE SMITH, + Author and Lecturer + + MARY V. WORSTELL, + Author, Editor, and Lecturer + + KATHARINE S. WORTHINGTON, + Teacher of English in the Finch School + + +_PARTIAL LIST OF AUTHORS REPRESENTED_ +IN THE BOYS AND GIRLS BOOKSHELF BY SELECTIONS FROM THEIR WRITINGS + + FREDERICK UPHAM ADAMS, + Mechanical Engineer and Author + + ROALD AMUNDSEN, + Leader of the Norwegian Polar Expedition which reached the South Pole + + HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN, + Danish Poet and Fabulist + + CAROLYN SHERWIN BAILEY, + Writer of Stories and Books for Children and Young Folks + + RALPH HENRY BARBOUR, + Author of "The Crimson Sweater" and other books for boys + + L. FRANK BAUM, + Author of "The Wizard of Oz," "Queen Zixie of Ix" + and other children's books + + ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL, Ph.D., M.D., Sc.D., + Scientist and Inventor + + JOHN STUART BLACKIE, + Scottish Scholar and Man-of-letters + + RICHARD DODDRIDGE BLACKMORE, + English Novelist + + JOHN HENRY BONER, + Editor and Poet + + ELBRIDGE STREETER BROOKS, + Author of "Historic Boys" and "Historic Girls" + + WINIFRED BUCK, + Author of "The American Girl" + + GELETT BURGESS, + Draughtsman and Author + + THORNTON WALDO BURGESS, + Author of "Old Mother West Wind" + + ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING, + Poet + + ROBERT BROWNING, + Poet + + ROBERT BURNS, + Poet + + CHARLES H. CAFFIN, + Author of "A Guide to Pictures" + + CHARLES DICKENS, + Novelist + + MARY MAPES DODGE, + Author and Editor + + NATHAN HASKELL DOLE, + Author of "Young Folks' History of Russia," etc. + + ALEXANDRE DUMAS, + Novelist + + M. S. EMERY, + Author of "How to Enjoy Pictures" + + EUGENE FIELD, + Poet + + WILLIAM LOVELL FINLEY, + State Biologist of Oregon + + EDWARD HOWE FORBUSH, + State Ornithologist of Massachusetts + + MARY E. WILKINS FREEMAN, + Novelist + + MATTHEW PAGE GAFFNEY, + Headmaster of the Roger Ascham School + + REV. WASHINGTON GLADDEN, + Author of "Santa Claus on a Lark," "Social Salvation," etc. + + JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS, + Author of "Uncle Remus Stories" + + ELIZABETH HARRISON, + President of the National Kindergarten College + + NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, + Novelist + + CHARLES FREDERICK HOLDER, + Author of "Big Game Fish of the United States" + + VICTOR HUGO, + Poet and Novelist + + FREDERICK WINTHROP HUTCHINSON, + Author of "The Men Who Found America" + + JEAN INGELOW, + Poet and Novelist + + WASHINGTON IRVING, + Historian, Essayist, and Novelist + + TUDOR JENKS, + Author of "Boys' Book of Explorations," + "Electricity for Young People," etc. + + CHARLES KINGSLEY, + Clergyman and Author + + GUSTAVE KOBBE, + Author of "Wagner's Music Dramas Analyzed" + + CHARLES LAMB, + Critic, Humorist, and Author + + SIDNEY LANIER, + Poet and Critic + + EDMUND LEAMY, + Author of "The Golden Spears" + + MAUD McKNIGHT LINDSAY, + Author of "Mother Stories" + + HENRY W. LONGFELLOW, + Poet + + SILAS ALPHA LOTTRIDGE, + Author of "Animal Snapshots and How Made" + + FREDERIC A. LUCAS, + Director of the American Museum of Natural History + + INEZ N. McFEE, + Author of "Tales of Common Things" + + PETER MacQUEEN, + Lecturer and Author of "Around the World With the Flag" + + JOHN MILTON, + Poet + + ALFRED NOYES, + Poet + + ALBERT BIGELOW PAINE, + Author of "The Van Dwellers," "Mark Twain" and other works + + GIFFORD PINCHOT, + Systematic Forester + + EMILIE POULSSON, + Author of "Finger Plays" + + LAURA ELIZABETH RICHARDS, + Author of the "Hildegarde" Books and "The Golden Windows" + + JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY, + Poet + + JOHN RUSKIN, + Art Critic and Writer + + SIR WALTER SCOTT, + Novelist and Poet + + ANNA SEWELL + Novelist + + ROBERT W. SERVICE, + Author of "The Spell of the Yukon" + + ERNEST THOMPSON SETON, + Artist, Author, and Lecturer + + WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, + Poet and Dramatist + + PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY, + Poet + + VILHJALMUR STEFANSSON, + Arctic Explorer + + ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON, + Poet, Essayist, and Novelist + + ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON, + Poet + + MRS. GUDRUN THORNE-THOMSEN, + Author of "East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon," + and other Norwegian Folk Tales + + EVERETT TITSWORTH TOMLINSON, Ph.D., L.H.D., + Author of "Three Young Continentals" + + CAROLYN WELLS, + Author of "A Nonsense Anthology" and the "Marjorie" Books + + JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER, + Poet and Author + + LEONARD WOOD, + Major-General, United States Army + + ORVILLE WRIGHT, + Aviator and Inventor + + +PARTIAL LIST OF ILLUSTRATORS +_Examples of whose work appear in the_ BOYS AND GIRLS BOOKSHELF + + JOHN W. ALEXANDER F. S. CHURCH LUCY FITCH PERKINS + ANNIE ANDERSON CLYDE O. DELAND HOWARD PYLE + FLORENCE ANDERSON EDMUND DULAC ARTHUR RACKHAM + CULMER BARNES RUTH HALLOCK FREDERICK REMINGTON + FRANK L. BAUM FLORENCE HARRISON F. REUTERDAHL + J. CARTER BEARD R. BRUCE HORSFALL HARRY ROUNTREE + W. T. BENDA GEORGE W. JOY CARL RUNGIUS + JOHN BENNETT E. W. KEMBLE EDMUND J. SAWYER + ANNA WHELAN BETTS EMILIE BENSON KNIPE ERNEST THOMPSON SETON + R. B. BIRCH CHARLES F. LESTER R. SHRADOR + E. H. BLASHFIELD J. C. LEYENDECKER HAROLD SICHEL + R. I. BRASHER H. MOORE HUGH SPENCER + PAMELA VINTON BROWN H. A. OGDEN ALICE BARBER STEPHENS + HARRISON CADY MONRO S. ORR FRANK STICK + BESS BRUCE CLEVELAND MAXFIELD PARRISH SARA S. STILLWELL + F. Y. CORY MALCOLM PATTERSON C. R. SWAN + LILIAN A. COVEY E. C. PEIXOTTO ALBERTINE RANDALL WHEELAN + + + + +GENERAL INTRODUCTION + + +Books are as essentially a part of the home where boys and girls are +growing into manhood and womanhood as any other part of the furnishings. +Parents have no more right to starve a child's mind than they have his +body. If a child is to take his place among the men and women of his +time he needs to know the past out of which the present grew, and he +needs to know what is going on in the world in which he lives. He needs +tools for his brain as much as for his hands. All these things are +found, and found only, in books. + +The child is helpless to provide himself with these necessaries for +life. The majority of parents are eager that their children shall start +early and right on that road which leads to honorable success. But it is +impossible for any parent, by no matter how liberal an expenditure, to +collect books that shall adequately cover all a child's needs and +interests. This is the task of experts. + + +INSTRUCTIVE PLAY + +Recent studies of childhood have emphasized the conviction that a child +develops his talents even more in his playtime than in his school; his +spontaneous activities build up his fourfold--physical, mental, social, +and moral--nature. Probably no collection of books has been more +strongly affected by this modern discovery than the BOYS AND GIRLS +BOOKSHELF. The whole effort has been to utilize the child's +play-interests so that they shall express themselves in joyous ways that +lead into the world of invention and industry, of imagination and +achievement, of science and art and music, of character and worth-while +deeds. + +Children's collections have had various literary styles. The +encyclopedia is comprehensive, but stately and often dull; it will +answer the question of the child, but it does not lead the child toward +more knowledge. The scrapbook is interesting, but it has no plan or +order. The "inspirational" book is full of fine sentiments, but without +facts or much information. + + +THE PURPOSE OF _THE BOOKSHELF_ + +The BOOKSHELF is so built that it creates a desire for knowledge, and +then satisfies that desire. At the same time the BOOKSHELF does not +pretend to tell all that is known on any one subject. The Editors have +selected the subjects concerning which no one should be ignorant, and +have seen to it that the information is given in an attractive form with +plenty of illustrative material, and that when the reader is finished +he will have a working knowledge of the subject. To awaken minds and to +make them alert and receptive has been the aim in making the BOOKSHELF. + + +THE PLAN AND SCOPE + +The BOOKSHELF begins with the dawn of intelligence in the child, and +goes with him through the morning of childhood, and into the noonday of +youth. It contains a complete stock of finger-plays, action-plays, +lullabies, and other entertaining and educational material enjoyable to +babies and little children; it reaches into and through the high-school +age. In fact, the BOOKSHELF, with its valuable scientific and +natural-history material, its information about inventions and +industries, and its literary treasures, is an asset to the library even +of an adult. + +The BOOKSHELF is classified. In some libraries material upon an +unrelated variety of subjects may be found within the covers of a single +volume. This feature has been tried and found wanting. It means that +when the reader is on the trail of a given subject he never knows where +to look for it, and he is likely to have to hunt through several volumes +before he learns what he wants to know. The argument for an unclassified +library is that the child who is reading a story may happen at the end +of that story upon an article containing valuable information, and thus +be lured on to read it. Children are not so easily beguiled. The mental +distinction of being, as it were, forced to spring from one theme to +another certainly counterbalances any supposed advantage in the +scrapbook arrangement. "A place for everything, and everything in its +place," is as true an adage and as necessary to remember and to practise +to-day as it ever was. + +In addition to classifying the contents of the BOOKSHELF, the Editors +have graded the material. Any collection that is purchased for a home +and leaves out the needs of the children of any given age is +disappointing to that home. There is also a Graded Index, which is an +enlargement upon the general plan. + +On the very day of its birth a baby enters the child's garden of life. +In this beautiful place there are weeds as well as flowers, and father +and mother must guide the little adventurer so that only the good +flowers are developed, while the weeds are held in check and the +poisonous plants torn up and destroyed. Earnest parents feel this +responsibility very keenly. In "Fun and Thought for Little Folk" there +is a well-selected collection of jingles, stories, and play exercises +for babies up to about three or four years of age. It covers the +earliest informal education of a child, from finger-play days to the +alphabet period. It helps parents who wish to enjoy their little +children and who do not wish such enjoyment to be a mere matter of +chance. Trained kindergartners with the modern viewpoint had much to do +with this collection. Not only does it delight the little folk, but it +is also the first material for child-training. + +Educators are making much nowadays of fairy stories and wonder-tales. +The imaginative man, they say, is the effective man, because he has the +mental vision which sees farther than the physical eye; and they urge +that all children should be the possessors of these nursery tales that +have made children happy for so many centuries. "Folk-lore, Fables, and +Fairy Tales" is the result of careful comparative study of all the +leading anthologies, with added research into sources that have not +otherwise been thoroughly explored. + +The folk-lore of many races and times has been sifted, and wherever +necessary it has been retold so as to be suitable to modern tastes and +needs of modern children. Whatever was gruesome or morally undesirable +has been omitted, but the flavor and the language of the past have been +retained. Here are "Cinderella," "Tom Thumb," and all the other +favorites of our childhood days, together with the stories that are told +to the children in the four corners of the world. While these will be +read to our boys and girls before they are able to read for themselves, +they will turn back again and again to this department as they grow +older. There is perpetual youth in the tales evolved by a race in its +infancy. + +From the fairy-tale and the folk-lore period, when beasts and trees and +all that is about them speak to them in words they can understand, +children develop into a stage where they want stories, or, as we say +when we are older, fiction. Both they and we mean tales that while +untrue yet would be possible of happening. At this age, also, children +desire to learn the habits of the animals they see on the farm, in the +zoo, and in the circus. The importance of giving children an early +acquaintance with good literature is unquestioned, but even the most +earnest parent has difficulty in making the selection, finding the +source in available form, and keeping out what is unworthy. + +"Famous Tales and Nature Stories" has been made with care. Many of the +world's famous stories are collected here, and wherever possible they +are in the original language. The nature stories, about flowers and +trees, birds and insects, are not formal, but are planned to give the +child direct contact with nature and to assist the good habit of direct +and interested observation. + +This division also includes a Primer and a First Reader, made according +to modern principles. Enough reading material is furnished in graded +form to enable the home teacher to help her little pupil master the +elements of reading, or the child will use it himself to supplement the +work of the teacher in school, if the mother is too busy with her other +tasks to permit her the enjoyment of teaching her child to read. + +All modern kindergarten teaching to-day centers about the development of +the child's own impulses and interests. Of these the two most noticeable +are the tendency to play and the tendency to construct. Even if a mother +had no higher motive than to keep her little child out of mischief she +would welcome a treasury of devices that will always be at hand to +answer the question, "Mother, what shall I do now?" But most mothers +appreciate the value and importance of well directed play and work. In +"Things to Make and Things to Do" are given the directions for +elementary cooking, sewing, woodworking and other handicraft. Successful +teachers who are close to young children, and who kept home conditions +in mind in all their writing, prepared these sections. Educationally +they are sound, but, better than that, they are simple and explicit, and +within the reach of the resources of each home. Here, too, are the +suggestions for the directed and undirected play of the wee tots. The +material in this department, while complete in itself, will prepare the +way for and supplement all teaching in schools of these important +subjects. It is of the first importance that boys and girls recognize +the true nature of work and play. This department will help them in the +right direction. + +As a child grows older he craves true stories. "Mother, did it really +happen?" "Father, was that make-believe or real?" These questions are +but the sign of mental and spiritual growing pains. If the child is +wisely aided, that poise which is so envied by the self-conscious person +will be his. The chief factor in poise is knowledge. + +To be at home in many lands and times is the mark of a really educated +man or woman. Not all of us can actually travel, not all of us can have +the privilege of the acquaintance of the world's great men and women, +but it is within the reach of every one to-day to discover, through +picture and description, the world's most far-away lands, and in the +pages of books to have an intimate and inspiring acquaintance with the +heroes of the nations. If we wish our children to be fine types of men +and women, we must form their tastes in these large directions before +they are overwhelmed by what is so ephemeral and worthless in literature +and drama of the day. + +"True Stories from Every Land" is prepared to catch the attention and to +hold the interest of young children. Foreign lands are studied not by +their boundaries and political affairs, but through the home life, the +customs, the sports, and the work of their children, their men, and +their women. The approach to history is made by biographies of some of +the most interesting heroes, and especially by accounts of the +adventurous pioneer days of America. The illustrations in this +department are multitudinous, graphic, up-to-date, and many of them +unusual. These stories will assist in home and school studies, because +they illustrate the history, customs, manners, and peoples of different +countries. They will help little children to learn how to read, and +incidentally teach them much that will help them to appreciate the +privilege and responsibility of being good Americans. + +A good book of songs, familiar, tuneful, suitable to all occasions, and +graded to suit the differing tastes of separate members of the family, +is always welcome. The collection of "Famous Songs," edited by Winton +James Baltzell, is skillfully assembled from the best song-books +available, and it also contains many pieces of unusual charm not so +generally known. The songs for little children, for instance, are based +upon a list approved by our leading kindergartners. A novel feature is +that not only are the songs within range of children's voices, but many +of them have been arranged for instrumental use, and some for +folk-dancing. + +In "Picture Stories" we have a delightful series of reproductions of +masterpieces of painting and sculpture of the world's great art eras. +Old masters and modern are well represented. The descriptions were +written for children, remembering their interest in the story-element in +pictures, and including inspiring details of the artists' lives. In the +other volumes are many more reproductions of masterpieces. + +There are two volumes entitled "Nature and Outdoor Life"; the first one, +"Trees, Flowers, Amphibians, and Reptiles," begins with talks about +earth, air, and sky, the clouds and weather, the seasons, the ways of +bees and bugs and birds, illustrated with portraits of real children +busy in observing the things of nature. Then follow sections on Familiar +Flowers, Plant Life, Common Trees, and Reptiles and Amphibians, each +written by an expert on the subject, and all profusely illustrated with +photographs and drawings, many of the illustrations being in color. All +this material is written in an easy and familiar style and in a manner +to stimulate the right kind of curiosity. Children are encouraged to ask +questions, and are unconsciously led to observe and read for themselves. +Both this volume and its companion, "Birds, Animals, and Insects," help +boys and girls to find out many secrets of nature. In the second nature +series we begin with pets and domestic animals, and then study the wild +animals and birds of America. Next we learn of the ways of the birds and +animals in other lands, which we meet in the zoological gardens of our +own country. The volume closes with descriptions of the invertebrates. + +The natural sciences are cared for in "Earth, Sea, and Sky." Each +division is more fascinating than the last, as it unfolds the world to +us. We all want to know, and ought to know, more about the sphere upon +which we live, its place in the universe, how it came to be peopled, and +what are some of the laws that govern its magnificent forces and +changes. This department is as interesting to old as to young, though it +will find a warm place in the hearts of the youths who are just getting +interested in physics, physiography, chemistry, and electricity. + +An earlier volume covered the play and hand-work of little children. Our +young people are now ready for games more skillful and cooperative, and +handicraft more elaborate and involving a finer finish. "Games and +Handicraft" supplies this need. If we are going to have a more +interesting home life, if we are going to keep our boys and girls off +the streets and away (sometimes) from the movies, if we are going to +supplement the textbook work of the schools by the education of the +hands, we need adequate handbooks to guide us. Sometimes such books are +too vague to be practical. Here are working-drawings that are detailed +and exact. That these projects can be executed is evidenced by the +photographs of the finished work. + +"Where can I get up-to-date, interesting and trustworthy descriptions of +modern inventions for my young folks?" How many times this question is +asked of book-store clerks by fathers! How often is a satisfactory +answer given? Often such books are not up to date; usually they are too +technical to be interesting; if they are interesting they are often +untrustworthy; and none of them covers more than a portion of the +ground. "Wonders of Invention" represents an earnest endeavor to meet +this wide need within the covers of a single volume. The Editors were +fortunate in obtaining for this department the cooperation of steamship +companies, great electrical concerns, concrete firms, inventors and +others "who know." The illustrations were selected individually, and add +to the value and interest of the text. + + +VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE + +As a child develops toward maturity his talents begin to focus and his +interests to direct themselves toward some special life occupation. The +matter of Vocational Guidance is the most vital thing in education +to-day, but wisdom in this field is far to seek. Changes in the +industrial world are so rapid that books giving mere statistics of +salaries and requirements are soon out of date, and they have no appeal +to the young. Motive, rather than immediate gain, is what affects young +people; and the Editors of The BOOKSHELF have felt that the one wise way +to approach this great question is to describe the important activities +of the world and some of the men who have been occupied in them, that +young readers may be able to make an intelligent choice, and at the same +time discover their own special talents. This section of The BOOKSHELF +is known as "Marvels of Industry." Aside from its value as a vocational +guide, this volume will add much to the enjoyment of the family circle +because of the facts that are gleaned from a perusal of its pages. + +In "True Stories from Every Land" the little folks made the acquaintance +of the world's children. It is now time for the older young folk to +travel. In "Every Land and Its Story" we take a journey around the +world, beginning in North America, covering the rest of the New World, +and then going to Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the islands of +the sea. The greatest emphasis is laid upon the lands that we love the +most. In the United States the eight great natural divisions are +described, then the Indians, the National Parks, Alaska, and Porto +Rico. The greatest cities are visited in turn, the characteristics of +each being picturesquely described. Canada is visited in the same way. +In each case the country is described by a competent, interesting +traveler, in many instances by one who has lived there a long time, and +in some cases by a famous writer. Carefully chosen photographs +illustrate this department. + +Carlyle was right, at least as far as young people are concerned, when +he insisted that history is only biography. The character-making +influence of great lives has never been denied, and ought never to be +neglected. "Famous Men and Women" begins with the men who made the +United States and Canada. It tells about some of the living Men Who +Count to-day. A simple graphic history of the greatest event in history, +the World War of 1914-1918, is given. Then comes a glorious pageant of +Scientists and Inventors, Writers and Rulers, National Heroes, and +Servants of the Common Good. This material will not only form an +excellent supplemental reading book, but a valued treasury for everyday +inspiration. + +Crowning the collection, and of surpassing importance, is +"Bookland--Story and Verse." This is an introduction to the best +literature in poetry and prose for young people from twelve to twenty; +in fact, for young people from twelve to eighty. The prose stories are +presented in the language of the masters themselves. There is no +diluting of their fine literary style. Careful abridgments have been +made by well-known literary critics, but the essence of these +masterpieces has been retained. This is important: our young people +should know the great, not only about them. The poems are usually given +entire. + +In making the General Index and the Graded Index the Editors have +remembered that these are for use, not to fill space. The General Index +is practical and will help the user to find just what he is looking for, +and to find it quickly. The Graded Index is intended primarily for the +use of the parent. It sorts out and selects the best material for each +age. First is given a brief, clear account of the tastes and needs of +Infancy, Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, Late Childhood, and +Adolescence. Then all the material in The BOOKSHELF is assorted under +its score of important subjects, and put in the grade where it belongs. +By this plan the child may be directed to what he wants and needs now, +and each year he will grow more and more into the riches of his +BOOKSHELF. + + +QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS + +Many questions are listed in the Indexes. This is a very instructive +feature, for it often sets the mind alert in some new direction and +starts fresh lines of interest and research. These questions may be made +the means of making many a family evening one of pleasure and profit, as +one member asks the questions and the others take turns in answering +them. + + +AMERICAN + +The BOOKSHELF is American in viewpoint, but worldwide in outlook. While +it has been produced within the United States, it is larger than the +United States or even than North America. Unusual space is given to +Canadian affairs and interests, and the rest of the world has not been +neglected. Throughout the entire set, and in the CHILD WELFARE MANUAL, +available to parents in connection with The BOOKSHELF, there is an +emphasis on character, uprightness, honor, service, which is distinctly +aimed to build up that type of manhood and womanhood for which the good +American is famed at home and abroad. + + +ACKNOWLEDGMENTS + +The Publishers and the Editors wish to thank each and every one of the +individuals who have cooperated with them to make The BOOKSHELF what it +is. The courtesy, the heartiness with which assistance has been given, +the belief of these friends in the success of the ideals of The +BOOKSHELF, have made the task of compiling, editing, and manufacturing a +pleasure. + +Special acknowledgment must be given at this time to the photographers, +Brown Brothers, Underwood & Underwood, and the Publishers Photo Service, +for the use of many copyrighted pictures from their files. In a number +of instances, when they did not have a particular picture desired, it +was made by one of them specially for The BOOKSHELF. + +The Editors, in preparing the manuscript for these volumes, have +endeavored in all cases where material has been used which has +previously appeared in print to give credit to author, publisher, and +book, and to any other to whom such acknowledgment was due. If they have +failed to do so in any particular case, it has been an oversight, for +which the Publishers are not responsible, as their instructions on this +point were definite, and for which the Editors express their regrets. +Future editions will offer an opportunity for the correction, which will +be gladly made. + + + + +INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME I + + +Most mothers and fathers realize that long before children are old +enough to read there is a rich treasury of rhythm and song and story +that may be given them. To make this treasury available is the purpose +of this volume. + +Finger-plays and action-plays, in which Froebel found so rich a meaning, +do much to help the baby to know and control his fingers and hands, to +enable him to discover the other parts of his body, to awaken his +intelligence and to bring him into affectionate companionship with his +father and mother. Here we have gathered not only the traditional ones, +which the mother and father may remember from their own early childhood; +but also many that will be fresh and new. + +Mother Goose long ago established her throne as Queen of the Nursery. +There is something about her short ditties, always full of rhythm, +sometimes of sense, and frequently of the most elemental humor, that +appeals to the baby mind as nothing else does. A proof of the worth of +her songs and stories would be found if any of us should try to write +better. We have brought together many familiar ones and some unfamiliar +(for Mother Goose lived in many times and many lands), and have +illustrated them with some new and charming drawings and color-plates. + +Children as young as three are ready for the simplest sort of stories, +but it is so hard for us grown-ups to become children again that many of +us have found difficulty in suiting our language and thought to their +eager but unfurnished minds. These bedtime stories and little tales of +babies and animals and girls and boys are therefore a real godsend. + +Soon comes the time when the little folk are ready to learn about the +letters and the numbers and the days of the week. Rhymes to help this +first memorizing will be welcome. + +Most of the stories in this book are illustrated by pictures, some are +told entirely by them. The choice of these illustrations was made from +our best modern knowledge about little children. It is now recognized +that they like simple incidents, about themselves or the familiar things +around them, drawn in clear outline or with strong color. There are +certain artists, too, who seem to have retained their own childlikeness +better than others, and such were called upon to illustrate this +volume. + + + * * * * * + + + + CONTENTS + PAGE + + GENERAL INTRODUCTION vii + INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME ONE xv + + + #FATHER AND MOTHER PLAYS# + + BABY'S TEN LITTLE LIVE PLAYTHINGS 2 + By J. K. Barry + MONDAY 4 + By Edith Goodyear + FINGER PLAY 5 + By Edith Goodyear + COUNTING THE FINGERS 6 + AN OLD NORSE FINGER PLAY 6 + BABY'S TOES 6 + BABY'S TOES 7 + By Edith A. Bentley + THIS IS THE WAY MY FINGERS STAND 8 + THUMBKIN, POINTER 8 + NAMING THE FINGERS 8 + By Laura E. Richards + ROBERT BARNS 8 + "SHALL I, OH! SHALL I?" 8 + JACK, BE NIMBLE 9 + TWO LITTLE HANDS 9 + PAT A CAKE 9 + CLAP YOUR HANDS 9 + THE BIRD'S NEST 10 + A Froebel Finger Play + TWO LITTLE BLACKBIRDS 10 + MASTER SMITH 10 + LITTLE ROBIN REDBREAST 10 + GREETING 10 + A PLAY FOR THE ARMS 10 + THE LITTLE WINDOW 10 + A Froebel Finger Play + SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE 11 + THE PIGEON HOUSE 11 + A Froebel Finger Play + SAID THIS LITTLE FAIRY 12 + A BURROWING GAME 12 + PAT A CAKE 12 + A Froebel Finger Play + A KNEE GAME 12 + A FOOT PLAY 12 + PUTTING THE FINGERS TO SLEEP 13 + TEN LITTLE SQUIRRELS 14 + MY LITTLE GARDEN 15 + THE FAMILY 16 + By Emilie Poulsson + JOHNNY SHALL HAVE A NEW BONNET 18 + + + #RIDING SONGS FOR FATHER'S KNEE# + + TO MARKET RIDE THE GENTLEMEN 19 + HERE GOES MY LORD 19 + A FARMER WENT TROTTING 20 + UP TO THE CEILING 20 + THE MESSENGER 20 + CATCH HIM, CROW 20 + RIDE A COCK-HORSE 21 + THIS IS THE WAY 21 + RIDE AWAY, RIDE AWAY 21 + TO MARKET, TO MARKET 21 + TROT, TROT, THE BABY GOES 21 + By Mary F. Butts + RIDE A COCK-HORSE 22 + HERE WE GO 22 + + + #MOTHER GOOSE SONGS AND STORIES# + + WHO ARE THESE? 24 + I SAW A SHIP A-SAILING 25 + GOOSEY, GOOSEY, GANDER 25 + THE WIND 25 + ONCE I SAW A LITTLE BIRD 25 + RING-A-RING-A-ROSES 25 + CROSS PATCH 26 + HAPPY LET US BE 26 + THE OLD WOMAN IN THE BASKET 26 + THE FOX AND THE OLD GRAY GOOSE 28 + JACK AND JILL 29 + WILLY BOY 29 + BONNY LASS 29 + OH, WHERE ARE YOU GOING? 30 + BOBBY SHAFTOE 30 + DING-DONG-BELL 30 + LONDON BRIDGE 31 + GREEN GRAVEL 32 + OLD MOTHER HUBBARD 32 + LITTLE BO-PEEP 34 + COME OUT TO PLAY 35 + LITTLE ROBIN REDBREAST 35 + LITTLE BOY BLUE 36 + MY MAID MARY 36 + HARK! HARK! 37 + BOW-WOW-WOW 37 + BLOW, WIND, BLOW 37 + BYE, BABY BUNTING 37 + THREE LITTLE KITTENS 38 + TOM WAS A PIPER'S SON 39 + DAFFY-DOWN-DILLY 40 + BILLY BOY 40 + THREE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM 41 + LITTLE TOMMY TUCKER 41 + PUSSY AND THE MICE 41 + WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY 41 + CHINESE MOTHER-GOOSE RHYMES 42 + By Prof. Isaac Taylor Headland + + + #MOTHER GOOSE CONTINUED# + By Anna Marion Smith + + PUSSY CAT, PUSSY CAT 45 + LITTLE BOY BLUE 45 + PAT-A-CAKE 46 + DICKORY DOCK 46 + HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON? 47 + HARK! HARK! 47 + THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN 48 + HUMPTY DUMPTY 51 + THE QUEEN OF HEARTS 54 + ONE MISTY, MOISTY MORNING 54 + OLD KING COLE 55 + PUSSY SITS BESIDE THE FIRE 56 + THE NORTH WIND DOTH BLOW 56 + I HAD A LITTLE HUSBAND 57 + THERE WAS A MAN IN OUR TOWN 57 + SEE SAW, SACARADOWN 57 + SING A SONG O' SIXPENCE 58 + I LOVE LITTLE PUSSY 58 + THE HORNER BROTHERS 59 + By Elizabeth Raymond Woodward + A LITTLE OLD MAN 60 + JINGLES 60 + SAILING 61 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + AN UP-TO-DATE PUSSY-CAT 62 + By Adeline Knapp + MISERY IN COMPANY 63 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + COURT NEWS 64 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + A MESSAGE TO MOTHER GOOSE 65 + By Ellen Manly + + + #SLEEPY-TIME SONGS AND STORIES# + + SWEET AND LOW 72 + By Alfred, Lord Tennyson + THE SLEEPY-TIME STORY 73 + By Gertrude Smith + THE GO SLEEP STORY 75 + By Eudora S. Bumstead + THE GENTLE DARK 78 + By W. Grahame Robertson + THE FERRY FOR SHADOWTOWN 78 + HUSH-A-BYE, BABY 78 + THE KITTEN AND THE FALLING LEAVES 78 + By William Wordsworth + LATE 79 + By Josephine Preston Peabody + A BLESSING FOR THE BLESSED 80 + By Laurence Alma-Tadema + MY DOLLY 80 + THE CHILD AND THE WORLD 80 + EVENING SONG 80 + By C. Frances Alexander + ROCK-A-BYE, BABY 80 + THE SANDMAN 81 + By Margaret Vandergrift + THE FAIRY FOLK 81 + By Robert Bird + QUEEN MAB 82 + By Thomas Hood + LULLABY 82 + By Gertrude Thompson Miller + KENTUCKY BABE 82 + MY POSSESSIONS 83 + THE WAKE-UP STORY 83 + By Eudora S. Bumstead + + + #FIRST STORIES FOR VERY LITTLE FOLK# + + ABOUT SIX LITTLE CHICKENS 86 + By S. L. Elliott + "TRADE-LAST" 88 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + PHILIP'S HORSE 89 + THE KITTEN THAT FORGOT HOW TO MEW 90 + By Stella George Stern + WHAT COULD THE FARMER DO? 93 + By George William Ogden + FLEDGLINGS 97 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + "TIME TO GET UP!" 98 + By Ellen Foster + MAGGIE'S VERY OWN SECRET 100 + By Sara Josephine Albright + THE GOOD LITTLE PIGGIE AND HIS FRIENDS 102 + By L. Waldo Lockling + BABY'S PARADISE 105 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + DISOBEDIENCE 106 + FOR A LITTLE GIRL OF THREE 108 + By Uncle Ned + A FUNNY FAMILY 109 + LITTLE BY LITTLE 110 + + + #LITTLE STORIES THAT GROW BIG# + + THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT 111 + GIANT THUNDER BONES 112 + By Stella Doughty + THE HOUSE THAT JILL BUILT 116 + By Carolyn Wells + THE OLD WOMAN AND HER PIG 119 + THE LAMBIKIN 121 + THE CAT AND THE MOUSE 123 + HENNY-PENNY 124 + THREE GOATS IN THE RYEFIELD 127 + Adapted by Cecilia Farwell + TEENY TINY 129 + SONG OF THE PEAR TREE 130 + COCK-ALU AND HEN-ALIE 131 + By Mary Howitt + THERE IS THE KEY OF THE KINGDOM 136 + + + #FUN FOR VERY LITTLE FOLK# + + NO DOGS ALLOWED AT LARGE 137 + By Culmer Barnes + TOMMY AND HIS SISTER AND THEIR NEW PONY-CART 138 + By Dewitt Clinton Falls + THE ADVENTURES OF THREE LITTLE KITTENS 139 + By Culmer Barnes + THE LITTLE KITTENS' SURPRISE 140 + By Culmer Barnes + TED'S FOOLISH WISH 141 + By Charles Fitch Lester + NONSENSE RHYME 142 + TIMOTHY TRUNDLE 143 + By Frederick Moxon + A DREAM OF GLORY 148 + By Charles Fitch Lester + PICTURES 149 + By Culmer Barnes + THE REUNION OF THE BRUIN FAMILY AT THE SEA SHORE 150 + By Culmer Barnes + THE BABY MICE ARE INSTRUCTED BY THEIR FOND PAPA 151 + By Culmer Barnes + ROLY POLY ON VACATION 152 + By Culmer Barnes + MOTHER GOOSE'S LAST TROLLEY RIDE 153 + By Culmer Barnes + IVAN AND THE WOLF 154 + By Culmer Barnes + HOMEWARD BOUND 154 + By Culmer Barnes + THEIR LITTLE JAR 156 + By Bell + LITTLE ESKI AND THE POLAR BEAR 158 + By Culmer Barnes + + + #FUNNY VERSES AND PICTURES# + + THE FROG'S FIASCO 160 + By D. K. Stevens + THE MUSICAL TRUST 164 + By D. K. Stevens + THE CAUTIOUS CAT 168 + By D. K. Stevens + THREE LITTLE BEARS 171 + By M. C. McNeill + THE SNOWMAN 172 + By W. W. Ellsworth + + + #ANIMAL STORIES# + + TINY HARE AND THE WIND BALL 173 + By A. L. Sykes + HOW TINY HARE MET CAT 176 + By A. L. Sykes + THE WEE HARE AND THE RED FIRE 179 + By A. L. Sykes + THE GOOD KING 182 + By Margaret and Clarence Weed + EARLY AND LATE 184 + By W. S. Reed + THE LITTLE PINK PIG AND THE BIG ROAD 185 + By Jasmine Stone Van Dresser + JUGGERJOOK 188 + By L. Frank Baum + WHAT YOU BURYING, A BONE 194 + THE LITTLE GRAY KITTEN 194 + By Mary Lawrence Turnbull + PUSSY'S WHEELS 197 + By Annie W. McCullough + THE SMALL GRAY MOUSE 198 + By Nathan Haskell Dole + THE RABBIT, THE TURTLE, AND THE OWL 200 + HOMES 201 + By Annie W. McCullough + MEAL-TIME IN THE BEAR-PITS AT THE ZOO 202 + By I. W. Taben + THE FINE GOOD SHOW 204 + By Jessie Wright Whitcomb + GAY AND SPY 208 + THE BALLAD OF A RUNAWAY DONKEY 212 + By Emilie Poulsson + THE THREE BEARS 220 + THE LITTLE BEAR'S STORY 221 + By C. F. Holder + THE HARE AND THE HEDGEHOG 224 + By The Brothers Grimm + THE WEE ROBIN'S CHRISTMAS SONG 226 + A Scotch Story, attributed to Robert Burns + Adapted by Jennie Ellis Burdick + THE FOX 228 + THREE COMPANIONS 229 + By Dinah Maria Mulock-Craik + "'FRAID CAT!" 230 + By Frank Munro + THE SPIDER AND THE FLY 231 + By Mary Howitt + + + #EVERY-DAY VERSES# + + A LITTLE GENTLEMAN 233 + By Alden Arthur Knipe + TIME FOR EVERYTHING 233 + By Alden Arthur Knipe + UMBRELLAS AND RUBBERS 234 + By Alden Arthur Knipe + WHISPERING IN SCHOOL 234 + By Alden Arthur Knipe + RECESS 235 + By Alden Arthur Knipe + AFTER SCHOOL 235 + By Alden Arthur Knipe + MONDAY'S LESSONS 235 + By Alden Arthur Knipe + AT DINNER 236 + By Alden Arthur Knipe + VALOR 237 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + A DOMESTIC TRAGEDY 238 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + THE CAPITALIST 239 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + IN MERRY ENGLAND 240 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + THE GOOSE GIRL 241 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + THE PHILOSOPHER 242 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + THIRSTY FLOWERS 243 + By Alden Arthur Knipe + SHARING WITH OTHERS 243 + By Alden Arthur Knipe + POCKETS 244 + By Alden Arthur Knipe + WAITING FOR DINNER 244 + By Alden Arthur Knipe + THE CRITIC 245 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + DIPLOMACY 246 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + IF I WERE QUEEN 247 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + THOUGHTS IN CHURCH 248 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + + + #THE DAYS OF THE WEEK# + + THIS IS THE WAY 249 + DAYS OF BIRTH 250 + THE WASHING 250 + SOLOMON GRUNDY 250 + BABY'S PLAY DAYS 250 + WHICH DO YOU CHOOSE? 251 + SEVEN LITTLE MICE 251 + By Stella George Stern + VISITING 252 + LITTLE TOMMY'S MONDAY MORNING 252 + By Tudor Jenks + ST. SATURDAY 254 + By Henry Johnstone + + + #NUMBER RHYMES# + + 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 255 + OVER IN THE MEADOW 255 + By Olive A. Wadsworth + COUNTING APPLE-SEEDS 256 + TWINS 257 + By Lucy Fitch Perkins + THE RHYME OF TEN LITTLE RABBITS 258 + By Kate N. Mytinger + IN JULY 260 + By A. S. Webber + THE WISH OF PRISCILLA PENELOPE POWERS 262 + By Mrs. John T. Van Sant + WINKELMAN VON WINKEL 262 + By Clara Odell Lyon + TEN LITTLE COOKIES 263 + OUR BABY 263 + LONG TIME AGO 264 + By Elizabeth Prentiss + BUCKLE MY SHOE 264 + + + #STORIES FOR LITTLE GIRLS# + + A PAIR OF GLOVES 265 + By H. G. Duryee + A VERY LITTLE STORY OF A VERY LITTLE GIRL 268 + By Alice E. Allen + EDITH'S TEA PARTY 269 + By Lois Walters + REBECCA 271 + By Eleanor Piatt + DOROTHEA'S SCHOOL GIFTS 272 + By Eunice Ward + THE LOST MONEY 276 + By Bolton Hall + A DUTCH TREAT 277 + By Amy B. Johnson + THE JINGLE OF THE LITTLE JAP 283 + By Isabel Eccleston Mackay + THE SEVENTH BIRTHDAY OF THE LITTLE + COUSIN FROM CONSTANTINOPLE 284 + By Emma C. Dowd + LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD 286 + Retold from Grimm + DOLLY'S DOCTOR 288 + THUMBELINA 288 + By Hans Christian Andersen + THE FOX AND THE LITTLE RED HEN 294 + THE SHOEMAKER AND THE LITTLE ELVES 294 + By The Brothers Grimm + THE GINGERBREAD BOY 296 + + + #STORIES FOR LITTLE BOYS# + + MISCHIEF 297 + By Rosamond Upham + WILLIE AND HIS DOG DIVER 299 + By H. N. Powers + GORDON'S TOY CASTLE ON THE HILL 300 + By Everett Wilson + HANS THE INNOCENT 302 + Written and Illustrated by M. I. Wood + A REAL LITTLE BOY BLUE 304 + By Caroline S. Allen + TRAVELS OF A FOX 306 + Adapted by Cecilia Farwell + OEYVIND AND MARIT 308 + + + #HAPPY DAYS# + + WHAT THE CAT AND HEN DID 313 + By Alice Ralston + DOT'S BIRTHDAY CAKE 316 + NED AND ROVER AND JACK 317 + I HAD A LITTLE KITTEN 318 + HOW POLLY HAD HER PICTURE TAKEN 319 + By Everett Wilson + IDLE BEN 321 + THE HOLE IN THE CANNA-BED 321 + By Isabel Gordon Curtis + THE CONCEITED MOUSE 323 + By Ella Foster Case + + + #RHYMES CONCERNING MOTHER# + + A BOY'S MOTHER 325 + By James Whitcomb Riley + MOTHER 325 + By Rose Fyleman + THE GOODEST MOTHER 325 + MOTHER'S WAY 326 + By Carrie Williams + WHO IS IT? 326 + By Ethel M. Kelley + MY DEAREST IS A LADY 327 + By Miriam S. Clark + HOW MANY LUMPS? 327 + WHEN MOTHER GOES AWAY 328 + By Clara Odell Lyon + AN OLD SONG--"THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!" 328 + By Blanche Elizabeth Wade + + + #UNCLES AND AUNTS AND OTHER RELATIVES# + + GRANDMOTHER'S MEMORIES 329 + By Helen A. Byrom + GREAT-AUNT LUCY LEE 330 + By Cora Walker Hayes + OUR VISITORS 334 + By Isabel Lyndall + BEAUTIFUL GRANDMAMMA 338 + THANKSGIVING DAY 340 + By Lydia Maria Child + GRANDMA'S MINUET 340 + AUNT JAN 341 + By Norman Gale + AFTER TEA 342 + + + #AMUSING ALPHABETS# + + TINGLE, TANGLE TITMOUSE 343 + AN ENGLISH ALPHABET 344 + NONSENSE ALPHABET 346 + PAST HISTORY 348 + By Edward Lear + THE APPLE PIE 351 + WHO'S WHO IN THE ZOO 352 + By Carolyn Wells + A WAS AN ARCHER 357 + A LITTLE FOLKS' ALPHABET 358 + By Carolyn Wells + CHILD HEALTH ALPHABET 360 + By Mrs. Frederick Peterson + HERE'S A, B, C, D 363 + OUR STORIES 364 + + + * * * * * + + + + +#FATHER PLAYS AND MOTHER PLAYS# + + + + + [Illustration: Figs. 1 though 5 and So big!] + +BABY'S TEN LITTLE LIVE PLAYTHINGS BY J. K. BARRY + +These ten little live playthings can be held in every baby's hand, five +in one and five in the other and be the baby ever so poor yet he always +has these ten playthings because, you know, he brings them with him. + +But all babies do not know how to play with them. They find out for +themselves a good many ways of playing with them but here are some of +the ways that a baby I used to know got amusement out of his. + +The very first was the play called "Ta-ra-chese" (Ta-rar-cheese). It is +a Dutch word and there was a little song about it all in Dutch. This is +the way the baby I knew would play it when he was a tiny little fellow. + +His Mamma would hold her hand up and move it gently around this way +(Fig. 1) singing "Ta-ra-chese, ta-ra-chese!" Baby would look and watch +awhile, and presently his little hand would begin to move and five +little playthings would begin the play--dear, sweet little chubby pink +fingers--for I think you have guessed these are every baby's playthings. + +How glad Mamma is to find that her baby has learned his first lesson! + +Then he must learn, "Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake Baker's man," (Fig. 2) and +"How big is baby?" "_So Big!_" + +And here are some other ways by which a little sister's fingers may +amuse the baby. + +"This the church and this is the steeple, Open the gates--there are all +the good people." (Fig. 3) + +"Chimney sweep--Oho! oho! Chimney sweep!" (Fig. 4) + +"Put your finger in the bird's nest. The bird isn't home." (Fig. 5) + +And then when the little finger is poked in, a sly pinch is given by a +hidden thumb and baby is told, "The birdie has just come home!" But you +mustn't pinch hard, of course, just enough to make baby laugh at being +caught. + + [Illustration: Figs. 6 though 11.] + +And then there is the play of "Two men sawing wood--one little boy +picking up chips." (Fig. 6) The two finger men are moved up and down and +the little boy finger works busily. + +Everybody knows the rhyming finger-play: + + "Here's my Father's knives and forks, (Fig. 7) + "Here's my Mother's table, (Fig. 8) + "Here's my Sister's looking-glass, (Fig. 9) + "And here's the baby's cradle." (Fig. 10) + +Another play is a little act in which three persons are supposed to take +part, and it has come down from the old times of long ago. + +The middle finger is the Friar. Those on each side of him touch each +other and make the door, the little finger is the Lady and the thumb is +the Page. (Fig. 11) + +The Friar knocks at the door. + +_Friar._ "Knock, Knock, Knock!" + +_Page._ "Somebody knocks at the door! Somebody knocks at the door!" + +_Lady._ "Who is it? Who is it?" + +_Page._ (Going to door) "Who is it? Who is it?" + +_Friar._ "A Friar, a Friar." + +_Page._ "A Friar, Ma'am, a Friar, Ma'am." + +_Lady._ "What does he want? What does he want?" + +_Page._ "What do you want, Sir? What do you want, Sir?" + +_Friar._ "I want to come in. I want to come in." + +_Page._ "He wants to come in, Ma'am. He wants to come in." + +_Lady._ "Let him walk in. Let him walk in." + +_Page._ "Will you walk in, Sir? Will you walk in?" + +So in he pops and takes a seat. + +When each player is supposed to speak he or she must move gently, +bending forward and back and when the Friar is invited to enter, the +door must open only just far enough to let him "pop in." + +These are only some of the plays with which the baby I knew used to be +amused; but they will suggest others to parents and older brothers and +sisters. The baby cannot make all of these things himself but he will be +quite as much interested when they are made by older hands. + + +MONDAY + + Here's a little wash bench, + Here's a little tub. + Here's a little scrubbing-board, + And here's the way to rub. + Here's a little cake of soap, + Here's a dipper new. + Here's a basket wide & deep, + And here are clothes-pins two. + Here's the line away up high, + Here's the clothes all flying. + Here's the sun so warm & bright, + And now the washing's drying. + Edith Goodyear. + + +Finger Play. + +By Edith Goodyear. + + The little space 'twixt fingers & thumbs + Is round as a circle you see! + While in there, a tiny square + Shows corners four to me. + + Circles are like daisies while, + Like pennies, candies and plates, + Like Grandma's cookies and pumpkin pies; + And best of all, the pretty blue + In Baby's laughing eyes. + + The square makes me think of the rug where he sits + On the nursery floor at play; + Of the lawn where he rolls in the sunshine bright, + And the dainty spread that covers his bed + When he's fast asleep at night. + + +COUNTING THE FINGERS + + This is the thumb, you see; + This finger shakes the tree; + And then this finger comes up; + And this one eats the plums up; + This little one, says he, + "I'll tell of you, you'll see!" + + That one is the thumb; + And this one wants a plum; + This one says, "Where do they grow?" + This one says, "Come with me--I know." + But this little one, he says, + "I will not go near the place! + I don't like such naughty ways." + + Now, I think that through and through + Little Finger's right--don't you? + + This one fell in the water, + And this one helped him ashore, + And this one put him into bed, + And this one covered him o'er; + And then, in walks this noisy little chap, + And wakes him up once more. + + This one walked out into the wood, + And caught a little hare; + And this one took and carried it home, + For he thought it dainty fare; + And this one came and cooked it up + With sauces rich and rare; + And this one laid the table out, + And did the plates prepare; + And this little fellow the keeper told + What the others were doing there. + + +AN OLD NORSE FINGER PLAY + + Thicken man, build the barn, + Thinner man, spool the yarn, + Longen man, stir the brew, + Gowden man, make a shoe, + Littlen man, all for you! + + +BABY'S TOES + + Dear little bare feet, + Dimpled and white, + In your long nightgown + Wrapped for the night. + + Come, let me count all + Your queer little toes, + Pink as the heart + Of a shell or a rose. + + One is a lady + That sits in the sun; + Two is a baby, + And three is a nun. + + Four is a lily + With innocent breast; + And five is a birdie + Asleep on her nest. + + +"BABY'S TOES" + +BY EDITH A. BENTLEY + + Five little piggie wiggies + Standing in a row, + We always have to toddle + Where the baby wants to go; + Up-stairs and down-stairs, + Indoors and out, + We're always close together + And we never fall out. + + _Chorus:_ + Father-Pig and Mother-Pig, + And Big-Brother Pig, + And Sister-Pig, and darling little + Baby Piggie-Wig! + + Oh, sometimes we are all tied up + In a bag so tight. + This is when the baby goes + "To sleepy-bye" at night. + Then there's nothing else to do + But cuddle down and rest-- + Just as little birdies cuddle + In their little nest. + + _Chorus:_ + Father-Pig and Mother-Pig + And Big-Brother Pig, + And Sister-Pig, and darling little + Baby Piggie-Wig! + + +THIS IS THE WAY MY FINGERS STAND + +_To the tune of "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush."_ + + This is the way my fingers stand, + Fingers stand, fingers stand, + This is the way my fingers stand, + So early in the morning. + + This is the way I fold my hand, + Fold my hand, fold my hand, + This is the way I fold my hand, + So early in the morning. + + This is the way they dance about, + Dance about, dance about, + This is the way they dance about, + So early in the morning. + + This is the way they go to rest, + Go to rest, go to rest, + This is the way they go to rest, + So early in the morning. + + +THUMBKIN, POINTER + + Thumbkin, Pointer, Middleman big, + Sillyman, Weeman, rig-a-jig-jig. + + +NAMING THE FINGERS[A] + +BY LAURA E. RICHARDS + + This is little Tommy Thumb, + Round and smooth as any plum. + This is busy Peter Pointer: + Surely he's a double-jointer. + This is mighty Toby Tall, + He's the biggest one of all. + This is dainty Reuben Ring: + He's too fine for anything. + And this little wee one, maybe, + Is the pretty Finger-baby. + + All the five we've counted now, + Busy fingers in a row. + Every finger knows the way + How to work and how to play; + Yet together work they best, + Each one helping all the rest. + + [A] _From "Songs and Music of Froebel's Mother Play"; used by permission + of the publishers, D. Appleton & Company._ + + +ROBERT BARNS + + Robert Barns, fellow fine, + Can you shoe this horse of mine, + So that I may cut a shine? + Yes, good sir, and that I can, + As well as any other man; + There a nail, and here a prod, + And now, good sir, your horse is shod. + + +"SHALL I, OH! SHALL I?" + + A little boy and a little girl + Lived in an alley; + Said the little boy to the little girl, + "Shall I, oh! shall I?" + + Said the little girl to the little boy, + "What will you do?" + Said the little boy to the little girl, + "I will kiss you." + + (_As the last words are sung, the mother kisses + the little one in the folds of the neck._) + + + [Illustration: OFF WITH MOTHER GOOSE + FROM A DRAWING BY MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL] + + +JACK, BE NIMBLE + + Jack, be nimble, + Jack, be quick; + (_Jack is one hand walking along on + its fore- and middle-fingers._) + + Jack, jump over + The candlestick. + (_Fist closed; uplifted thumb for + candle. Jack jumps over it._) + + +TWO LITTLE HANDS + + Two little hands so soft and white, + This is the left--this is the right. + Five little fingers stand on each, + So I can hold a plum or a peach. + But if I should grow as old as you + Lots of little things these hands can do. + + +PAT A CAKE + + Pat a cake, pat a cake, baker's man. + So I do, master, as fast as I can. + Pat it, and prick it, and mark it with T, + And then it will serve for Tommy and me. + + +CLAP YOUR HANDS + + Baby, Baby, clap your hands! + Where London's built, there London stands. + And there's a bed in London Town, + On which my Baby shall lie down. + + +THE BIRD'S NEST + +_A Froebel Finger Play_ + + Here upon the leaves at rest + A little bird has built her nest. + Two tiny eggs within she's laid, + And many days beside them stayed. + Now she's happy; listen well! + Two baby birds break through the shell. + Don't you hear them? "Peep! peep! peep! + We love you, mother. Cheep! cheep! cheep!" + + +TWO LITTLE BLACKBIRDS + + There were two blackbirds sitting on a hill, + (_Little pieces of paper perched on forefingers._) + One named Jack, the other named Jill. + Fly away, Jack; fly away, Jill. + (_Fingers soar gently in the air._) + Come again, Jack; come again, Jill. + (_Fingers fly back._) + + +MASTER SMITH + + Is Master Smith within? Yes, that he is. + Can he set a shoe? Ay, marry, two. + Here a nail, and there a nail, + Tick--tack--too. + + +LITTLE ROBIN REDBREAST + + Little Robin Redbreast + Sat upon a rail, + (_Right hand extended in shape of a bird is poised + on extended forefinger of left hand._) + Niddle noddle went his head, + And waggle went his tail. + (_Little finger of right hand waggles from side to + side._) + + +GREETING + + Good little Mother, + How do you do? + Dear strong "Daddy," + Glad to see you! + Big tall Brother, + Pleased you are here. + Kind little Sister, + You need not fear, + Glad welcome we'll give you, + And Babykins, too. + Yes, Babykins, + How do you do? + + +A PLAY FOR THE ARMS + + Pump, pump, pump, + Water, water, come; + Here a rush, there a gush, + Done, done, done. + + +THE LITTLE WINDOW + +_A Froebel Finger Play_ + + Look, my dear, at this window clear. + See how the light shines through in here. + If you would always see the light, + Keep your heart's window clean and bright. + + +SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE + + Sing a song of sixpence, + A pocket full of rye; + Four-and-twenty blackbirds + Baked in a pie; + When the pie was opened + The birds began to sing; + Was not that a dainty dish + To set before the King? + + The King was in his counting-house, + Counting out his money; + The Queen was in the parlor, + Eating bread and honey; + The maid was in the garden + Hanging out the clothes; + When up came a blackbird + And nipped off her nose. + (_At this line somebody's nose gets nipped._) + + +THE PIGEON HOUSE + +_A Froebel Finger Play_ + + Now I'm going to open my pigeon-house door. + The pigeons fly out to the light, + Straight to the meadows so pleasant they soar, + And flutter about with delight. + But at evening they'll all come home at last, + And the door of the house I'll then shut fast. + + +SAID THIS LITTLE FAIRY + + Said this little fairy, "I'm as thirsty as can be." + Said this little fairy, "I'm hungry, too, dear me!" + Said this little fairy, "Who'll tell us where to go?" + Said this little fairy, "I'm sure that I don't know." + Said this little fairy, "Let's brew some dewdrop tea." + So they sipped it and ate honey beneath the maple tree. + + +A BURROWING GAME + + See the little mousie, creeping up the stair, + Looking for a warm nest--there, oh, there! + (_Mother's fingers creep up the body, and finally fumble in baby's neck._) + + +PAT A CAKE + +_A Froebel Finger Play_ + + Baby, would you like to make + For yourself a little cake? + Pat it gently, smooth it down. + Baker says: "Now, in to brown; + Bring it here, baby dear, + While the oven fire burns clear." + "Baker, see, here is my cake; + Bake it well for baby's sake." + "In the oven, right deep down, + Here the cake will soon get brown." + + +A KNEE GAME + + What do I see? Baby's knee. + Tickily, tickily, tic, tac, tee. + One for a penny, two for a pound; + Tickily, tickily, round and round. + + +A FOOT PLAY + + Up, down--up, down. + One foot up and one foot down, + All the way to London town. + Tra la la la la la. + + +PUTTING THE FINGERS TO SLEEP + + My fingers are so sleepy + It's time they went to bed, + So first, you Baby Finger + Tuck in your Little Head. + + Ringman, come now its your turn, + And then come, Tallman Great; + Now, Pointer Finger, hurry + Because its getting late. + + Let's see if all are snuggled. + No, here's one more to come, + So come, lie close, little brothers, + Make room for Master Thumb. + + +TEN LITTLE SQUIRRELS + + Ten little squirrels up in a tree-- + (_Ten fingers outspread._) + + The first two said: "What do I see?" + (_Thumbs only._) + + The next two said: "A man with a gun." + (_Forefingers only._) + + The next two said: "Let's run, let's run." + (_Middle fingers only._) + + The next two said: "Let's hide in the shade." + (_Ring fingers only._) + + The last two said: "We're not afraid." + (_Little fingers only._) + + Bang! went a gun. + (_Clap hands._) + + Away they all run. + (_All fingers scamper off._) + + +MY LITTLE GARDEN + + See my little garden, + How I rake it over, + Then I sow the little brown seeds, + And with soft earth cover. + Now the raindrops patter + On the earth so gayly; + See the big round sun smile + On my garden daily. + The little plant is waking; + Down the roots grow creeping; + Up now come the leaflets + Through the brown earth peeping. + Soon the buds will laugh up + Toward the springtime showers; + Soon my buds will open + Into happy flowers. + + +THE FAMILY[B] + +BY EMILIE POULSSON + + This is the mother, so busy at home, + Who loves her dear children, whatever may come. + + This is the father, so brave and so strong, + Who works for his family all the day long. + + This is the brother, who'll soon be a man, + He helps his good mother as much as he can. + + This is the sister, so gentle and mild, + Who plays that the dolly is her little child. + + This is the baby, all dimpled and sweet, + How soft his wee hands and his chubby pink feet! + + Father, and mother, and children so dear, + Together you see them, one family here. + + [B] From "Songs and Music of Froebel's Mother Play"; used by permission + of the publishers, D. Appleton & Co. + + + [Illustration: IN DREAMLAND] + + +JOHNNY SHALL HAVE A NEW BONNET + + Johnny shall have a new bonnet, + And Johnny shall go to the fair, + And Johnny shall have a new ribbon + To tie up his bonny brown hair. + + And why may not I love Johnny? + And why may not Johnny love me? + And why may not I love Johnny? + As well as another body? + + And here's a leg for a stocking, + And here is a foot for a shoe, + And he has a kiss for his daddy, + And two for his mammy, I trow. + + And why may not I love Johnny? + And why may not Johnny love me? + And why may not I love Johnny + As well as another body? + + + + +#RIDING SONGS for FATHER'S KNEE# + + + + +TO MARKET RIDE THE GENTLEMEN + + To market ride the gentlemen, + So do we, so do we; + Then comes the country clown, + Hobbledy gee, Hobbledy gee; + First go the ladies, nim, nim, nim, + Next come the gentlemen, trim, trim, trim; + Then come the country clowns, gallop-a-trot. + + +HERE GOES MY LORD + + Here goes my lord-- + A trot! a trot! a trot! a trot! + Here goes my lady-- + A canter! a canter! a canter! a canter! + Here goes my young master-- + Jockey-hitch! jockey-hitch! jockey-hitch! jockey-hitch! + Here goes my young miss-- + An amble! an amble! an amble! an amble! + The footman lags behind, + And goes gallop, a gallop, a gallop, to make up his time. + + +A FARMER WENT TROTTING + + A farmer went trotting upon his gray mare; + Bumpety, bumpety, bump! + With his daughter behind him, so rosy and fair; + Lumpety, lumpety, lump! + + A raven cried croak! and they all tumbled down; + Bumpety, bumpety, bump! + The mare broke her knees, and the farmer his crown; + Lumpety, lumpety, lump! + + The mischievous raven flew laughing away; + Bumpety, bumpety, bump! + And vowed he would serve them the same the next day; + Lumpety, lumpety, lump! + + +UP TO THE CEILING + + Up to the ceiling, down to the ground, + Backward and forward, round and round; + Dance, little baby, and mother will sing, + With the merry chorus, ding, ding, ding! + + +THE MESSENGER + + Here in the morning we're starting so soon, + Give us a message, we'll ride to the moon, + Straight through the meadows and hop o'er the stile, + And we will but charge you a farthing a mile. + A farthing a mile! a farthing a mile! + We will but charge you a farthing a mile. + + +CATCH HIM, CROW + + Catch him, crow! Carry him, kite! + Take him away till the apples are ripe; + When they are ripe and ready to fall, + Home comes [Johnny], apples and all. + + +RIDE A COCK-HORSE + + Ride a Cock-Horse to Charing Cross, + To see a Young Lady jump on a White Horse, + With Rings on her Fingers, and Bells on her Toes, + She shall have Music wherever she goes. + + +THIS IS THE WAY + + This is the way the ladies ride, + Nin! Nin! Nin! + This is the way the gentlemen ride, + Trot! Trot! Trot! + This is the way the farmers ride, + Jogglety! Jogglety! Jogglety! Jog! + + +RIDE AWAY, RIDE AWAY + + Ride away, ride away, + Johnny shall ride, + And he shall have pussy-cat + Tied to one side; + And he shall have little dog + Tied to the other, + And Johnny shall ride + To see his grandmother. + + +TO MARKET, TO MARKET + + To market, to market, + To buy a plum bun; + Home again, home again, + My journey is done. + + +TROT, TROT, THE BABY GOES + +BY MARY F. BUTTS + + Every evening Baby goes + Trot, trot, to town-- + Across the river, through the fields, + Up hill and down. + + Trot, trot, the Baby goes, + Up hill and down, + To buy a feather for her hat, + To buy a woolen gown. + + Trot, trot, the Baby goes; + The birds fly down, alack! + "You cannot have our feathers, dear," + They say; "so please trot back." + + Trot, trot, the Baby goes; + The lambs come bleating near. + "You cannot have our wool," they say; + "But we are sorry, dear." + + Trot, trot, the Baby goes, + Trot, trot, to town. + She buys a red rose for her hat, + She buys a cotton gown. + + +RIDE A COCK-HORSE + + Ride a cock-horse to Banbury-cross, + To see what Tommy can buy; + A penny white loaf, a penny white cake, + And a two-penny apple pie. + + * * * + + Ride a cock-horse to Shrewsbury-cross, + To buy little Johnny a galloping horse; + It trots behind and it ambles before, + And Johnny shall ride till he can ride no more. + + + Here we go UP, UP, UP! + Here we DOWN, DOWN, DOWN! + Here we go BACKWARDS and FORWARDS! + And here we go AROUND AND AROUND! + + + + +#MOTHER GOOSE SONGS AND STORIES# + + + + +WHO ARE THESE? + + HERE ARE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX STORY-BOOK PICTURES. + ALL LITTLE GIRLS AND BOYS KNOW THE SIX STORIES THAT THESE SIX + PICTURES BELONG TO. TELL YOUR MAMA AND PAPA WHAT THE STORIES ARE. + + + [Illustration: THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN + FROM A DRAWING BY ANNE ANDERSON ] + + +I SAW A SHIP A-SAILING + + I saw a ship a-sailing, + A-sailing on the sea; + And, oh! it was all laden + With pretty things for thee! + + There were candies in the cabin, + And apples in the hold; + The sails were made of silk, + And the masts were made of gold. + + The four-and-twenty sailors + That stood between the decks, + Were four-and-twenty white mice, + With chains about their necks. + + The captain was a duck, + With a packet on his back; + And when the ship began to move, + The captain cried, "Quack, quack!" + + +GOOSEY, GOOSEY, GANDER + + Goosey, goosey, gander, where dost thou wander? + Up stairs and down stairs, and in my lady's chamber; + There I met an old man that would not say his prayers, + I took him by his hind legs and threw him down stairs. + + +THE WIND + + Arthur O'Bower has broken his band, + He comes roaring up the land-- + A King of Scots, with all his power, + Cannot turn Arthur of the Bower. + + +ONCE I SAW A LITTLE BIRD + + Once I saw a little bird + Come hop, hop, hop, + So I said, "Little bird, + Will you stop, stop, stop?" + + I was going to the window + To say, "How do you do?" + But he shook his little tail + And far away he flew. + + +RING-A-RING-A-ROSES + + Ring-a-ring-a-roses, + A pocket full of posies; + Hush! hush! hush! hush! + We're all tumbled down. + + +CROSS PATCH + + Cross patch, + Draw the latch, + Sit by the fire and spin; + + Take a cup, + And drink it up, + And call your neighbors in. + + +HAPPY LET US BE + + Merry are the bells, and merry would they ring; + Merry was myself, and merry could I sing; + With a merry ding-dong, happy, gay, and free, + And a merry sing-song, happy let us be! + + Merry have we met, and merry have we been; + Merry let us part, and merry meet again; + With our merry sing-song, happy, gay, and free, + And a merry ding-dong, happy let us be! + + +THE OLD WOMAN IN THE BASKET + + There was an old woman tossed up in a basket, + Nineteen times as high as the moon; + Where she was going I couldn't but ask it + For in her hand she carried a broom. + + "Old woman, old woman, old woman, quoth I, + O whither, O whither, O whither so high?" + "To brush the cobwebs off the sky!" + "Shall I go with thee?" "Aye, by-and-by." + + + [Illustration: _From a Drawing by Arthur Rackham_ + "Where she was going I couldn't but ask it, + For in her hand she carried a broom."] + + +THE FOX AND THE OLD GRAY GOOSE + + The fox and his wife they had a great strife, + They never ate mustard in all their whole life; + They ate their meat without fork or knife, + And loved to be picking a bone, e-ho! + + The fox jumped up on a moonlight night, + The stars they were shining, and all things bright. + Oh, ho! said the fox, it's a very fine night + For me to go through the town, e-ho! + + The fox when he came to yonder stile, + He lifted his lugs and he listened awhile; + Oh, ho, said the fox, it's but a short mile + From this unto yonder wee town, e-ho! + + The fox when he came to the farmer's gate, + Who should he see but the farmer's drake; + I love you well for your master's sake, + And long to be picking your bone, e-ho! + + The gray goose she ran round the hay-stack. + Oh, ho! said the fox, you are very fat; + You'll grease my beard and ride on my back + From this unto yonder wee town e-ho! + + Old Gammer Hipple-hopple hopped out of bed, + She opened the casement, and popped out her head. + Oh! husband, oh! husband, the gray goose is dead, + And the fox is gone through the town, oh! + + Then the old man got up in his red cap, + And swore he would catch the fox in a trap; + But the fox was too cunning, and gave him the slip, + And ran through the town, the town, e-oh! + + When he got to the top of the hill, + He blew his trumpet both loud and shrill, + For joy that he was safe + Through the town, e-oh! + + When the fox came back to his den, + He had young ones, both nine and ten. + "You're welcome home, daddy; you may go again, + If you bring us such nice meat from the town, e-oh!" + + + [Illustration: JACK FELL DOWN ...] + + +JACK AND JILL + + Jack and Jill went up the hill, + To draw a pail of water; + Jack fell down and broke his crown, + And Jill came tumbling after. + + Up Jack got, and home did trot + As fast as he could caper; + Went to bed to mend his head, + With vinegar and brown paper. + + Jill came in, and she did grin + To see his paper plaster; + Mother, vexed, did whip her next + For causing Jack's disaster. + + +WILLY BOY + + Willy boy, Willy boy, where are you going? + I will go with you if I may + "I'm going to the meadow to see them a-mowing, + I'm going to help them make the hay." + + +BONNY LASS + + Bonny lass, bonny lass, wilt thou be mine? + Thou shalt not wash dishes, nor yet serve the swine: + Thou shalt sit on a cushion, and sew a fine seam, + And thou shalt eat strawberries, sugar, and cream! + + +OH, WHERE ARE YOU GOING? + + Oh, where are you going, + My pretty maiden fair, + With your red rosy cheeks, + And your coal-black hair? + + I'm going a-milking, + Kind sir, says she, + And it's dabbling in the dew + Where you'll find me. + + +BOBBY SHAFTOE + + Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea, + Silver buckles on his knee; + He'll come back and marry me, + Pretty Bobby Shaftoe. + + Bobby Shaftoe's fat and fair, + Combing down his yellow hair, + He's my love for evermair, + Pretty Bobby Shaftoe. + + +DING-DONG-BELL + + Ding-- + Dong-- + Bell! + Pussy's in the well. + Who put her in? Little Johnny Green. + Who pulled her out? Big Johnny Stout. + What a naughty boy was that, + To drown poor pussy cat, + Who never did him any harm, + And killed the mice in his father's barn. + + +LONDON BRIDGE + + London bridge is broken down, + Dance over my Lady Lee, + London bridge is broken down, + With a gay ladye. + + How shall we build it up again? + Dance over my Lady Lee, + How shall we build it up again? + With a gay ladye. + + We'll build it up with gravel and stone, + Dance over my Lady Lee, + We'll build it up with gravel and stone, + With a gay ladye. + + Gravel and stone will be washed away, + Dance over my Lady Lee, + Gravel and stone will be washed away, + With a gay ladye. + + We'll build it up with iron and steel, + Dance over my Lady Lee, + We'll build it up with iron and steel, + With a gay ladye. + + Iron and steel will bend and break, + Dance over my Lady Lee, + Iron and steel will bend and break, + With a gay ladye. + + We'll build it up with silver and gold, + Dance over my Lady Lee, + We'll build it up with silver and gold, + With a gay ladye. + + Silver and gold will be stolen away, + Dance over my Lady Lee, + Silver and gold will be stolen away, + With a gay ladye. + + We'll set a man to watch it then, + Dance over my Lady Lee, + We'll set a man to watch it then, + With a gay ladye. + + We'll put a pipe within his mouth, + Dance over my Lady Lee, + We'll put a pipe within his mouth, + With a gay ladye. + + + [Illustration: "Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea."] + + +GREEN GRAVEL + + All round the green gravel the grass grows so green, + And all the pretty maids are fit to be seen, + Wash them in milk, dress them in silk, + And the first to go down shall be married in green. + + +OLD MOTHER HUBBARD + + Old Mother Hubbard + Went to the cupboard + To get her poor dog a bone; + But when she came there + The cupboard was bare, + And so the poor dog had none. + + She went to the baker's + To buy him some bread, + But when she came back + The poor dog was dead. + + She went to the joiner's + To buy him a coffin, + But when she came back + The poor dog was laughing. + + She went to the butcher's + To get him some tripe, + But when she came back + He was smoking his pipe. + + She went to the hatter's + To buy him a hat, + But when she came back + He was feeding the cat. + + She went to the barber's + To buy him a wig, + But when she came back + He was dancing a jig. + + She went to the tailor's + To buy him a coat, + But when she came back + He was riding a goat. + + She went to the cobbler's + To buy him some shoes, + But when she came back + He was reading the news. + + She went to the seamstress + To buy him some linen, + But when she came back + The dog was a-spinning. + + She went to the hosier's + To buy him some hose, + But when she came back + He was dressed in his clothes. + + The dame made a curtsey, + The dog made a bow; + The dame said, "Your servant." + The dog said, "Bow, wow." + + + [Illustration: THE STORY OF MOTHER HUBBARD, TOLD IN JAPANESE PICTURES.] + + +LITTLE BO-PEEP + + Little Bo-Peep, she lost her sheep, + And can't tell where to find them; + Leave them alone, and they'll come home, + And bring their tails behind them. + + Little Bo-peep fell fast asleep, + And dreamed she heard them bleating; + When she awoke she found it a joke, + For they still were all fleeting. + + Then up she took her little crook, + Determined for to find them, + She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed, + For they'd left their tails behind them! + + It happened one day, as Bo-peep did stray + Unto a meadow hard by-- + There she espied their tails side by side, + All hung on a tree to dry. + + She heaved a sigh and wiped her eye, + Then went over hill and dale, + And tried what she could, as a shepherdess should, + To tack to each sheep its tail. + + +COME OUT TO PLAY + + Boys and girls, come out to play, + The moon does shine as bright as day; + Leave your supper, and leave your sleep, + And meet your playfellows in the street, + Come with a whoop and come with a call, + Come with a good will or not at all. + Up the ladder and down the wall, + A halfpenny roll will serve us all. + You find milk and I'll find flour, + And we'll have pudding in half an hour. + + +LITTLE ROBIN REDBREAST + + Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree, + Up went the Pussy-Cat, and down went he! + Down came Pussy-Cat, away Robin ran, + Says little Robin Redbreast--catch me if you can. + + Little Robin Redbreast jumped upon a spade, + Pussy-Cat jumped after him, and then he was afraid. + Little Robin chirped and sung, and what did Pussy say? + Pussy-Cat said Mew, mew, mew--and Robin flew away. + + +LITTLE BOY BLUE + + Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn, + The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn. + What! Is this the way you mind your sheep, + Under the haycock, fast asleep? + + +MY MAID MARY + + My maid Mary + She minds her dairy, + While I go a-hoeing and mowing each morn. + Merrily runs the reel + And the little spinning-wheel + While I am singing and mowing my corn. + + +BEGGARS ARE COME TO TOWN + + Hark! Hark! + The dogs do bark! + The beggars are come to town; + + Some in rags, + Some in jags, + And some in velvet gowns. + + * * * + + Bow-Wow-Wow! + Whose Dog art thou? + Little Tom Tinker's Dog, + Bow-Wow-Wow! + + +BLOW, WIND, BLOW! + + Blow, wind, blow! and go, mill, go! + That the miller may grind his corn; + That the baker may take it, + And into rolls make it, + And send us some hot in the morn. + + +BYE, BABY BUNTING + + Bye, Baby bunting, + Father's gone a-hunting, + Mother's gone a-milking, + Sister's gone a-silking, + And Brother's gone to buy a skin, + To wrap the Baby bunting in. + + +THREE LITTLE KITTENS + + Three little kittens, they lost their mittens, + And they began to cry: + "O mother dear, + We very much fear, + That we have lost our mittens." + Lost your mittens! + You naughty kittens! + Then you shall have no pie. + "Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow," + No, you shall have no pie. + "Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow." + + The three little kittens, they found their mittens, + And they began to cry: + "O mother dear, + See here, see here! + See! we have found our mittens." + Put on your mittens + You silly kittens, + And you may have some pie. + "Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r, + O let us have the pie. + Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r." + + The three little kittens put on their mittens, + And soon ate up the pie; + "O mother dear, + We greatly fear, + That we have soiled our mittens." + Soiled your mittens! + You naughty kittens! + Then they began to sigh, + "Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow." + Then they began to sigh, + "Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow." + + The three little kittens, they washed their mittens. + And hung them out to dry; + "O mother dear, + Do you not hear, + That we have washed our mittens?" + Washed your mittens! + Oh, you're good kittens. + But I smell a rat close by; + Hush! Hush! "Mee-ow, mee-ow. + We smell a rat close by, + Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow." + + +TOM WAS A PIPER'S SON + + Tom, Tom was a piper's son, + He learned to play when he was young, + And all the tune that he could play + Was "Over the hills and far away." + Over the hills, and a great way off, + The wind will blow my top-knot off. + + Now, Tom with his pipe made such a noise + That he well pleased both the girls and boys, + And they always stopped to hear him play + "Over the hills and far away." + + +DAFFY-DOWN-DILLY + + Daffy-down-dilly is new come to town, + With a petticoat green, and a bright yellow gown, + And her white blossoms are peeping around. + + +BILLY BOY + + Oh, where have you been, Billy Boy, Billy Boy, + Oh, where have you been, charming Billy? + "I have been to seek a wife, + She's the joy of my life, + She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother." + + What work can she do, Billy Boy, Billy Boy, + What work can she do, charming Billy? + "She can brew and she can bake, + She can make a wedding cake-- + She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother." + + Can she make a cherry pie, Billy Boy, Billy Boy, + Can she make a cherry pie, charming Billy? + "She can make a cherry pie + Quick's cat can wink her eye-- + She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother." + + How old is she, Billy Boy, Billy Boy, + How old is she, charming Billy? + "She is three times six, four times seven, + Twenty-eight and eleven-- + She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother." + + +THREE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM + + Three wise men of Gotham + Went to sea in a bowl, + And if the bowl had been stronger + My song had been longer. + + +LITTLE TOMMY TUCKER + + "Little Tommy Tucker, + Sing for your supper." + "What shall I sing?" + "White bread and butter." + "How shall I cut it + Without any knife? + How shall I marry + Without any wife?" + + +PUSSY AND THE MICE + + Nine little mice sat down to spin; + Pussy passed by, and she peeped in. + "What are you at, my little men?" + "Making coats for gentlemen." + "Shall I come in and bite off your threads?" + "No, no, Miss Pussy, you'll snip off our heads." + + +WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY + + When I was a little boy, I lived by myself, + And all the bread and cheese I got I put upon a shelf; + The rats and the mice, they made such a strife, + I was forced to go to London to buy me a wife. + The streets were so broad, and the lanes were so narrow, + I was forced to bring my wife home in a wheelbarrow; + The wheelbarrow broke, and my wife had a fall, + And down came the wheelbarrow, wife, and all. + + +CHINESE MOTHER-GOOSE RHYMES + +BY PROF ISAAC TAYLOR HEADLAND + +LITTLE FAT BOY + + What a bonny little fellow is this fat boy of mine! + He makes people die of joy! + What a fine little fellow is this fat boy of mine! + Now whose is this loving little boy? + + [Illustration: THE LITTLE FAT BOY.] + + Do you want to buy a beauty? + Do you want to buy a beauty? + If you buy him he will watch your house, + And do it as his duty. + + And no matter as to servants, + You may have them or may not, + But you'll never need to lock your door, + Or give your house a thought. + + + [Illustration: A FINGER TEST.] + +A FINGER TEST + + You strike three times on the top, you see, + And strike three times on the bottom for me, + Then top and bottom you strike very fast, + And open a door in the middle at last. + + + [Illustration: "OUR BABY," IN CHINESE CHARACTERS.] + +OUR BABY + + Mrs. Chang, Mrs. Lee, + Mama has a small babee; + Stands up firm, + Sits up straight, + Won't eat milk, + But lives on cake. + + [Illustration: OUR BABY.] + + + [Illustration: THE LITTLE GOLDEN SISTER.] + +THE LITTLE GOLDEN SISTER + + My little golden sister + Rides a golden horse slow, + And we'll use a golden whip + If the horse doesn't go. + + A little gold fish + In a gold bowl we see, + And a gold-colored bird + On a gold-blossomed tree. + + A gold-plated god + In a gold temple stands, + With a gold-plated baby + In his gold-plated hands. + + +TEN FINGERS + +(_A Chinese finger-play_) + + Three horses are drinking, + Three horses are feeding, + The two men are fighting, + The old woman pleading, + The baby is crying, + But no one is heeding. + + [Illustration: TEN FINGERS.] + + [Illustration: "TEN FINGERS," IN CHINESE CHARACTERS.] + + +A RIDDLE + + A plum blossom foot, + And a pudding face sweet; + He's taller when he's sitting + Than when standing on his feet. + + [Illustration: A RIDDLE.] + + +THE FIVE FINGERS + +(_Another finger-play_) + + A great big brother, + And a little brother so, + A big bell-tower, + And a temple and a show, + And little baby wee, wee, + Always wants to go. + + [Illustration: THE FIVE FINGERS.] + + +LADYBUG + + Ladybug, ladybug, + Fly away, do; + Fly to the mountain, + And feed upon dew. + + Feed upon dew, + And sleep on a rug, + And then run away + Like a good little bug. + + [Illustration: "LADYBUG," IN CHINESE CHARACTERS.] + + [Illustration: LADYBUG.] + + +THE SPIDER + + Oh, my dear brother spider, + With your body big and red, + From the eaves you are hanging + On a single little thread. + + [Illustration: THE SPIDER.] + + + [Illustration: "THE GREAT WALL," IN CHINESE CHARACTERS.] + +THE GREAT WALL + + The wily Emperor Tsin Chi-hwang + He built a wall both great and strong. + The steps were narrow, but the wall was stout, + So it kept the troublesome Tartars out. + + + + +#MOTHER GOOSE CONTINUED# +BY ANNA MARION SMITH + + + + +"Pussy cat, Pussy cat" + + "Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?" + "I've been to London, to see the Queen." + "Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you there?" + "I frightened a little mouse under the chair." + + "What did you say when you'd made your best bow?" + "I opened my mouth and remarked '_miaow_.'" + "What did the Queen say in answer to that?" + "She screamed a little, and then she said, 'SCAT!'" + + +Little Boy Blue + + "Little boy Blue, come blow your horn, + The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn. + Is this the way you mind your sheep,-- + Under the haystack, fast asleep?" + + Little boy Blue, awake, awake, + And see how merry your charges make! + Through field and garden their course they steer, + And the mischief they're doing,--oh dear, oh dear! + + +PAT-A-CAKE + + "Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man + Bake me a cake as quick as you can + Pat it and prick it, and mark it with B, + And put it in the oven for baby and me." + + Hurry it, hurry it, baker's man; + Bring it to us as quick as you can. + I hope it has raisins by way of surprise, + And little black currants that look just like eyes. + + Here it comes, here it comes, baby mine. + Never was cake that was half so fine; + Brown as a berry, and hot from the pan,-- + Thank you, oh thank you, you good baker's man! + + * * * + + "Hickory, dickory, dock. + The mouse ran up the clock, + The clock struck one, + The mouse ran down,-- + Hickory, dickory, dock." + + Hickory, dickory, dock, + Again he tried the clock, + This time,--don't frown,-- + The _clock_ ran down! + Hickory, dickory, dock. + + +HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON? + + "HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON? + THREE SCORE MILES AND TEN + CAN I GET THERE BY CANDLELIGHT? + YES, AND BACK AGAIN." + + How shall I go to Babylon? + Who will tell me true? + Oh, there are trains, and there are boats, + And automobiles too. + + And one may ride a bicycle, + Or go in a balloon; + Or one may travel on his feet + And get there 'most as soon. + + For trains go off the track, you see, + And boats go down below; + And automobiles go to smash + In ways that none may know. + + And tires of bicycles go pop, + Balloons will go and balk, + So taking all in all, I think + If I were you, I'd walk. + + +Hark! Hark! + + Hark, Hark the dogs do bark! + The beggars have come to town. + Some in rags, and some in tags, + And some in velvet gowns. + + Hear, hear, they're drawing near! + Just hark to the tramp of feet! + So haste about, set tables out, + And get them food to eat. + + Run, run, the turkey's done! + I hope it is nicely dressed, + For those who shirk and will not work + Are sure to want the best. + + +There Was an Old Woman + + "There was an old woman + Who lived in a shoe, + Who had so many children + She didn't know what to do + She gave them some broth + Without any bread + And whipped them all soundly + And sent them to bed." + + [Illustration: + There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. + She had so many children she didn't know what to do; + She gave them some broth without any bread; + She whipped them all soundly, and put them to bed. + FROM A DRAWING BY P. VINTON BROWN] + + Now it happened that Santa Claus, + Passing that way, + Peeped into the shoe top + And saw how they lay-- + With their round, rosy faces + All shining with tears, + And resolved to do something + To comfort the dears. + + So while they were sleeping + In woful array, + He bundled those children + Right into his sleigh; + And cracking his whip + As his reindeers sped forth, + Away they all flew + To his home in the North. + + What wonders he showed them, + Such beautiful toys! + Such dolls for the girls, + And such drums for the boys! + Such farms and such stables, + Such monkeys and bears, + Such dishes and tables + And tiny dolls' chairs! + + And when they had seen + All the wonderful things + Which each winter, at Christmas, + Dear Santa Claus brings, + He gave them, to make + Their enchantment complete, + Just all of the candy + And cake they could eat. + + When they told of their travels, + Their mother, it seems, + Only laughed, and declared + They were nothing but dreams. + I am sure, though, things _must_ + Have occurred as they say, + Else why were they, all of them, + Ill the next day? + + +Humpty Dumpty + + "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. + Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. + All the King's horses and all the King's men + Couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again." + + I + There he lay, stretched out on the ground, + While all the company gathered around; + When, valiantly stifling his tears and his groans, + He sadly addressed them in quavering tones. + + II + "Friends," said Humpty, wiping his eyes, + "This sudden descent was an awful surprise. + It inclines me to think,--you may laugh at my views,-- + That a seat that is humble is safest to choose. + + III + "All are not fitted to sit on a wall, + Some have no balance, and some are too small; + Many have tried it and found, as I guess, + They've ended, like me, in a terrible mess. + + IV + "Hark, you horses, and all you king's men! + Hear it, and never forget it again! + 'Tis those who are patient in seats that are low, + Who some day get up in high places and crow." + + V + Then they took him and put him to bed. + I hope you'll remember the things that he said; + For all the king's horses and all the king's men + Never once thought of his sermon again. + + +The Queen of Hearts + + "The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts + All on a summer's day + The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts + And with them ran away. + The King of Hearts called for the tarts + And beat the Knave full sore. + The Knave of Hearts brought back the tarts, + And vowed he'd steal no more." + + This noble queen, with mind serene, + Then made a mammoth cake. + The naughty knave for cake did crave, + And off with it did make. + The haughty king, for punishing, + Would have him eat it all, + Which made the knave--unhappy slave-- + Too sick to speak or crawl. + + Since then, at ease, their majesties + Eat pastries every day. + The knave affirms his stomach squirms, + And looks the other way. + Alas, alas, to such a pass + Doth gluttony invite! + 'Tis very sad to be so bad, + And lose one's appetite. + + Next day the queen, with lofty mien, + Prepared some lovely pies. + The feeble knave side-glances gave + At them with longing eyes. + The cruel king, with mocking fling, + Said: "Do, now, have some pie!" + The qualmish knave, no longer brave, + Could only groan, "Not I." + + +One Misty Moisty Morning + + "One misty, moisty morning + When cloudy was the weather + I chanced to meet an old man clothed all in leather. + He began to compliment, and I began to grin, + How do you do, and how do you do + And how do you do again?" + + This morning as I wandered + To enjoy the charming weather, + I met a man in goggles and a modern suit of leather. + He began to toot a horn and I began to run, + He knocked me flat nor cared for that; + And down the road he spun. + + +OLD KING COLE + + "Old King Cole was a merry old soul, + And a merry old soul was he: + He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl, + And he called for his fiddlers three. + Every fiddler had a fine fiddle, + And a very fine fiddle had he: + (Twee-tweedle-dee, tweedle-dee, went the fiddlers three)-- + Oh, there's none so rare as can compare + With King Cole and his fiddlers three!" + + I + Good Queen Kate was his royal mate, + And a right royal mate was she: + She would frequently state that carousing till late + Was something that never should be. + But every fiddler had such a fine fiddle,-- + Oh, such a fine fiddle had he,-- + That old King Cole, in his inmost soul, + Was as restive as he could be. + + II + When thus spoke she to his majesty, + He planted his crown on tight. + "We will wait," whispered he to the fiddlers three, + "Till the Queen has retired for the night." + Every fiddler then tuned up his fiddle, + And tuned it as true as could be: + While old King Cole got his pipe and bowl + And replenished them secretly. + + III + So gay they grew as the night hours flew, + He forgot how the time sped away; + Till swift overhead he heard the Queen's tread + As she sprang out of bed, when he hurriedly said + They might finish the tune the next day. + Every fiddler he had a fine fiddle, + And a very fine fiddle had he: + Oh, 't was not fair such a concert rare + Should be ended so suddenly! + + +PUSSY SITS BESIDE THE FIRE + + "Pussy sits beside the fire + How can she be fair? + Then comes in the little dog. + "Pussy, are you there? + So so, dear Mistress Pussy, + Pray tell me how you do?" + "Indeed, I thank you little dog, + I'm very well just now." + + "Fy, pussy, what a lazy cat, + On such a pleasant day + To sit and drowse beside the fire + And sleep the hours away! + A self-respecting dog would think + Himself a sorry cur, + If he did nothing all day long + But fold his arms and purr!" + + "Now, sir, you needn't criticize + Because I sit and blink, + For while my eyes are shut, like this, + I think, and think, and think. + And when I purr, please understand + I work with all my might, + A-humming over songs I sing + When I go out at night. + + "Excuse me. Now I'll close my eyes, + And think a little more. + On busy days like this, I show + My visitors the door. + 'T is only little dogs who judge + That one must idle be, + Unless one's chasing round and round + Or barking up a tree." + + +THE NORTH WIND DOTH BLOW + + "The north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow, + And what will the robin do then, poor thing? + He'll sit in the barn and keep himself warm, + And hide his head under his wing, poor thing." + + But never a word of plaint will be heard + From robin, no matter how tired and cold; + For well will he know that the winter will go, + And the blossoms and greenness of spring unfold. + + And when the warm sun says winter is done, + He'll gladden us all with his cheery song; + And never will fret if the season is wet, + Or wail that the winter was hard and long. + + +I HAD A LITTLE HUSBAND + + "I had a little husband + No bigger than my thumb, + I put him in a pint pot, + And there I bid him drum + I bought a little handkerchief + To wipe his little nose, + And a pair of little garters + To tie his little hose." + + I bought a little carriage + And took him out to ride, + And yet with all my efforts + He wasn't satisfied. + I never would have married, + Now this I do declare,-- + If I'd supposed a husband + Was such an awful care. + + +There was a man in our town + + "There was a man in our town, + And he was wondrous wise + He jumped into a bramble bush + And scratched out both his eyes. + And when he saw his eyes were out, + With all his might and main + He jumped into another bush + And scratched them in again." + + This clever man then hastened on + And bought a pair of shears, + But when he tried to cut with them, + He snipped off both his ears. + And when he heard his ears were off, + ('T was told him o'er and o'er), + He seized the shears and snipped them back + As they had been before. + + "Because," said he, "wise men like me, + Who travel round about, + And keep their eyes, and use them well, + May find some people out. + And if they also use their ears, + And hark what hearsay brings, + They're likewise pretty sure to hear + Some very funny things." + + +SEE SAW, SACARADOWN + + "See saw, sacaradown, + Which is the way to Boston town? + One foot up, the other foot down. + That is the way to Boston town." + + See saw, steady and slow! + Other places there are, I know, + But they are not worth the trouble to go, + For Boston people have told me so. + + +Sing a Song o' sixpence + + "Sing a song o' sixpence + Pocket full of rye; + Four-and-twenty blackbirds + Baked in a pie. + When the pie was opened + The birds began to sing + Was not this a dainty dish + To set before the King? + + The King was in his counting-house + Counting out his money; + The Queen was in the parlor, + Eating bread and honey. + The maid was in the garden + Hanging out the clothes + When along came a blackbird + And nipped off her nose." + + Sing a song o' sixpence + A pocket full of rye; + I know another blackbird + Baked in a pie. + The maid it was who baked it + With all her might and main, + Resolved there'd be one blackbird + That shouldn't nip again. + + +I LOVE LITTLE PUSSY + + "I love little pussy, her coat is so warm, + And if I don't hurt her, she'll do me no harm. + I'll sit by the fire and give her some food, + And pussy will love me because I am good." + + I never will dress her again, that is sure. + Her scratches, you see, are not easy to cure. + And I find that it takes much more time than you'd guess, + To sew up the rents in my dolly's best dress. + + I'd give a good deal, if it wasn't for that, + To see how she'd look in my dolly's new hat. + But no, I'll not try it, you never can tell; + And politeness is best till one's scratches get well. + + +The Horner Brothers + +BY Elizabeth Raymond Woodward + + Jack Horner had three brothers, + Their names were Horner, too-- + One was James, and one was George, + And the little one was Hugh. + And they always did exactly + What they saw Jackie do-- + James and George and the littlest one, + The one whose name was Hugh. + + So when Jack's Christmas pie was made, + They made three others, too-- + One for James, and one for George, + And a little one for Hugh. + And _they_ sat up in corners, + As they'd seen Jackie do-- + James and George and the littlest one, + The one whose name was Hugh. + + I'm sure 't was _very_ lucky + (Does it not seem so to you?) + That the room had just four corners + For Jack James George and Hugh + For if Jackie had a corner, + There _must_ be corners, too, + For James and George and the littlest one, + The one whose name was Hugh. + + * * * + + A little old man + with a shiny bald head + Was told by his wife + they were all out of bread. + He puckered his lips + and replied with a frown, + "Then bring me some toast + that is crusty and brown." + + +JINGLES + + +THERE WAS A MAN IN OUR TOWN + + There was a man in our town, + And all he did each day + Was to skip and hop along the streets + And on a trumpet play. + + +A MOST WONDERFUL SIGHT + + The most wonderful sight I ever did see + Was an owl on the branch of our old oak-tree; + His eyes were so large and his head was so small + That he seemed all eyes and no head at all. + + +SAILING + + Afloat, afloat, in a golden boat! + Hoist the sail to the breeze! + Steer by a star to lands afar + That sleep in the southern seas, + And then come home to our teas! + + +An Up-to-date Pussy-cat. + + Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been? + I've been to London in my new machine. + Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you there? + The auto broke down and was hard to repair. + Adeline Knapp. + + +MISERY IN COMPANY + + The rain is falling, + The fire is out! + Jane has the toothache, + John has the gout! + + +COURT NEWS + +BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS + + The king and queen went out to-day, + A-riding on a load of hay. + The king fell off and lost his crown, + The queen fell, too, and tore her gown. + + + [Illustration: Old Mother Goose.] + +A MESSAGE TO MOTHER GOOSE. + +By Ellen Manly. + + Once on a time there lived a child--so it was told to me-- + Who never heard of Mother Goose and her fine family. + The man who lived up in the moon he saw her with his eyes, + And told the shocking story to the Man so Wondrous Wise, + Who said the proper thing to do in such a case would be + To send the dreadful news at once to good old Mother G. + + So off he ran to Old King Cole and told the Fiddlers Three, + And Old King Cole said, "Bless my soul! such things must never be!" + And, putting up his pipe, dispatched a Fiddler in a trice + To find Jack Horner and request the aid of his advice. + + Jack Horner cried; "Alack-a-day! and can it really be, + There lives a child who never heard about my pie and me? + I cannot spread the news myself--I'm busy finding plums. + You'd better ask the King of France when next this way he comes!" + + The King of France was close at hand, a-marching up the hill, + But kindly turned his men about to search for Jack and Jill; + And Jack and Jill, with all good-will, they hunted up Bo-Peep, + And then they wakened poor Boy Blue, beside the hay asleep. + + Bo-Peep she left her wandering sheep; Boy Blue he blew his horn, + And sent the Knave of Hearts to tell the Maiden all Forlorn. + John Barleycorn, he heard the news, and Tom the Piper's Son; + And Tom set out to find John Stout as fast as he could run. + + The story shocked Miss Muffet so she dropped her curds and whey + And flew to Mother Hubbard's house, but found her gone away + To buy her poor old dog a bone, and so she told Jack Sprat + As he was lecturing Tommy Green for drowning pussy cat. + + Brave Tommy Tucker stopped his song at hearing what she said, + And, quite forgetting supper-time, his butter and his bread, + To Mary Quite Contrary went, as in the garden row + She raked the shells and silver bells that she had coaxed to grow! + + Then Mary left her precious flowers and ran with might and main, + (The Man in Leather lent his coat in case it chanced to rain), + And came to Mother Goose's farm before Bow Bells could ring, + Which, Little Polly Flinders said, was quite a lucky thing. + + Within her cosy little house beneath the jimcrack-tree + The worthy dame was just about to brew a cup of tea. + But when she heard the dreadful news she let the teapot fall, + And for her Sunday cap and gown impatiently did call. + + "Quick! get my steeple hat," quoth she, "my newest high heeled shoes, + And bring my gander to the door; there is no time to lose! + I must away to Santa Claus before the set of sun, + To tell him this alarming tale and see what can be done!" + + She wrapped her in her scarlet cloak, she donned her steeple hat; + The gander flapped his lovely wings and circled like a bat, + And then the noble bird away to Christmas Land did soar, + Nor slackened speed till they arrived at Santa Claus's door! + + Good Santa Claus was overjoyed his dear old friend to see, + And treated her to cake and nuts from off a Christmas tree. + Just what was said on either side I can't exactly tell, + As nobody was near enough to hear it very well. + + But this I've learned: old Santa Claus that very Christmas took + That poor, benighted little child a most enchanting book, + And now she knows old Mother Goose--her children great and small, + And, as good little folks should do, she dearly loves them all! + + + + +#SLEEPY-TIME SONGS AND STORIES# + + + + +SWEET AND LOW + +By Alfred, Lord Tennyson + + Sweet and low, sweet and low, + Wind of the Western Sea. + Low, low, breathe and blow, + Wind of the Western Sea! + Over the rolling waters go, + Come from the dying Moon, and blow, + Blow him again to me; + While my little one, while my pretty one, sleeps. + + Sleep and rest, sleep and rest, + Father will come to thee soon; + Rest, rest on Mother's breast, + Father will come to thee soon; + Father will come to his Babe in the Nest, + Silver sails all out of the West + Under the Silver Moon; + Sleep, my little one, sleep my pretty one, sleep. + + +THE SLEEPY-TIME STORY[C] + +BY GERTRUDE SMITH + +One night Arabella and Araminta's mamma was sewing, and their papa was +reading his newspaper. And there was a fire in the grate--a warm, bright +fire in the grate. + +And Arabella sat on the rug before the fire, and Araminta sat on the rug +before the fire. + +And Arabella was playing with her little white kitty, and Araminta was +playing with her little black kitty. + +And Arabella's little white kitty's name was Annabel, and Araminta's +little black kitty's name was Lillabel. + +Arabella had a little red ball fastened to a long string, and Araminta +had a little blue ball fastened to a long string. Arabella would roll +her ball, and her little white kitty would run and jump for it. And +Araminta would roll her ball, and her little black kitty would run and +jump for it. + +The kittens were so cunning and funny, and they were having such a +splendid time. + +Sometimes when Arabella's kitty would run very fast, or jump very high, +Arabella would laugh until she tumbled right over on the floor. + +And sometimes when Araminta's kitty would run very fast, or jump very +high, Araminta would laugh until she would tumble right over on the +floor. + +Oh, they were having a splendid time. + +But all at once their mamma looked up from her sewing, and said, +"Good-night, Arabella. Good-night, Araminta. The clock is on the stroke +of eight." + +And their papa looked up from his paper, and said, "Yes, good-night, +Arabella. Good-night, Araminta. The clock is on the stroke of eight." + +And Arabella said, "Oh, must we go to bed right now?" + +And Araminta said, "Oh, must we go to bed right now?" + +And their papa said, "Yes, indeed; yes, indeed. Good-night, Arabella. +Good-night, Araminta. The clock is on the stroke of eight." + +Always, when it was bedtime, their papa and mamma would say, +"Good-night, Arabella. Good-night, Araminta." + +And sometimes they were good, and sometimes they were bad; but they +always ran away to bed. + +And their dear mamma always went with them and tucked them in and kissed +them, and then came away downstairs and left them. And sometimes they +were good, and sometimes they were bad; but they always went to sleep. + +But to-night their mamma said, + + "Run and get your nighties, dears, + And get each a flannel gown, + And we'll sit and rock you here, + Till you go to sleepy-town." + +And Arabella ran upstairs and got her nighty and her little flannel +gown. And Araminta ran upstairs and got her nighty and her little +flannel gown. And their mamma undressed Arabella, and their papa +undressed Araminta. + +Arabella's little flannel gown was red, and Araminta's little flannel +gown was pink. When they had put them on over their nighties they were +just as warm as toast. + +Arabella's kitty was playing with Araminta's kitty on the rug before the +fire. They were rolling and tumbling and chasing each other, and they +looked so cunning and sweet. + +And Arabella's mamma took Arabella on her lap, and Araminta's papa took +Araminta on his lap. + +Arabella said, "Oh, I want my kitty in my lap, mamma!" + +And Araminta said, "Oh, I want my kitty in my lap, papa!" + +So they jumped down and caught the kitties. + +Their mamma rocked Arabella, and their papa rocked Araminta; and they +sang to them, + + "Now a nice little rock, + And never mind the clock, + Now a nice little rock, + And never mind the clock!" + +And they sang it over, and over, and over. + + "Now a nice little rock, + And never mind the clock, + Now a nice little rock, + And never mind the clock!" + +And Arabella cuddled in her mamma's arms, and hugged her little kitty +close; and Araminta cuddled in her papa's arms, and hugged her little +kitty close. + +And their mamma sang, and their papa sang, + + "Now she goes to sleepy-town, sleepy-town, sleepy-town; + Cuddled in her little gown, here she goes to sleepy-town." + +And they sang it over, and over, and over. + + "Now she goes to sleepy-town, sleepy-town, sleepy-town; + Cuddled in her little gown, here she goes to sleepy-town." + +And very soon Arabella could only just hear her mamma singing, and very +soon Araminta could only just hear her papa singing, "Sleepy-town, +sleepy-town." And soon they couldn't hear them at all. They were sound +asleep! + +And their mamma looked at their papa, and said, "Our precious little +dears are both sound asleep." + +And their papa said, "Yes, our little pets have both reached +sleepy-town." + +And Arabella's mamma carried her upstairs and put her in her little bed, +and Araminta's papa carried her upstairs and put her in her little bed. +And Arabella was hugging her white kitty up close in her arms and +Araminta was hugging her black kitty up close in her arms. And the +kitties were both sound asleep, too. + +But Arabella's kitty and Araminta's kitty did not sleep with them all +night--oh, no indeed! They had a nice little, warm little, soft little +bed down in the basement, close to the furnace. + +And their papa took the kitties out of their arms, and carried them down +to their bed. + +And Arabella slept, and slept, and slept, and slept, and slept. And +Araminta slept, and slept, and slept, and slept, and slept. + +And the little kitties in their soft little bed slept, and slept, too. +All through the long, dark, beautiful night they slept. + +And the sun came, and the morning came, and it was another day! + + [C] From "Arabella and Araminta Stories." Used by permission of + publishers, Small, Maynard & Co., Boston. + + +THE GO-SLEEP STORY[D] + +BY EUDORA S. BUMSTEAD + +"How can I go to bed," said Penny, the flossy dog, "till I say +good-night to Baby Ray? He gives me part of his bread and milk, and pats +me with his little, soft hand. It is bedtime now for dogs and babies. I +wonder if he is asleep?" + +So he trotted along in his silky, white nightgown till he found Baby Ray +on the porch in mamma's arms. + +And she was telling him the same little story that I am telling you: + + The doggie that was given him to keep, keep, keep, + Went to see if Baby Ray was asleep, sleep, sleep. + +"How can we go to bed," said Snowdrop and Thistledown, the youngest +children of Tabby, the cat, "till we have once more looked at Baby Ray? +He lets us play with his blocks and ball, and laughs when we climb on +the table. It is bedtime now for kitties and dogs and babies. Perhaps +we shall find him asleep." And this is what the kitties heard: + + One doggie that was given him to keep, keep, keep, + Two cunning little kitty-cats, creep, creep, creep, + Went to see if Baby Ray was asleep, sleep, sleep. + +"How can we go to bed," said the three little Bunnies, "till we have +seen Baby Ray?" Then away they went in their white, velvet nightgowns as +softly as three flakes of snow. And they, too, when they got as far as +the porch, heard Ray's mamma telling the same little story: + + One doggie that was given him to keep, keep, keep, + Two cunning little kitty-cats, creep, creep, creep, + Three pretty little bunnies, with a leap, leap, leap, + Went to see if Baby Ray was asleep, sleep, sleep. + +"How can we go to bed," said the four white Geese, "till we know that +Baby Ray is all right? He loves to watch us sail on the duck-pond, and +he brings us corn in his little blue apron. It is bedtime now for geese +and rabbits and kitties and dogs and babies, and he really ought to be +asleep." + +So they waddled away in their white, feather nightgowns, around by the +porch, where they saw Baby Ray, and heard mamma tell the "Go-Sleep" +story: + + One doggie that was given him to keep, keep, keep, + Two cunning little kitty-cats, creep, creep, creep, + Three pretty little bunnies, with a leap, leap, leap, + Four geese from the duck-pond, deep, deep, deep, + Went to see if Baby Ray was asleep, sleep, sleep. + +"How can we go to bed," said the five white Chicks, "till we have seen +Baby Ray once more? He scatters crumbs for us and calls us. Now it is +bedtime for chicks and geese and rabbits and kittens and dogs and +babies, so little Ray must be asleep." + +Then they ran and fluttered in their downy, white nightgowns till they +came to the porch, where little Ray was just closing his eyes, while +mamma told the "Go-Sleep" story: + + One doggie that was given him to keep, keep, keep, + Two cunning little kitty-cats, creep, creep, creep, + Three pretty little bunnies, with a leap, leap, leap, + Four geese from the duck-pond, deep, deep, deep, + Five downy little chicks, crying peep, peep, peep, + All saw that Baby Ray was asleep, sleep, sleep. + + [D] Used by permission of _The Youth's Companion_. + + + [Illustration: THE LAND OF NOD] + + +THE GENTLE DARK[E] + +BY W. GRAHAME ROBERTSON + + So it is over, the long bright Day, + And little Maid Twilight, quiet and meek, + Comes stealing along in her creep-mouse way + Whispering low--for she may not speak-- + "The Gentle Dark is coming to play + At a game of Hide and Seek." + + Some babies are cross when she whispers them this, + And some are afraid and begin to cry. + I never can think what they find amiss. + Afraid of the Dark! I wonder why. + The Gentle Dark that falls like a kiss + Down from the sleepy sky. + + O Gentle Dark, we know you are kind + By the lingering touch of your cool soft hand; + As over our eyes the veil you bind + We shut them tight at word of command, + You are only playing at Hoodman-Blind, + A game that we understand. + + The voice is tender (O little one, hark!), + The eyes are kindly under the hood, + Blow out the candle, leave not a spark, + Trusting your friend as a playmate should. + Hold up your arms to the Gentle Dark, + The Dark that is kind and good. + + [E] From "A Year of Song," by W. Grahame Robertson; used by permission + of the publishers, John Lane Company. + + +THE FERRY FOR SHADOWTOWN + + Sway to and fro in the twilight gray; + This is the ferry for Shadowtown; + It always sails at the end of the day, + Just as the darkness closes down. + + Rest little head, on my shoulder, so; + A sleepy kiss is the only fare, + Drifting away from the world, we go, + Baby and I in the rocking-chair. + + See where the fire-logs glow and spark, + Glitter the lights of the shadowland, + The raining drops on the window, hark! + Are ripples lapping upon its strand. + + There, where the mirror is glancing dim, + A lake lies shimmering, cool and still. + Blossoms are waving above its brim, + Those over there on the window-sill. + + Rock slow, more slow in the dusky light, + Silently lower the anchor down; + Dear little passenger, say "Good-night." + We've reached the harbor of Shadowtown. + + +HUSH-A-BYE, BABY + + Hush-a-bye, baby, in the tree top: + When the wind blows, the cradle will rock; + When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, + Down will come baby, cradle, and all. + + +THE KITTEN AND THE FALLING LEAVES + +BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH + + See the kitten on the wall, + Sporting with the leaves that fall, + Withered leaves--one--two--and three-- + From the lofty elder tree! + Through the calm and frosty air + Of this morning bright and fair, + Eddying round and round they sink + Softly, slowly: one might think + From the motions that are made, + Every little leaf conveyed + Sylph or fairy hither tending, + To this lower world descending, + Each invisible and mute, + In his wavering parachute. + But the kitten, how she starts, + Crouches, stretches, paws and darts! + First at one and then its fellow, + Just as light and just as yellow; + There are many now--now one-- + Now they stop and there are none: + What intenseness of desire + In her upward eye of fire! + With a tiger-leap, halfway, + Now she meets the coming prey; + Lets it go as fast and then + Has it in her power again. + Now she works with three or four, + Like an Indian conjuror; + Quick as he in feats of art, + Far beyond in joy of heart. + + +LATE + +By Josephine Preston Peabody + + My father brought Somebody up + To show us all asleep. + They came as softly up the Stairs + As you could creep. + + They whispered in the Doorway there, + And looked at us awhile. + I had my Eyes shut up, but I + Could feel him smile. + + I shut my Eyes up close, and lay + As still as I could keep. + Because I knew He wanted us + To be asleep. + +From "The Book of the Little Past," by Josephine Preston Peabody; +used by permission of the publishers, Houghton Mifflin Co. + + +A BLESSING FOR THE BLESSED + +BY LAURENCE ALMA-TADEMA + + When the sun has left the hilltop, + And the daisy-fringe is furled, + When the birds from wood and meadow + In their hidden nests are curled, + Then I think of all the babies + That are sleeping in the world. + + There are babies in the high lands + And babies in the low, + There are pale ones wrapped in furry skins + On the margin of the snow, + And brown ones naked in the isles + Where all the spices grow. + + And some are in the palace, + On a white and downy bed; + And some are in the garret, + With a clout beneath their head; + And some are on the cold, hard earth, + Whose mothers have no bread. + + O little men and women, + Dear flowers yet unblown-- + O little kings and beggars + Of the pageant yet unshown-- + Sleep soft and dream pale dreams now, + To-morrow is your own. + + +MY DOLLY + + Hush, Dolly, bye, Dolly, sleep, Dolly, dear, + See what a bed, Dolly, I've for you here; + Therefore, to sleep, Dolly! don't fret and cry; + Lay down your head, Dolly, shut up your eye. + + When the bright morn, Dolly, once more has come, + Up gets the sun, and goes forth to roam; + Then shall my dear Dolly soon get up, too; + Then shall be playtime for me and for you. + + Now go to sleep, Dolly, good night to you; + You must to bed, Dolly--I'm going too; + Just go to sleep without trouble or pain, + And in the morning I'll come back again. + + +THE CHILD AND THE WORLD + + I see a nest in a green elm-tree + With little brown sparrows--one, two, three! + The elm-tree stretches its branches wide, + And the nest is soft and warm inside. + At morn the sun, so golden bright, + Climbs up to fill the world with light; + It opens the flowers, it wakens me, + And wakens the birdies--one, two, three. + And leaning out of my window high, + I look far up at the blue, blue sky, + And then far out at the earth so green, + And think it the loveliest ever seen-- + The loveliest world that ever was seen! + + +EVENING SONG + +BY C. FRANCES ALEXANDER + + Little birds sleep sweetly + In their soft round nests, + Crouching in the cover + Of their mother's breasts. + Little lambs lie quiet, + All the summer night, + With their old ewe mothers, + Warm, and soft, and white. + + But more sweet and quiet + Lie our little heads, + With our own dear mothers + Sitting by our beds; + And their soft sweet voices + Sing our hush-a-byes, + While the room grows darker, + As we shut our eyes. + + And we play at evening + Round our father's knees; + Birds are not so merry, + Singing on the trees, + Lambs are not so happy, + 'Mid the meadow flowers; + They have play and pleasure, + But not love like ours. + + +ROCK-A-BYE, BABY + + Rock-a-bye, baby, your cradle is green, + Father's a nobleman, mother's a queen, + And Betty's a lady, and wears a gold ring, + And Johnny's a drummer, and drums for the King. + + +THE SANDMAN + +BY MARGARET VANDERGRIFT + + The rosy clouds float overhead + The sun is going down, + And now the Sandman's gentle tread + Comes stealing through the town. + "White sand, white sand," he softly cries, + And as he shakes his hand, + Straightway there lies on babies' eyes + His gift of shining sand. + Blue eyes, black eyes, gray eyes and brown, + As shuts the rose, they softly close, + when he goes through the town. + + From sunny beaches far away-- + Yes, in another land-- + He gathers up at break of day + His store of shining sand. + No tempests beat that shore remote, + No ships may sail that way, + His little boat alone may float + Within that lovely bay. + Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes and brown, + As shuts the rose, they softly close, + when he goes through the town. + + He smiles to see the eyelids close + Above the happy eyes; + And every child right well he knows-- + Oh, he is very wise! + But if, as he goes through the land, + A naughty baby cries, + His other hand takes dull gray sand + To close the wakeful eyes. + Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes and brown, + As shuts the rose, they softly close, + when he goes through the town. + + So when you hear the Sandman's song + Sound through the twilight sweet, + Be sure you do not keep him long + A-waiting on the street. + Lie softly down, dear little head, + Rest quiet, busy hands, + Till, by your bed his good-night said, + He strews the shining sands. + Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes and brown, + As shuts the rose, they softly close, + when he goes through the town. + + +THE FAIRY FOLK + +BY ROBERT BIRD + + Come cuddle close in daddy's coat + Beside the fire so bright, + And hear about the fairy folk + That wander in the night. + For when the stars are shining clear + And all the world is still, + They float across the silver moon + From hill to cloudy hill. + + Their caps of red, their cloaks of green, + Are hung with silver bells, + And when they're shaken with the wind + Their merry ringing swells, + And riding on the crimson moth, + With black spots on his wings, + They guide them down the purple sky + With golden bridle rings. + + They love to visit girls and boys, + To see how sweet they sleep, + To stand beside their cozy cots + And at their faces peep. + For in the whole of fairy-land + They have no finer sight + Than little children sleeping sound + With faces rosy bright. + + On tiptoe crowding round their heads, + When bright the moonlight beams, + They whisper little tender words + That fill their minds with dreams; + And when they see a sunny smile, + With lightest finger tips + They lay a hundred kisses sweet + Upon the ruddy lips. + + And then the little spotted moths + Spread out their crimson wings, + And bear away the fairy crowd + With shaking bridle rings. + Come bairnies, hide in daddy's coat, + Beside the fire so bright-- + Perhaps the little fairy folk + Will visit you to-night. + + +QUEEN MAB + +BY THOMAS HOOD + + A little fairy comes at night; + Her eyes are blue, her hair is brown, + With silver spots upon her wings, + And from the moon she flutters down. + + She has a little silver wand, + And when a good child goes to bed, + She waves her wand from right to left, + And makes a circle round its head. + + And then it dreams of pleasant things-- + Of fountains filled with fairy fish, + And trees that bear delicious fruit. + And bow their branches at a wish. + + Of arbors filled with dainty scents + From lovely flowers that never fade, + Bright flies that glitter in the sun, + And glow-worms shining in the shade. + + And talking birds with gifted tongues + For singing songs and telling tales, + And pretty dwarfs to show the way + Through fairy hills and fairy dales. + + But when a bad child goes to bed, + From left to right she weaves her rings, + And then it dreams all through the night + Of only ugly, horrid things! + + Then lions come with glaring eyes, + And tigers growl, a dreadful noise, + And ogres draw their cruel knives, + To shed the blood of girls and boys. + + Then stormy waves rush on to drown, + Or raging flames come scorching round, + Fierce dragons hover in the air, + And serpents crawl along the ground. + + Then wicked children wake and weep, + And wish the long black gloom away; + But good ones love the dark, and find + The night as pleasant as the day. + + +LULLABY + +BY GERTRUDE THOMPSON MILLER + + Come lay your head on my breast, my dear, + That I may feel your sweet form near; + Then we'll rock, rock, in the rocking chair, + And play we're sailing up through the air. + + Your body so warm, so close, and so round, + A more precious bundle ne'er was found; + Just nestle your head right here on my arm, + And Mother will keep you safe from all harm. + + Now, we rock, rock, and away we go, + Over the houses and trees, just so, + Like the birds, we'll fly to a sunny land, + And there we'll join the fairies' band. + + We'll take them to ride; we'll sail for home, + For Father is there, and he's all alone; + Then we'll alight on the nursery bed, + Fairies for company in Mother's stead. + + +KENTUCKY BABE[F] + +BY RICHARD HENRY BUCK + + Skeeters am a hummin' on de honeysuckle vine, + Sleep, Kentucky Babe! + San'man am a comin' to dis little coon of mine,-- + Sleep, Kentucky Babe! + Silv'ry moon am shinin' in de heabens up above, + Bobolink am pinin' fo' his little lady love: + Yo' is mighty lucky, babe of old Kentucky,-- + Close yo' eyes in sleep. + + Fly away, Kentucky Babe, fly away to rest, + Lay yo' kinky, woolly head on yo' mammy's breast,-- + Um-um-um-um,-- + Close yo' eyes in sleep. + + Daddy's in de canebrake wid his little dog and gun,-- + Sleep, Kentucky Babe! + Possum fo' yo' breakfast when yo' sleepin' time is done,-- + Sleep, Kentucky Babe! + Bogie man'll catch yo' sure unless yo' close yo' eyes, + Waitin' jes outside de doo' to take yo' by surprise! + Close yo' eyes in sleep. + + [F] These words are published by the Company in the form of a musical + composition by Adam Geibel, the well-known composer. + + +MY POSSESSIONS + + I'm a rich man, + If ever there was one: + I've a horse and an apple, + And both are my own. + + But some others might wish + Such fine presents to keep; + So I'll take them to bed, + To hold while asleep. + + And when in the morning + I wake up once more, + I've my toy and my apple, + To me a rich store. + + +THE WAKE-UP STORY[G] + +BY EUDORA S. BUMSTEAD + +The sun was up and the breeze was blowing, and the five chicks, and four +geese, and three rabbits, and two kitties, and one little dog were just +as noisy and lively as they knew how to be. + +They were all watching for Baby Ray to appear at the window, but he was +still fast asleep in his little white bed, while mamma was making ready +the things he would need when he would wake up. + +First, she went along the orchard path as far as the old wooden pump, +and said: "Good pump, will you give me some nice, clear water for the +baby's bath?" + +And the pump was willing. + + The good old pump by the orchard path + Gave nice, clear water for the baby's bath. + +Then she went a little further on the path, and stopped at the woodpile, +and said: "Good chips, the pump has given me nice, clear water for dear +Baby Ray; will you come and warm the water and cook his food?" + +And the chips were willing. + + The good old pump by the orchard path + Gave nice clear water for the baby's bath. + And the clean white chips from the pile of wood + Were glad to warm it and cook his food. + +So mamma went on till she came to the barn, and then said: "Good cow, +the pump has given me nice, clear water, and the woodpile has given me +clean, white chips for dear little Ray; will you give me warm, rich +milk?" + +And the cow was willing. + +Then she said to the top-knot hen that was scratching in the straw: +"Good Biddy, the pump has given me nice, clear water, and the woodpile +has given me clean, white chips, and the cow has given me warm, rich +milk for dear little Ray; will you give me a new-laid egg?" + +And the hen was willing. + + The good old pump by the orchard path + Gave nice, clear water for the baby's bath. + The clean, white chips from the pile of wood + Were glad to warm it and cook his food. + The cow gave milk in the milk-pail bright, + And the top-knot Biddy an egg new and white. + +Then mamma went on till she came to the orchard, and said to a Red June +apple tree: "Good tree, the pump has given me nice, clear water, and the +woodpile has given me clean, white chips, and the cow has given me warm, +rich milk, and the hen has given me a new-laid egg for dear little Ray; +will you give me a pretty, red apple?" + +And the tree was willing. + +So mamma took the apple and the egg and the milk and the chips and the +water to the house, and there was Baby Ray in his nightgown looking out +of the window. + +And she kissed him and bathed him and dressed him, and while she brushed +and curled his soft, brown hair, she told him the Wake-Up Story that I +am telling you. + + The good old pump by the orchard path + Gave nice, clear water for the baby's bath. + The clean, white chips from the pile of wood + Were glad to warm it and cook his food. + The cow gave milk in the milk-pail bright; + The top-knot Biddy an egg new and white; + And the tree gave an apple so round and so red, + For dear little Ray who was just out of bed. + + [G] Used by permission of _The Youth's Companion_. + + + + +#FIRST STORIES FOR VERY LITTLE FOLK# + + + + +ABOUT SIX LITTLE CHICKENS + +BY S. L. ELLIOTT + + [Illustration: "A LITTLE GIRL CAME OUT WITH SOME CORN-MEAL IN A DISH."] + +A Mother Biddy sat on her nest, with what do you think in the nest? Six +smooth white eggs! After she had sat there quite a long time till she +was very tired, what do you suppose happened to one of those eggs? There +was a noise that went "snick, snick," and out of the shell stepped +something like a little fuzzy ball, but with two bright eyes, and two +bits of feet to walk on. What do you think it was? A little chicken? +Yes, and Mother Biddy was so glad to see it, and she called it "Fluffy." +And Fluffy said "Peep, peep! I have some brothers and sisters in the +shells; if you call them, I think they will come." So Mother Biddy said +"Cluck, cluck!" and something said: "Peep, peep!" and out came another +chicken, as black as it could be, so Mother Biddy called it "Topsy." +"Are there any more?" said Mother Biddy. "Yes. Peep, peep! We're coming; +wait for us," and there came four more little chickens as fast as they +could run. One was as white as snow, and Mother Biddy called it +"Snowball." The next was yellow and white, and she named it "Daisy." +Then there was a yellow one with a brown ring around its neck, and that +was called "Brownie." And what do you think! one was all black, only it +had a little white spot on the top of its head that looked like a cap, +so Mother Biddy called it "Spottie." Now they were all out of their +shells, and they said: "Peep, peep! We're hungry." So Mother Biddy said: +"Cluck, cluck! Come see my babies," and out of the house, close by, came +a little girl with some corn-meal in a dish, and my! wasn't she glad to +see the chickens? + + [Illustration: FLUFFY TOPSY SNOWBALL DAISY BROWNIE SPOTTIE] + +After they had eaten all they wanted, they thought they would take a +walk and see this queer world they had come to live in. + +Pretty soon they came to a brook, and they all stood in a row and looked +in. "Let us have a drink," they said, so they put their heads down, +when-- + +"Peep, peep!" said Spottie. "I see a little chicken with a spot on its +head." + +"No, no," said Brownie; "it has a ring around its neck, and looks like +me." + +"Peep, peep!" said Daisy. "I think it's like me, for it is yellow and +white." And I don't know but they would all have tumbled in to see if +they hadn't felt something drop right on the ends of their noses. +"What's that?" said Fluffy. + +"Cluck, cluck!" said Mother Biddy. "Every chicken of you come in, for it +is going to rain, and you'll get your feathers wet." + +So they ran as fast as they could, and in a few minutes the six little +chickens were all cuddled under Mother Biddy's wing, fast asleep. + + +"TRADE-LAST" + +BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS + + "My frock is green." + "My frock is blue." + "You look pretty." + "So do you." + + +PHILIP'S HORSE + + [Illustration: PHILIP IN HIS "ROUGH-RIDER" SUIT.] + +Little Philip was very fond of horses, and as he was too old to sit on a +chair or box or trunk and make believe a rocking-horse was pulling it +along his bedroom floor, his father bought him a horse all spotted brown +and white, with a beautiful white mane; and Philip loved to get up on +his back. + +In winter he would go out in his sleigh, even when the snow was deep. It +was jolly fun to be in the sleigh all wrapped up cozy and warm in furry +robes. He would crack his long whip and make it sound almost as loud as +a fire-cracker. He used to carry a make-believe pistol when he dressed +up in his "Rough-Rider" suit and went horseback-riding. But all the +neighbors thought it was funny that Philip would always leave the saddle +on his horse when he went out in his sleigh. But you won't think it is +funny when I tell you a secret--maybe you have guessed it +already--Philip couldn't get the saddle off, because, don't you see, his +horse was only a make-believe, hobby-horse. + + [Illustration: PHILIP IN HIS SLEIGH.] + + +The Kitten That Forgot How to Mew + +By Stella George Stern + +All little girls, and little boys too, like to read stories about +kittens. Here is a story about a dear little kitten that belonged to a +dear little girl named Peggy. + +Peggy had two brothers, and three cousins--all boys--and every boy had a +little dog. At first the dogs would tease the kitten, but they soon +learned better. The dogs and the kitten played together. All day long, +out in the yard, you could hear them going, "Bow-wow!" and "Mew!" + +But, you see, there was only one little "Mew" and ever so many +"Bow-wows," and after a while the kitten hardly ever spoke at all. + +But one day the kitten wanted to mew, and--what do you suppose?--she had +forgotten how to do it! She tried and tried, and all she could say was +"M-m-m-bow!"--just as much like a dog as a kitten. She was so sad. She +ran out into the yard and cried. + +The Big White Hen passed by and asked what was the matter. + +"Oh, Big White Hen," sobbed the kitten, "I have forgotten how to talk +kitten-talk. I try and I try, and all I can say is, M-m-m-bow!" + +"Never mind, Kitty Cat," said the Hen; "I will teach you to talk. Listen +to this: M-m-m-cut, cut, cut, cut, cut-ca-_da_-cut!" + +"No," said the kitten; "that's not the way to talk kitten-talk." And she +cried again. + +Then along came the Sheep and asked, "What is the matter?" + +"Oh, Sheep," sobbed the kitten, "I have forgotten how to talk +kitten-talk. I try and I try, and all I can say is, M-m-m-bow!" + +"Never mind, Kitty Cat," said the Sheep; "I will teach you to talk. +Listen: M-m-m-baa!" + +"No," said the kitten, "that's not the way to talk kitten-talk." And she +cried again. + +Then along came the Horse and asked what was the matter. + +"Oh, Horse," sobbed the kitten, "I have forgotten how to talk +kitten-talk. I try and I try, and all I can say is, M-m-m-bow!" + +"Never mind, Kitty Cat," said the Horse; "I will teach you to talk. +Listen to this: M-m-m-neigh!" + +"No," said the kitten; "that's not the way to talk kitten-talk." And she +cried again. + +Then along came the Cow and asked what was the matter. + +"Oh, Cow," sobbed the kitten, "I have forgotten how to talk kitten-talk. +I try and I try, as hard as I ever can, and all I can say is, +M-m-m-bow!" + +"Never mind, Kitty Cat," said the Cow; "I will teach you to talk. Listen +to this: M-m-m-moo!" + +"No," said the kitten; "that is more like it, but that's not the way to +talk kitten-talk." And she cried again. + +The New Baby was sitting in her high chair at the kitchen door. + +"Baby dear," sighed the kitten, "I am in trouble. I have forgotten how +to talk kitten-talk. I try and I try, and all I can say is, M-m-m-bow! +Can't you teach me?" + +The Baby nodded her head and began, "M-m-m-google-google-goo!" + +"No," said the kitten; "that's not the way to talk kitten-talk." And she +sat on the kitchen step and cried again. + +"What is the matter?" asked a soft voice behind her. + +"Oh!" sobbed the kitten, without looking up, "I have forgotten how to +talk kitten-talk. I try and I try, and nothing can help me. All I can +say is, M-m-m-bow!" + +"Look at me," said the soft voice. + +The little kitten looked. And there stood a beautiful big gray cat! + +"I can teach you to talk," said the Cat. And she did. She taught her so +well that the little kitten never again forgot how to mew, though she +played out on the soft, green grass with the dogs every day. + + +WHAT COULD THE FARMER DO? + +BY GEORGE WILLIAM OGDEN + + There was an old farmer who had a cow, + Moo, moo, moo! + She used to stand on the pump and bow, + And what could the farmer do? + Moo, moo, moo, moo, + Moo, moo, moo! + She used to stand on the pump and bow, + And what could the farmer do? + + There was an old farmer who owned some sheep, + Baa, baa, baa! + They used to play cribbage while he was asleep, + And laugh at the farmer's ma. + Baa, baa, baa, baa! + Moo, moo, moo! + He owned a cow and he owned some sheep, + And what could the poor man do? + + There was an old farmer who owned a pig, + Whoof, whoof, whoof! + He used to dress up in the farmer's wig, + And dance on the pig-pen roof. + Whoof, whoof! Baa, baa! + Moo, moo, moo! + He owned a pig, some sheep, and a cow, + And what could the poor man do? + + There was an old farmer who owned a hen, + Cuk-a-ca-doo, ca-doo! + She used to lay eggs for the three hired men, + And some for the weasel, too. + Cuk-a-ca-doo! Whoof, whoof! + Baa, baa! Moo! + He owned a hen, pig, sheep, and a cow, + And what could the poor man do? + + There was an old farmer who had a duck, + Quack, quack, quack! + She waddled under a two-horse truck + For four long miles and back. + Quack, quack! Cuk-a-ca-doo! + Whoof! Baa! Moo! + With a duck, hen, pig, a sheep, and a cow, + Pray what could the poor man do? + + There was an old farmer who had a cat, + Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow! + She used to waltz with a gray old rat + By night in the farmer's mow. + Mee-ow! Quack! Cuk-a-ca-doo! + Whoof! Baa! Moo! + With cat, duck, hen, pig, sheep, and a cow, + Pray what could the poor man do? + + +FLEDGLINGS + +BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS + + I saw a stork on a chimney high, + And called to him as I passed by, + "O stork! what'll you bring, + Tucked away carefully under your wing? + A baby sister and a brother, + One for me, and one for mother." + + +"TIME TO GET UP!" + +BY ELLEN FOSTER + +Little Elinor Gray lived in a big city, but her grandmother lived in a +big house in the country. Elinor and her Nurse Norah were going to visit +her, and had to take a long ride in the railway-train, and another ride +in a carriage that Grandmother sent to meet them, so it was almost dark +when they drove up to the door. + +Elinor's grandmother had two beautiful dogs--"Bruno," a big collie, and +"Bounder," a little fox-terrier. And when they saw the little girl jump +out of the carriage, they barked and barked because they were so glad to +see her. And they said to themselves (I _think_ they said to +themselves): "We will let her have a good sleep to-night, for she must +be very tired and it is nearly dark. But to-morrow, bright and early, we +will ask her to come for a romp with us in the garden, and show her how +much nicer it is to live in the country than in the city, where little +girls have to walk so quietly along the streets, and dogs have to be led +along the sidewalk, and cannot frolic on the soft green grass." + +Elinor was very sleepy after her long ride in the train, and so, after +she had had her supper, her grandmother told her she might go to bed +early and get a good sleep, and that Nurse Norah would call her at seven +o'clock in the morning. + +But what do you think happened? Why, Bruno and Bounder somehow got into +the house _before_ seven o'clock that morning, and came leaping up the +stairs, and went straight to Elinor's door. Elinor was a very sound +sleeper, and did not hear them at first, and did not wake up. But soon +Bounder began to scratch at the door with his little, sharp claws and to +make queer little whine-y sounds; and Bruno's bushy tail went "Rap! rap! +rap!" on the door, too. Then Elinor woke up, and listened a moment, and +then she said: "Oh, _I_ know what it is! It's those darling dogs!" And +she jumped out of bed and opened the door, and there, sure enough, was +Bounder, dashing right into the room, barking, "Good morning! good +morning!" and big Bruno, looking at Elinor as if saying, "Good morning! +didn't you hear us? It's time to get up!" + +Elinor said: "Oh, you beauties! Yes, I know! And I'll get dressed right +away!" + +But what do you think happened _then_! Why, Bruno and Bounder didn't +give her time even to call Nurse Norah and get dressed. You see, Bruno +and Bounder did not often have so nice a little visitor, and they were +ready to begin play that very minute. Bounder was jumping up and down +and all over the room, and at last he spied Elinor's slippers on the +floor and caught up one of them between his sharp little teeth and ran +round and round the room with it. But Bruno chased Bounder all round the +room trying to make him drop the slipper, while Elinor stood still and +laughed and laughed and laughed! + +But just then Nurse Norah came rushing in from the next room, asking +what _was_ the matter and in a minute, the naughty Bounder was made to +give up Elinor's slipper, and Bruno chased him all the way out of the +house. + +And just as soon as Elinor had had her breakfast, she ran out and had a +fine romp with Bruno and Bounder in Grandmother's garden. + + [Illustration: From the engraving of the painting by Arthur J. Elsley. + "TIME TO GET UP!"] + + +MAGGIE'S VERY OWN SECRET + +By SARA JOSEPHINE ALBRIGHT + +(_For Very Little Folk_) + +Mr. and Mrs. Squeaky were two little, gray mice. They lived away back in +the corner of a great, big, empty box in the cellar. + +One morning Mr. Squeaky went up the cellar stairs on tiptoes, to hunt +for some bread and cheese in the kitchen. + +All at once he heard some one talking, and he hid behind the broom and +was as still as he could be. + +It was the little boy Johnnie, who lived up-stairs. He had a big hammer +and a saw in his hand, and he was talking to his little sister. + +"I think that big, empty box down cellar would make a fine dolls' house, +Maggie. I can fix a little porch on it, and make an up-stairs and a +down-stairs," the little boy said. + +"Oh, Johnnie, that will be lovely," his little sister said. "I'll do +something for you sometime. Maybe--maybe--I'll draw a whole slate full +of el'phants, for you to look at!" + +Then they started down the cellar steps. + +Mr. Squeaky was so frightened that he almost tumbled down the stairs. + +"Oh, my dear," he whispered, "they are going to break up our house with +a big hammer and a saw, and make a dolls' house out of it! Let's run as +fast as we can!" + +Poor little Mrs. Squeaky began to cry. + +"Where shall we go?" she whispered. "Oh, I am so afraid, and there are +always those dreadful traps around to catch us!" + +But they ran as fast as they could to the darkest corner. Mrs. Squeaky's +sharp little eyes saw a hole, and she ran into it, and Mr. Squeaky +squeezed in after her. + +Now where do you think they found themselves? Right inside of an old +shoe! The hole that they came through was just a hole in the shoe and +made a nice little door. And there was another hole a little higher up +that made a nice little window to peep out of. + +"Why, this is the dearest little house, so cozy and warm," Mrs. Squeaky +said. "Nobody will ever find us in here, I know." + +After they lived there a while, a whole family of little pink baby mice +came to live with them. The papa mouse and the mama mouse were so proud +and so glad, they got little bits of cotton and soft paper and rags, and +made the nicest little beds you ever saw. + +The little pink baby mice could only say, "Squeak! Squeak!" and cuddle +up under the warm covers, but Mr. and Mrs. Squeaky laughed, and thought +they were the smartest babies in the whole world. + +"Why, I feel like 'The Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe and had so many +children she didn't know what to do,'" Mrs. Squeaky said one day. She +was sitting by the little window rocking the baby mouse and taking a +little rest. + +Mr. Squeaky had gone out to hunt for some supper, and the four other +little mice were peeping out of the little hole in the toe of their shoe +house, for Papa to come home. + +All at once, Maggie, the little girl who lived up-stairs, ran into the +dark corner to hide from Johnnie, just for fun. And what do you think +she saw? + +The four little mice peeping out of the door, and the poor, frightened +mama mouse and the little baby at the window. + +Maggie stopped just a minute to whisper gently to little, gray Mrs. +Squeaky, "Don't be frightened, 'Little Old Woman Who Lives in the Shoe.' +I'll never, never tell anybody where you live. No, I won't even tell +Johnnie or my kitty. They might try to catch you. It shall be my VERY +OWN SECRET--and yours!" + +So nobody but little Maggie ever knew about Mr. and Mrs. Squeaky, and +their little pink babies in the old shoe--until long afterward, when she +told me the story, as I have told it to you. + + + [Illustration: "'TROT AS FAST AS YOU CAN TO MARKET AND GET ME + A PAIL OF MILK.'"] + +THE GOOD LITTLE PIGGIE AND HIS FRIENDS + +BY L. WALDO LOCKLING + +Once there was a little piggie, a very good little piggie, who obeyed +his mother so well that often she let him out of the pen to play with +his friends on the farm. One afternoon this little piggie was playing +with them, when suddenly he heard his mother calling "Piggie, wiggie, +wiggie, wiggie, wiggie!" + +"Piggie, dear," she said, as he ran to her, "take this and trot as fast +as you can to market and get me a pail of milk for Father's supper +to-night." + + [Illustration: "'WHERE ARE YOU OFF TO, PIGGIE?' SAID BOSSIE CALF."] + +So Piggie took the pail between his teeth, and off he went to do what +his mother told him. Now, you must remember that this little piggie was +such a dear, good little piggie, that he had a great many friends among +the other animals. So he had not gone far when who should spy him but +his friend Bossie Calf. "Hello, there!" said the calf. "Where are you +off to, Piggie?" + +"I'm going to market to bring my mother a pail of milk for Father's +supper to-night," squealed Piggie. + +"Are you? I believe I'll go, too. I am so fond of milk." And the calf +leaped over his master's fence, and away he went scampering after +Piggie. + +By and by, who should come along but Piggie's friend Billie Goat. "Mercy +on us!" baa-ed Billie. "Where are you going in such a hurry, Bossie?" + +"Going with Piggie," said the calf. + +"Where are you going, Piggie?" + +"Going to market to bring my mother a pail of milk for Father's supper +to-night," squealed Piggie, in a great hurry. + +"Are you? I believe I'll go, too. I am so fond of milk." So Billie Goat +ran out of the barn-yard and hurried after the calf. + +Just as they were passing the house, who should spy them but Rover the +dog. + +"Where are you going, Billie," barked Rover, running out to the gate as +he saw them rushing along. "Going with Bossie," said the goat. + +"Where are you going, Bossie?" "Going with Piggie." + +"Where are you going, Piggie?" + +"I am going to market to bring Mother a pail of milk for Father's supper +to-night," squealed Piggie, in a great hurry. + +"Are you? I believe I'll go, too. I am so fond of milk." So Rover +hurried along up the road after the goat. + +Just as they turned into the road, who should come jumping along but +Tabby the cat. + +"Well, well!" he meowed. "When did the circus come to town, Rover?" + +"This is not a circus parade," said the dog, the goat, the calf, and +Piggie all at once, as they ran on. + +"Then, where are you going, Rover?" again meowed Tabby. + +"Going with Billie," barked Rover. + + [Illustration: "'MY, THAT'S GOOD!'"] + +"Where are you going, Billie?" "Going with Bossie." + +"Where are you going, Bossie?" "Going with Piggie." + +"Where are you going, Piggie?" + +"I am going to market to get my mother a pail of milk for Father's +supper to-night," squealed Piggie in a great hurry. + +"Are you? I believe I'll go along. I am so fond of milk." So Tabby raced +along after Rover. + +When they got to the market, Piggie told his friends to wait outside +while he hurried in and got the milk for his father's supper. It did not +take him long, and he soon came trotting out because he was to hurry +back home. + +"Give me a sup for politeness' sake," meowed Tabby the cat, as she stuck +her head in the pail. "My, that's good!" + +"Pass it to me, Tabby," barked Rover the dog, "for politeness' sake. My, +that's good!" + +"Give me a sup for politeness' sake," said Billie Goat. "My, that's +good." + +"Do not forget me, Billie, for politeness' sake," said Bossie the calf. +"My, that's good!" + + [Illustration: "AWAY HE TROTTED WITH AN EMPTY PAIL."] + +"Oh, dear, oh, dear!" squealed Piggie, when he saw what had happened. +"What shall I do?" And away he trotted all by himself with an empty +pail, to tell his mother that he did really and truly get the milk, but +that his friends had "supped" it all up! + +But just then the farmer came with a great, _big_ pail of milk and gave +it all to them, so that the good little piggie and his father and mother +had a fine supper, and much more milk than Piggie could have brought. + + +BABY'S PARADISE + +BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS + + Over the hills and far away, + There's a beautiful, wonderful place, + Where happy babies in gardens play, + With mothers dressed all in lace,-- + + Dressed all in lace and in silken gown, + With flowers in their hair,-- + Where trees with blossoms are laden down, + And perfumes fill the air. + + +DISOBEDIENCE + + "Wait, Kitty; here's soap and water, + And I must wash your face; + For the way you do it with your paws + Is simply a disgrace!" + _But Kitty didn't wait!_ + + + [Illustration: "WHO SPEAKS FIRST?" + FROM AN ENGRAVING OF THE PAINTING BY ARTHUR J. ELSLEY.] + + +FOR A LITTLE GIRL OF THREE. + +BY UNCLE NED. + + _Moo, moo!_ + What can I do + For my little girl of three? + I will eat the sweet grass, + I will give her a glass + Of my milk for her tea; + Moo, moo! that 's what I'll do + For my dear little maiden of three. + + + _Mew, mew!_ + What can I do + For my little girl of three? + I will catch all the mice, + And they shall not come twice + To the cake, you'll see; + Mew, mew! that's what I'll do + For my sweet little maiden of three. + + + _Bow-wow!_ + I will go now + With my little girl of three; + I will make a great noise; + I will frighten the boys, + For they all fear me; + Bow-wow! that is just how + I'll guard my sweet maiden of three. + + + _Neigh, neigh!_ + Out of the way + For my little girl of three! + I will give her a ride, + We will canter and glide + O'er the meadowy lea; + Neigh, neigh! that's just the way + I'll help my sweet maiden of three. + + +A FUNNY FAMILY + +There was a little lady she was'nt very big She had a spotted cow ... +Also a spotted pig ... Her dress had dots ... Her dog had lots ... it +was a funny family but oh so very trig + + +LITTLE BY LITTLE. + +When Charley awoke one morning, he looked from the window, and saw the +ground deeply covered with snow. + +On the side of the house nearest the kitchen, the snow was piled higher +than Charley's head. + +"We must have a path through this snow," said his father. "I would make +one if I had time. But I must be at the office early this morning. + +"Do you think you could make the path, my son?" he asked little Charley. + +"I? Why, the snow is higher than my head! How could I ever cut a path +through that snow?" + +"How? Why, by doing it _little_ by _little_. Suppose you try," said the +father, as he left for his office. + +So Charley got the snowshovel and set to work. He threw up first one +shovelful, and then another; but it was slow work. + +"I don't think I can do it, mother," he said. "A shovelful is so little, +and there is such a heap of snow." + +"Little by little, Charley," said his mother. "That snow fell in tiny +bits, flake by flake, but you see what a great pile it has made." + +"Yes, mother, I see," said Charley. "If I throw it away little by +little, it will soon be gone." + +So he worked on. + +When his father came home to dinner, he was pleased to see the fine +path. The next day he gave little Charley a fine blue sled, and on it +was painted in yellow letters, "Little by Little." + + [Illustration: "SAFETY FIRST"] + + + + +#LITTLE STORIES =that= GROW BIG# + +TO MOTHER: + +This is the kind of stories that the kindergartners call "cumulative," +or "repetitive." They keep repeating and then adding to themselves until +they are quite long. The repetition helps the children memorize them, +and adding to them holds the children's attention and interest. + +You will find these very useful to read and teach to the little ones. + + THE EDITORS. + + + + +THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT + + This is the house that Jack built. + This is the malt + That lay in the house that Jack built. + + This is the rat, + That ate the malt, + That lay in the house that Jack built. + + This is the cat, + That killed the rat, + That ate the malt, + That lay in the house that Jack built. + + This is the dog, + That worried the cat, + That killed the rat, + That ate the malt, + That lay in the house that Jack built. + + This is the cow with crumpled horn, + That tossed the dog, + That worried the cat, + That killed the rat, + That ate the malt, + That lay in the house that Jack built. + + This is the maiden all forlorn, + That milked the cow with crumpled horn, + That tossed the dog, + That worried the cat, + That killed the rat, + That ate the malt, + That lay in the house that Jack built. + + This is the man all tattered and torn, + That kissed the maiden all forlorn, + That milked the cow with crumpled horn, + That tossed the dog, + That worried the cat, + That killed the rat, + That ate the malt, + That lay in the house that Jack built. + + This is the priest all shaven and shorn, + That married the man all tattered and torn, + That kissed the maiden all forlorn, + That milked the cow with crumpled horn, + That tossed the dog, + That worried the cat, + That killed the rat, + That ate the malt, + That lay in the house that Jack built. + + This is the cock that crowed in the morn, + That waked the priest all shaven and shorn, + That married the man all tattered and torn, + That kissed the maiden all forlorn, + That milked the cow with crumpled horn, + That tossed the dog, + That worried the cat, + That killed the rat, + That ate the malt, + That lay in the house that Jack built. + + This is the farmer sowing his corn, + That kept the cock that crowed in the morn, + That waked the priest all shaven and shorn, + That married the man all tattered and torn, + That kissed the maiden all forlorn, + That milked the cow with crumpled horn, + That tossed the dog, + That worried the cat, + That killed the rat, + That ate the malt, + That lay in the house that Jack built. + + +GIANT THUNDER BONES + + I + This is Giant + Thunder Bones. + + II + This is the Dwarf with anxious looks + Who guarded the castle and kept the books + For Giant Thunder Bones. + + III + This is the Gnome with beard so gray + Who digged for gems all night and day + To please the Dwarf with anxious looks + Who guarded the castle and kept the books + For Giant Thunder Bones. + + IV + This is the Princess of Wandeltreg + Who, while playing a game of Mumblepeg, + Was caught by the Gnome with beard so gray + Who digged for gems all night and day + To please the Dwarf with anxious looks + Who guarded the castle and kept the books + For Giant Thunder Bones. + + V + This is the Prince so brave and so grand + Who sailed over sea and rode over land + Till he found the Princess of Wandeltreg + Who, while playing a game of Mumblepeg, + Was caught by the Gnome with beard so gray + Who digged for gems all night and day + To please the Dwarf with anxious looks + Who guarded the castle and kept the books + For Giant Thunder Bones. + + VI + This is the Goblin with fingers so frail + Who hopped with ease over mountain and dale + As he chased the Prince so brave and so grand + Who sailed over sea and rode over land + Till he found the Princess of Wandeltreg + Who, while playing a game of Mumblepeg, + Was caught by the Gnome with beard so gray + Who digged for gems all night and day + To please the Dwarf with anxious looks + Who guarded the castle and kept the books + For Giant Thunder Bones. + + VII + This is the Witch with Broomstick and Cat + Who sputtered and snarled and shook her tall hat + When she missed the Goblin with fingers so frail + Who hopped with ease over mountain and dale + As he chased the Prince so brave and so grand + Who sailed over sea and rode over land + Till he found the Princess of Wandeltreg + Who, while playing a game of Mumblepeg, + Was caught by the Gnome with beard so gray + Who digged for gems all night and day + To please the Dwarf with anxious looks + Who guarded the castle and kept the books + For Giant Thunder Bones. + + VIII + And last comes the Kobold who slept while 'twas light + And did all the housework in the dead of the night + To worry the Witch with Broomstick and Cat + Who sputtered and snarled and shook her tall hat + When she missed the Goblin with fingers so frail + Who hopped with ease over mountain and dale + As he chased the Prince so brave and so grand + Who sailed over sea and rode over land + Till he found the Princess of Wandeltreg + Who, while playing a game of Mumblepeg, + Was caught by the Gnome with beard so gray + Who digged for gems all night and day + To please the Dwarf with anxious looks + Who guarded the castle and kept the books + For Giant Thunder Bones. + + _Stella Doughty._ + + +THE HOUSE THAT JILL BUILT + +BY CAROLYN WELLS + + This is the _House_ that Jill built. + + This is the _Doll_ that lived in the House that Jill built. + + This is the _Cake_ that fed the Doll that lived in the House + that Jill built. + + This is the _Oven_ that baked the Cake that fed the Doll that + lived in the House that Jill built. + + This is the _Wood_ that heated the Oven that baked the Cake + that fed the Doll that lived in the House that Jill built. + + This is the _Tree_ of a dusky shade that gave the Wood that + heated the Oven that baked the Cake that fed the Doll that + lived in the House that Jill built. + + This is the _Ax_ with a shining blade that chopped the Tree of a + dusky shade that gave the Wood that heated the Oven that + baked the Cake that fed the Doll that lived in the House that + Jill built. + + This is the _Woodman_ sober and staid who slung the Ax with a shining + blade that chopped the Tree of a dusky shade that gave the Wood + that heated the Oven that baked the Cake that fed the Doll that + lived in the House that Jill built. + + This is the _Horse_ that pranced and neighed when he saw the Woodman + sober and staid who slung the Ax with a shining blade that + chopped the Tree of a dusky shade that gave the Wood that heated + the Oven that baked the Cake that fed the Doll that lived in the + House that Jill built. + + This is the _Knight_ with the red cockade who rode on the Horse that + pranced and neighed when he saw the Woodman sober and staid who + slung the Ax with a shining blade that chopped the Tree of a + dusky shade that gave the Wood that heated the Oven that baked + the Cake that fed the Doll that lived in the House that Jill + built. + + This is the _Lady_ in gay brocade who followed the Knight with the + red cockade who rode on the Horse that pranced and neighed when + he saw the Woodman sober and staid who slung the Ax with a + shining blade that chopped the Tree of a dusky shade that gave + the Wood that heated the Oven that baked the Cake that fed the + Doll that lived in the House that Jill built. + + This is the _Glittering Cavalcade_ that rode after the Lady in gay + brocade who followed the Knight with the red cockade who rode + on the Horse that pranced and neighed when he saw the Woodman + sober and staid who slung the ax with a shining blade that + chopped the Tree of a dusky shade that gave the Wood that heated + the Oven that baked the Cake that fed the Doll that lived in the + House that Jill built. + + This is the _Donkey_ who loudly brayed at sight of the Glittering + Cavalcade that rode after the Lady in gay brocade who followed + the Knight with the red cockade who rode on the Horse that + pranced and neighed when he saw the Woodman sober and staid who + slung the Ax with a shining blade that chopped the Tree of a + dusky shade that gave the Wood that heated the Oven that baked + the Cake that fed the Doll that lived in the House that Jill + built. + + This is the _King_ who was much dismayed to hear the Donkey who loudly + brayed at sight of the Glittering Cavalcade that rode after the + Lady in gay brocade who followed the Knight with the red cockade + who rode on the Horse that pranced and neighed when he saw the + Woodman sober and staid who slung the Ax with a shining blade + that chopped the Tree of a dusky shade that gave the Wood that + heated the Oven that baked the Cake that fed the Doll that lived + in the House that Jill built. + + +THE OLD WOMAN AND HER PIG[H] + +An old woman was sweeping her house, and she found a little crooked +sixpence. "What," said she, "shall I do with this little sixpence? I +will go to market, and buy a little pig." + +As she was coming home, she came to a stile, but the piggy wouldn't go +over the stile. + +She went a little further, and she met a dog. So she said to him: "Dog! +dog! bite pig, piggy won't go over the stile; and I shan't get home +to-night." But the dog wouldn't. + +She went a little further, and she met a stick. So she said: "Stick! +stick! beat dog! dog won't bite pig; piggy won't get over the stile; and +I shan't get home to-night." But the stick wouldn't. + +She went a little further, and she met a fire. So she said: "Fire! fire! +burn stick, stick won't beat dog; dog won't bite pig; piggy won't get +over the stile; and I shan't get home to-night." But the fire wouldn't. + +She went a little further, and she met some water. So she said: "Water! +water! quench fire; fire won't burn stick; stick won't beat dog; dog +won't bite pig; piggy won't get over the stile, and I shan't get home +to-night." But the water wouldn't. + +She went a little further, and she met an ox. So she said: "Ox! ox! +drink water; water won't quench fire; fire won't burn stick; stick won't +beat dog; dog won't bite pig; piggy won't get over the stile; and I +shan't get home to-night." But the ox wouldn't. + +So she went a little further, and she met a butcher. So she said: +"Butcher! butcher! kill ox; ox won't drink water; water won't quench +fire; fire won't burn stick, stick won't beat dog, dog won't bite pig; +piggy won't get over the stile; and I shan't get home to-night." But the +butcher wouldn't. + +She went a little further, and she met a rope. So she said: "Rope! rope! +hang butcher; butcher won't kill ox; ox won't drink water; water won't +quench fire; fire won't burn stick; stick won't beat dog; dog won't bite +pig; piggy won't get over the stile, and I shan't get home to-night!" +But the rope wouldn't. + +She went a little further, and she met a rat. So she said: "Rat! rat! +gnaw rope; rope won't hang butcher; butcher won't kill ox; ox won't +drink water; water won't quench fire; fire won't burn stick; stick won't +beat dog; dog won't bite pig; piggy won't get over the stile; and I +shan't get home to-night." But the rat wouldn't. + +She went a little further, and she met a cat. So she said: "Cat! cat! +kill rat; rat won't gnaw rope; rope won't hang butcher; butcher won't +kill ox; ox won't drink water; water won't quench fire; fire won't burn +stick, stick won't beat dog; dog won't bite pig; piggy won't get over +the stile; and I shan't get home to-night." But the cat said to her: "If +you will go to yonder cow, and fetch me a saucer of milk, I will kill +the rat." So away went the old woman to the cow. + +But the cow said to her: "If you will go to yonder hay-stack, and fetch +me a handful of hay, I'll give you the milk." So away went the old woman +to the hay-stack; and she brought the hay to the cow. + +As soon as the cow had eaten the hay she gave the old woman the milk; +and away she went with it in a saucer to the cat. + +As soon as the cat had lapped up the milk, the cat began to kill the +rat; the rat began to gnaw the rope; the rope began to hang the butcher; +the butcher began to kill the ox; the ox began to drink the water; the +water began to quench the fire; the fire began to burn the stick; the +stick began to beat the dog; the dog began to bite the pig, the little +pig in a fright jumped over the stile; and so the old woman got home +that night. + + [H] From "English Fairy Tales," collected by Joseph Jacobs; used by + permission of the publishers, G. P. Putnam's Sons. + + +THE LAMBIKIN[I] + +Once upon a time there was a wee, wee Lambikin, who frolicked about on +his little tottery legs, and enjoyed himself amazingly. Now one day he +set off to visit his Granny, and was jumping with joy to think of all +the good things he should get from her, when whom should he meet but a +Jackal, who looked at the tender young morsel and said: "Lambikin! +Lambikin! I'LL EAT YOU!" + +But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said: + + "To Granny's house I go, + Where I shall fatter grow, + Then you can eat me so." + +The Jackal thought this reasonable, and let Lambikin pass. + +By and by he met a Vulture, and the Vulture, looking hungrily at the +tender morsel before him, said: "Lambikin! Lambikin! I'LL EAT YOU!" + +But the Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said: + + "To Granny's house I go, + Where I shall fatter grow, + Then you can eat me so." + +The Vulture thought this reasonable, and let Lambikin pass. + +And by and by he met a Tiger, and then a Wolf, and a Dog, and an Eagle; +and all these, when they saw the tender little morsel, said: "Lambikin! +Lambikin! I'LL EAT YOU!" + +But to all of them Lambikin replied, with a little frisk: + + "To Granny's house I go, + Where I shall fatter grow, + Then you can eat me so." + +At last he reached his Granny's house, and said, all in a great hurry, +"Granny dear, I've promised to get very fat, so, as people ought to keep +their promises, please put me into the corn-bin at once." + +So his Granny said he was a good boy, and put him into the corn-bin, and +there the greedy little Lambikin stayed for seven days, and ate, and +ate, and ate, until he could scarcely waddle, and his Granny said he was +fat enough for anything, and must go home. But cunning little Lambikin +said that would never do, for some animal would be sure to eat him on +the way back, he was so plump and tender. + +"I'll tell you what you must do," said Master Lambikin; "you must make +a little drumikin out of the skin of my little brother who died, and +then I can sit inside and trundle along nicely, for I'm as tight as a +drum myself." + +So his Granny made a nice little drumikin out of his brother's skin, +with the wool inside, and Lambikin curled himself up snug and warm in +the middle, and trundled away gayly. Soon he met with the Eagle, who +called out: + + "Drumikin! Drumikin! + Have you seen Lambikin?" + +And Mr. Lambikin, curled up in his soft, warm nest, replied: + + "Fallen into the fire, and so will you, + On little Drumikin! Tum-pa, tum-too!" + +"How very annoying!" sighed the Eagle, thinking regretfully of the +tender morsel he had let slip. + +Meanwhile Lambikin trundled along, laughing to himself, and singing. + + "Tum-pa, tum-too; + Tum-pa, tum-too!" + +Every animal and bird he met asked him the same question: + + "Drumikin! Drumikin! + Have you seen Lambikin?" + +And to each of them the little slyboots replied: + + "Fallen into the fire, and so will you, + On little Drumikin! Tum-pa, tum-too; + Tum-pa, tum-too; Tum-pa, tum-too!" + +Then they all sighed to think of the tender little morsel they had let +slip. + +At last the Jackal came limping along, for all his sorry looks as sharp +as a needle, and he, too, called out: + + "Drumikin! Drumikin! + Have you seen Lambikin?" + +And Lambikin, curled up in his snug little nest, replied gayly: + + "Fallen into the fire, and so will you, + On little Drumikin! Tum-pa----" + +But he never got any farther, for the Jackal recognized his voice at +once, and cried "Hullo! you've turned yourself inside out, have you? +Just you come out of that!" + +Whereupon he tore open Drumikin and gobbled up Lambikin. + + [I] From "Indian Fairy Tales," edited by Joseph Jacobs; used by + permission of the publishers, G. P. Putnam's Sons. + + +THE CAT AND THE MOUSE[J] + + The cat and the mouse + Played in the malt-house: + +The cat bit the mouse's tail off. "Pray, puss, give me my tail." "No," +says the cat, "I'll not give you your tail, till you go to the cow, and +fetch me some milk." + + First she leaped, and then she ran, + Till she came to the cow, and thus began: + +"Pray, Cow, give me milk, that I may give cat milk, that cat may give me +my own tail again." "No," said the cow, "I will give you no milk, till +you go to the farmer, and get me some hay." + + First she leaped, and then she ran, + Till she came to the farmer, and thus began: + +"Pray, Farmer, give me hay, that I may give cow hay, that cow may give +me milk, that I may give cat milk, that cat may give me my own tail +again." "No," said the farmer, "I'll give you no hay, till you go to +the butcher and fetch me some meat." + + First she leaped, and then she ran, + Till she came to the butcher, and thus began: + +"Pray, Butcher, give me meat, that I may give farmer meat, that farmer +may give me hay, that I may give cow hay, that cow may give me milk, +that I may give cat milk, that cat may give me my own tail again." "No," +says the butcher, "I'll give you no meat, till you go to the baker and +fetch me some bread." + + First she leaped, and then she ran, + Till she came to the baker, and thus began: + +"Pray, Baker, give me bread, that I may give butcher bread, that butcher +may give me meat, that I may give farmer meat, that farmer may give me +hay, that I may give cow hay, that cow may give me milk, that I may give +cat milk, that cat may give me my own tail again." + + "Yes," says the baker, "I'll give you some bread, + But if you eat my meal, I'll cut off your head." + +Then the baker gave mouse bread, and mouse gave butcher bread, and +butcher gave mouse meat, and mouse gave farmer meat, and farmer gave +mouse hay, and mouse gave cow hay, and cow gave mouse milk, and mouse +gave cat milk, and cat gave mouse her own tail again. + + [J] From "English Fairy Tales," collected by Joseph Jacobs; used by + permission of the publishers, G. P. Putnam's Sons. + + +HENNY-PENNY[K] + +One day Henny-penny was picking up corn in the cornyard +when--whack!--something hit her upon the head. "Goodness gracious me!" +says Henny-penny; "the sky's a-going to fall; I must go and tell the +king." + +So she went along, and she went along, and she went along till she met +Cocky-locky. "Where are you going, Henny-penny?" says Cocky-locky. "Oh! +I'm going to tell the king the sky's a-falling," says Henny-penny. "May +I come with you?" says Cocky-locky. "Certainly," says Henny-penny. So +Henny-penny and Cocky-locky went to tell the king the sky was falling. + +They went along, and they went along, and they went along till they met +Ducky-daddles. "Where are you going to, Henny-penny and Cocky-locky?" +says Ducky-daddles. "Oh! we're going to tell the king the sky's +a-falling," says Henny-penny and Cocky-locky. "May I come with you?" +says Ducky-daddles. "Certainly," says Henny-penny and Cocky-locky. So +Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, and Ducky-daddles went to tell the king the +sky was a-falling. + +So they went along, and they went along, and they went along till they +met Goosey-poosey. "Where are you going to, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, +and Ducky-daddles?" says Goosey-poosey. "Oh! we're going to tell the +king the sky's a-falling," says Henny-penny, and Cocky-locky and +Ducky-daddles. "May I come with you?" says Goosey-poosey. "Certainly," +says Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, and Ducky-daddles. So Henny-penny, +Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey went to tell the king the +sky was a-falling. + +So they went along, and they went along, and they went along till they +met Turkey-lurkey. "Where are you going, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, +Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey?" says Turkey-lurkey. "Oh! we're going +to tell the king the sky's a-falling," says Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, +Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey. "May I come with you, Henny-penny, +Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey?" says Turkey-lurkey. "Oh, +certainly, Turkey-lurkey," says Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddies, +and Goosey-poosey. So Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddies, +Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey all went to tell the king the sky was +a-falling. + +So they went along, and they went along, and they went along till they +met Foxy-woxy, and Foxy-woxy says to Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, +Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey: "Where are you going, +Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and +Turkey-lurkey?" And Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, +Goosey-Poosey, and Turkey-lurkey says to Foxy-woxy: "We're going to tell +the king the sky's a-falling." "Oh! but this is not the way to the king, +Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and +Turkey-lurkey," says Foxy-woxy; "I know the proper way; shall I show it +you?" "Oh, certainly, Foxy-woxy," says Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, +Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey. So Henny-penny, +Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, Turkey-lurkey, and Foxy-woxy +all went to tell the king the sky was a-falling. + +So they went along, and they went along, and they went along till they +came to a narrow and dark hole. Now this was the door of Foxy-woxy's +cave. But Foxy-woxy says to Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddies, +Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey: "This is the short way to the king's +palace; you'll soon get there if you follow me. I will go first and you +come after, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and +Turkey-lurkey," "Why, of course, certainly, without doubt, why not?" +says Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and +Turkey-lurkey. + +So Foxy-woxy went into his cave, and he didn't go very far, but turned +round to wait for Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, +Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey. So at last Turkey-lurkey went through +the dark hole into the cave. He hadn't got far when "Hrumph!" Foxy-woxy +snapped off Turkey-lurkey's head and threw his body over his left +shoulder. Then Goosey-poosey went in, and "Hrumph!" off went her head +and Goosey-poosey was thrown beside Turkey-lurkey. Then Ducky-daddles +waddled down, and "Hrumph!" snapped Foxy-woxy, and Ducky-daddles's head +was off, and Ducky-daddles was thrown alongside Turkey-lurkey and +Goosey-poosey. Then Cocky-locky strutted down into the cave, and he +hadn't gone far when "Snap, Hrumph!" went Foxy-woxy, and Cocky-locky was +thrown alongside of Turkey-lurkey, Goosey-poosey, and Ducky-daddles. + + [Illustration: "THIS IS THE SHORT WAY"] + +But Foxy-woxy had made two bites at Cocky-locky, and when the first snap +only hurt Cocky-locky, but didn't kill him, he called out to +Henny-penny. But she turned tail and off she ran home, so she never told +the king the sky was a-falling. + + [K] From "English Fairy Tales," collected by Joseph Jacobs; used by + permission of the publishers, G. P. Putnam's Sons. + + +THREE GOATS IN THE RYEFIELD + +ADAPTED BY CECILIA FARWELL + +Once upon a time there was a little boy whose task it was to drive the +goats to and from the hills. One morning, as they went along the road, +the first goat saw a hole in the fence which shut off a field of rye. + +"Oh," said the first goat, "here is a chance to get into that field. I +do not think that we want to eat rye--there is plenty of grass on the +hill. But we can go in and see what it is like, just the same." + +With that he turned aside from the road and went through the hole into +the ryefield, and the others followed after him. + +"Here," cried the boy, "come out of that!" + +But the goats did not come out, so the boy climbed over the fence and +started after them to chase them out. But the goats just ran round and +round in the field, until at last the little boy was so tired that he +sat down by the fence and cried. + +By-and-by a dog came down the road. "Why, little boy," he said, "what +are you crying for?" + +"I am crying because the goats will not come out of the ryefield. I was +driving them along the road to the hills and they went through the +fence, and I have chased them and chased them, and they will not come +out." + +"Well," said the dog, "that is nothing to cry about. Just you wait here +and I will go into the field and chase them out for you." + +So the dog ran through the hole and started after the goats, barking +loudly. When the goats saw him coming they started to run, and ran round +and round in the field until at last the dog was so tired that he sat +down by the fence and cried. + +By-and-by a fox came trotting down the road. "Why, dog," he said, "what +are you crying for?" + +"I am crying because little boy is crying," said the dog. + +"And what are you crying for, little boy?" asked the fox. + +"I am crying because the goats will not come out of the ryefield. I was +driving them along the road to the hills and they went through the +fence, and I have chased them and chased them and they will not come +out." + +"Well," said the fox, "that is nothing to cry about. Just you wait here +and I will go into the field and chase them out for you." + +So the fox ran through the hole and started after the goats, barking +shrilly. And when they saw him coming they started to run, and ran +round and round in the field until at last the fox was so tired that he +sat down by the fence and cried. + +By-and-by a bee came flying lightly overhead. + +"Why, fox," he said, "why are you crying?" + +"I am crying because dog is crying," said the fox. + +"And why are you crying, dog?" asked the bee. + +"I am crying because little boy is crying," said the dog. + +"And why are you crying, little boy?" asked the bee. + +"I am crying because the goats will not come out of the ryefield. I was +driving them along the road to the hills, and they went through the +fence, and I have chased them and chased them and they will not come +out!" + +"Oh," said the bee, "that is nothing to cry about. Just you wait here +and I will go into the field and chase them out for you." + +So he flew over the fence and flew straight to the first goat and began +to buzz in his ear. The first goat lifted up his head and said: "Ho! +What is this?" and he looked all around him, but could see nothing from +which to run. + +"Buzz, buzz, buzz!" said the bee, and he lighted on the ear of the goat. + +"Now here is someone that means business," said the goat, and he shook +his head to shake off the bee, but the bee only clung the tighter. + +"Buzz, buzz, buzz!" he said. Then he stung the first goat in the ear. +"Now," said the first goat, "this is a serious matter. Ouch!" he added, +as the bee stung him again. "Come on, you," he called to the others, "it +is time to get out of here!" With that he led them straight to the hole +in the fence, and they ran through it, all three of them, and out into +the road where the little boy sat with the dog and the fox. + +"Oh," said the dog, "the bee can do something that I cannot, even if he +is so small." + +"Yes," said the fox, "the bee didn't make much noise, but the noise that +he did make counted more than all of our barking." + + + [Illustration: LITTLE BUNNIE BROWN IS AT THE HEAD OF HIS CLASS] + + +TEENY TINY[L] + +There was once upon a time a teeny-tiny woman who lived in a teeny-tiny +house in a teeny-tiny village. Now, one day this teeny-tiny woman put on +her teeny-tiny bonnet and went out of her teeny-tiny house to take a +teeny-tiny walk. And when this teeny-tiny woman had gone a teeny-tiny +way, she came to a teeny-tiny gate; so the teeny-tiny woman opened the +teeny-tiny gate, and went into a teeny-tiny meadow. And when this +teeny-tiny woman had got into the teeny-tiny meadow, she saw a +teeny-tiny bone on a teeny-tiny stone, and the teeny-tiny woman said to +her teeny-tiny self: "This teeny-tiny bone will make me some teeny-tiny +soup for my teeny-tiny supper." So the teeny-tiny woman put the +teeny-tiny bone into her teeny-tiny pocket, and went home to her +teeny-tiny house. + +Now, when the teeny-tiny woman got home to her teeny-tiny house, she was +a teeny-tiny bit tired; so she went up her teeny-tiny stairs to her +teeny-tiny bed, and put the teeny-tiny bone into a teeny-tiny cupboard. +And when this teeny-tiny woman had been to sleep a teeny-tiny time, she +was awakened by a teeny-tiny voice from the teeny-tiny cupboard, which +said: + + "GIVE ME MY BONE!" + +And this teeny-tiny woman was a teeny-tiny bit frightened, so she hid +her teeny-tiny head under the teeny-tiny clothes, and went to sleep +again. And when she had been asleep again a teeny-tiny time, the +teeny-tiny voice again cried out from the teeny-tiny cupboard a +teeny-tiny louder: + + "GIVE ME MY BONE!" + +This made the teeny-tiny woman a teeny-tiny more frightened, so she hid +her teeny-tiny head a teeny-tiny further under the teeny-tiny clothes. +And when the teeny-tiny woman had been asleep again a teeny-tiny time, +the teeny-tiny voice from the teeny-tiny cupboard said again a +teeny-tiny louder: + + "GIVE ME MY BONE!" + +At this the teeny-tiny woman was a teeny-tiny bit more frightened; but +she put her teeny-tiny head out of the teeny-tiny clothes, and said in +her loudest teeny-tiny voice: + + "TAKE IT!" + + [L] From "English Fairy Tales," collected by Joseph Jacobs; used by + permission of the publishers, G. P. Putnam's Sons. + + +SONG OF THE PEAR TREE + + Out in the green, green orchard + Standeth a fine pear tree; + The fine pear tree has leaves, too. + What on the tree may be? + Why, there's a beautiful branch, + Branch on the tree, + Tree in the ground. + + Out in the green, green orchard + Standeth a fine pear tree, + The fine pear tree has leaves, too, + And what on its branch may be? + A beautiful twig. + Twig on the branch, + Branch on the tree, + Tree in the ground. + + Out in the green, green orchard + Standeth a fine pear tree, + The fine pear tree has leaves, too. + Now what on the twig may be? + A beautiful nest. + Nest on the twig, + Twig on the branch, + Branch on the tree, + Tree in the ground. + + Out in the green, green orchard + Standeth a fine pear tree; + The fine pear tree has leaves, too. + Now, what in the nest may be? + A beautiful egg. + Egg in the nest, + Nest on the twig, + Twig on the branch, + Branch on the tree, + Tree in the ground. + + Out in the green, green orchard + Standeth a fine pear tree, + The fine pear tree has leaves, too. + Now, what from the egg shall we see? + A beautiful bird. + Bird from the egg, + Egg in the nest, + Nest on the twig, + Twig on the branch, + Branch on the tree, + Tree in the ground. + + Out in the green, green orchard + Standeth a fine pear tree; + The fine pear tree has leaves, too. + Now, what on the bird may be? + A beautiful feather. + Feather on the bird, + Bird from the egg, + Egg in the nest, + Nest on the twig, + Twig on the branch, + Branch on the tree, + Tree in the ground. + + Out in the green, green meadow + Standeth a fine pear tree; + The fine pear tree hath leaves, too. + Now, what from the feather will be? + A beautiful bed. + Bed from the feather, + Feather from the bird, + Bird from the egg, + Egg in the nest, + Nest on the twig, + Twig on the branch, + Branch on the tree, + Tree in the ground. + + Out in the green, green meadow + Standeth a fine pear tree; + The fine pear tree hath leaves, too. + Now, what in that bed may be? + A beautiful child. + Child in the bed, + Bed from the feather, + Feather from the bird, + Bird from the egg, + Egg from the nest, + Nest on the twig, + Twig on the branch, + Branch on the tree, + Tree in the ground. + + Out in the green, green meadow + Standeth a fine pear tree, + The fine pear tree hath leaves, too, + And on it these things all be. + + +COCK-ALU AND HEN-ALIE + +BY MARY HOWITT + + In this tale is shown to you + How large the boast of Cock-alu; + But, when he comes to act, you'll see + Small hope indeed for Hen-alie; + And thus you clearly will perceive + That who has great things to achieve + Must not stand talking but must do, + Else he will fail like Cock-alu. + For he who would perform the most + Will utter no vainglorious boast; + But still press onward, staunch and true, + With but the honest end in view. + +Cock-alu and Hen-alie sat on the perch above the bean-straw. It was four +o'clock in the morning, and Cock-alu clapped his wings and crowed; then, +turning to Hen-alie, he said: "Hen-alie, my little wife, I love you +better than all the world, you know I do. I always told you so! I will +do anything for you; I'll go round the world for you, I'll travel as far +as the sun for you! You know I would! Tell me, what shall I do for you?" + +"Crow!" said Hen-alie. + +"Oh, that is such a little thing!" said Cock-alu, and crowed with all +his might. He crowed so loud that he woke the farmer's wife, and the dog +and the cat, and all the pigeons and horses in the stable, and the cow +in the stall. He crowed so loud that all the neighbors' cocks heard him +and answered him, and they woke all their people; and thus Cock-alu woke +the whole parish. + +"I've done it rarely this morning!" said Cock-alu; "I told you I would +do anything to please you!" + +The next morning, at breakfast, as Hen-alie was picking beans out of the +bean-straw, one stuck in her throat; and she was soon so ill that she +was just ready to die. + +"Oh, Cock-alu," said she, calling to him in the yard, where he stood +clapping his wings in the sunshine, "run and fetch me a drop of water +from the silver-spring in the Beech-wood! Fetch me a drop quickly, while +the dew is in it; for that is the true remedy." + +But Cock-alu was so busy crowing against a neighbor that he took no +notice. + +"Oh, Cock-alu, do run and fetch me the water from the silver-spring, or +I shall die; for the bean sticks in my throat, and nothing but water +with dew in it can cure me! Oh, Cock-alu, dear, run quickly!" + +Cock-alu heard her this time, and set off, crowing as he went. He had +not gone far before he met the snail. + +"Where are you going, snails?" says he. + +"I'm going to the cow-cabbage," says the snail; "and what urgent +business may it be that takes you out thus early, Cock-alu?" says the +snail. + +"I'm going to the silver-spring in the Beech-wood, to fetch a drop of +water for my wife, Hen-alie, who has got a bean in her throat," says +Cock-alu. + +"Oh," says the snail, "run along quickly, and get the water while the +dew is in it; for nothing else will get a bean out of the throat. Don't +stop by the way, for the bull is coming down to the silver-spring to +drink, and he'll trouble the water. Gather up my silver-trail, however, +and give it to Hen-alie with my love, and I hope she'll soon be better!" + +Cock-alu hastily gathered up the silver-trail which the snail left. +"This will make Hen-alie a pair of stockings!" said he, and went on his +way. + +He had not gone far before he met the wood-pigeon. "Good morning, +pigeon," says he; "and which way are you going?" + +"I am going to the pea-field," says the pigeon, "to get peas for my +young ones; and what may your business be this morning, Cock-alu!" + +"I'm going to the silver-spring in the Beech-wood, to fetch a drop of +water for my wife, Hen-alie, who has got a bean in her throat." + +"I'm sorry to hear that," says the pigeon; "but don't let me detain you, +for water with the dew in it is the best thing to get a bean out of the +throat; and let me advise you to make haste, for the bloodhound is going +to lap at the spring, and he'll trouble the water. So run along, and +here, take with you my blue velvet neck-ribbon, and give it to Hen-alie +with my love, and I hope she'll soon be better." + +"Oh, what a nice pair of garters this will make for Hen-alie!" exclaimed +Cock-alu, and went on his way. + +He had not gone far before he met the wild-cat. "Good morning, friend," +says Cock-alu, "and where may you be going this morning?" + +"I'm going to get a young wood-pigeon for my breakfast, while the mother +is gone to the pea-field," says the wild-cat; "and where may you be +traveling to this morning, Cock-alu?" + +"I'm going to the silver-spring in the Beech-wood," replied Cock-alu, +"to get a drop of water for my little wife Hen-alie, who has got a bean +in her throat." + +"That's a bad business," says the wild-cat, "but a drop of water with +the dew in it is the right remedy; so don't let me keep you; and you had +better make haste, for the woodman is on his way to fell a tree by the +spring, and if a branch falls into it, the water will be troubled; so +off with you! But carry with you a flash of green fire from my right +eye, and give it to Hen-alie with my love, and I hope she'll soon be +better." + +"Oh, what a beautiful green light, like the green on my best +tail-feathers! I'll keep it for myself; it's fitter for me than for +Hen-alie!" said Cock-alu. + +So he hung the green light on his tail-feathers, which made them very +handsome, and he went on his way. + +He had not gone far before he met with the sheep-dog. "Good morning, +sheep-dog," says Cock-alu; "where are you going?" + +"I'm going to hunt up a stray lamb for my master," says the sheep-dog, +"and what brings you abroad?" + +"I'm going to the silver-spring in the Beech-wood, to get a drop of +water for my little wife Hen-alie, who has got a bean in her throat," +says Cock-alu. + +"Then why do you stop talking to me?" says the sheep-dog, in his short +way; "your wife's bad enough, I'll warrant me; and a drop of water with +the dew in it is the thing to do her good. Be off with you! The farmer +is coming to lay the spring dry this morning. I left him sharpening his +mattock when I set out. You'll be too late, if you don't mind!" and with +that the sheep-dog went his way. + +"An unmannerly fellow," says Cock-alu, and stood looking after him; +"I'll not go at his bidding, not I!" So he clapped his wings and crowed +in the wood, just to show that he set light by his advice. "And never to +give me anything for poor Hen-alie, that lies sick at home with a bean +in her throat! The ill-natured churl!" cried Cock-alu to himself, and +then he stood and crowed again with all his might. + +After that he marched on, and before long reached the Beech-wood, but as +the silver-spring lay yet a good way off, he had not gone far in the +wood before he met the squirrel. + +"Good morning, squirrel," says he; "what brings you abroad so early?" + +"Early do you call it, Cock-alu?" says the squirrel; "why, I've been up +these four hours; I just stopped to give the young ones their +breakfasts, and then set off to silver-spring for a drop of water while +the dew was in it; I've got it here in a cherry-leaf. And pray you, what +business may take you abroad, Cock-alu?" + +"The same as yours," replied Cock-alu; "I'm going for water, too, for my +wife Hen-alie, who has got a bean in her throat." + +"Ah, well-a-day!" says the squirrel, "that's a bad thing! But run along +with you; for the old sow is coming down with her nine little pigs, and +if they trouble the water it will be all too late for poor little +Hen-alie!" + +And with that the squirrel leaped up into the oak-tree above where +Cock-alu stood, for that was her way home, and left him without further +ceremony. + +"Humph!" said Cock-alu; "she might have given me some of the water out +of her cherry-leaf for my poor little Hen-alie!" And so saying, he +walked on through the Beech-wood, and as he met no more creatures he +soon reached the silver-spring. + +But it was now noon-day, and there was not a drop of dew in the water, +and the bull had been down and drunk, and the bloodhound had lapped, and +the old sow and her nine little pigs had wallowed in it, so the water +was troubled, and besides that the woodman had felled the tree which now +lay across the spring, and the farmer was digging the new watercourse, +so the spring was getting lower every minute. Cock-alu had come quite +too late; there was not a drop left for poor little Hen-alie. + +When Cock-alu saw this he was very much disconcerted; he did not know +what to do, he stood a little while considering, and then he set off as +hard as he could go to the squirrel's house to beg a drop of water from +her. But the squirrel lived a long way off in the wood, and thus it was +a considerable time before he got there. + +When he reached the squirrel's house, however, nobody was at home. He +knocked and knocked for a long time, and at last he walked in, but they +were all gone out; he peeped therefore into the pantry to see if he +could find the water; there was plenty of hazel-nuts and beech-nuts, +heaps and heaps of them all laid up in store for winter, but no water; +at length he saw the curled-up cherry-leaf, like a water-jug, standing +at the squirrel's bed-side, but it was empty; there was not a single +drop in it. + +"This is bad business!" said Cock-alu to himself, and turned to leave +the house. At the squirrel's door he met a woodpecker. + +"Woodpecker," says he, "where is the squirrel gone to? I want to beg a +drop of water from the silver-spring for my wife Hen-alie, who has got a +bean in her throat!" + +"Lack-a-day!" said the woodpecker, "the old squirrel drank every drop, +and drained the jug into the bargain; he lay sick in bed this morning, +but there was such virtue in the water that he got well as soon as he +drank it; and now he has taken his wife and the little ones out for an +airing; they will not be back till night, I know. But if you will leave +any message with me I will be sure and deliver it, for the squirrel and +I are very neighborly." + +"Oh!" groaned Cock-alu; "but what would be the use of leaving a message +if they have no water to give me!" + +With that he came down from the old pine tree where the squirrel lived, +set out on his way home again, and came at length out of the Beech-wood, +but it was then getting toward evening. + +He came to his own yard. There was the perch on which he and Hen-alie +had so often sat, and there was the bean-straw, and there lay poor +Hen-alie just as he had left her. + +"Hen-alie, my little wife," said he, crowing loudly as he came up, that +he might put a cheerful face on the matter, "I have been very unlucky; I +could not get you any water, but I have got something so nice for you! I +have brought you a pair of silver-gauze stockings which the snail has +sent you, and a pair of blue velvet garters to wear with them, which the +ring-tail dove gave me!" + +"Thank you," said poor little Hen-alie, in a very weak voice, "but I +wish you could have brought me some water, these things will do me no +good!" + +"I could not bring you water, for the silver-spring is dry," said +Cock-alu, feeling very unhappy, and yet wishing to excuse himself; +"there's not a drop of water left in it!" + +"Then it's all over with me!" sighed poor little Hen-alie. + +"Don't be down-hearted, my little wife," said Cock-alu, trying to seem +cheerful, "I will give you something better than all, I will give you +the green-fire flash from the wild-cat's eye, which he gave me to wear +on my tail-feathers. Look up, my poor little Hen-alie, and I'll give it +all to you!" + +"Alas!" sighed poor little Hen-alie, "what good will they do me! Oh, +that somebody only loved me well enough to have brought me one drop of +silver-spring water!" + +All this while something very nice was happening, which I must tell you. + +There was in the poultry-yard a shabby little drab-colored hen, very +small and very much despised; Cock-alu would not look at her, nor +Hen-alie either; she had no tail-feathers at all, and long black legs +which looked as if she had borrowed them from a hen twice her size; she +was, in short, the meanest, most ill-conditioned hen in the yard. + +All the time, however, that Cock-alu was out on his fruitless errand, +she had been comforting Hen-alie in the best way she could, and assuring +her that Cock-alu would soon be back again with the water from the +silver-spring. But when he came back without a single drop, and only +offered the fine silk stockings and blue velvet garters instead, she set +off, without saying a word, as fast as her long legs would carry her out +of the wood and down to the silver-spring, which she reached in a +wonderfully short time. + +Fortunately the silver-spring had flowed into its new channel as clearly +as ever, and the evening dew had dropped its virtues into it. The owls +were shouting "Kla-vit!" from one end of the wood to the other, The dark +leathern-winged bats and the dusky white and buff-colored moths were +flitting about the broad shadows of the trees, but the little hen took +no notice of any of them. On she went, thinking of nothing but that +which she had to do; and reaching the silver-spring, she gathered up +twelve drops of water, and, hurrying back again, came into the yard just +as poor Hen-alie was saying: "Oh, that somebody had loved me well enough +to fetch me only one drop of silver-spring water!" + +"That I do!" said the shabby little hen, and dropped one drop after +another into her beak. + +The first drop loosened the bean, the second softened it, and the third +sent it down her throat. + +Hen-alie was well again; Cock-alu was ready to clap his wings and crow +for joy; and the little hen turned quietly away to her solitary perch. + +"Nay," said Hen-alie, "but you shall not go unrewarded; see, here is a +pair of silk stockings for you, and here is green fire which will make +the most beautiful feathers in the world grow all over your body! Take +them all, you good little thing, and to-morrow morning you will come out +the handsomest hen in the yard!" + +So it was. There must have been magic in those silk stockings and that +green fire, for the shabby little thing was now transformed into a +regular queen-hen. The farmer's wife thought she must have strayed away +from some beautiful foreign country, and gave her a famous breakfast to +keep her. Cock-alu was very attentive to her; and as to Hen-alie, she +never ceased singing her praises as long as she lived. + + +THERE IS THE KEY OF THE KINGDOM + + There is the key of the Kingdom. + In that Kingdom there is a city; + In that city there is a town; + In that town there is a street; + In that street there is a lane; + In that lane there is a yard; + In that yard there is a house; + In that house there is a room; + In that room there is a bed; + On that bed there is a basket; + In that basket there are some flowers. + + Flowers in the basket, + Basket on the bed, + Bed in the room, + Room in the house, + House in the yard, + Yard in the lane, + Lane in the street, + Street in the town, + Town in the city, + City in the Kingdom, + And this is the key of the Kingdom. + + + + +#FUN FOR VERY LITTLE FOLK# + + [Illustration: BUNNIE: "YOU SEE WHAT IT SAYS ON THIS SIGN? NOW STOP YOUR + BARKING AND GO RIGHT AWAY OR I'LL CALL A POLICEMAN!"] + + + + +TOMMY AND HIS SISTER AND THEIR NEW PONY-CART + +BY DEWITT CLINTON FALLS + +Tommy took his sister out in their new pony-cart for a ride. + +They met a little friend very soon, and asked her to ride, too. + +Then Billie came along and of course they had to invite him. + +But they had forgotten how fat Billie was, so their ride ended very +suddenly! + + +THE ADVENTURES OF THREE LITTLE KITTENS + + [Illustration: "HURRAH! WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE WORLD!"] + + [Illustration: "OH DEAR, THIS IS DREADFUL!"] + + [Illustration: "YES, IT IS SWEET MILK; IT'S YOUR TURN NEXT."] + + [Illustration: BUT THEY MADE SUCH A NOISE THAT--] + + [Illustration: JACK CAME OUT AND SO FRIGHTENED THEM THAT--] + + [Illustration: THEY RAN HOME AS FAST AS THEY COULD GO.] + + +THE LITTLE KITTENS' SURPRISE + + [Illustration: I. "NOW KITTIES, LIE DOWN AND GO TO SLEEP."] + + [Illustration: II. "WHAT'S THAT NOISE? SEE! A MOUSE TAIL!"] + + [Illustration: III. THEY MAKE A DASH FOR THE DOOR, AND--] + + [Illustration: BEGIN TO PULL.] + + [Illustration: NOW, "ALL TOGETHER!"--] + + [Illustration: BUT THIS IS WHAT IT WAS.] + + +TED'S FOOLISH WISH + + "I WISH I WAS AN OWL" + SAID TEDDY, WITH A SCOWL, + "CAUSE THEN I COULD SIT UP THE WHOLE NIGHT THROUGH." + BUT SOME FAIRIES HEARD HIM SCOLD, + AND HERE YOU MAY BEHOLD + + [Illustration: HOW THEY] + + [Illustration: MADE THAT] + + [Illustration: AWFUL WISH] + + [Illustration: COME TRUE!] + + CHARLES FITCH LESTER + + +Nonsense Rhyme. + +from the Negro quarters + + Jay-bird a-sittin' on a Hickory limb. + He winked at me, I winked at him. + 'Taint gwine to rain no mo'. + + Hawk and Buzzard went to law; + Hawk fell down and broke his jaw. + 'Taint gwine to rain no mo'. + + Oh, de Wren and de Thrush go clackety-clack, + Dey bofe talk at once an dey bofe talk back, + Dey say: "Jim Crow, my but you =is= black!" + 'Taint gwine to rain no mo'. + + +TIMOTHY TRUNDLE. + +By FREDERICK MOXON. + + Oh! Timothy Trundle was bouncingly fat, + As round as a robin was he; + The jolliest babe ever sat on a mat + To frolic and gurgle with glee! + His father who tossed him now up and now down, + Called him "Timothy Trundle of Topplety Town." + + When Timothy Trundle grew up to be "Tim", + A rotund, jolly chunk of a lad, + The hoop that he played with looked slim, beside him, + Such a sphere of a shape as he had; + And folks on the street lost all signs of a frown, + To see Timothy Trundle of Topplety Town. + + Once Timothy Trundle went out for a slide, + He dragged up the sled with a will; + But as he pushed off on his ride, o'er the side + He rolled, and then rolled down the hill;-- + A snowball, like Heidelberg's fun of renown, + Buried Timothy Trundle of Topplety Town. + + Of Timothy Trundle, the youth like an O, + For years I had never a trace + Till I went to a circus, and lo! in the show + I found his full-moon of a face. + A troup of trick tumblers performed, and the clown + Was Timothy Trundle of Topplety Town! + + + [Illustration: AN UNWELCOME GUEST] + + [Illustration: PLAYMATES + FROM PHOTOGRAPHS BY HARRY W. FREES] + + [Illustration: MORE PLAYMATES + FROM PHOTOGRAPHS BY HARRY W. FREES] + + [Illustration: A DREAM OF GLORY] + + +PICTURES + +BY CULMER BARNES + + [Illustration: + DOGGIE:--"DON'T YOU KNOW THAT IT'S DANGEROUS TO SIT ON THE THIRD RAIL?" + + CHORUS OF BUNNIES:--"MAY BE, BUT AT PRESENT IT DOESN'T SEEM NEARLY SO + DANGEROUS AS SOME PLACES WE KNOW OF."] + + [Illustration: + FATHER OWL TO MR. WOODPECKER:--"HEY! WHO'S THAT KNOCKING OUT THERE? + DON'T YOU KNOW BETTER THAN TO DISTURB OUR DAY'S REST? CALL AGAIN AT A + REASONABLE HOUR."] + + + [Illustration: THE REUNION OF THE BRUIN FAMILY AT THE SEA SHORE.] + + +THE BABY MICE ARE INSTRUCTED BY THEIR FOND PAPA + + [Illustration: + "NOW, CHILDREN, THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST AND MOST DANGEROUS + TEMPTATIONS YOU WILL EVER MEET. I WILL SHOW YOU HOW IT WORKS SO THAT YOU + MAY REMEMBER AND ALWAYS AVOID IT."] + + [Illustration: AND IT WORKED FINELY!] + + +ROLY POLY ON VACATION + +DRAWN BY CULMER BARNES + + [Illustration: + CONDUCTOR: "ALL ABOARD FOR THE JUNGLE! STEP LIVELY, PLEASE! BOTH GATES!"] + + [Illustration: + THE THREE GIRAFFE BOYS: "COME ON IN, ROLY POLY, WE'RE DYING FOR A SWIM, + BUT THE WATER ISN'T DEEP ENOUGH."] + + +MOTHER GOOSE'S LAST TROLLEY RIDE + + [Illustration: + ON A RUNAWAY CAR: "HERE, YOU, CONDUCTOR. I WANT A TRANSFER AND I WANT + IT NOW!"] + + [Illustration: + MOTHER GOOSE: "LUCKY FOR YOU I FELL IN THE WATER. I'LL NEVER TRUST + MYSELF ON LAND AGAIN AS LONG AS I LIVE."] + + +IVAN AND THE WOLF + + [Illustration: IVAN SEES THE WOLF] + + [Illustration: AND TAKES REFUGE IN A HOLLOW TREE] + + [Illustration: HAVING FASTENED THE BASKET WITH HIS STAFF.] + + [Illustration: WHILE TWO BABY BEARS LEFT IN THE TREE IMPEDE HIS WAY,] + + [Illustration: THE MOTHER BEAR COMES HOME,] + + [Illustration: AND IVAN ESCAPES WITH THE CUBS.] + + +HOMEWARD BOUND + + [Illustration: + MR. BUNNIE: "COME, MR. MOLEY, TRY THE ELEVATED ROAD, ONCE." + +MR. MOLEY: "NO, THANK YOU, I PREFER THE SUBWAY FOR SEVERAL REASONS. I +CAN SEE SO MUCH BETTER FOR ONE THING."] + + [Illustration: + THE FRETFUL PORCUPINE: "HUH! NOBODY EVER GIVES ME A BOOST!"] + + +THEIR LITTLE JAR + + [Illustration: 1. TWO BEARS ON MISCHIEF BOUND] + + [Illustration: 2. A BIG JAR OF HONEY FOUND.] + + [Illustration: 3. BEFORE THEY MADE A BETTER PLAN] + + [Illustration: 4. BOTH TO EAT AT ONCE BEGAN.] + + [Illustration: 5. WHITEY BUMPED ON BRUIN'S CROWN;] + + [Illustration: 6. BRUIN THEN PUSHED WHITEY DOWN.] + + [Illustration: 7. THIS TO ROUGH AND TUMBLE LED,] + + [Illustration: 8. TILL THEY WERE HEELS OVER HEAD.] + + [Illustration: 9. BRUIN THOUGHT HE WAS IN CLOVER;] + + [Illustration: 10. WHITEY CAME AND TURNED HIM OVER.] + + [Illustration: 11. THEN DID WHITEY ROAR WITH LAUGHTER,] + + [Illustration: 12. NOT AWARE WHAT'S COMING AFTER--] + + [Illustration: 13. THE JAR IS BROKEN ON HIS HEAD;] + + [Illustration: 14. JAR AND HONEY BOTH ARE FLED!] + + [Illustration: 15. SAD AND SORRY, VERY SLOW,] + + [Illustration: SEE THE COMRADES HOMEWARD GO.] + + +Little Eski and the Polar Bear + +An Arctic Story in Four Chapters + + [Illustration] + + + + +#FUNNY VERSES AND PICTURES# + + + + +_The_ Frog's Fiasco + +by D. K. Stevens + + There was once a Frog + In a lonesome Bog + With a voice that was well worth praising. + He had one song and it used to go + Way down in the added lines below + Like this: [Symbol: music] which is quite amazing. + + So he said one day + In a casual way + "Although it is scarcely vital + And I may be wrong, it appears to me + That a frog with a voice like mine should be + First class in a Song Recital." + + So he posted sheets + In the village streets + With the date and the price: one shilling; + And he billed himself "_Signor_" because + He thought he would get immense applause + By the aid of a little _frilling_. + + Well, it came about + That his friends turned out + From the Crane to the Curious Cricket, + With the Hare and the Hedgehog, Coon and Fox, + And the Critical Owl in a private box, + (On a Complimentary Ticket.) + + When the clock struck eight + _Signor_ Frog in state + Thus opened the exhibition: + "For my first attempt on the concert-stump + I shall render a song that is called '_Ger-rump_.' + An original composition." + + Then the Critical Owl + With a guttural growl, + Or a noise which was something near it, + Stood up and observed: "All summer long + From dusk till day you have sung that song-- + And why should we _pay_ to hear it?" + + So they all marched out + In a regular rout, + With remarks most decidedly chilling, + And every one, as he passed the stand + Where the Muskrat kept all the cash in hand, + Demanded and _got_ his shilling! + + And the luckless Frog, + In the lonesome Bog, + Relapsed into deep dejection; + As he broods alone on his dismal case + And sings all night in a booming bass, + "_Ger-rump_" is his one selection. + + +The Musical Trust + +By D. K. Stevens + + There was once a man who could execute + "Old Zip Coon" on a yellow flute, + And several other tunes to boot, + But he couldn't make a penny with his tootle-ti-toot + Tootle-ootle-_oot_le--tootle-ti-toot! + Tootle-ootle-_oot_le--tootle-ti-toot! + Though he played all day on his yellow flute, + He couldn't make a penny with his tootle-ti-toot. + + One day he met a singular + Quaint old man with a big tu_ba_, + Who said: "I've travelled wide and far + But I haven't made a penny with my _oom_-pah-pah." + _Oom_-pah! _Oom_-pah! _Oom_-pah-pah! + _Oom_-pah! _Oom_-pah! _Oom_-pah-pah! + Though he played all day on his big tu_ba_ + He couldn't make a penny with his _oom_-pah-pah. + + Then they met two men who were hammering + On a big bass drum and a cymbal thing, + Who said: "We've banged since early spring + And we haven't made a penny with our boom-zing-zing." + _Boom_-zing! _Boom_-zing! _Boom_-zing-zing! + _Boom_-b-b-_boom_-boom--zing-zing! + Though the banged on the drum and the cymbal thing + They couldn't make a penny with their _boom_-zing-zing. + + So the man with the flute + Played tootle-ti-toot, + And the other man he played _oom_-pah, + While the men with the drum and the cymbal thing + Went: _boom_-b-b-_boom_-boom--zing-zing! + And they travelled wide and far. + Together they made the welkin ring + With a Tootle-ootle! _Oom_-pah! _Boom_-zing-zing! + Tootle-ootle! _Oom_-pah! _Boom_-zing-zing! + Tootle-ootle! _Oom_-pah! _Boom_-zing-zing! + And Oh! the pennies the people fling! + When they hear the tootle-_oom_-pah-_boom_-zing-zing! + + Katherine Maynadier Browne + + +The Cautious Cat + +by D.K. Stevens + + A Cautious Cat + And a Reckless Rat + Went to sea with an Innocent Lamb. + They sailed in a yawl + With nothing at all + To eat but a Sugar-cured Ham. + The wind blew high + In a sky-blue sky, + At a rate they had never foreseen. + The wind blew low, + And the wind also + Blew a little bit in between-- + Just a little bit in between. + + Said the Cautious Cat + To the Reckless Rat, + Likewise to the Innocent Lamb: + "We'll tack this smack + And sail right back + To send a Mar-coni-o-gram. + For the winds might blow + Both high and low + And I wouldn't care a Lima Bean, + But I never can sail + When the ocean gale + Blows a little bit in between-- + Just a little bit in between. + + "Of course with me + You will never agree," + Said the Cat to the Rat and the Lamb, + "But if you balk + You will have to walk,-- + That's the kind of kitten I am!" + So they sailed right back + On the larboard tack + To the nearest port of call, + And the Reckless Rat + Let it go at that, + While the Lamb said nothing at all-- + Said nothing--whatever--at all. + + Katherine Maynadier Browne + + +THREE LITTLE BEARS + +BY M. C. McNEILL + + Three little bears came into the town. + "How do you do?" said everybody. + Their faces were smiling, with never a frown. + "How sweet!" said everybody. + The three little bears made three little bows. + "How very polite!" said everybody. + They bowed as boys bow in dancing-school. + "What airs and what grace!" said everybody. + + One little bear had a little red coat. + "How smart!" said everybody. + One had a tippet all made of soft down. + "How cozy and warm!" said everybody. + And one was a fiddler of great renown. + "What charming music!" said everybody. + + The three little bears began then to dance. + "How cute!" said everybody. + "What do you want, you little black bears + With manners so nice?" said everybody. + "I don't like to be a fool, so I want to go to school," + Said the red-coated bear to everybody. + + Then Tommy Perkins, making a bow, + Right in front of everybody, + Took down his book and his slate as well, + And began to explain to everybody + Just what the little black bears should do + To read and to cipher like everybody. + + "Sit up quite straight, and mind your stops; + Say, 'A, B, C,' for everybody." + "A, B, C," said the three little bears, + All in one voice, to everybody. + "A, B, C! What fiddle-dee-dee!" + Was whispered aloud by everybody. + + "I want to count," said one little bear. + "One! Two! Three! Four!" shouted everybody. + "We're not at all deaf!" said the three little bears. + "Oh! I beg your pardon!" said everybody. + + "We'd like to learn manners," said the three little bears; + "And we'd like to learn from everybody, + But every one hasn't fine manners," they said. + "Some have very bad manners," said everybody. + + "What manners you have may be better than ours," + Said the three little bears to everybody, + "For we live in the wood--which no manners requires." + "Then how did you learn?" said everybody. + + "For when you came in you were quite as polite + As Tommy Perkins," said everybody. + "You bowed and you danced, while we all sat entranced, + So sweet were the notes," said everybody. + + "You wanted to learn to say, 'A, B, C,' + Like good little bears," said everybody. + "And when we exclaimed, 'Such fiddle-dee-dee!' + No notice you took," said everybody. + "And when we all shouted out, 'One! Two! Three! Four!' + Instead of roaring," said everybody, + "You gently reminded us all that in school + We must not be noisy," said everybody. + + "If you won't teach us manners, + We're going back home," + Said the three little bears to everybody. + "For after the night falls it won't do to roam; + So we'll say our farewells to everybody." + + Then they stood up and bowed, and held out their paws, + And shook hands all round with everybody. + + "We'll dance all the way, for we know how to play," + Said the three little bears to everybody. + "And with our best compliments we wish you good day." + + "Good day and good luck!" said everybody. + + +THE SNOWMAN + +BY W. W. ELLSWORTH + + One day we built a snowman. + We made him out of snow; + You'd ought to see how fine he was-- + All white from top to toe! + + We poured some water on him, + And froze him, legs and ears; + And when we went indoors to bed + _I_ said he'd last two years. + + But in the night a warmer kind + Of wind began to blow, + And winter cried and ran away, + And with it ran the snow. + + And in the morning when we went + To bid our friend good day, + There wasn't any snowman there-- + _Everything_'d runned away! + + + + +#ANIMAL STORIES# + + + + +TINY HARE AND THE WIND BALL + + A STORY FOR VERY LITTLE FOLK TO READ. NO WORD IN IT HAS MORE THAN + FOUR LETTERS + +BY A. L. SYKES + +"I want to do just as I like," said Tiny Hare to his Mama one day, as he +ran to the door of his home. + +"What do you want to do, my dear?" she said. + +"I do not know, but I want to do just as I like," said Tiny Hare. + + [Illustration: "SOON MAN CAME BY."] + +"You may run out a wee bit of a way, and run and jump and play in the +sun," said his Mama. + +"I do not want to run and jump and play. I want to do just as I like," +said Tiny Hare. + +"You may eat the good food that you can find near our home," said his +Mama, "but if you go far MAN may get you, or DOG may eat you, or HAWK +may fly away with you." + +"I do not want to eat the good food that I can see here. I want to do +just as I like." + +Papa Hare then said very low and deep, "_What_ do you want to do, my +son?" + +"I do not know," said Tiny Hare, "but I want to do just as I like." + +Then said Papa Hare, "Do not wake me from my nap any more now, and when +the big moon is high in the sky, and it is just like day. I will take +you far out in the wood, and you may run and jump and play and eat, and +be very safe, for MAN will be in his home, and DOG in his, and HAWK in +hers." + +"I do not want to go out in the wood, and run and jump and play when the +moon is high in the sky. I want to do just as I like." + +"Do not wake me," said Papa Hare, and he shut his eyes and put his ears +down. + +"Come here," said Mama Hare, "and I will tell you a tale of the cold +time of the year when snow is over bush and tree and our good food, and +what came to the hare who did just as his Mama told him not to. Step, +step, step in the snow he went till he came to the Red Fire, and--" + +"I do not want to hear the tale," said Tiny Hare. "I want to do just as +I like." + + [Illustration: "HE SAW HAWK FAR UP IN THE SKY."] + +"Do not wake me from my nap, then," said his Mama, and she shut _her_ +eyes and put _her_ ears down. + +Just then Tiny Hare saw a Wind Ball roll by. A Wind Ball is the part of +one kind of a weed that is left when the weed does not grow any more, +and it is dry and like wool, and it can roll like a ball, and fly as +fast as a bird. + +"I can run as fast as you," said Tiny Hare. "I can do just as I like, +and I want to get you." + +On went the Wind Ball, roll, roll, roll, and on went Tiny Hare, leap, +leap, leap. Just as he was near it, the Wind Ball rose into the air, and +flew like a bird, and on went Tiny Hare, jump, jump, jump. Roll and fly, +roll and fly went the Wind Ball, and leap and jump, leap and jump went +Tiny Hare till he was not able to run any more, and his feet were sore. +He lay down to rest, but soon MAN came by, and Tiny Hare ran into a hole +in a tree, and now how he _did_ wish that he was at home! + + [Illustration: "DOG CAME BY, AND TINY HARE RAN INTO A HOLE."] + +By and by he came out to try to hunt for his home, and DOG came by, and +Tiny Hare ran into a hole in a wall, and how he _did_ wish he was at +home! By and by he came out to try to hunt for his home, and he ran, and +he ran, and he ran! And, by and by, he saw HAWK far up in the sky, and +Tiny Hare ran into a bush, and how he _did_ wish he was at home. + +By and by he came out to try to hunt for his home, and Wind Ball went by +once more. + +"I can't get you, and I don't want to," said Tiny Hare, but the wind was +low, and Wind Ball went roll, roll, roll, slow, slow, slow, and Tiny +Hare went with it, limp, limp, limp, and by and by he saw his home. Tiny +Hare ran as fast as a hare with lame feet can run, and soon he went in +and lay down in the home by his Mama. + +"I have not been good, Mama," he said very low in her ear in a way that +a tiny hare has. + +"Be good now, then," she said. + +"I want to," said Tiny Hare, and then he said, "Do not wake me," and he +shut _his_ eyes, and put _his_ ears down, and they _all_ took a nap. + + + [Illustration: POOR, PATIENT ROVER! WON'T SOMEBODY SAY "SPEAK!" SO HE + CAN HAVE THE LUMP OF SUGAR?] + + +HOW TINY HARE MET CAT + + [IN WORDS OF NOT MORE THAN FOUR LETTERS] + +BY A. L. SYKES + +Once, just as the long, dark time that is at the end of each day came, +Mama Hare said to Tiny Hare, who was at play, + +"Come in, now, it is time for bed. You know you must hide from Man, and +Dog, and Hawk; but I must tell you that you are to hide from Cat, also." + +"Who is CAT?" said Tiny Hare. + +"CAT is not so big as DOG. She has soft fur and two big wild eyes." + +"She is just like me," said Tiny Hare. "I have soft fur and big eyes; +then CAT is just a Hare." + +"The very idea!" said Mama Hare. "You have not big _wild_ eyes, and your +tail is not long like CAT'S. CAT is not good for a Hare to meet. She can +run very fast, and she has a claw for each toe," and she gave Tiny Hare +a wee bite. + +"Does CAT live in our wood?" said Tiny Hare. + + [Illustration: TINY HARE SEES CAT BY THE FIRE.] + +"No, she is with MAN and DOG, but she goes out in the day time or at +dark, and she can get a Tiny Hare who runs away from home when he is +_too_ tiny." + +"Am I too tiny?" said Tiny Hare. "Yes, yes, yes; far too tiny," said his +Mama; and _how_ she did wash him from his head to his feet! + +"I wish to see CAT," said Tiny Hare. + +"No, no, no," said his Mama; and _how_ she did wash his soft fur! + +He did not wish to see CAT for many, many days, but one day the rain +came, and it was cold, and his Mama told him to stay at home in the dry +hay. + +"I want to go with you," said Tiny Hare to his Mama and Papa when they +were to go out for food. + +"It is too wet," said his Mama. "If your fur gets too wet you can't run +far and fast, and it is not safe for you to go." + +"I like rain. I like the wet. I want to go out. I want to do just as I +like," said Tiny Hare, and he laid his ears back, and half shut his +eyes, and put his pink lip out, and did not look kind. + +"Hush!" said Papa Hare, in a low, deep tone. And Mama Hare and Papa Hare +went away, and left Tiny Hare at home. + +Do you know what Tiny Hare did then? Oh, it was not good! + + [Illustration: "WHEN HE SAW TINY HARE HE GAVE A LOUD BARK, + 'BOW-WOW-WOW-WOW!'"] + +"I will go to see CAT," he said, very loud. He ran out, over the damp +moss in the wet, wet wood, and, oh, dear me! up the path to the door of +MAN and CAT. The door was open. CAT sat by the fire in a box. She was +most sad, for once she had two baby cats in that box, and now they were +gone. She did not purr. She did not eat. She did not wash her soft fur. +She just sat by the fire and was sad. By and by she was _so_ sad with no +baby cat to love that she said very low and deep: "Mew! Mew!" Tiny Hare +was so wet and so weak he just _had_ to lie down on the step. Then CAT +saw him. + +How fast she did jump out of the box, and run to the door! Tiny Hare saw +her long tail, and her big wild eyes. He shut his eyes; and how he _did_ +wish he was at home! But CAT did not eat him. She took him in her soft +lips, and laid him in the box by the fire. + +"_Now_ she will eat me," said Tiny Hare; and how he _did_ wish he was at +home! + +Then MAN and DOG came in. MAN was wet, and had much mud on him. He took +the box away from the fire to put fresh hay in it, and then he saw Tiny +Hare. Then MAN went near the fire to get warm and dry, and DOG ran to +CAT to look at her baby cat. When he saw Tiny Hare he gave a loud bark, +"Bow-wow-wow-wow!" and his tail did not wag any more. But just as he was +to JUMP on Tiny Hare, CAT put a claw on his nose. + +"Wow!" said DOG, and MAN made DOG lie down, and he came once more to +look at CAT in her box. "Well, well," said he, "a hare for a baby cat! +Do you mean to eat it, Puss?" + +"Purr, purr, purr," said CAT, and Tiny Hare did not like to hear her +purr, and he said: "She _will_ eat me now"; and how he _did_ wish he was +at home! + +CAT did not want to eat Tiny Hare, but she did want to wash him, and +play that he was her own baby cat. And she did wash him, oh, _so_ hard, +and _so_ much, from head to feet, and from feet to head, over and over +and over. She gave him a wee bite now and then when she felt a knot in +his wet fur. + +"Wee! Wee! Wee!" said Tiny Hare, very loud and high, when she hurt him +too much, but CAT did not care, and did not stop. + +By and by when Tiny Hare was warm and dry, and his fur was like silk, +MAN and DOG went out to tea; and CAT saw that the eyes of Tiny Hare were +shut, so _she_ went out to tea. When CAT was gone, oh, how fast did Tiny +Hare _jump_ out of the box, and _run_ out of the door, and _skip_ up the +long road, and _leap_ past the wet wood, home to his Mama. The rain was +over, and the sun was warm, so he was now dry, and his fur was like +silk. + +"I _will_ be good now, Mama." "Oh, dear," said his Mama. "This is a +CAT." + +"Oh, no, no, no, no, NO!" said Tiny Hare. "I _am_ your Tiny Hare." + +"Is it our Tiny Hare?" said Mama Hare to wise Papa Hare. + +"Yes," said Papa Hare, "it is, but he is too much like CAT." + +Tiny Hare was not glad, and he did not want to play, so he sat near his +home till the dark came. Then his Mama grew too sad for his sake, and +she came out to him. How she _did_ rub him with moss and hay, and how +she _did_ wash him, from his head to his feet. Tiny Hare did not like +it, but he did not say one word. + +"_Now_, you _are_ like my dear Tiny Hare," she said at last, and she +took him home. When it grew dark, Tiny Hare said: "I am your Tiny Hare, +and I _will_ be good now," and Papa Hare said, "Yes, I am _sure_ you +will," and gave the ear of Tiny Hare a wee bite for love. + +Then Mama Hare put _her_ ears down, and Papa Hare put _his_ ears down, +and Tiny Hare put _his_ ears down, and they all took a long, long nap +till the dawn. + + [Illustration: TINY HARE AT HOME.] + + +THE WEE HARE AND THE RED FIRE + + [IN WORDS OF NOT MORE THAN FOUR LETTERS] + +BY A. L. SYKES + +One day in the cold time when he lay snug and warm by his Mama, Tiny +Hare said, "Tell me of the hare who went step, step, step in the snow +till he came to the RED FIRE." + +So his Mama gave him a hug and said: + +Once upon a time was a wise Wee Hare who knew how to run fast when MAN +came by. He knew how to hide when DOG was near, and when he saw the dark +spot in the sky that HAWK made, how fast he did jump to his Mama! But +Wee Hare did not like to go out and run and jump and play in the sun. + +"I do not want to run and jump and play in the sun. I want to run far, +far in the wood, and find the red bush. I have seen it away off in the +dark. It is good for me to eat, I know." + +"It is FIRE," said his Mama. "Only MAN can make it, and it is not good +for you. It can burn and hurt. You may eat the good food that you can +find near our home," and she bit his ear for a kiss. + +"I do not want to eat the good food that I can see here. I want to do +just as I like. I want to pick the red food from the red bush. I know it +is like buds in the warm time." + +"Hush," said Papa Hare, very low and deep. "You are not good. When you +are good, and the moon is high in the sky, and it is just like day, I +will take you far out in the wood, and you may run and jump and play and +eat the food that is best for you." + +"I do not want to go out in the wood, and run and jump and play when the +moon is high in the sky. I want to do just as I like. I want to eat the +red buds from the red bush," said the Wee Hare. + +"Shut your eyes, and put your ears down, and take your nap," said his +Mama. "You are too tiny to go away from me. Now, hush, do not say one +more word. The red bush is the RED FIRE. It can hurt and burn. MAN has +it, and DOG is with man. They can hurt you, and if you run too far in +the wood, WIND may blow too hard for a wee hare, and SNOW may come and +bury you. Shut your eyes, and put your ears down, and take your nap." + +It was noon; the sun was high in the sky. + +Good Papa Hare took _his_ nap, and Mama Hare took _her_ nap. The Wee +Hare shut his eyes, and put his ears down, but he took no nap. By and by +he went out of the door, and ran and ran till he came to the wood. Then +he ran and ran in the wood, but he did not come to the RED FIRE, and he +ran and ran and ran till his feet were sore, but he did not come to the +RED FIRE, and he ran and ran and ran and ran till he was not able to run +any more, and no RED FIRE did he see. He lay down to rest in a bush, and +very soon his eyes were shut, and he did not see or hear, for it was +long past the hour for his nap. When he woke SNOW lay on all the open +ways of the wood. The Wee Hare gave a leap from his bush, for he knew +that SNOW can grow deep and deep, and a wee hare cannot walk in it. How +he _did_ wish he was at home! + + [Illustration: "THEN DOG SAID: 'WOW!' AND PUT HIS EARS UP."] + +The sun was far down in the west, and its last rays lay red on the SNOW. +Step, step, step went the lame Wee Hare in the cold SNOW. He went back +into the wood to try to find his way home. It grew gray, and it grew +dark, and SNOW grew so deep that the Wee Hare had hard work to walk. +Then WIND came. It was _so_ cold, and blew him out of the path, and how +he _did_ wish he was at home! Step, step, step in the SNOW he went. The +WIND blew more and more. + +"I can not walk; my feet are too lame," said the Wee Hare, and just then +he saw the RED FIRE! It grew in the path in the wood, and by it sat MAN +and DOG. Oh, how the Wee Hare felt! His nose grew hot, and his ears grew +cold, and he was not able to move. Then DOG said "WOW!" and put his ears +up, but MAN said: "Lie down," and DOG lay down by the RED FIRE. The Wee +Hare went into a tiny, tiny hole in a tree, and sat on his feet to warm +them. He saw the RED FIRE. He did not like to see it. MAN and DOG did +not let it come too near them, and he saw _them_ keep away from the RED +FIRE. + +"They fear it, too," said the Wee Hare. "It is not good for me. I must +take care or it will come and hurt me." He sat on his cold feet, and did +not dare to take a nap. + +By and by MAN put SNOW over the RED FIRE, and he and DOG went away, and +the Wee Hare went step, step, step in the snow, soft, soft, soft, for +fear. + +"I _wish_ I had been good," said the Wee Hare, and WIND and SNOW were +able to hear, and they felt sad for a wee hare. + + [Illustration: "HOW FAST HE WENT--HOP, SKIP, AND JUMP!"] + +"We will help him," they said, but low and soft so he did not hear. The +moon came up high in the sky till it was just like day, and it grew very +cold. SNOW grew hard as ice in the cold, and the Wee Hare did not sink +in it any more. WIND did not blow so hard. It came back of Wee Hare now, +push, push, push, to help the Wee Hare over the SNOW. How fast he +went--hop, skip, and jump! Soon he came to his home. How glad he was! He +went in and lay down by his Mama. + +"I have not been good, Mama," he said, very low in her ear. + +"Be good now, then," his Mama said, and he did not know how glad she was +to have him back. + +"I want to be good," said the Wee Hare; and he shut his eyes, and put +his ears down, and they all took a nap till the dawn came. + +"Just like us," said Tiny Hare, and he was glad that _he_ lay snug and +warm by _his_ Mama, and he was glad she had told him the tale of the Wee +Hare and the RED FIRE. + + +The Good King +By Margaret and Clarence Weed + +Once upon a time there was a King in Spain who had only one leg. He was +a Good King and he had a big Animal Farm where he kept all the animals +who had lost one or more of their legs. + +In another part of Spain there was a Little Half Chick with only one +eye, one wing and one leg. The other chickens with two eyes and two legs +gobbled up the corn so fast that Little Half Chick was nearly starved. + +One day a Donkey told Little Half Chick about the Good King and his +Animal Farm. Little Half Chick at once started hoppity-hop for Mother +Hen and said, + +"Mother Hen, I am going to Madrid to see the Good King." + +"All right," said Mother Hen, "good luck to you." + +So Little Half Chick started off, hoppity-hop, hoppity-hop along the +road to Madrid to see the Good King. + +Soon she met a Two-legged Cat going along hippity-hip, hippity-hip on +her leg and crutch. The Cat said, + +"Hello, Little Half Chick, where are you going so fast?" + +Little Half Chick said, "I am going to Madrid to see the Good King." + +"May I go too?" said the Two-legged Cat. + +"Yes," said Little Half Chick, "fall in behind." + +So the Cat fell in behind. Hoppity-hop, hoppity-hop went Little Half +Chick. Hippity-hip, hippity-hip went the Two-legged Cat. + +Soon they met a Three-legged Dog going along humpity-hump, humpity-hump. +The Dog said: + +"Hello, Little Half Chick, where are you going so fast?" + +Little Half Chick said "I am going to Madrid to see the Good King." + +"May I go too?" said the Three-legged Dog. + +"Yes," said Little Half Chick, "fall in behind." + +[Illustration: "THEY BOTH LAUGHED AS ALL THESE FUNNY ANIMALS CAME UP."] + +So the Dog fell in behind. Hoppity-hop, hoppity-hop went Little Half +Chick. Hippity-hip, hippity-hip went the Two-legged Cat. Humpity-hump, +humpity-hump went the Three-legged Dog. + +Soon they met a One-legged Crow going along jumpity-jump, jumpity-jump. +The Crow said: + +"Hello, Little Half Chick, where are you going so fast?" + +Little Half Chick said: "I am going to Madrid to see the Good King." + +"May I go too?" said the One-legged Crow. + +"Yes," said Little Half Chick, "fall in behind." + +So the Crow fell in behind. Hoppity-hop, hoppity-hop went Little Half +Chick. Hippity-hip, hippity-hip went the Two-legged Cat. Humpity-hump, +humpity-hump went the Three-legged Dog. Jumpity-jump, jumpity-jump went +the One-legged Crow. + +Soon they met a Snake with no legs at all. He had caught his tail in his +teeth and was rolling along loopity-loop, loopity-loop. The Snake said: + +"Hello, Little Half Chick, where are you going so fast?" + +"I am going to Madrid to see the Good King," said Little Half Chick. + +"May I go, too?" said the Snake. + +"Yes," said Little Half Chick, "fall in behind." + +So the Snake fell in behind. Hoppity-hop, hoppity-hop went Little Half +Chick. Hippity-hip, hippity-hip went the Two-legged Cat. Humpity-hump, +humpity-hump went the Three-legged Dog. Jumpity-jump, jumpity-jump went +the One-legged Crow. Loopity-loop, loopity-loop went the Snake with no +legs at all. + +Soon they came to Madrid and saw the Good King. With the King was his +little daughter Margaret. They both laughed as all these funny animals +came up. The King said to Little Margaret: + +"Do you want to see us all go out to the Animal Farm?" + +"Yes," said Little Margaret, "I will lead the way." + +So she led the way along the street to the Animal Farm. Behind Margaret +came the One-legged King. Next came the Little Half Chick, next the +Two-legged Cat, next the Three-legged Dog, next the One-legged Crow, and +last of all the Snake with no legs at all. So they all went out to the +Animal Farm. And there they lived happily ever after. + + +EARLY AND LATE + +BY W. S. REED + + Go to bed early--wake up with joy; + Go to bed late--cross girl or boy. + + Go to bed early--ready for play; + Go to bed late--moping all day. + + Go to bed early--no pains or ills; + Go to bed late--doctors and pills. + + Go to bed early--grow very tall; + Go to bed late--stay very small. + + +The Little Pink Pig and the Big Road. + +BY JASMINE STONE VAN DRESSER + +Once there was a little pink pig with five little spotted brothers and +sisters. They had a nice home in the wood lot with their mama, and a +nice yard with a little white fence around it. The little pigs were very +happy playing in the yard. They made mud pies and baked them in the sun. + +One day the little pink pig asked his mama to let him go out of the gate +into the big road. + +"You are too little and do not know enough yet," said his mama. "When +you grow bigger I shall teach you about the big road, and then you may +go. Now, be a good little pig, and run and play with your brothers and +sisters." + +But the little pink pig would not play with his brothers and sisters. He +ran off in a corner by himself and would not make mud pies. + + [Illustration: "THE BLACK AND WHITE THING ROLLED HIM OVER IN THE DUST."] + +Pretty soon the milkman came in his wagon to bring the milk for dinner. +He carried it in and knocked at the back door, and poured it in a pail +for mama. Then he ran out as fast as he could and hopped up in his wagon +and drove away. + +But he forgot to close the gate. + +The little pink pig saw the gate was open, and he ran right out into the +big road. + +"I will show my mama how much I know," he said. And he trotted down the +big road as fast as his little pink legs would carry him. + +He had not gone very far when he saw a big black and white thing. The +black and white thing ran after the little pig, and rolled him over in +the dust. + + [Illustration: "AND HE TOOK THE LITTLE PINK PIG HOME."] + +The little pig squealed and squealed, and the black and white thing +rolled him and rolled him over, and kept saying "Bow wow!" But by and by +he turned and went away. + +The little pig got up and tried to shake off the dust, but he couldn't +shake it all off. He wanted to go home, but he had rolled over and over +so much, that he couldn't tell where home was. So he ran into a +cornfield to hide, till he was sure the black and white thing was gone. + +Pretty soon a man came along and found him in the cornfield and said: + +"Hello, pink pig, are you eating my corn?" + +"Oh, no!" said the little pig. "I would not eat your corn." + +"Then you should keep out of my cornfield," said the man. "I will take +you home and shut you in a pen." + +And he took the little pink pig home and shut him up in a pen. + +"I do not want to be shut up. Please let me out," said the little pink +pig. + +But the man did not let him out. It was not a nice pen, and the little +pig got all muddy and dirty in it. He wished he was at home in his own +little house with his mama, and his spotted brothers and sisters. + + [Illustration: "THE BIG RED THING TOSSED THE LITTLE PINK PIG + IN THE AIR."] + +He ran round and round till he found a little hole in the fence. He was +such a tiny pig that he squeezed through the hole and got out, though he +had a hard time, for the buttons on his jacket got caught, and he could +hardly get loose. He did not know which way to go to find his home, but +he ran as fast as he could to get away from the pen. + +He ran through a fence into a big place where there was plenty of grass. +There were some very big red things in there, and one saw the little pig +and ran after him. + +"Oh, dear!" said the little pink pig (only he was not pink any more +because he was all covered with mud), "are you a big pig?" + +The big red thing shook its head and said "Moo!" and tossed the little +pig up in the air. The little pig fell on the ground with a hard bump. +He lay still till the red thing went away. Then he got up and ran as +fast as he could. + +He ran out in the road, and right into a black and white speckled thing +with two legs. The speckled thing puffed up and said "Squawk!" + +The little pig ran as fast as he could because he thought the speckled +thing was chasing him. But it wasn't. + +The little pig did not know where he was running, and he did not have +time to find out. The first thing he knew he almost ran into a lot of +two-legged things. They had big yellow mouths. + + [Illustration: "'HISS!' IT SAID, AND IT NIPPED THE LITTLE PIG'S LEG."] + +One of them said "Hiss-ss!" and ran out and nipped the little pig's hind +leg. The little pig squealed and ran the other way. + +"Oh, dear!" he thought, "if I ever get back to my mama, I will never try +to go down the big road again, till she teaches me what these queer +things are." + +Just then he found himself in front of his own little house with the +white fence around it. He ran into the house and told his mama +everything that had happened to him. "Oh, mama," he said, "what was the +black and white thing?" + + [Illustration: "THE SPECKLED THING PUFFED UP AND SAID 'SQUAWK!'"] + +"It was a dog," she said. "Dogs sometimes chase little pigs." + +"Oh, mama," he said, "a man found me in his cornfield and put me in a +pen." + +"You must keep out of cornfields," said mama. "People do not like pigs +in their cornfields." + +"Oh, mama, what was the big red thing with sharp things on top of its +head?" + +"It was a cow," said mama. "You should not go where cows are till you +are big enough to keep out of their way." + +"Oh, mama, what was the speckled thing that puffed up and said +'Squawk?'" + +"It was a hen," said mama. "She was not chasing you, she was only going +to the other side of the road." + +"Oh, mama, what was the white thing that nipped me?" "It was a goose. +You should always keep away from them." + +"Oh, mama, this is a big world, and there are lots of funny things in +it." + + [Illustration: THE LITTLE PINK PIG RUNS HOME TO HIS MOTHER.] + +"Yes," said mama. "That is why it is best for little pigs not to go out +on the big road till they know more. You need not be afraid of anything +if you know what it is. You have learned a great deal today for such a +little pig, but if you are patient and wait till I teach you, you will +not have such a hard time. We shall walk out every day, and I will teach +you how a little pig can take care of himself all the time." Then she +put the little pig in the wash-tub, for he was all covered with mud, and +washed him nicely--and before long he was the little pink pig again. + + +JUGGERJOOK + +BY L. FRANK BAUM + +Author of "Queen Zixi of Ix," "The Wizard of Oz," etc. + +"Oh, Mama!" cried Fuzzy Wuz, running into the burrow where her mother +lay dozing, "may I go walking with Chatter Chuk?" + +Mrs. Wuz opened one eye sleepily and looked at Fuzzy. + +"If you are careful," she said; "and don't go near Juggerjook's den; and +watch the sun so as to get home before the shadows fall." + +"Yes, yes; of course," returned Fuzzy, eagerly. + +"And don't let Chatter Chuk lead you into mischief," continued Mrs. Wuz, +rubbing one long ear with her paw lazily. "Those red squirrels are +reckless things and haven't much sense." + +"Chatter's all right," protested Fuzzy Wuz. "He's the best friend I have +in the forest. Good-by, Mother." + +"Is your face clean, Fuzzy?" + +"I've just washed it, Mother." + +"With both paws, right and left?" + +"Yes, Mother." + +"Then run along and be careful." + +"Yes, Mother." + +Fuzzy turned and darted from the burrow, and in the bright sunshine +outside sat Chatter Chuk on his hind legs, cracking an acorn. + +"What'd she say, Fuz?" asked the red squirrel. + +"All right, I can go, Chat. But I've got to be careful." + +As the white rabbit hopped away through the bushes and he glided along +beside her, Chatter Chuk laughed. + +"Your people are always careful, Fuz," said he. "That's why you see so +little of the world, and lose all the fun in life." + +"I know," replied Fuzzy, a little ashamed. "Father is always singing +this song to me: + + "Little Bunny, + Don't get funny; + Run along and mind your eye; + It's the habit + Of a rabbit + To be diffident and shy." + +"We squirrels are different," said Chatter Chuk, proudly. "We are always +taught this song: + + "Squirrel red, + Go ahead! + See the world, so bright and gay. + For a rover + May discover + All that happens day by day." + +"Oh, if I could run up a tree, _I_ shouldn't be afraid, either," +remarked Fuzzy Wuz. "Even Juggerjook couldn't frighten me then." + +"Kernels and shucks! Juggerjook!" cried Chatter Chuk, scornfully. "Who +cares for him?" + +"Don't you fear him?" asked Fuzzy Wuz, curiously. + +"Of course not," said the squirrel. "My people often go to his den and +leave nuts there." + +"Why, if you make presents to Juggerjook, of course he won't hurt you," +returned the rabbit. "All the beasts carry presents to his den, so he +will protect them from their enemies. The bears kill wolves and carry +them to Juggerjook to eat; and the wolves kill foxes and carry them to +Juggerjook, and the foxes kill rabbits for him. But we rabbits do not +kill animals, so we cannot take Juggerjook anything to eat except roots +and clover; and he doesn't care much for those. So we are careful to +keep away from his den." + +"Have you ever seen him or the place where he lives?" asked the +squirrel. + +"No," replied Fuzzy Wuz. + +"Suppose we go there now?" + +"Oh, no! Mother said--" + +"There's nothing to be afraid of. I've looked at the den often from the +trees near by," said Chatter Chuk. "I can lead you to the edge of the +bushes close to his den, and he'll never know we are near." + +"Mother says Juggerjook knows everything that goes on in the forest," +declared the rabbit, gravely. + +"Your mother's a 'fraid-cat and trembles when a twig cracks," said +Chatter, with a careless laugh. "Why don't you have a little spirit of +your own, Fuzzy, and be independent?" + +Fuzzy Wuz was quite young, and ashamed of being thought shy, so she +said: + +"All right, Chat. Let's go take a peep at Juggerjook's den." + +"We're near it, now," announced the squirrel. "Come this way; and go +softly, Fuzzy Wuz, because Juggerjook has sharp ears." + +They crept along through the bushes some distance after that, but did +not speak except in whispers. Fuzzy knew it was a bold thing to do. They +had nothing to carry to the terrible Juggerjook, and it was known that +he always punished those who came to his den without making him +presents. But the rabbit relied upon Chatter Chuk's promise that the +tyrant of the forest would never know they had been near him. Juggerjook +was considered a great magician, to be sure, yet Chatter Chuk was not +afraid of him. So why should Fuzzy Wuz fear anything? + +The red squirrel ran ahead, so cautiously that he made not a sound in +the underbrush; and he skilfully picked the way so that the fat white +rabbit could follow him. Presently he stopped short and whispered to his +companion: + +"Put your head through those leaves, and you will see Juggerjook's den." + +Fuzzy Wuz obeyed. There was a wide clearing beyond the bushes, and at +the farther side was a great rock with a deep cave in it. All around the +clearing were scattered the bones and skulls of animals, bleached white +by the sun. Just in front of the cave was quite a big heap of bones, and +the rabbit shuddered as she thought of all the many creatures Juggerjook +must have eaten in his time. What a fierce appetite the great magician +must have! + +The sight made the timid rabbit sick and faint. She drew back and hopped +away through the bushes without heeding the crackling twigs or the +whispered cautions of Chatter Chuk, who was now badly frightened +himself. + +When they had withdrawn to a safe distance the squirrel said peevishly: + +"Oh, you foolish thing! Why did you make such a noise and racket?" + +"Did I?" asked Fuzzy Wuz, simply. + +"Indeed you did. And I warned you to be silent." + +"But it's all right now. We're safe from Juggerjook here," she said. + +"I'm not sure of that," remarked the squirrel, uneasily. "One is never +safe from punishment if he is discovered breaking the law. I hope the +magician was asleep and did not hear us." + +"I hope so, too," added the rabbit; and then they ran along at more +ease, rambling through the forest paths and enjoying the fragrance of +the woods and the lights and shadows cast by the sun as it peeped +through the trees. + +Once in a while they would pause while Fuzzy Wuz nibbled a green leaf or +Chatter Chuk cracked a fallen nut in his strong teeth, to see if it was +sound and sweet. + +"It seems funny for me to be on the ground so long," he said. "But I +invited you to walk with me, and of course a rabbit can't run up a tree +and leap from limb to limb, as my people do." + +"That is true," admitted Fuzzy; "nor can squirrels burrow in the ground, +as rabbits do." + +"They have no need to," declared the squirrel. "We find a hollow tree, +and with our sharp teeth gnaw a hole through the shell and find a warm, +dry home inside." + +"I'm glad you do," remarked Fuzzy. "If all the animals burrowed in the +ground there would not be room for us to hide from each other." + +Chatter laughed at this. + +"The shadows are getting long," he said. "If you wish to be home before +sunset, we must start back." + +"Wait a minute!" cried the rabbit, sitting up and sniffing the air. "I +smell carrots!" + +"Never mind," said the squirrel. + +"Never mind carrots? Oh, Chatter Chuk! You don't know how good they +are." + +"Well, we haven't any time to find them," he replied. "For my part, I +could run home in five minutes, but you are so clumsy it will take you +an hour. Where are you going now?" + +"Just over here," said Fuzzy Wuz. "Those carrots can't be far off." + +The squirrel followed, scolding a little because to him carrots meant +nothing especially good to eat. And there, just beside the path, was an +old coverless box raised on a peg, and underneath it a bunch of juicy, +fat, yellow carrots. + +There was room under the box for Fuzzy Wuz to creep in and get the +carrots, and this she promptly did, while Chatter Chuk stood on his hind +legs a short distance away and impatiently waited. But when the white +rabbit nibbled the carrots, the motion pulled a string which jerked out +the peg that held up the box, and behold, Fuzzy Wuz was a prisoner! + +She squealed with fear and scratched at the sides of the box in a vain +endeavor to find a way to escape; but escape was impossible unless some +one lifted the box. The red squirrel had seen the whole mishap, and +chattered angrily from outside at the plight of his captured friend. The +white rabbit thought he must be far away, because the box shut out so +much the sound of his voice. + +"Juggerjook must have heard us, and this is part of his revenge," said +the squirrel. "Oh, dear! Oh, dear! I wonder what the great magician will +do to _me_." + +He was so terrified by this thought that Chatter Chuk took flight and +darted home at his best speed. He lived in a tree very near to the +burrow where Mrs. Wuz resided, but the squirrel did not go near the +rabbit-burrow. The sun was already sinking in the west, so he ran into +his nest and pretended to sleep when his mother asked him where he had +been so late. + + [Illustration: "THEY HOPPED THROUGH THE BUSHES."] + +All night Mrs. Wuz waited for Fuzzy, and it was an anxious and sleepless +night for the poor mother, as you may well believe. Fuzzy was her one +darling, several other children having been taken from her in various +ways soon after their birth. Mr. Wuz had gone to attend a meeting of the +Rabbits' Protective Association and might be absent for several days; so +he was not there to help or counsel her. + + [Illustration: "'I SMELL CARROTS!'"] + +When daybreak came, the mother rabbit ran to the foot of the squirrels' +tree and called: + +"Chatter Chuk! Chatter Chuk! Where is my Fuzzy Wuz? Where is my darling +child?" + +Chatter Chuk was too frightened to answer until his mother made him. +Then he ran down to the lowest limb of the tree and sat there while he +talked. + +"We went walking," he said, "and Fuzzy found some carrots under a box +that was propped up with a peg. I told her not to eat them; but she did, +and the peg fell out and made her a prisoner." + +You see, he did not mention Juggerjook at all, yet he knew the magician +was at the bottom of all the trouble. + +But Mrs. Wuz knew rabbit-traps quite well, being old and experienced; so +she begged the red squirrel to come at once and show her the place where +Fuzzy had been caught. + +"There isn't a moment to lose," she said, "for the trappers will be out +early this morning to see what they have captured in their trap." + +Chatter Chuk was afraid to go, having a guilty conscience; but his +mother made him. He led the way timidly, but swiftly, and Mrs. Wuz +fairly flew over the ground, so anxious was she to rescue her darling. + +The box was in the same place yet, and poor Fuzzy Wuz could be heard +moaning feebly inside it. + +"Courage, my darling!" cried the mother, "I have come to save you." + +First she tried to move the box, but it was too heavy for her to stir. +Then she began scratching away the earth at its edge, only to find that +it had been placed upon a big, flat stone, to prevent a rabbit from +burrowing out. + + [Illustration: "FUZZY CREPT UNDER THE BOX."] + +This discovery almost drove her frantic, until she noticed Chatter Chuk, +who stood trembling near by. + +"Here!" she called; "it was you who led my child into trouble. Now you +must get her out." + +"How?" asked the red squirrel. + +"Gnaw a hole in that box--quick! Gnaw faster than you ever did before in +your life. See! the box is thinnest at this side. Set to work at once, +Chatter Chuk!" + +The red squirrel obeyed. The idea of saving his friend was as welcome to +him as it was to the distracted mother. He was young, and his teeth were +as sharp as needles. So he started at the lower edge and chewed the wood +with all his strength and skill, and at every bite the splinters came +away. + +It was a good idea. Mrs. Wuz watched him anxiously. If only the men +would keep away for a time, the squirrel could make a hole big enough +for Fuzzy Wuz to escape. She crept around the other side of the box and +called to the prisoner: "Courage, dear one! We are trying to save you. +But if the men come before Chatter Chuk can make a hole big enough, +then, as soon as they raise the box, you must make a dash for the +bushes. Run before they can put in their hands to seize you. Do you +understand?" + +"Yes, Mother," replied Fuzzy, but her voice wasn't heard very plainly, +because the squirrel was making so much noise chewing the wood. + +Presently Chatter Chuk stopped. + +"It makes my teeth ache," he complained. + +"Never mind, let them ache," replied Mrs. Wuz. "If you stop now, Fuzzy +will die; and if she dies, I will go to Juggerjook and tell him how you +led my child into trouble." + +The thought of Juggerjook made the frightened squirrel redouble his +efforts. He forgot the pain in his teeth and gnawed as no other +squirrel had ever gnawed before. The ground was covered with tiny +splinters from the box, and now the hole was big enough for the prisoner +to put the end of her nose through and beg him to hurry. + +Chatter Chuk was intent on his task, and the mother was intent upon +watching him, so neither noticed any one approaching, until a net fell +over their heads, and a big voice cried, with a boisterous laugh: + +"Caught! and neat as a pin, too!" + +Chatter Chuk and Mrs. Wuz struggled in the net with all their might, but +it was fast around them, and they were helpless to escape. Fuzzy stuck +her nose out of the hole in the box to find out what was the matter, and +a sweet, childish voice exclaimed: "There's another in the trap, Daddy!" + +Neither the rabbits nor the squirrel understood this strange language; +but all realized they were in the power of dreadful Man and gave +themselves up for lost. + +Fuzzy made a dash the moment the box was raised; but the trapper knew +the tricks of rabbits, so the prisoner only dashed into the same net +where her mother and Chatter Chuk were confined. + +"Three of them! Two rabbits and a squirrel. That's quite a haul, +Charlie," said the man. + + [Illustration: "'WHERE IS MY CHILD?'"] + +The little boy was examining the box. + +"Do rabbits gnaw through wood, Father?" he asked. + +"No, my son," was the reply. + +"But there is a hole here. And see! There are the splinters upon the +ground." + +The man examined the box in turn, somewhat curiously. + +"How strange!" he said. "These are marks of the squirrel's teeth. Now, I +wonder if the squirrel was trying to liberate the rabbit." + +"Looks like it, Daddy; doesn't it?" replied the boy. + +"I never heard of such a thing in my life," declared the man. "These +little creatures often display more wisdom than we give them credit for. +But how can we explain this curious freak, Charlie?" + +The boy sat down upon the box and looked thoughtfully at the three +prisoners in the net. They had ceased to struggle, having given way to +despair; but the boy could see their little hearts beating fast through +their furry skins. + +"This is the way it looks to me, Daddy," he finally said. "We caught the +small rabbit in the box, and the big one must be its mother. When she +found her baby was caught, she tried to save it, and she began to burrow +under the box, for here is the mark of her paws. But she soon saw the +flat stone, and gave up." + +"Yes; that seems reasonable," said the man. + +"But she loved her baby," continued the boy, gazing at the little +creatures pitifully, "and thought of another way. The red squirrel was a +friend of hers, so she ran and found him, and asked him to help her. He +did, and tried to gnaw through the box; but we came too soon and +captured them with the net because they were so busy they didn't notice +us." + +"Exactly!" cried the man, with a laugh. "That tells the story very +plainly, my son, and I see you are fast learning the ways of animals. +But how intelligent these little things are!" + +"That's what _my_ mother would do," returned the boy. "She'd try to save +me; and that's just what the mother rabbit did." + +"Well, we must be going," said the man; and as he started away he picked +up the net and swung it over his shoulder. The prisoners struggled madly +again, and the boy, who walked along the forest path a few steps behind +his father, watched them. + + [Illustration: "THE PRISONERS SCAMPERED AWAY."] + +"Daddy," he said softly, coming to the man's side, "I don't want to keep +those rabbits." + +"Oh, they'll make us a good dinner," was the reply. + +"I--I couldn't eat 'em for dinner, Daddy. Not the mama rabbit and the +little one she tried to save. Nor the dear little squirrel that wanted +to help them. Let's--let's--let 'em go!" + +The man stopped short and turned to look with a smile into the boy's +upturned, eager face. + +"What will Mama say when we go back without any dinner?" he asked. + +"You know, Daddy. She'll say a good deed is better than a good dinner." + +The man laid a caressing hand on the curly head and handed his son the +net. Charlie's face beamed with joy. He opened wide the net and watched +the prisoners gasp with surprise, bound out of the meshes, and scamper +away into the bushes. + +Then the boy put his small hand in his father's big one, and together +they walked silently along the path. + + * * * + +"All the same," said Chatter Chuk to himself, as, snug at home, he +trembled at the thought of his late peril, "I shall keep away from old +Juggerjook after this. I am very sure of that!" + +"Mama," said Fuzzy Wuz, nestling beside her mother in the burrow, "why +do you suppose the fierce Men let us go?" + +"I cannot tell, my dear," was the reply. "Men are curious creatures, and +often act with more wisdom than we give them credit for." + + + [Illustration: "What you burying, a bone?" + "Nop, interning a muzzle."] + + +THE LITTLE GRAY KITTEN + +BY MARY LAWRENCE TURNBULL + +Once upon a time there was a little gray kitten, who had wandered far +away from home. At first she liked all the strange sights she saw, but +by and by she began to feel very homesick, and wished she was once more +cuddled up with her brothers and sisters. + +Now the only word this little gray kitten knew was "Mew, mew!" So when +she was lonely she would say "Mew;" when she was hungry, "Mew;" when she +was cold or tired, glad or sad, it was always "Mew." At home they knew +what she meant when she said "Mew," but out in the wide, wide world, +nobody seemed to know. + +Wandering along the street, she came upon a little squirming earthworm. +"Mew," said she, meaning, "Where is my home?" + +The earthworm, however, did not notice little gray kitten, but crawled +away across the street. + +Next, the little gray kitten met a butterfly on the top of a dandelion. +"Mew," said the little gray kitten, meaning, "Can you tell me where my +home is?" But the butterfly did not say anything, and flew away. + + [Illustration: "SHE CAME UPON A LITTLE EARTHWORM."] + + [Illustration: "THE BUTTERFLY FLEW AWAY."] + + [Illustration: MISCHIEF + FROM AN ENGRAVING OF THE PAINTING BY FRED MORGAN.] + + [Illustration: "THEN SHE SPIED A ROBIN."] + + [Illustration: "SOON SHE MET A BIG RED COW."] + +The little gray kitten walked on, and then she spied a robin on a stone +wall near-by. "Mew," said the little gray kitten, "Where is my home?" + +But the robin, cocking his head on one side, answered, "Chirp, chirp," +and then spreading his wings, flew away. + + [Illustration: "RUNNING ALONG SHE CAME UP TO A BIG BLACK DOG."] + +She felt very sad indeed, but running along she came up to a big black +dog. "Mew, mew!" said the little gray kitten, "Oh, can you not tell me +where my home is?" + +But the big black dog shook his tail, and barked "Bow-wow, +bow-wow-wow-wow!" so loudly that the little gray kitten ran away from +him as fast as she could go. + +The little gray kitten was very tired, but she still ran on, and soon +met a big red cow. "Mew, mew-ew," said the little gray kitten, "Can you +not tell me where my home is?" + + [Illustration: "'OH, YOU DEAR FLUFFY GRAY BALL,' SAID THE LITTLE GIRL."] + +The big red cow, however, hardly looking at the little kitten, stretched +out her big head, and shouted, "Moo, moo-oo!" which so frightened the +little gray kitten that she jumped over a fence and landed right in the +middle of a flower-bed. + +There she caught sight of a little girl running up to her, and with such +a sweet smile on her face that the little gray kitten ran toward her and +said once more, "Mew, do _you_ know where my home is?" + +"Oh, you dear fluffy gray ball!" said the smiling little girl, catching +the kitten up in her arms. "I'm going to take you right home to live +with me." + +The little girl was the only one who had understood, and the little gray +kitten purred softly. She was happy for she had found a home. + + +PUSSY'S WHEELS + +BY ANNIE W. McCULLOUGH + + I wonder what you're thinking of, my darling little cat. + It may be meat, it may be cream, that makes you nice and fat; + It may be all the fun you have in barn-loft warm and dry; + It may be mice you try to catch as by their hole you lie. + + Perhaps you think of trees to climb, with birds that sing up there, + They always get away from you, although you creep with care. + Perhaps you think of warm, green grass, and basking in the sun, + Or of your ball, that slides so fast as after it you run. + + I hope you think of me, sometimes, because I love you well; + I hope you love me back again, although you cannot tell; + And how I know you're thinking (it's a secret that I've found), + Is 'cause I hear, close to my ear, your thought-wheels going round. + + +THE SMALL GRAY MOUSE + +BY NATHAN HASKELL DOLE + + The small gray Mouse ran East + And the small gray Mouse ran West + And could not tell in the least + Which way was best. + + The small gray Mouse ran North + And the small gray Mouse ran South + And scurried back and forth + To escape the Kitten's dreadful teeth-lined mouth! + + But Kitty thought it precious fun + To see the panting Mousie run, + And when it almost got away + Her furry paw upon its back would lay. + + But Kitty grew too vain and sure; + She thought she had the Mouse secure; + She turned her head, she shut her eyes. + That was not wise, + And ere she knew + The gray Mouse up the chimney flew, + Where dainty cats could not pursue. + So she had nothing else to do + But miew--oo--oo--! + + + [Illustration: "YOU MAKE SO MUCH NOISE I CAN'T SLEEP!" + FROM THE PAINTING BY J. H. DOLPH.] + + +THE RABBIT, THE TURTLE, AND THE OWL + +The little girl and the little boy stood in the corn-field near the +hollow tree where the Owl lived. The corn was in shocks like wigwams, +and the yellow pumpkins lay on the ground. The Turtle came up from the +brook below the corn-field, and stuck his head out of his shell to +watch. The Rabbit sat on the edge of the slope, with his ears sticking +straight up, to listen. + +The sleepy Owl stirred behind his knot-hole. + +"Don't you think," said the little boy, "that the Rabbit--" + +"And the Turtle--" said the little girl. + +"And the Owl," went on the little boy, "should have a Thanksgiving +dinner?" + +"Yes, a good dinner," replied the little girl, "right here in the +corn-field." + +"We could have a pumpkin table," said the little boy. + +"And pumpkin chairs," said the little girl. + +So, as Thanksgiving was that very day, and there was no time to lose, +they began to work. They found a fine, big, flat-topped pumpkin, and +placed it for a table at the foot of the Owl's tree. Then they found +three little pumpkins for stools. + +"They won't want to eat until night," said the little boy. + +"No," said the little girl; "the Owl and the Turtle and the Rabbit, +too,--they like dinner at night." + +"We will lay everything out for them before we go to Grandmother's," +said the little boy, "and when we come home, we can see all eating their +good Thanksgiving dinner." + +The little boy ran and brought parsley and cabbage leaves for the +Rabbit; and when the Rabbit saw that, he trotted home in a hurry, for +fear he might be tempted to eat before it was time. + +The little girl brought a fine big mushroom for the Turtle, for she had +once seen a turtle nibble all around the edge of a mushroom. + +"The Owl will have to bring his own dinner," said the little boy, "but I +will get him a piece of bread to eat with it." So he did. + +That night the little girl and boy drove home by moonlight from their +grandmother's farm. When they were in their own room they looked out of +the window toward the corn-field. They saw the corn-shocks, like +wigwams, with black shadows. They saw the tree dark against the sky. +They saw the big round yellow moon rising above the ridge of the field. +They saw the pumpkin table and pumpkin chairs. They saw, sitting on one +chair, the Rabbit, with his ears sticking straight up as he ate his +parsley and cabbage. They saw the Turtle, stretching his head out of his +shell as he nibbled his mushroom. They saw the Owl on his chair, eating +the dinner he had brought. "Oh, isn't it beautiful!" said the little +girl. "Beautiful!" said the little boy. + + +HOMES + +BY ANNIE WILLIS McCULLOUGH + + My bunnies like their cozy house, although they scamper out to play; + My chickens like the slatted coop where all the mother hens must stay. + My kitten likes her basket bed out in the woodshed near our door, + My puppy loves his cellar box; he sleeps and plays, then sleeps + some more. + + But _I_ have got the nicest home. My house is better far than theirs; + Its windows let the sunshine in; it has a porch, it has some stairs. + But I like best the kitchen warm, with table, stove, and pantry neat; + The place where Dinah works, and makes good things for us to eat! + + + [Illustration: Bill of Fare + + Fish Perch + Entree Bread + Vegetables Corn + Carrots + Tomatoes + Dessert Watermelon + Apples.] + + [Illustration: Here comes our dinner!] + + [Illustration: A Shower of good things.] + + [Illustration: MEAL-TIME IN THE BEAR-PITS AT THE ZOO.] + + A Glutton. + + + [Illustration: "FULL INSIDE." + FROM AN ENGRAVING OF THE PAINTING BY ARTHUR J. ELSLEY.] + + +THE FINE GOOD SHOW + +BY JESSIE WRIGHT WHITCOMB + + [Illustration: "'GOOD MORNING, COW, COME AND TAKE A WALK WITH US.'"] + +A little girl and a little boy started down the road together to take a +walk. They met a dog. + +"Good morning, Dog," said the little girl. "Bow-wow!" answered the dog. + +"Come and take a walk with us, Dog," said the little boy. + +So they all went down the road together. + +Pretty soon they met a cat. + +"Good morning, Cat," said the little boy. "Miaouw!" answered the cat. + +"Come and take a walk with us, Cat," said the little girl. So they all +went down the road together. + +Pretty soon they met a rooster. + +"Good morning, Rooster," said the little girl. "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" +answered the rooster. + +"Come and take a walk with us, Rooster," said the little boy. + +So they all went down the road together. + +Pretty soon they met a duck. + +"Good morning, Duck," said the little boy. "Quack, quack!" answered the +duck. + +"Come and take a walk with us, Duck," said the little girl. + +So they all went down the road talking merrily with one another. + +Pretty soon they saw a little pinky-white pig with a funny little curly +tail. + + [Illustration: "'GOOD MORNING, DUCK, COME AND TAKE A WALK WITH US.'"] + +"Good morning, Pig," said the little girl. "Grunt, grunt!" answered the +pig. + +"Come and take a walk with us, Pig," said the little boy. + +So they all went down the road together. + +Pretty soon they came to a pasture. + +In the pasture was a nice, old, red cow. + +"Good morning, Cow," said the little boy. "Moo, moo!" answered the cow. + +"Come and take a walk with us," said the little girl. + +But the cow shook her head; she couldn't open the pasture bars. + +"We will let down the bars for you, Cow," said the little boy and the +little girl. + +So they let down the bars, and the dog, and the cat, and the rooster, +and the duck, and the little white pig with the curly tail, and the +little boy, and the little girl, all went in to see the cow. + +The little girl climbed on the cow's back, and the little boy climbed on +the cow's back, and the dog jumped on the cow's back, and the cat jumped +on the cow's neck, and the rooster flew up on the cow's head, and the +little white pig with the curly tail, and the duck, walked behind the +cow, and they all went down the road together just as happy as they +could be. + + [Illustration: "'GOOD MORNING, PIG, COME AND TAKE A WALK WITH US.'"] + +Pretty soon they met a carriage with two women in it. + +"Mercy on me!" said the two women. "What's this!" + +"This is a fine, good show," answered the little girl. + +"Well, I should think it was!" said the two women. "It is a beautiful +show." + +"Thank you," said the little boy. + +"Good-by," said the two women. + +"Good-by," said the little girl. + +So the cow, carrying the little boy, and the little girl, and the dog, +and the cat, and the rooster, with the little white pig with the curly +tail, and the duck, walking along behind, all went down the road +together. + +Pretty soon they met a wagon with three men in it. + +"Well! Well! Well!" said the three men. "Just look! What's all this?" + +"This is a fine, good show," said the little boy, bowing very politely. + +"Indeed it is!" said the three men. "It's great!" + +"Thank you," said the little boy, "I am pleased that you like it." + +"Good-by," said the little girl. + +So the cow, carrying the little girl, and the little boy, and the dog, +and the cat, and the rooster, with the little white pig with the curly +tail, and the duck, walking behind, all went down the road together. + + [Illustration: THE FINE, GOOD SHOW.] + +Pretty soon they came to a store. The Store Man stood out in front of +his store. + +"Good morning, Mr. Store Man," said the little boy, "I have a little +silver piece in my pocket." + +"Good morning!" said the Store Man. "What can I do for you?" + +"We want to buy some things for our Show," said the little boy. + +"I'm glad of that!" said the Store Man. + +So the little boy jumped down, and the little girl jumped down, and the +dog jumped down, and the cat jumped down, and the rooster flew down. + +"We want to buy a little corn for our cow and our pig," said the little +boy. + +"And we want to buy a little wheat for our rooster and our duck," said +the little girl. + +"And we want to buy a little meat for our dog," said the little boy. + +"And we want to buy a little milk for our cat," said the little girl. + +"And we want to buy some great, long sticks of candy for us!" said the +little boy and the little girl together. "I hope you have some." + +The Store Man took the money and brought out all the things. + + [Illustration: "THE STORE MAN BROUGHT OUT ALL THE THINGS."] + +The cow and the little white pig with the curly tail ate the corn; the +rooster and the duck ate the wheat; the dog ate the meat, and the cat +drank the milk, and the little girl and the little boy ate the great, +long sticks of candy. + +"Good-by, Mr. Store Man," said the little girl. + +"Good-by, Mr. Store Man," said the little boy. + +"Good-by, all of you," answered the Store Man. + +So the little girl, and the little boy, and the dog, and the cat, and +the rooster, and the duck, and the little pig with the curly tail, all +went back up the road again. + +Pretty soon they came to the pasture. The cow walked in. + +"Good-by, Cow and Dog and Cat and Rooster and Duck and Pig!" shouted the +little boy. + +"Good-by, Pig and Duck and Rooster and Cat and Dog and Cow!" called the +little girl. + +"Moo-moo!" answered the cow. + +"Grunt-grunt!" answered the pig. + +"Miaouw, miaouw!" answered the cat. + +"Quack, quack!" answered the duck. + +"Cock-a-doodle-doo!" answered the rooster. "Bow-wow!" answered the dog. + +And the little boy and the little girl put up the bars and ran back home +as fast as they could go. + + _Jessie Wright Whitcomb._ + + [Illustration: "THE LITTLE BOY AND THE LITTLE GIRL PUT UP THE BARS."] + + +GAY AND SPY + +(_A Rhyming Story for Little Folk_) + + One beautiful day in the month of May, + A little girl whose name was Gay + (They called her that, because, you see, + She was always cheerful as she could be) + Went for a walk in the woods near by, + And her dog went with her (his name was Spy). + + As they strolled along a fine woodland path + She saw a little bird taking a bath. + She kept very still and watched him splash, + When all at once, with a sudden dash, + Into the brook jumped little dog Spy. + My, how he made the water fly! + "What a bad, bad dog you are!" said Gay. + "Birdie won't bathe any more to-day. + You frightened him so, but, never mind, + He's only frightened, not hurt, he'll find. + We'll walk on further and you must try + To be good and quiet." + "_Bow-wow!_" said Spy. + + [Illustration: "INTO THE BROOK JUMPED LITTLE DOG SPY."] + + They had only walked on a little way, + When something rustled: "What's that?" said Gay. + Out from the leaves sprang a squirrel red + And sped like a flash down the path ahead. + Close behind him was little dog Spy. + He paid no heed to the little girl's cry. + + [Illustration: "'YOU'RE YOUNG,' SAID GAY, 'AND IS THAT WHY YOU + ACT SO SILLY?'"] + + She whistled and called; they were out of sight. + She waited a moment, then laughed outright. + For who was this coming? Why, little dog Spy! + But he didn't look happy--with head held high-- + Indeed, he looked rather ashamed instead + For he hadn't caught the squirrel red. + Spy couldn't climb trees, and so, you see, + Master Squirrel escaped quite easily. + "You're young," said Gay, "and is that why + You act so silly?" + "_Bow-wow!_" said Spy. + + "I'm tired of walking," the little girl said, + "I think I will pick some flowers instead. + I will take them home to my Grandma, dear; + She loves them but she can't walk out here." + There were plenty of flowers all around. + Sweet white violets covered the ground. + There were lovely long-stemmed blue ones, too, + And all around the May-flowers grew. + But when she had all her hands would hold, + It was time to leave, it was growing cold. + The sun was sinking. But where was Spy? + She whistled and called,--but no reply! + "Where can he be?" she said, when hark! + Off in the distance she heard him bark. + "He must have a rabbit," said she, "that's all." + And sure enough, by an old stone-wall, + Spy was barking away as hard as he could-- + As if scaring the rabbit would do any good. + "The rabbit is safe in that wall," said Gay, + "He wouldn't come out if you barked all day. + So you better come home for it's growing late. + And Mother will wonder why I wait. + Supper'll be ready, too. Oh, my! + Are you hungry as I am?" + "_Bow-wow!_" said Spy. + + + [Illustration: "I'SE BIGGEST!" + FROM AN ENGRAVING OF THE PAINTING BY ARTHUR J. ELSLEY.] + + +The Ballad of a runaway Donkey: + +by Emilie Poulsson: + +here shadow'd forth in divers pictures by Alfred Brenon. + + A sturdy little Donkey, + All dressed in sober gray, + Once took it in his long-eared head + That he would run away. + + 2 So, when a little open + He saw the sable door, + He ran as if he never would + Come back there any more. + + 3 Away that Donkey galloped + And ran and ran and ran + And ran and ran and ran and ran + And Ran and RAn and RAN! + + 4 Behind him ran the Children, + The Groom and Coachman, too; + The Farmer and the farmer's man, + To see what they could do. + + 5 Some carried whips to whip him, + Some, oats to coax him near, + Some called "Come here you foolish beast!" + And some, "Come, Barney, dear." + + 6 But not a whit cared Barney + For cross or coaxing word; + And clatter, clatter, clatter still, + His little hoofs were heard. + + 7 And all across the meadow, + And up and o'er the hill, + And through the woods and down the dale + He galloped with a will. + + 8 And into every hayfield + And through the swamp and mire + Still Barney ran and ran and ran + As if he'd never tire! + + 9 His chasers all stopped running, + Then meek as any lamb + Did Barney stand as if to say, + "Come catch me! here I am." + + 10 But when one of them started, + Then Barney started, too; + As if the chase had just begun + Away he swiftly flew. + + 11 But there's an end to all things, + And so, (the stupid elf) + When no one else could capture him + This donkey caught himself. + + 12 For, running in the barn-yard, + He did not calculate + What consequences would befall, + And hit the swinging gate. + + 13 It quickly swung together, + Down dropped the iron latch + O, Barney Gray! to think that you + The runaway should catch! + + 14 The Children danced with pleasure, + The Groom roared with delight, + The Others smiled their broadest smiles + Or laughed with all their might. + + 15 But Barney, naughty Barney, + Had mischief in him still + For when the laughing Coachman tried + To lead him up the hill + + 16 His donkeyship determined + That he would yet have fun + So braced himself and stood stock still + As if he weighed a ton! + + 17 But mighty was the Coachman + And pulled with such a will + That Barney soon was being dragged + Full roughly up the hill. + + 18 "Well, well!" at last thought Barney + "The Coachman is so strong + I might as well be good just now," + And so he walked along. + + 19 And when he reached the stable + And stood within the stall, + You'd scarce believe so meek a beast + Could run away, at all! + + 20 Now all the meditations + Of this same Barney Gray + Are only of some future chance + When he may run away. + + +THE THREE BEARS[M] + +Once upon a time there were three bears who lived in a castle in a great +wood. One of them was a great big bear, and one was a middling bear, and +one was a little bear. And in the same wood there was a fox who lived +all alone; his name was Scrapefoot. Scrapefoot was very much afraid of +the bears, but for all that he wanted very much to know all about them. +And one day as he went through the wood he found himself near the Bears' +Castle, and he wondered whether he could get into the castle. He looked +all about him everywhere, and he could not see any one. So he came up +very quietly, till at last he came up to the door of the castle, and he +tried whether he could open it. Yes! the door was not locked, and he +opened it just a little way, and put his nose in and looked, and he +could not see any one. So then he opened it a little way farther, and +put one paw in, and then another paw, and another and another, and then +he was all in the Bears' Castle. He found he was in a great hall with +three chairs in it--one big, one middling, and one little chair; and he +thought he would like to sit down and rest and look about him; so he sat +down on the big chair. But he found it so hard and uncomfortable that it +made his bones ache, and he jumped down at once and got into the +middling chair, and he turned round and round in it, but he couldn't +make himself comfortable. So then he went to the little chair and sat +down in it, and it was so soft and warm and comfortable that Scrapefoot +was quite happy; but all at once it broke to pieces under him and he +couldn't put it together again! So he got up and began to look about him +again, and on one table he saw three saucers, of which one was very big, +one was middling, one was quite a little saucer. Scrapefoot was very +thirsty, and he began to drink out of the big saucer. But he only just +tasted the milk in the big saucer, which was so sour and so nasty that +he would not taste another drop of it. Then he tried the middling +saucer, and he drank a little of that. He tried two or three mouthfuls, +but it was not nice, and then he left it and went to the little saucer, +and the milk in the little saucer was so sweet and so nice that he went +on drinking it till it was all gone. + +Then Scrapefoot thought he would like to go upstairs; and he listened +and he could not hear any one. So upstairs he went, and he found a great +room with three beds in it; one was a big bed, and one was a middling +bed, and one was a little white bed; and he climbed up into the big bed, +but it was so hard and lumpy and uncomfortable that he jumped down again +at once, and tried the middling bed. That was rather better, but he +could not get comfortable in it, so after turning about a little while +he got up and went to the little bed; and that was so soft and so warm +and so nice that he fell fast asleep at once. + +And after a time the Bears came home, and when they got into the hall +the big Bear went to his chair and said, "Who's been sitting in my +chair?" and the middling Bear said, "Who's been sitting in my chair?" +and the little Bear said, "Who's been sitting in my chair and has broken +it all to pieces?" And then they went to have their milk, and the big +bear said, "Who's been drinking my milk?" and the middling Bear said, +"Who's been drinking my milk?" And the little Bear said, "Who's been +drinking my milk and has drunk it all up?" Then they went upstairs and +into the bedroom, and the big Bear said, "Who's been sleeping in my +bed?" and the middling Bear said, "Who's been sleeping in my bed?" and +the little Bear said, "Who's been sleeping in my bed?--and see here he +is!" So then the Bears came and wondered what they should do with him; +and the big Bear said, "Let's hang him!" and then the middling Bear +said, "Let's drown him!" and then the little Bear said, "Let's throw him +out of the window." And then the Bears took him to the window, and the +big Bear took two legs on one side and the middling Bear took two legs +on the other side, and they swung him backwards and forwards, backwards +and forwards, and out of the window. Poor Scrapefoot was so frightened, +and he thought every bone in his body must be broken. But he got up and +first shook one leg--no, that was not broken; and then another, and that +was not broken; and another and another, and then he wagged his tail and +found there were no bones broken. So then he galloped off home as fast +as he could go, and never went near the Bears' Castle again. + + [M] From "More English Fairy Tales," edited by Joseph Jacobs. Used by + permission of the publishers, G. P. Putnam's Sons. + + +THE LITTLE BEAR'S STORY + +BY C. F. HOLDER + +"Yes," the little bear cub would say, "that is my picture. I am a native +of the State of California. I don't remember distinctly where I was +born, but it was up in the Sierras, where the snow lies in great banks, +and the giant trees stand like sentinels, and where you might travel for +days and weeks and meet no one but bears. + +"The first thing I recollect was finding myself in a big burrow covered +with snow, then my mother broke the way out and led us (I had a brother) +down the mountain. We soon left the snow; and I remember one day, at +sunset, we stood on an overhanging rock, and my mother showed us the +green valleys and nice dark forests where we could hide, and far off was +the gleaming sea. Mother did not care very much for the water, I think. + +"My mother was hungry, after the long winter fast, and every day took us +lower and lower, until one night she led us into a sheep ranch. Then our +troubles began, for she left us to catch a lamb, and never came back. We +heard all about it afterward. Some ranchers had seen her, and rode out +on horseback to enjoy the cruel sport of 'roping a bear'. As they rode +around her, one threw his lariat about her neck; another caught her +forefoot as she stood up, another her hind leg; and then they dragged +her away to the ranch-house--and so we became orphans. + +"It was not long before the dogs found us, and a man carried me home in +a basket to his wife, who treated me very kindly. I did not like it, but +pretended I did, and ate all I could, always watching and hoping for a +chance to run away to my mountain home. My mistress, however, soon +thought I was too knowing, and put a chain about my neck. Finally, when +I was about four months old, they sent me to a friend in San Francisco. +I shall never forget how people looked at me and laughed when I stood on +my hind legs, as if there was anything laughable in that! But they gave +me sugar and other good things, and I fared well. + +"My new master was a butcher, and most of the time I stayed in his shop. +But some days, when I was very homesick, and longed for my mother, and +the little cub who had been carried off, I did not know where, the +butcher's wife would take me into her room back of the shop, and then I +would go to sleep, cuddled up close upon a rug, with my paws on her +hand, and dream that I was back in my mountain home. + +"One day I heard my master say I was to be pho-to-graphed, and I thought +my time had come. You see, I had never heard the word before. There was +no escape, as I was kept tied, and the next morning my master took me +under his big coat in the cable-cars. I could just peep through one of +the button-holes, and all at once I uttered a loud whine. You should +have seen how the passengers stared at my master, who I know looked +embarrassed, as he gave me a tremendous squeeze. We soon got out, and I +was carried up a flight of stairs, and placed on a table in a room, the +walls of which were covered with pictures of people's faces, all of +which seemed to keep their eyes fixed on me. + +"My master petted me and gave me some sugar, and I began to think that +being photographed was possibly not so bad, after all. Presently a man +came in. He looked very much astonished, and said, 'Why, I thought you +engaged a sitting for "a descendant of one of the early settlers"?' + +"'So I did,' replied my master; 'there it is,' pointing to where I stood +up, blinking with all my might. + +"'Why, it's a cub bear!' exclaimed the man. + +"'Well, it is a relative of some early settlers, all the same,' my +master answered. + +"At this the man smiled good-humoredly, then he went into another room, +while my master petted me and gave me so much sugar that I had the +toothache from it. After a while the man came back and said he was +ready, and I was taken into a room where there was a big thing like a +gun on three legs, with a cloth over it. My master sat down in a chair +and held me in his lap while the man pointed the gun at us. + +"I thought I was to be shot, and tried to get away, and this made the +man so cross that he came out from under the cloth and said he couldn't +do it. Then my master put me up in a child's chair and propped something +tight against my head, at which they both laughed so loud you could have +heard them in the street, and I jumped down. + +"Finally, the man tapped his forehead and said, 'I have it.' He put a +screen before the gun and my master set me on top of it, holding my +chain while the man crept under the cloth. I did not dare move, as I was +astride of the screen, my hind feet hanging in the air. I prepared for +the worst. Then the man came out again, looked at me sharply, and turned +my head a little, telling me to smile, at which my master laughed. The +man next shook a tambourine at me, and as I turned to see what the noise +meant, I heard a _click!_ and just then my master took me down and +carried me home, much to my relief. + +"I wondered what it was all about until one day my master took me on his +knee, and, holding up a card, said, 'Well, here you are!'--and what do +you suppose it was? Nothing more or less than my picture; just as I was +perched astride the screen the day when I thought I was going to be +killed. Here it is": + + [Illustration] + + +THE HARE AND THE HEDGEHOG + +BY THE BROTHERS GRIMM + +This tale, my young readers, will seem to you to be quite false; but +still it must be true, for my Grandfather, who used to tell it to me, +would wind up by saying, "All this is true, my son, else it would never +have been told to me." The tale runs thus:-- + +It was a fine summer's morning, just before harvest-time; the buckwheat +was in flower, and the sun was shining brightly in the heaven above, a +breeze was blowing over the fields, where the larks were singing; and +along the paths the people were going to church dressed in their best. +Every creature seemed contented, even the Hedgehog, who stood before his +door singing as he best could a joyful song in praise of the fine +morning. Indoors, meanwhile, his Wife was washing and drying the +kitchen, before going into the fields for a walk to see how the crops +were getting on. She was such a long while, however, about her work that +Mr. Hedgehog would wait no longer, and trotted off by himself. He had +not walked any very long distance before he came to a small thicket, +near a field of cabbages, and there he espied a Hare, who he guessed had +come on a similar errand to himself; namely, to devour a few fine heads. +As soon as Mr. Hedgehog saw the Hare, he wished him a good morning; but +the latter, who was in his way a high-minded creature, turned a fierce +and haughty look upon the Hedgehog, and made no reply to his greeting. +He asked, instead, in a very majestic tone, how he came to be walking +abroad at such an early hour. "I am taking a walk," replied the +Hedgehog. + +"A walk!" repeated the Hare, in an ironical tone, "methinks you might +employ your legs about something better!" + +This answer vexed the Hedgehog most dreadfully, for he could have borne +anything better than to be quizzed about his legs, because they were +naturally short, and from no fault of his own. However, he said to the +Hare, "Well, you need not be so proud, pray, what can you do with those +legs of yours?" "That is my affair," replied the Hare. "I expect, if you +would venture a trial, that I should beat you in a race," said the +Hedgehog. + +"You are laughing! you, with your short legs!" said the Hare +contemptuously. "But still, since you have such a particular wish, I +have no objection to try. What shall the wager be?" + +"A louis d'or," replied the Hedgehog. + +"Done!" said the Hare, "and it may as well come off at once." + +"No! not in such great haste, if you please," said the Hedgehog; "I am +not quite ready yet; I must first go home and freshen up a bit. Within +half-an-hour I will return to this place." + +Thereupon the Hedgehog hurried off, leaving the Hare very merry. On his +way home the former thought to himself, "Mr. Hare is very haughty and +high-minded, but withal he is very stupid, and although he thinks to +beat me with his long legs, I will find a way to defeat him." So, as +soon as the Hedgehog reached home, he told his Wife to dress herself at +once to go into the field with him. + +"What is the matter?" asked his Wife. + +"I have made a wager with the Hare, for a louis d'or, to run a race with +him, and you must be witness." + +"My goodness, man! are you in your senses!" said the Wife, "do you know +what you are about? How can you expect to run so fast as the Hare?" + +"Hold your tongue, Wife; that is my affair. Don't you reason about men's +business. March, and get ready to come with me." + +As soon, then, as the Hedgehog's Wife was ready they set out together; +and on the way he said, "Now attend to what I say. On the long field +yonder we shall decide our bet. The Hare is to run on the one side of +the hedge and I on the other, and so all you have to do is to stop at +one end of the hedge, and then when the Hare arrives on the other side +at the same point, you must call out, 'I am here already.'" + +They soon came to the field, and the Hedgehog stationed himself at one +end of the hedge, and his Wife at the other end; and as soon as they had +taken their places the Hare arrived. "Are you ready to start?" asked the +Hare. "Yes," answered the Hedgehog, and each took his place. "Off once, +off twice, three times and off!" cried the Hare, and ran up the field +like a whirlwind; while the Hedgehog took three steps and then returned +to his place. + +The Hare soon arrived at his goal, as he ran all the way at top speed, +but before he could reach it, the Hedgehog's Wife on the other side +called out, "I am here already!" The Hare was thunderstruck to hear this +said, for he thought it really was his opponent, since there was no +difference in the voices of the Hedgehog and his Wife. "This will not +do!" thought the Hare to himself; but presently he called out, "Once, +twice, and off again;" and away he went as fast as possible, leaving the +Hedgehog quietly sitting in her place. "I am here before you," cried +Mr. Hedgehog, as soon as the Hare approached. "What! again?" exclaimed +the Hare in a rage; and added, "Will you dare another trial!" "Oh! as +many as you like; do not be afraid on my account," said Mr. Hedgehog, +courteously. + +So the Hare then ran backwards and forwards three-and-seventy times, but +each time the Hedgehogs had the advantage of him, for either Mr. or Mrs. +shouted before he could reach the goal, "Here I am already!" + +The four-and-seventieth time the Hare was unable to run any more. In the +middle of the course he stopped and dropped down quite exhausted, and +there he lay motionless for some time. But the Hedgehog took the louis +d'or which he had won, and went composedly home with his Wife. + + +THE WEE ROBIN'S CHRISTMAS SONG + +A SCOTCH STORY, ATTRIBUTED TO ROBERT BURNS + +ADAPTED BY JENNIE ELLIS BURDICK + +There was an old gray Pussy Cat, and she went away down by a brookside. +There she saw a wee Robin Redbreast hopping on a brier bush. + +Says the gray Pussy Cat: "Where are you going, wee Robin?" + +And the wee Robin makes answer: "I'm going away to the King to sing him +a song this glad Christmas morning." + +And the gray Pussy Cat says, "Come here, wee Robin, and I'll let you see +a pretty white ring I have around my neck." + +But the wee Robin says: "No, no! gray Pussy Cat, no, no! You worried the +wee mousie, but you cannot worry me!" + +So the wee Robin flew away until he came to a wall of earth and grass, +and there he saw a gray greedy Hawk sitting. + +And the gray greedy Hawk says: "Where are you going, wee Robin?" + +And the wee Robin makes answer: "I'm going away to the King to sing him +a song this glad Christmas morning." + +And the gray greedy Hawk says: "Come here, wee Robin, and I'll let you +see the bright feather in my wing." + + [Illustration: WEE ROBIN AND THE OLD GRAY PUSSY CAT] + +But wee Robin says: "No, no! gray greedy Hawk, no, no! You pecked the +little Meadowlark, but you cannot peck me!" + +So the wee Robin flew away until he came to a steep, rocky hillside, and +there he saw a sly Fox sitting. And the sly Fox says, "Where are you +going, wee Robin?" + +And the wee Robin makes answer: "I'm going away to the King to sing him +a song this glad Christmas morning." + +And the sly Fox says: "Come here, wee Robin, and I'll let you see the +pretty spot on the tip of my tail." + +But the wee Robin says: "No, no! sly Fox, no, no! You worried the little +Lamb, but you cannot worry me!" + +So the wee Robin flew away until he came to a grassy meadow, and there +he saw a little shepherd boy. + +And the little shepherd says: "Where are you going, wee Robin?" + +And wee Robin makes answer: "I'm going away to the King to sing him a +song this glad Christmas morning." + +And the little shepherd boy says: "Come here, wee Robin, and I'll give +you some crumbs from my lunch." + +But the wee Robin says: "No, no! little shepherd boy, no, no! You caught +the Goldfinch, but you cannot catch me!" + +So the wee Robin flew away till he came to the King; and there he sat on +a plowshare, and sang the King a cheery song. And the King says to the +Queen: "What will we give to the wee Robin for singing us this cheery +song?" + +And the Queen makes answer to the King: "I think we'll give him the wee +Wren to be his wife." + +So the wee Robin and the wee Wren were married, and the King and the +Queen, and all the court danced at the wedding. Then the wee Robin and +the wee Wren flew away home to the wee Robin's own brookside, and hopped +on the brier bush. + + +THE FOX + + The Fox set out in a hungry plight, + And begged the moon to give him light, + For he'd many a mile to travel that night + Before he could reach his den O! + + First he came to a farmer's yard, + Where the ducks and geese declared it was hard + That their nerves should be shaken, and their rest be marred + By a visit from Mr. Fox O! + + He seized the gray goose by the sleeve, + Says he, "Madam Gray Goose, by your leave, + I'll carry you off without reprieve, + And take you away to my den O!" + + He seized the gray duck by the neck, + And flung her over across his back, + While the old duck cried out, "Quack, quack, quack," + With her legs dangling down behind O! + + Then old Mrs. Flipper Flapper jumped out of bed, + And out of the window she popped her head, + Crying, "John, John, John, the gray goose is gone, + And the Fox is off to his den O!" + + Then John went up to the top of the hill, + And he blew a blast both loud and shrill. + Says the Fox, "That is fine music, still + I'd rather be off to my den O!" + + So the Fox he hurried home to his den, + To his dear little foxes eight, nine, ten. + Says he, "We're in luck, here's a big fat duck + With her legs dangling down behind O!" + + Then the Fox sat down with his hungry wife, + And they made a good meal without fork or knife. + They never had a better time in all their life, + And the little ones picked the bones O! + + +THREE COMPANIONS + +BY DINAH MARIA MULOCK-CRAIK + + We go on our walk together-- + Baby and dog and I-- + Three little merry companions, + 'Neath any sort of sky + Blue as our baby's eyes are, + Gray like our old dog's tail; + Be it windy or cloudy or stormy, + Our courage will never fail. + + Baby's a little lady; + Dog is a gentleman brave; + If he had two legs as you have, + He'd kneel to her like a slave; + As it is, he loves and protects her, + As dog and gentleman can. + I'd rather be a kind doggie, + I think, than a cruel man. + + +"'FRAID CAT!" + +BY FRANK MUNRO + + To Pussy-town, the other day, + The movies came. + And you must know, + The only chance mice have to play + Is when the cats + Go to the show! + + (Yes, mice have certain little "rights"-- + Though I confess + 'Em hard to see! + And one is to stay up o' nights + And steal our cheese-- + If cheese there be!) + + Well, in the playhouse, on the screen, + The pussies saw + (And so may you) + True love run smoothly, I ween: + But "also ran," + A dog in blue! + + The foolish cats, in great alarm, + Dashed out, nor + Asked for money back!-- + A dog policeman has no charm + When he is close + Upon one's track! + + They did not use their heads. I fear; + (Some boys and girls + Are just like that) + And so the pussies now must hear + The grown folks say + "'Fraid cat! 'Fraid cat!" + + + [Illustration: THE CATS AT THE MOVIES + FROM A DRAWING BY CULMER BARNES] + + +THE SPIDER AND THE FLY + +BY MARY HOWITT + + "Will you walk into my parlor?" said the Spider to the Fly, + "'Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy; + The way into my parlor is up a winding stair, + And I have many curious things to show when you are there." + "Oh, no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain; + For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again." + + "I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high; + Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly. + "There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin; + And if you like to rest a while, I'll snugly tuck you in!" + "Oh, no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said, + They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!" + + Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, "Dear friend, what can I do + To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you? + I have, within my pantry, good store of all that's nice; + I'm sure you're very welcome--will you please to take a slice?" + "Oh, no, no," said the little Fly, "kind sir, that cannot be, + I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!" + + "Sweet creature," said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise; + How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes! + I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf; + If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself." + "I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you're pleased to say, + And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day." + + The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den, + For well he knew the silly Fly would soon be back again; + So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly, + And set his table ready to dine upon the Fly. + Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing: + "Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing; + Your robes are green and purple, there's a crest upon your head; + Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead." + + Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly, + Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by: + With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew-- + Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue; + Thinking only of her crested head--poor foolish thing! At last, + Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast. + He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den + Within his little parlor--but she ne'er came out again! + + + [Illustration: "HELLO! IS THIS THE CLOVER NOOK DAIRY? PLEASE SEND ME + SOME MILK AT ONCE. GOOD-BY"] + + + + +#Everyday Verses# + +BY ALDEN ARTHUR KNIPE + +PICTURES BY EMILIE BENSON KNIPE + + + + +A LITTLE GENTLEMAN + + When Mother drops things on the floor, + My father asks me: "Who + Should always pick them up for her?" + And so I always do. + + He says I haven't far to reach + And that a gentleman + Must do things for his Mother + And be helpful as he can. + + But Mother bends down just the same,-- + She has to, don't you see? + For after she's said "Thank you, dear," + She stoops and kisses me. + + +TIME FOR EVERYTHING + + There's a time to run and a time to walk; + There's a time for silence, a time for talk; + There's a time for work and a time for play; + There's a time for sleep at the close of day. + There's a time for everything you do, + For children and for grown-ups, too. + A time to stand up and a time to sit,-- + But see that the time and actions fit. + + +UMBRELLAS AND RUBBERS + + Umbrellas and rubbers + You never forget, + Whenever it's raining + Or snowy or wet; + + But if it should clear up, + While you are away, + Please bring them back home + For the next rainy day. + + +WHISPERING IN SCHOOL + + "Do not whisper" is a rule + You will find in every school, + And the reason here is given + In a rhyme: + For children all will chatter + About any little matter-- + And there'd be a dreadful clatter, + All the time! + + +RECESS + + The romping boys + Make lots of noise, + And run and jump and laugh and shout, + While here and there, + With quiet air, + The girls in couples walk about. + + A game begins, + But no one wins, + Although they play with might and main, + For long before + The game is o'er + The bell rings out for school again. + + +AFTER SCHOOL + + Although we like to go to school, + We're rather glad to put away + Our books and slates and other things, + When it is over for the day. + + And off we go to play and romp, + While teacher, who is good and kind, + Is left behind all by herself-- + But then, perhaps, she doesn't mind. + + +MONDAY'S LESSONS + + Study them well on Friday, + For it's much the better way, + Because when once they're finished + You've all Saturday for play. + + +AT DINNER + + No matter where we children are + We run in answer to the bell, + And dinner comes in piping hot; + It makes us hungry just to smell. + + Poor Father sharpens up his knife, + And carves with all his might and main; + But long before he's had a bite + Our Willie's plate comes back again. + + We eat our vegetables and meat, + For Mother, who is always right, + Says those who wish to have dessert, + Must show they have an appetite. + + And when a Sunday comes around, + So very, very good we seem, + You'd think 'most any one could tell + That for dessert we'd have ice-cream. + + +VALOR. + +BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS. + + There isn't any giant + Within this forest grim, + And if there were, I wouldn't be + A bit afraid of him! + + +A DOMESTIC TRAGEDY + +BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS + + My doll, my doll, my Annabel, + She's really feeling far from well! + Her wig is gone, her eyes are out, + Her legs are left somewhere about, + Her arms were stolen by the pup, + The hens ate all her sawdust up, + So all that's really left of her + Is just her clothes and character. + + +THE CAPITALIST. + + I always buy at the lollipop-shop, + On the very first day of spring, + A bag of marbles, a spinning-top, + And a pocketful of string. + + +IN MERRY ENGLAND. + +BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS. + + In merry, merry England, + In the merry month of May, + Miss Mary Ella Montague + Went out in best array. + Her wise mama called out to her, + "My darling Mary Ella, + It looks like rain to-day, my dear; + You'd best take your umbrella!" + That silly girl she paid no heed + To her dear mother's call. + She walked at least six miles that day, + And it never rained at all! + + +THE GOOSE GIRL. + +BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS. + + Oh, I'm a goose, and you're a goose, and we're all geese together. + We wander over hill and dale, all in the sweet June weather, + While wise folk stay indoors and pore + O'er dusty books for learning lore. + How glad I am--how glad you are--that we're birds of a feather: + That you're a goose, and I'm a goose, and we're all geese together! + + +THE PHILOSOPHER + +BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS + + Let me make you acquainted with Mrs. O'Toole, + Though she's had little learning, she's nobody's fool, + She loves her fine geese, but when they are dead + She'll comfort herself with a new feather bed. + + +EVERY-DAY VERSES + +BY ALDEN ARTHUR KNIPE + +PICTURES BY EMILIE BENSON KNIPE + +THIRSTY FLOWERS + + I have a little wat'ring-pot, + It holds two quarts I think, + And when the days are very hot + I give the plants a drink. + + They lift their heads as flowers should, + And look so green and gay; + I'm sure that if they only could, + "We thank you, Sir," they'd say. + + +SHARING WITH OTHERS + + Sometimes Mother gives to me + Such a lot of money--See! + But it's very hard to buy + All the things you'd like to try, + And you always share your penny + With a child who hasn't any. + + +POCKETS + + Pockets are fine + For marbles and twine, + For knives and rubber bands; + So, stuff them tight + From morning till night + With anything else but hands! + + +WAITING FOR DINNER + + When one is very hungry, + It's hard to wait, I know, + For minutes seem like hours + And the clock is always slow. + + There isn't time to play a game, + You just sit down and wait, + While Mother says, "Be patient, + Our cook is never late." + + It's best when one is hungry, + To think of other things, + For then, before you know it, + The bell for dinner rings. + + +THE CRITIC + + If only more people would write fewer books + How well pleased I would be! + If all the authors would change into cooks + 'T would suit me perfectly. + + +DIPLOMACY + +BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS + + The Widow Hill has a fine plum-tree! + The Widow Hill is fond o' me. + I'll call on her to-day! + The plum-tree grows by her front door. + I've been meaning to call for a week or more + To pass the time o' day! + + +IF I WERE QUEEN. + +BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS. + + If I were Queen of Anywhere, + I'd have a golden crown, + And sit upon a velvet chair, + And wear a satin gown. + A Knight of noble pedigree + Should wait beside my seat, + To serve me upon bended knee + With things I like to eat. + I'd have bonbons and cherry pie, + Ice-cream and birthday cake, + And a page should always stay near by + To have my stomach-ache! + + +THOUGHTS IN CHURCH + +BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS + + Oh, to be a sailor + And sail to foreign lands-- + To Greenland's icy mountains + And India's coral strands! + To sail upon the Ganges + And see the crocodile, + Where every prospect pleases, + And only man is vile. + + I'd love to see the heathen + Bow down to wood and stone, + But his wicked graven image + I'd knock from off its throne! + The heathen-in-his-blindness + Should see a thing or two! + He'd know before I left him + What a Yankee boy can do! + + + + +#THE DAYS OF THE WEEK# + + + + +THIS IS THE WAY + + This is the way we wash our clothes, + Wash our clothes, + Wash our clothes; + This is the way we wash our clothes, + So early Monday morning. + + This is the way we iron our clothes, + Iron our clothes, + Iron our clothes; + This is the way we iron our clothes, + So early Tuesday morning. + + This is the way we mend our shoes, + Mend our shoes, + Mend our shoes; + This is the way we mend our shoes, + So early Wednesday morning. + + This is the way we visit our friends, + Visit our friends, + Visit our friends; + This is the way we visit our friends, + So early Thursday morning. + + This is the way we sweep the house, + Sweep the house, + Sweep the house; + This is the way we sweep the house, + So early Friday morning. + + This is the way we bake our cake, + Bake our cake, + Bake our cake; + This is the way we bake our cake, + So early Saturday morning. + + This is the way we go to church, + Go to church, + Go to church; + This is the way we go to church, + So early Sunday morning. + + +DAYS OF BIRTH + + Monday's child is fair of face, + Tuesday's child is full of grace, + + Wednesday's child is brave and glad, + Thursday's child is never bad, + + Friday's child is loving and kind, + Saturday's child is clear in mind, + + The child that is born on the Sabbath day + Is fair and wise and good and gay. + + +THE WASHING + + They that wash on Monday + Have all the week to dry; + They that wash on Tuesday + Are not so much awry; + They that wash on Wednesday + Are not so much to blame; + They that wash on Thursday + Wash for very shame; + They that wash on Friday + Wash because of need, + And they that wash on Saturday, + Oh, they are lazy indeed! + + +SOLOMON GRUNDY + + Solomon Grundy, + Born on a Monday, + Christened on Tuesday, + Married on Wednesday, + Took ill on Thursday, + Worse on Friday, + Died on Saturday, + Buried on Sunday: + This is the end + Of Solomon Grundy-- + Born on a Monday, + Christened on Tuesday, + Married, _etc._ + + +BABY'S PLAY DAYS + + How many days has my baby to play? + Saturday, Sunday, Monday, + Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, + Saturday, Sunday, Monday. + + +WHICH DO YOU CHOOSE? + + [Illustration: BETTY LOU DOLLY POLLY SALLIE SUE] + + "Oh, ho! little maidens, all in a row, + And each one wearing a butterfly bow. + Which is the prettiest, Betty, or Lou, + Dolly, or Polly, or Sallie, or Sue? + I do not know, so I'll have to ask you." + + +SEVEN LITTLE MICE + +BY STELLA GEORGE STERN + + Little-Mouse-Sunday found a great, big bun; + Little-Mouse-Monday wished that _he_ had one; + Little-Mouse-Tuesday was fat enough without; + Little-Mouse-Wednesday sat down to sulk and pout, + Said Little-Mouse-Thursday, "_I'll_ get one for myself!" + Said Little-Mouse-Friday, "There's another on the shelf"; + Little-Mouse-Saturday began to beg and squeak; + "Come on!" said all the seven, "we've enough to last a week!" + + +VISITING + + "Good morning, Monday! + Tell me how is Tuesday?" + "Very well, Dame Wednesday. + Please to tell Miss Thursday, + Also little Saturday, + To call on Mister Sunday." + + +LITTLE TOMMY'S MONDAY MORNING + +(_In a meter neither new nor difficult_) + +BY TUDOR JENKS + + All was well on Sunday morning, + All was quiet Sunday evening; + But, behold, quite early Monday + Came a queer, surprising Weakness-- + Weakness seizing little Tommy! + It came shortly after breakfast-- + Breakfast with wheat-cakes and honey + Eagerly devoured by Tommy, + Who till then was well as could be. + Then, without a moment's warning, + Like a sneeze, that awful Aw-choo! + Came this Weakness on poor Tommy. + "Mother, dear," he whined, "dear mother, + I am feeling rather strangely-- + Don't know what's the matter with me-- + My right leg is out of kilter, + While my ear--my left ear--itches. + Don't you know that queerish feeling?" + "Not exactly," said his mother. + "Does your head ache, Tommy dearest?" + Little Thomas, always truthful, + Would not say his head was aching, + For, you know, it really wasn't. + "No, it doesn't _ache_," he answered + (Thinking of that noble story + Of the Cherry-tree and Hatchet); + "But I'm tired, and I'm sleepy, + And my shoulder's rather achy. + Don't you think perhaps I'd better + Stay at home with you, dear mother?" + + Thoughtfully his mother questioned, + "How about your school, dear Tommy? + Do you wish to miss your lessons?" + "Well, you know," was Tommy's answer, + "Saturday we played at football; + I was tired in the evening, + So I didn't learn my lessons-- + Left them all for Monday morning, + Monday morning bright and early--" + "And this morning you slept over?" + So his mother interrupted. + "Yes, mama," admitted Tommy. + "So I have not learned my lessons: + And I'd better wait till Tuesday. + Tuesday I can start in earnest-- + Tuesday when I'm feeling brighter!" + + Smilingly his mother eyed him, + Then she said, "Go ask your father-- + You will find him in his study, + Adding up the week's expenses. + See what father says about it." + + Toward the door went Tommy slowly, + Seized the knob as if to turn it. + Did not turn it; but, returning, + Back he came unto his mother. + "Mother," said he, very slowly, + "Mother, I don't feel so badly; + Maybe I'll get through my lessons. + Anyway, I think I'll risk it. + Have you seen my books, dear mother-- + My Geography and Speller, + History and Definitions,-- + Since I brought them home on Friday?" + No. His mother had not seen them. + Then began a search by Tommy. + Long he searched, almost despairing, + While the clock was striking loudly. + And at length when Tommy found them-- + Found his books beneath the sofa-- + He'd forgotten all his Weakness, + Pains and aches were quite forgotten. + At full speed he hastened schoolward. + But in vain, for he was tardy, + All because of that strange Weakness + He had felt on Monday morning. + + Would you know the name that's given, + How they call that curious feeling? + 'Tis the dreaded "Idon'twantto"-- + Never fatal, but quite common + To the tribe of Very-lazy. + Would you know the charm that cures it-- + Cures the Weakness "Idon'twantto"? + It is known as "Butyou'vegotto," + And no boy should be without it. + + Now you know the curious legend + Of the paleface little Tommy, + Of his Weakness and its curing + By the great charm "Butyou'vegotto." + Think of it on Monday mornings-- + It will save you lots of trouble. + + +St. Saturday + +BY HENRY JOHNSTONE + + Oh, Friday night's the queen of nights, because it ushers in + The Feast of good St. Saturday, when studying is a sin, + When studying is a sin, boys, and we may go to play + Not only in the afternoon, but all the livelong day. + + St. Saturday--so legends say--lived in the ages when + The use of leisure still was known and current among men; + Full seldom and full slow he toiled, and even as he wrought + He'd sit him down and rest awhile, immersed in pious thought. + + He loved to fold his good old arms, to cross his good old knees, + And in a famous elbow-chair for hours he'd take his ease; + He had a word for old and young, and when the village boys + Came out to play, he'd smile on them and never mind the noise. + + So when his time came, honest man, the neighbors all declared + That one of keener intellect could better have been spared, + By young and old his loss was mourned in cottage and in hall, + For if he'd done them little good, he'd done no harm at all. + + In time they made a saint of him, and issued a decree-- + Since he had loved his ease so well, and been so glad to see + The children frolic round him and to smile upon their play-- + That school boys for his sake should have a weekly holiday. + + They gave his name unto the day, that as the years roll by + His memory might still be green; and that's the reason why + We speak his name with gratitude, and oftener by far + Than that of any other saint in all the calendar. + + Then, lads and lassies, great and small, give ear to what I say-- + Refrain from work on Saturdays as strictly as you may; + So shall the saint your patron be and prosper all you do-- + And when examinations come he'll see you safely through. + + + + +#NUMBER RHYMES# + + + + +1, 2, 3, 4, 5 + + One + Two + Three + Four + Five + I caught a hare alive. + + Six + Seven + Eight + Nine + Ten + I let it go again. + + +OVER IN THE MEADOW + +BY OLIVE A. WADSWORTH + + Over in the meadow, + In the sand, in the sun, + Lived an old mother toad + And her little toadie one. + "Wink!" said the mother; + "I wink," said the one: + So she winked and she blinked + In the sand, in the sun. + + Over in the meadow, + Where the stream runs blue, + Lived an old mother fish + And her little fishes two. + "Swim!" said the mother; + "We swim," said the two: + So they swam and they leaped + Where the stream runs blue. + + Over in the meadow, + In a hole in a tree, + Lived a mother bluebird + And her little birdies three. + "Sing!" said the mother; + "We sing," said the three: + So they sang and were glad + In the hole in the tree. + + Over in the meadow, + In the reeds on the shore, + Lived a mother muskrat + And her little ratties four. + "Dive!" said the mother; + "We dive," said the four: + So they dived and they burrowed + In the reeds on the shore. + + Over in the meadow, + In a snug beehive, + Lived a mother honeybee + And her little honeys five. + "Buzz!" said the mother; + "We buzz," said the five: + So they buzzed and they hummed + In the snug beehive. + + Over in the meadow, + In a nest built of sticks, + Lived a black mother crow + And her little crows six. + "Caw!" said the mother; + "We caw," said the six: + So they cawed and they cawed + In their nest built of sticks. + + Over in the meadow, + Where the grass is so even, + Lived a gray mother cricket + And her little crickets seven. + "Chirp!" said the mother; + "We chirp," said the seven: + So they chirped cheery notes + In the grass soft and even. + + Over in the meadow, + By the old mossy gate, + Lived a brown mother lizard + And her little lizards eight. + "Bask!" said the mother; + "We bask!" said the eight: + So they basked in the sun + By the old mossy gate. + + Over in the meadow, + Where the clear pools shine, + Lived a green mother frog + And her little froggies nine. + "Croak!" said the mother; + "We croak," said the nine: + So they croaked and they splashed + Where the clear pools shine. + + Over in the meadow, + In a sly little den, + Lived a gray mother spider + And her little spiders ten. + "Spin!" said the mother; + "We spin," said the ten: + So they spun lace webs + In their sly little den. + + Over in the meadow, + In the soft summer even, + Lived a mother firefly + And her little flies eleven. + "Shine!" said the mother; + "We shine," said the eleven: + So they shone like stars + In the soft summer even. + + Over in the meadow, + Where the men dig and delve, + Lived a wise mother ant + And her little anties twelve. + "Toil!" said the mother; + "We toil," said the twelve: + So they toiled and were wise + Where the men dig and delve. + + +COUNTING APPLE-SEEDS + + One, I love, + Two, I love, + Three, I love, I say, + Four, I love with all my heart, + And five, I cast away; + Six, he loves, + Seven, she loves, + Eight, they both love; + Nine, he comes, + Ten, he tarries, + Eleven, he courts, + Twelve, he marries; + Thirteen, wishes, + Fourteen, kisses, + All the rest little witches. + + +TWINS + +BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS + + Here's a baby! Here's another! + A sister and her infant brother. + Which is which 'tis hard to tell, + But "mother" knows them very well. + + +THE RHYME OF TEN LITTLE RABBITS + +BY KATE N. MYTINGER + + 1 little rabbit, =one= + went out in the field to run. + + 2 little rabbits, =two= + Said they didn't know what to do. + + 3 little rabbits, =three= + Said: "Let us climb a tree." + + 4 little rabbits, =four= + Said: "Let's swing on the old barn door." + + 5 little rabbits, =five= + Said: "We're glad just to be alive." + + 6 little rabbits, =six= + Said: "We like to pick up sticks." + + 7 little rabbits, =seven= + Said: "We wish we were eleven." + + 8 little rabbits, =eight= + Said: "Come let us run through the gate." + + 9 little rabbits, =nine= + Said: "Then let us form in line." + + 10 little rabbits, =ten= + all got in line--and then--wasn't it fun to see them run? + + +IN JULY. + +BY A. S. WEBBER. + + 10 + Ten little fire crackers + Standing in a line, + One thought he'd light a match + Then-- + There were nine. + + 9 + Nine little fire crackers + Walking very straight, + One caught an engine spark + Then-- + There were eight. + + 8 + Eight little fire crackers + Trying to spell "LEAVEN," + One went too near the gas, + Then-- + There were seven. + + 7 + Seven little fire crackers + Cutting up tricks, + One played with lighted punk + Then-- + There were six. + + 6 + Six little fire crackers + Glad they are alive, + One went to have a smoke + Then + There were five. + + 5 + Five little fire crackers + Wishing there were more, + One went to find a friend + Then + There were four. + + 4 + Four little fire crackers + Merry as could be, + One played upon the hearth + Then + There were three. + + 3 + Three little fire crackers + Puzzled what to do, + One started the kitchen fire + Then + There were two. + + 2 + Two little fire crackers + Looking for some fun, + One met a little boy + Then + There was one. + + 1 + One little fire cracker + Sat him down to cry, + 'Tis such a risky thing + To live + In July. + + +The Wish of Priscilla Penelope Powers + + Priscilla Penelope Powers one day + Took tea at a neighbor's just over the way. + Two pieces of pie they urged her to take, + And seven whole slices of chocolate cake! + "Oh, dear," sighed Priscilla Penelope Powers, + "I wish I was your little girl 'stead of ours!" + + _Mrs. John T Van Sant._ + + +Winklelman Von Winkel + + Winkelman Von Winkel is the wisest man alive, + He Knows that one and one make two, and two and three make five; + He knows that water runs down hill, that the sun sets in the west, + And that for winter weather wear, one's winter clothes are best; + In fact, he does not mingle much with common folk around, + Because his learning is so great--his wisdom so profound. + + _Clara Odell Lyon._ + + +TEN LITTLE COOKIES + + Ten little cookies, brown and crisp and fine-- + Grandma gave Baby one; then there were nine. + + Nine little cookies on a china plate-- + Betty took a small one; then there were eight. + + Eight little cookies, nice and round and even-- + The butcher boy ate one; then there were seven. + + Seven little cookies, much liked by chicks-- + The old hen ate one, then there were six. + + Six little cookies, when grandma went to drive-- + Betty had another one; then there were five. + + Five little cookies, placed too near the door-- + The little doggie ate one; then there were four. + + Four little cookies, brown as brown could be-- + Grandma took one for herself, then there were three. + + Three little cookies--when grandpa said, "I too, + Would like a very little one", then there were two. + + Two little cookies--fast did Betty run + To give one to her mamma; then there was one. + + One little cooky--and now our story is done, + Baby Jane ate the last, then there was none. + + +OUR BABY + + One head with curly hair, + Two arms so fat and bare, + Two hands and one wee nose, + Two feet with ten pink toes, + Skin soft and smooth as silk, + When clean, 'tis white as milk. + + +LONG TIME AGO + +BY ELIZABETH PRENTISS + + Once there was a little Kitty, + White as the snow; + In a barn she used to frolic, + Long time ago. + + In the barn a little mousie + Ran to and fro, + For she heard the little Kitty, + Long time ago. + + Two black eyes had little Kitty, + Black as a sloe; + And they spied the little mousie, + Long time ago. + + Four soft paws had little Kitty, + Paws soft as snow; + And they caught the little mousie, + Long time ago. + + Nine pearl teeth had little Kitty, + All in a row; + And they bit the little mousie, + Long time ago. + + When the teeth bit little mousie, + Mousie cried out, "Oh!" + But she slipped away from Kitty, + Long time ago. + + +BUCKLE MY SHOE + + One, Two--buckle my shoe; + Three, Four--open the door; + Five, Six--pick up sticks; + Seven, Eight--lay them straight; + Nine, Ten--a good fat hen; + Eleven, Twelve--I hope you're well; + Thirteen, Fourteen--draw the curtain; + Fifteen, Sixteen--the maid's in the kitchen; + Seventeen, Eighteen--she's in waiting; + Nineteen, Twenty--my stomach's empty. + + + [Illustration: "AH, AH! SO THAT'S WHERE HE BURIES HIS OLD BONES!"] + + + + +#STORIES _for_ LITTLE GIRLS# + + + + +A PAIR OF GLOVES + +BY H. G. DURYEE + +The little girls who lived on Amity Street all wore mittens when they +went to school in winter. Nobody's mother ever thought of anything else +to keep small hands warm. Some mothers or grandmothers crocheted them, +and some knit them with fancy stitches down the back, or put other mark +of distinction upon them; but they were always mittens, and were always +fastened to a long ribbon or piece of braid or knitted rein, so that +they might not get lost, one from the other. + +This connecting-link frequently gave rise to confusion, for when two +little girls put their arms around each other's necks as they walked to +school, they sometimes got tangled up in the mitten string and had to +duck and turn and bump heads before the right string was again resting +on the right shoulder. But as it was possible to laugh a great deal and +lose one's breath while this was going on, it was rather an advantage +than otherwise, and little girls who were special chums were pretty sure +to manage a tangle every other day at least. + +Clarabel Bradley did her tangling and untangling with Josephine Brown, +who lived at the end of Amity Street. They both went to the same school +and were in the same class. They waited for each other in the morning, +and came home together, and shared each other's candy and ginger cookies +whenever there were any, and took firm sides together whenever the +school-yard was the scene of dispute. + +But into this intimacy came a pair of gloves, almost wrecking it. + +The gloves were sent by Clarabel's aunt, who was young and pretty and +taught school in a large city; and they came done up in white +tissue-paper inside a box with gilt trimming around the edges and a +picture on the center of the cover. Taken out of the paper, they +revealed all their alluring qualities. They were of a beautiful glossy +brown kid with soft woolly linings and real fur around the wrists, and +they fastened with bright gilded clasps. + +With them was a note which said: + + For Clarabel, with love from her Aunt Bessie. =Not to be kept for + Sundays, but worn every day.= + +And the last sentence was underscored. + +Clarabel's mother looked doubtful as she read the message. Such gloves +were an extravagance even for best--and mittens were warmer. But when +she encountered Clarabel's shining eyes she smiled and gave in. + +So Clarabel took the gloves to her room that night, and slept with them +on the foot-board of her bed, where she could see them the first thing +when she waked; and in the morning she put them on and started for +school. + +One hand was held rigidly by her side, but the other was permitted to +spread its fingers widely over the book she carried. Both were well in +view if she looked down just a little. Passers-by might see; all Amity +Street might see; best of all, Josephine might see! + +But Josephine, waiting at the corner, beheld and was impressed to the +point of speechlessness. Whereupon Clarabel dropped her book, and had to +pick it up with both hands. The furry wrists revealed themselves fully. + +Josephine found her voice. + +"You've got some new gloves," she said. + +"Yes; my Aunt Bessie sent them." + +"Aren't they pretty!" + +"I think so, and they're lots nicer than mittens. I'm not going to wear +my mittens again." + +Josephine looked down at her own chubby hands. Her mittens were red this +winter, with a red-and-green fringe around the wrists. Only that +morning she had admired them. Now they looked fat and clumsy and +altogether unattractive; but she wasn't going to admit that to any one +else. + + [Illustration: "CLARABEL DROPPED HER BOOK, AND HAD TO PICK IT UP WITH + BOTH HANDS."] + +"I like mittens best," she said stoutly,--"for school, anyway," she +added, and gave Clarabel more of the sidewalk. + +"My Aunt Bessie said specially that these were to wear to school." And +Clarabel walked nearer the fence. + +Josephine was hard put to it--Clarabel's manner had become so superior. + +"I don't think your Aunt Bessie knows everything, even if she does teach +school in a big city. My mother says she's too young to--" + +What she was too young to do was not allowed to be explained; for +Clarabel, with a color in her face that rivaled Josephine's mittens, had +faced her. + +"My Aunt Bessie's lovely, and I won't listen to another word against +her, not another one--so there!" + +Then she turned, with a queer feeling in her throat, and ran down the +street to catch up with another little girl who was on ahead. + +Josephine swung her books and walked as if she didn't care. + +Clarabel overtook the little girl, who was all smiling appreciation of +the new gloves, and was overtaken by other little girls who added +themselves to the admiring group. But somehow her triumphal progress was +strangely unsatisfactory; the glory was dimmed. + +At recess, Josephine paired off with Milly Smith, who stood first in +geography and wore two curly feathers in her hat. Clarabel shared her +cookies with Minnie Cater, because it didn't matter who helped eat them +if it wasn't Josephine. Neither spoke to the other, and at noontime they +walked home on different sides of the street. + +Perhaps that was why in the afternoon Clarabel lost her place in the +reader and failed on so many examples in arithmetic that she was told +she must stay after school. + +Usually there would have been several to keep her company, but on this +day there was no one else,--even Angelina Maybelle Remington had got +through without disaster,--and Clarabel, wistful-eyed, saw the other +girls file out. + +At another time Josephine would have stayed; she always did when +Clarabel had to, as Clarabel did when she was in like need. But to-night +she filed out with the rest, and Clarabel, with a sense of desertion, +bent over her problems of men and hay to mow, men and potatoes to dig, +men and miles of railroad to build. + +The noise of scurrying feet grew fainter, the sound of children's voices +died away. The room settled into stillness, except for the solemn tick +of the clock and the scratching of Clarabel's pencil on the slate. There +were fractions in the problems, and fractions were always hard for +Clarabel. Her pencil stopped often while she frowned at the curly-tailed +figures. In one of these pauses the door squeaked open a little way. It +squeaked again, and some one sidled into the room; it was Josephine. + +"Please may I go to my seat?" she asked. + +"Certainly," said the teacher, and watched her curiously. + +She tiptoed to the back seat, fumbled for a few minutes in her desk, +then slipped to a seat a few rows farther in front; then to another and +another, till she had reached the row in which Clarabel sat. + +Clarabel, though she was bending over her slate, had heard every +hesitating move, and when the last halt was made she shook her curls +back from her eyes, looked around, and dimpled into smiles. + +The teacher, watching, waited to see what would happen next. Nothing +did, except that the two little girls sat and smiled and smiled and +smiled as if they never would stop. + +Presently the teacher herself smiled and spoke. She had a very sweet +voice sometimes--one that seemed to hint at happy secrets. That was the +way it sounded now. + +"Would you like to help Clarabel, Josephine?" she asked. "You may if you +wish to." + +"If she'll let me," answered Josephine, her eyes fixed on Clarabel's +face. + +"I would love to have her," said Clarabel, _her_ eyes on Josephine. And +instantly the one narrow seat became large enough for two. + +For ten minutes more there was great scratching of slate-pencils and +much whispering and some giggling. Then with cheerful clatter the slate +was borne to the platform. The teacher looked at the little girls more +than at the examples. "I'm sure they're right," she said. "Now, off to +your homes--both of you!" + +"Good night," said Clarabel. + +"Good night," said Josephine. + +"Good night, dear little girls," said the teacher. + +There was a soft swish of dresses and the children had reached the +dressing-room. Within its familiar narrowness, Josephine hesitated and +fingered her cloak-buttons. + +"I think your Aunt Bessie"--it was very slow speech for Josephine--"is +ever so nice and knows a lot." + +"Oh!" bubbled Clarabel, joyously, "I do love the color of your mittens! +Don't you--don't you"--she finished with a rush--"want to let me wear +them home and you wear my gloves?" + +Josephine put aside the dazzling offer. + +"Your gloves are prettier and you ought to wear them." + +Clarabel thought a minute, a shadow in her eyes. + +"I know what," she declared, the shadow vanishing. "You wear one glove +and mitten and I'll wear the other glove and mitten!" + +"Oh!" said Josephine, with a rapturous hug, "that will be splendid!" + +And thus they scampered home, the two mittened hands holding each other +tight, while the two gloved hands were gaily waved high in the air with +each fresh outburst of laughter from the little schoolmates. + + +A VERY LITTLE STORY OF A VERY LITTLE GIRL + +BY ALICE E. ALLEN + +Molly was such a little girl that she didn't seem big enough to have a +party all her own with truly ice-cream in it. But she had asked for one +so many times that at last Mother decided to give her one. And the party +was to be a surprise to Molly herself. + +Early that afternoon Molly wanted to go for a little visit to Miss +Eleanor. Miss Eleanor lived up Molly's street, in a white house with +apple-green blinds. Molly often went all alone. + +Miss Eleanor was always so sunny and full of songs and stories and games +that Molly loved her next best to Father and Mother and Baby. + +"You may go, dear," said Mother, "if you will come home exactly at three +o'clock." + +"You always say exactly three o'clock, Mother," said Molly. + +"Well, five minutes after three, then," laughed Mother. "And, Molly, so +that you won't forget this time, all the way to Miss Eleanor's, say over +and over, 'Five minutes after three.' Then, just as soon as you get +there, say the words quickly to Miss Eleanor, 'Five minutes after +three.'" + +"Five minutes after three," said Molly; "I can remember that." + +"That will give me plenty of time to get ready for the party," thought +Mother. + +Up the street with her white parasol flew Molly. "Five minutes after +three," she said over and over in a whisper until she began to sing it. +"Five minutes after three," she sang until she stopped a moment on the +bridge to see some boys fishing. Just about there, a big dog who was a +friend of Molly's ran out to say, "Good afternoon." + +"Oh, Fritzie," cried Molly, "I'm going to Miss Eleanor's to make her a +visit. Want to come?" + +But Fritz had the house to look after. So Molly gave him a hug and ran +along. + +"Three minutes after five," sang Molly; "three minutes after five," over +and over until she ran into Miss Eleanor's sunny little sitting-room. + +"Three minutes after five," cried Molly; "that's how long I can stay. +Won't that be nice?" + +"Why, it's little Molly!" cried Miss Eleanor, "I'm all alone and so glad +to have company! We'll hear the clock strike five. Then, if you put on +your wraps, you'll be all ready to start home at three minutes past." + +It seemed a very very short time to Molly before the little clock struck +five. + +"There, deary," said Miss Eleanor. "Put on your things and hurry right +along!" + +Molly put on her hat and coat. Then she kissed Miss Eleanor and hurried +down the street. + +When she reached the corner, she saw that the parlor at home was all +lighted. And out of it came such a hubbub of little voices all laughing +and talking that Molly ran faster than ever. + +At the door she met Mother. + + [Illustration: "SHE STOPPED FOR A MOMENT ON THE BRIDGE."] + +"Oh, Molly, _where_ have you been?" cried Mother. "I couldn't go after +you because I couldn't leave Baby. And I couldn't take him." + +Molly scarcely heard. "Oh, Mother, Mother," she cried, "it looks like a +party. And it sounds like one. Is it a party, Mother?" + +"Yes," said Mother, "your own little party, Molly. And you're the only +one who is late. How could you forget?" + +"But I didn't forget, Mother," cried Molly, hurrying out of her coat, +"truly I didn't. Every step of the way I said it, and I said it to Miss +Eleanor the very first thing." + +"What did you say?" asked Mother. + +"_Three minutes after five_," said Molly. + +Mother laughed. "Why, Molly dear, you got the hour and minutes turned +around. I said _five_ minutes after _three_. Well, never mind. Run along +just as you are. It's a lovely party, dear, with truly ice-cream in +it." + + +EDITH'S TEA-PARTY + +BY LOIS WALTERS + +Edith was a little girl who was just learning to write. Her mother told +her one day that she could have a tea-party on the next Tuesday, if the +weather was fine, and that she could invite her little friend Helen, who +lived on the same street, though not very far away; but she must write +the letter to ask Helen to come. So, Edith got up at her mother's +writing-desk and took some of her own writing paper, and began to write. +She could make the letters but she could not spell very well. She asked +her mother how to spell the words and then she wrote them down. And this +is the letter she wrote: + + [Illustration: hand-written letter + + Dear Helen, + + Mamma says I May ask you to come + to my tea party next Tuesday at four oclock + Bring your dolly. + + your loving friend. + Edith] + +Then she sealed the letter in the envelop, and put a stamp on it, and +stood on the front piazza so as to give it to the postman herself. + +When Tuesday came, Edith's nurse dressed her in a fresh, white frock, +and Edith dressed her dolly in her best dress, and went out under the +trees where her nurse had set the table for two. And then she sat in a +chair at the table and waited. But the big town clock struck four and no +Helen came; and then she waited for half an hour longer. Then Edith put +her dolly down on the chair and went in the house to find her mother. + +"Mama," she said, "I think Helen is very rude, she doesn't come to my +party and I invited her!" + + [Illustration: EDITH WAITING FOR HELEN.] + +"Just wait a little longer, dear," said her mother, "and she will come. +Maybe her nurse was busy dressing Helen's little sister and brother and +couldn't get her ready in time." + +"But I invited her," was all Edith could say; "but I invited her, and +she doesn't come." + +Then her mother went to the telephone and called up Helen's mother. In a +moment she came back. + +"Edith, dear," she said, "what day did you write Helen to come? Her +mother says she thought it was to be Thursday, and so did Helen, and +this is only Tuesday." + +"But I _did_ say Tuesday, mama," said Edith, who was almost ready to +cry. "I remember because that was the hardest word to spell, and I think +I made a blot when I wrote it." + +"Well, never mind, dear; Helen is getting ready now and will be over in +a few minutes," said her mama. + +And Edith was very happy, and ran out to the tea-table under the trees +with her doll to wait. + +But she did not have to wait very long this time, for in a little while +Helen came running across the lawn carrying her doll; and so happy were +both little girls that Edith forgot all about the long time she had been +waiting for Helen to come. + + [Illustration: HELEN AND HER DOLLY.] + +Helen wanted Edith to know that she had not been rude in staying away, +so she brought with her the letter Edith had sent to her, so she could +show it to Edith. And there, sure enough, the word "Tuesday" was written +so badly that it looked more like "Thursday," and that was why Helen did +not think she was expected on this day. + +Well, the very first thing they did was to undress their dolls and put +them to sleep under one of the bushes on the lawn--in the shade, so that +the sun would not hurt their eyes, and so that the wax would not be +melted from their cheeks. Edith put her napkin over both dolls for a +comforter, for you never know when it will blow up cold, and little +girls have to be as careful of their dolls as their own mothers are! + +Very soon the maid came out with cookies and lady-fingers and +make-believe tea, and another napkin to take the place of the one Edith +had put over the dolls, and they had tea. Then the two little girls and +Edith's nurse had a nice game of croquet, and they had a lovely +tea-party after all, and Edith forgot all about waiting so long for +Helen to come. + +But Edith never again made a mistake when she spelled "Tuesday." + + +REBECCA + +BY ELEANOR PIATT + + [Illustration: "OH, DOCTOR! COME QUICK! REBECCA HAS A CHILL!"] + + I have a doll, Rebecca, + She's quite a little care, + I have to press her ribbons + And comb her fluffy hair. + + I keep her clothes all mended, + And wash her hands and face, + And make her frocks and aprons, + All trimmed in frills and lace. + + I have to cook her breakfast, + And pet her when she's ill; + And telephone the doctor + When Rebecca has a chill. + + Rebecca doesn't like that, + And says she's well and strong; + And says she'll try--oh! very hard, + To be good all day long. + + But when night comes, she's nodding; + So into bed we creep + And snuggle up together, + And soon are fast asleep. + + I have no other dolly, + For you can plainly see, + In caring for Rebecca, + I'm busy as can be! + + +DOROTHEA'S SCHOOL GIFTS + +BY EUNICE WARD + +"It seems very queer," said Dorothea thoughtfully, "people who are going +to do something nice always have presents given them, but people who are +going to do something horrid never get a thing, and they need it twice +as much." + +"As for instance?" said her father, laying down his paper and drawing +her onto his knee, while the rest of the family prepared to give the +customary amused attention to their youngest's remarks. + + [Illustration: "'YOU KNOW SCHOOL BEGINS NEXT WEEK,' SAID DOROTHEA."] + +"Well, when Cousin Edith went to Europe we all gave her presents to take +with her, and when she came home lots of people sent her flowers. +Anita's been getting cups and things ever since she was engaged, and +last spring, when Florence graduated, almost all the family gave her +something; and when Mary Bowman was confirmed she got a lovely white +prayer-book and a gold cross and chain. But when people are going to do +what they hate to do, they're left out in the cold." + +"What are you going to do that you don't like, Baby?" asked Florence. + +"Why, you know, school begins again next week," said Dorothea. "It makes +me feel quite mournful, and I don't see anything to cheer me up and make +it interesting for me." A little smile was hidden in the corners of her +mouth although her tone was as doleful as possible. + +"If you were going to boarding-school--" began Anita, who was apt to +take everything seriously. + +"Then I'd have lots of things," interrupted Dorothea. "New clothes and a +trunk and a bag, and you'd all come to see me off, and it would be +interesting. But I'm going to work just as hard here at day-school, and +yet I've got to bear it, all by myself." + +Her father pinched her ear, and her big brother Jim offered to have a +bunch of roses placed on her desk at school if that would make her feel +better, while her two sisters looked at each other as though the same +idea had occurred to them both. + + * * * + +On the morning of the first day of school, Dorothea was suddenly +awakened by a loud ting-a-ling-a-ling. She sat up in bed and rubbed her +eyes. The room was flooded with morning light and the brass knobs on her +bed gleamed cheerfully at her and seemed to say: "Get up, get up!" Now +Dorothea was a "sleepyhead" and had seldom been known to get up when +first awakened. It usually took at least three calls from her mother or +the girls, and sometimes Jim stole in and administered a "cold pig," +that is, a few drops of chilly water squeezed upon her neck from a +sponge, before she was ready to leave her comfortable bed. + +"It's an alarm clock," thought Dorothea. "But where is it?" Her eyes +traveled sleepily around the room but saw nothing that had not been +there the night before. The ting-a-ling-a-ling sounded once more. "It's +in this room somewhere!" she exclaimed, bouncing out of bed. She looked +on bureau, washstand, bookcase, and window-seat, and then jumped, for +the loud ting-a-ling came almost from underneath her feet. She hastily +lifted the drooping cover of a little table that stood near the window, +and there on the edge of the lower shelf stood an alarm-clock of the +ordinary pattern but of rather extraordinary appearance, owing to a +large yellow paper ruff which encircled its face. + +"How did it get there?" exclaimed Dorothea in astonishment; and as she +gazed the clock burst forth with another loud ting-a-ling. + +"Isn't it ever going to stop doing that?" she said, lifting it as she +spoke. The yellow ruff seemed to have something written on it, so she +took it off and, smoothing it out, read: + + DEAR DOLLY: Happy school-day! After much earnest consideration I + have selected this as a suitable reminder of this joyful (?) + anniversary. It will continue to remind you five mornings in the + week, thereby saving your family much wear and tear, for it will be + properly wound and set every night by + + Your affectionate brother, + JIM. + + P.S. When you are sufficiently aroused, press the lever and the + alarm will stop. + + [Illustration: Dorothea was a "sleepyhead"] + +"It's one of those awful clocks that go off every minute!" said +Dorothea, carefully examining it to find the lever. She almost dropped +it when it began another of its loud and long rings, but she soon found +and pressed the lever and thereafter the clock was silent except for its +customary tick. + +"I don't believe I shall ask anybody to give me presents any more," she +said, eying Jim's "reminder" with disfavor. But she changed her mind a +little later when, on looking for a clean handkerchief, she discovered a +flat square box tied with blue ribbon, and, opening it, saw half a dozen +handkerchiefs with narrow blue borders and a little blue D in the +corner. On the top was Cousin Edith's visiting-card, on the back of +which was printed in fantastic letters: + + Dear Dolly: Use a handkerchief + Whenever you're inclined to sniff. + But with this band of blue I think + They don't need polka-dots of ink. + +It was a constant wonder to the household what Dorothea did with her +handkerchiefs when she was at school. In vain she protested that she +didn't wipe her pen on them, and she didn't use them as blotters or to +wash out her ink-well; but, nevertheless, black stains almost always +appeared upon them, and Florence insisted that the family had to buy an +extra pint of milk a day to take out all these ink-stains. Cousin Edith +was too frequent a visitor not to know all the family plans and jokes, +and Dolly, as she laughed and shook out one of the blue-bordered +squares, resolved that "polka-dots" should be conspicuous by their +absence, for Edith would be sure to know. + +She entered the breakfast room just as the family were sitting down to +the table. + +"Behold the effects of my generosity and fore-thought!" exclaimed Jim +waving his hand toward her. "Our Youngest is in time for breakfast!" + +"Many happy returns of the day, small sister," said Anita, just as if it +was her birthday, kissing her good morning and slipping a little hard +package into her hand. "Bob sends you this with his love." + +"I don't mind returns of the day when it's like this," said Dorothea, +opening the package and at the same time spying a couple of tissue-paper +parcels lying beside her plate. Inside was a small chamois-skin case out +of which slid a little pearl-handled penknife. The accompanying card +bore the name of her future brother-in-law, and also these words: + + I hesitate to offer you + This knife, for I shall be + Afraid that if you cut yourself + You straightway will cut me. + +"How long did it take Bob to execute that masterpiece?" inquired Jim as +Dorothea read it aloud. + +"You're jealous," she said. "Yours wasn't half so lovely as Cousin +Edith's and Bob's. It wasn't poetry at all." + +"I left all the eloquence to my gift itself," answered Jim, helping +himself to an orange. + +Dorothea paid no attention to him, for she was opening a small package +fastened by a rubber band. It was a silver-mounted eraser with a tiny +brush at one end. The inclosed note read: + + This advice I must repeat; + Spare the rub and spoil the sheet. + If you can't restrain your speed, + This will prove a friend in need. + +Dolly joined rather shamefacedly in the general smile, as she thanked +Florence, whose writing she had recognized. She was very apt to postpone +her work until the last minute, and then rush through it as fast as +possible; her compositions suffered from the many careless mistakes that +she was always in too much of a hurry to correct, while her drawings +belonged to what Jim called the "slap-dash school." + +"We shall know by the amount of rubber left at the end of the term +whether you have taken my valuable advice," said Florence. "What's in +that other package, Baby? I know it is Anita's by the extreme elegance +of its appearance." + + [Illustration: "'MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY, SMALL SISTER,' SAID + ANITA."] + +Dorothea opened an oblong package tied with green ribbon and found a set +of blotters fastened to a dark green suede cover ornamented with an +openwork design of four-leaf clovers, and a pen-wiper to match. On top +lay a slip of paper on which was written in Anita's pretty hand: + + Wishing "Our Youngest" good luck and a happy school year. + +"I'm not good at verses, so you'll have to be content with plain prose," +said Anita, and Dorothea assured her that she was quite satisfied. + +"Half past eight, Dolly," said her mother when breakfast was over. "It +is time you started." + +"Oh, not yet, mother," said Dorothea the Dawdler. "It only takes me +fifteen minutes." + +"Now, see here," said Jim; "what do you suppose stirring young +business-men like your father and brother are lingering until the nine +o'clock train for, unless it is to see you off for school? We want to +give you as good a send-off as possible, for you're going to be absent +four whole hours, but we can't,--unless you do your part and begin to go +pretty soon. I don't believe you've got all your books together, as it +is." + + [Illustration: "'LEND ME YOUR PENCILS, WON'T YOU, JIM?' SAID DOROTHEA."] + +"Yes, I have," answered Dorothea triumphantly. "They are all on the hall +table, for I put them there last night. Oh, gracious!" she exclaimed +blankly: "I forgot to see whether I had any pencils! I don't believe I +have one! Jim, lend me yours, won't you? Just for to-day." + +"Lend you my most cherished possession? Never!" said Jim, placing his +hand dramatically over his breast pocket. + +"Then, Daddy, won't you please lend me yours?" + +"Trot along, trot along!" said her father; and Dorothea, not knowing +quite what to make of having her demands thus ignored, put on her big +sailor hat and started to gather up her books. On top of the pile was a +slender inlaid box under a card bearing the words, "For Dolly, from +Father." Pushing back the sliding cover, Dorothea saw that the box +contained a row of pencils, all beautifully sharpened, a dozen pens, and +a slim gunmetal penholder. + +"Oh!" she squealed with delight. "So that's why you wouldn't lend me any +pencils!" and gave her father a hug. + +"Hurry up, now," said Jim. "Don't forget we've got to see ourselves off +after we've seen you." + +"Why don't you take your bag?" asked Anita. + +"It's too small for my new Geography," answered Dorothea, placing this +huge outward and visible sign of her progress in learning so that it +would form a foundation for the rest of her books. "Besides, it's too +shabby". + +"You had better take it to-day, anyhow, as you have so much to carry," +suggested her mother. "I brought it downstairs and it's on the +hat-rack." + +"I just hate it!" pouted Dorothea, turning; and then stopped in +surprise, for instead of her little old satchel, a large new one made of +soft dark brown leather was hanging on the rack. It was ornamented on +one side with her monogram in raised tan-colored letters, and it was +large enough for the largest Geography that she was ever likely to have. + +"Who gave me that?" she cried. "Oh, I know--Mother! It's just exactly +what I wanted. I think going to school this way is perfectly lovely!" +she added as she slipped her other possessions into the bag. + +"Twenty minutes to nine!" called Jim warningly. + +"All right, I'm going now," answered Dorothea gaily as she kissed them +all around. + +"And the first day of school isn't so dismal after all, is it?" said her +father. + + [Illustration: "AT THE GATE SHE TURNED TO WAVE HER HAND."] + +"Oh, it's splendid, just splendid!" she replied enthusiastically. At the +gate she turned to wave her hand at the assembled family, who waved back +at her vigorously; and then, swinging her bag, she ran off down the +street toward school. + + +THE LOST MONEY + +BY BOLTON HALL + +Doris's papa gave her a five-dollar bill, such a lot of money! Doris +went to a big bank and asked if they could give her smaller money for +it. The banker said he thought they could. So he gave her two two-dollar +bills and a big silver dollar. How much did that make? Doris wanted the +dollar changed again; so the banker asked if she would have two +fifty-cent pieces, or one fifty-cent piece and two quarters--or perhaps +four quarters or ten dimes--or twenty five-cent pieces--or a hundred +pennies. + +Doris thought a hundred pennies would be a good many to count and to +carry, so she said she would take two quarters, three dimes and four +five-cent pieces. + +She laid away four dollars in the bank, those were the two bills, and +put the change in her purse. When she went to the shop, she had such a +lot of money that she thought she never could spend it. So she bought a +paint-box with two little saucers in it for 10 cents; that left her 90 +cents; and then a big rubber balloon for 25 cents; that left 65 cents; +and a little one for 10 cents; and then Doris bought a whole pound of +candy for thirty cents. Out of the 25 cents she had left, it cost 10 +cents to go in the car. + +When Doris got home she opened her paint-box. What do you think? Of +course it was only a cheap paint-box and the paints were so hard that +they would not paint at all. Doris cut out the dolls, but they were no +better than those in any newspaper's colored supplement. Doris's mama +said that the candy was too bad to eat at all, and the rubber balloons +got wrinkled and soft in the night, because the gas went out of them. +Doris cried when she saw them. "Now," she said, "I have nothing left of +my beautiful dollar but 15 cents." + +"I'm sorry, Dearie," Doris's mama said, "but it's bad enough to have +wasted one dollar without crying about it, too. When you and I go out, +we'll try to get such good things for the next dollar, that it will make +up for our mistake about this one." The next bright day they went to the +bank and got another dollar. + +Now Doris's mama was a very wise person (mamas often are). So they went +to a store where there were some books that had been wet a little by the +firemen when the store caught fire. There they found a large, fine book +of animal stories with pictures in it that had been 50 cents, but the +book-store man sold it for 10 cents, because the back cover and a little +bit of the edge was stained with water and smoke. + +That left--how much? Ninety cents. Doris's brother had told her he would +teach her to play marbles, so she bought six glass marbles for 5 cents +and a hoop with a stick for 5 more. That left 80 cents. + +Then Doris asked if her mama thought she could buy a pair of roller +skates. Her mama said they could ask how much roller skates cost, but +the shopman said they were a dollar a pair! So Doris said she would save +up the 80 cents that was left of her dollar and wait until she had +enough for the skates. + +However, a little boy was looking in at the window of the toy-shop and +he looked so sad, and so longingly at the toys, that Doris spoke to him, +and when he said he wanted one of the red balls, she bought it for 5 +cents, and gave it to him. That left 75 cents. + +When they got home, they told papa about the skates and he said he could +get them down-town for 75 cents, and he did. + +So Doris learned by losing her first dollar, to get a lot of good things +that would be more useful and would last longer, with her second +dollar. + + +A DUTCH TREAT + +BY AMY B. JOHNSON + +"I've been crying again, father." + +"Have you, sweetheart? I'm sorry." + +"Father." + +"Yes, darling." + +"I don't like Holland at all. I wish we had stayed in New York. And I +would much rather stay in Amsterdam with you to-day than to go and see +those horrid little Dutch children. I'm sure I shall hate them all." + +"But how about Marie? You want to see her, don't you?" + +"No. I'm very much annoyed with Marie. I don't see why she could not +have been contented in New York. After taking care of me ever since I +was a baby, she must like me better than those nieces and nephews she +never saw till yesterday." + +"I am sure Marie loves you very dearly, Katharine, but you are getting +to be such a big girl now that you no longer need a nurse, and Marie was +homesick. She wished to come back to Holland years ago, but I persuaded +her to stay till you were old enough to do without her, and until Aunt +Katharine was ready to come to New York and live with us, promising her +that when that time came you and I would come over with her, just as we +have done, on our way to Paris. We must not be selfish and grudge Marie +to her sisters, who have not seen her for twelve years." + +"I am homesick now, too, father. I was so happy in New York with my +dolls--and you--and Marie--and--" + +"So you shall be again, darling; in a few months we will go back, taking +dear Aunt Katharine with us from Paris, and you will soon love her +better than you do Marie." + +Katharine and her father, Colonel Easton, were floating along a canal +just out of Amsterdam, in a _trekschuit_, or small passenger-boat, on +their way to the home of one of Marie's sisters, two of whom were +married and settled near one of the dikes of Holland. Katharine was to +spend the day there with her nurse, and make the acquaintance of all the +nieces and nephews about whom Marie had told her so much, while her +father was to return to Amsterdam, where he had business to transact +with a friend. They had arrived in Holland only the day before, when +Marie had immediately left them, being anxious to get home as soon as +possible, after exacting a promise from the colonel that Katharine +should visit her the next day. + +Katharine felt very sure she would never like Holland as she gazed +rather scornfully at the curious objects they passed: the queer +gay-colored boats, the windmills which met the eye at every turn, with +their great arms waving in the air, the busy-looking people, men and +women, some of the latter knitting as they walked, carrying heavy +baskets on their backs, and all looking so contented and placid. + +"Try and think of the nice day you are going to have with Marie and the +children," said the colonel; "then this evening I will come for you, and +we will go together to Paris, and when you see Aunt Katharine you will +be perfectly happy. See, we are nearly at the landing, and look at that +row of little girls and boys. I do believe they are looking for you." + +"Yes; they must be Marie's sister's children, I know them from the +description Marie has read me from her letters. Aren't they horrid +little things, father? Just look at their great clumps of shoes--" + +"Yes--_klompen_; that is what they are called, Katharine." + +"And their baggy clothes and short waists! One of them knitting, too! +Well, I would never make such a fright of myself, even if I did live in +Holland, which I'm glad I don't." + + [Illustration: "THE WINDMILLS WHICH MET THE EYE AT EVERY TURN, WITH + THEIR GREAT ARMS WAVING IN THE AIR."] + +By this time they had made the landing. Then Katharine and Marie fell +into each other's arms and cried, gazed at in half-frightened curiosity +by seven small, shy Hollanders, and in pitying patience by a very large +colonel. + +"Au revoir. I will call for Katharine this afternoon," called Colonel +Easton, when the time came for him to go on board again. + +Katharine waved her handkerchief to her father as long as his boat was +in sight. + +"See, Miss Katharine," said Marie--in Dutch now, for Katharine +understood that language very well, Marie having spoken it to her from +her infancy--"here is Gretel, and this is her little sister Katrine and +her brother Jan. The others are their cousins. Come here, Lotten; don't +be shy. Ludolf, Mayken, Freitje, shake hands with my little American +girl; they were all eager to come and meet you, dear, so I had to bring +them." + +Katharine shook hands very soberly with the little group, and then +walked off beside Marie, hearing nothing but the clatter-clatter of +fourteen wooden shoes behind her. + +Soon they arrived at the cottage, and in a moment seven pairs of klompen +were ranged in a neat row outside a small cottage, while their owners +all talked at once to two sweet-faced women standing in the doorway. +These were Marie's sisters, whose husbands were out on the sea fishing, +and who lived close beside each other in two tiny cottages exactly +alike. + +"Oh," exclaimed Katharine, as, panting and breathless, she joined the +group, "do you always take off your shoes before you go into the +house?" + + [Illustration: LITTLE MAYKEN] + +"Why, of course," said the children. + +"How funny!" said Katharine. + +Then Marie, who had been left far behind, came up and introduced the +little stranger to Juffrouw Van Dyne and Juffrouw Boekman, who took her +into the house, followed by the three children who belonged there and +the four cousins who belonged next door. They took off her coat and hat +and gave her an arm-chair to sit in as she nibbled a tiny piece of +gingerbread, while large pieces from the same loaf disappeared as if by +magic among the other children. Then Gretel showed to her her doll; Jan +shyly put into her hand a very pretty small model of the boat she had +come in on that morning; Lotten offered her a piece of Edam cheese, +which she took, while politely declining Mayken's offer to teach her to +knit, little Katrine deposited a beautiful white kitten on her lap; +Ludolf showed her a fine pair of klompen on which his father was +teaching him to carve some very pretty figures; Freitje brought all his +new fishing-tackle and invited her to go fishing with him at the back of +the house. It was not long before Katharine forgot that she was +homesick, and grew really interested in her surroundings; and later the +dinner, consisting chiefly of fish and rye bread, tasted very good to +the now hungry Katharine. + +It was after dinner that the tragedy happened. The children had all +started out for a walk. Before they had gone more than a mile from the +house the fog settled all around them--so dense, so thick, blotting out +everything, that they could not see more than a step ahead. They were +not frightened, however, as all they had to do was to turn round and go +straight ahead toward home. The children took one another's hands at +Gretel's direction, stretching themselves across the road, Katharine, +who held Gretel's hand, being at one end of the line. They walked on +slowly along the dike for a short time, talking busily, though not able +to see where they were going, when suddenly Katharine felt her feet +slipping. In trying to steady herself she let go of Gretel, gave a wild +clutch at the air, and then rolled, rolled, right down a steep bank, +and, splash! into a pool of water at the bottom. For a moment she lay +half stunned, not knowing what had happened to her; then, as her sense +came, "Oh," thought she, "I must be killed, or drowned, or something!" +She tried to call "Gretel," but her voice sounded weak and far off, and +she could see nothing. Slowly she crawled out of the pool, only to +plunge, splash! into another. She felt, oh, so cold, wet, and bruised! +"I must have rolled right down the dike," she thought. "If I could find +it, I might climb up again." She got up and tried to walk, but sank to +her ankles in water at every step. + +She was a little lame from her fall, and soaked from head to foot. Her +clothes hung around her most uncomfortably when she tried to walk. But, +if she had to crawl on hands and knees, she must find the house; so, +plunging, tumbling, rising again, she crawled in and out of ditches, +every minute getting more cold and miserable. + +But on she went, shivering and sore, every moment wandering farther from +her friends, who were out searching all along the bottom of the dike. + +After what seemed to her a long time, she came bump up against something +hard. She did not know what it was, but she could have jumped for joy, +if her clothes had not been so heavy to hear a voice suddenly call out +in Dutch "What's that? Who has hit against my door? Ach! where in the +world have you come from?" Then in a considerably milder tone: "Ach! the +little one! and she is English. How did you get here, dear heart?" + +"I--I--fell down the dike. I have--lost--everybody. Oh, how shall I ever +get back to father?" answered Katharine in her very poor Dutch. + +"But tell me, little one, where you came from--ach! so cold and wet!" + +"I was spending the day with Marie and Gretel--and--Jan--and we were +walking on the dike when the fog came on; then I fell, and could not +find my way--" + +"Gretel and Jan--could they be Juffrouw Van Dyne's children?" + +"Yes, yes," eagerly; "that is where I was. Oh, _can_ you take me back, +dear, dear juffrouw?" + +"Yes, when the fog clears away, my child. I could not find the house +now; it is more than two miles from here. Besides, you must put off +these wet clothes; you will get your death of cold--poor lambkin." + +At this Katharine's sobs broke forth afresh. It must be late in the +evening now, she thought; her father would come to Marie's and would not +be able to find her-- + +"No, dear child, it is only four o'clock in the afternoon. The fog may +clear away very soon, and then I will take you back." + +Quickly the wet garments were taken off and hung about the stove. +Katharine presently found herself wrapped up in blankets in a great +arm-chair in front of the fire, a cushion at her back and another under +her feet, drinking some nice hot broth, and feeling so warm and +comfortable that she fell fast asleep, and awoke two hours later to find +the room quite light, the fog almost gone, the juffrouw sitting beside +her knitting, and a comfortable-looking cat purring noisily at her +feet. + + [Illustration: GRETEL AND KATRINE.] + +"I think I have been asleep," she said. + +"I think you have," said Dame Donk. + +Just then a loud knock was heard at the door, a head was poked in, then +another, and still another. The cottage was fast filling up. There +stood, first of all, poor, pale, frightened Marie, holding a large +bundle in her arms, Jan with another smaller one, Gretel carrying a pair +of shoes, and one of the sisters, completely filling up the doorway with +her ample proportions, last of all. + +It appears that as soon as the fog had begun to clear, the good Dame +Donk had despatched a boy from a neighboring cottage to let them know +where Katharine was, and that her wardrobe would need replenishing. + +The excitement on finding the child safe and sound may be better +imagined than described. How she was kissed, cried, and laughed over, +what questions were asked and not answered, as she was taken into an +adjoining room and arrayed in a complete suit of Gretel's clothes, even +to the klompen, for, alas! her French shoes were now in no condition to +be worn, the pretty blue frock torn and stained and hopelessly wet, the +hat with its dainty plume crushed and useless; indeed, every article she +had worn looked only fit for the rag-bag. + +Gretel was so much smaller than Katharine that the clothes were a very +tight fit, the skirt which hung round Gretel's ankles reaching just +below Katharine's knees, and it was a funny little figure that stepped +back into the room--no longer a fashionably dressed New York maiden, but +a golden-haired child of Holland, even to the blue eyes, sparkling now +with fun and merriment. + +"But didn't you bring a cap for me, Marie?" she asked in a grieved tone. + +"Ah, no, deary; I never thought of a cap." + +"Well, you must put one on me the minute we get back." + +"Oh, what will father say?" she cried delightedly, as she surveyed +herself in the little mirror. + +This sobered Marie at once. What would "father" say, indeed? Would he +not have a right to be very angry with her, that she had allowed the +child to get into such danger? + + * * * + +"Where is Katharine?" asked the colonel, as he stood, tall and +commanding, on the threshold, later that evening, surveying eight small +Hollanders, looking so much alike, except for the difference in their +sizes, that they might have passed for eight Dutch dolls propped up in a +row against the wall. + +A sudden shriek of laughter, and one of the dolls was in his arms, +smothering him with kisses. Then every one began to talk at once, as +usual, and it was not until late the next evening, when he and Katharine +were steaming out of Amsterdam, that the colonel was told the whole +story and for the first time fully understood all that had happened to +his little girl on that eventful day. + +Meanwhile the new light in his daughter's eyes and the laughter on her +lips kept him from any desire to inquire too deeply into the reason for +a certain embarrassed frightened look on the faces of the women. + +Before leaving Amsterdam the colonel was obliged to purchase a complete +suit of Dutch garments for Katharine as a memento of this visit, and +"because they are so pretty, father," she said, and "oh, father, I just +love Holland! As for those Dutch children, I think they are simply the +dearest, sweetest things I ever saw, and I have promised to write to +Gretel as soon as ever I get to Paris." + + +THE JINGLE OF THE LITTLE JAP + +BY ISABEL ECCLESTON MACKAY + + There lives in a town that is called Chu-Bo + A little Jap girl named Nami-Ko. + She learns to spell and she learns to write, + But her A B C's are the _oddest_ sight! + + For _this_ is the way that the letters look + In her neat little, queer little copy-book: + + This little Jap girl has shoes most neat + To put on her tiny Japanese feet, + But O! They are _queer_--such heels, such toes! + You'd think she would fall on her little Jap nose! + + And _these_ are the shoes--beware of mishap + If you wear what belongs to a queer little Jap! + + When this little Jap girl goes out to call + She wears no hat--but a parasol! + And her little Jap mother wears one too-- + In fact it's the way that the Japs all do. + + And _this_ is the curious parasol + Which the little Jap girl wears out to call: + + This little Jap girl, when she goes to bed, + Has no soft pillow beneath her head, + For little Jap girls have to take great care + Of their smooth little, black little Japanese hair! + + And _this_ is the pillow! Imagine, chicks, + A pillow like this--and as hard as bricks! + + +THE SEVENTH BIRTHDAY OF THE LITTLE COUSIN FROM CONSTANTINOPLE + +BY EMMA C. DOWD + +The Little Cousin from Constantinople was to have been given a party on +her seventh birthday; but, just before the invitations were written, +Mumps came uninvited, and, of course, there could be no other guests +while Mumps stayed. + + [Illustration: "EAGERLY SHE TORE OFF THE WRAPPINGS." (SEE NEXT PAGE.)] + +The Little Cousin could not help feeling just a little tearful on her +birthday morning, for Mumps, as nearly everybody knows, is a painful, +disagreeable visitor. She did not cry when anybody was near--oh, no, +indeed! She even tried to smile; but she found smiling very difficult +with a poultice on each side of her face, and she had to give it up. The +Merry Mother understood, however, and told her she was a dear, brave +little girl, and strove to comfort her just as the dear absent Mother in +Constantinople would have comforted her if she had been there. + +Before the Merry Mother left her the Little Cousin felt almost happy, +sitting up among her soft pillows, and wearing her new, pink, birthday +sacque, with its pretty ribbons. + +"I am sorry I must be away all the morning," the Merry Mother said; "but +I hope your pleasant company will keep you from missing me. I am going +to shut your door for a minute, and when it opens you can pull in your +visitors as fast as you please." She laughed to see the Little Cousin's +astonished face, for the doctor had said that the children must not come +in to see her as long as Mumps stayed. Then the door closed. + +There was a slight commotion outside. The Little Cousin listened +eagerly. What could it mean? Hushed voices, bits of laughter, the +sliding of something over the polished floor, scurrying footsteps here +and there--the Little Cousin heard it all, and waited breathlessly. + +At last the feet retreated, the door opened, and the Merry Mother's face +appeared. Something attached to a string came flying toward the bed. + +"Catch it!" she called. + +The Little Cousin grabbed it--only a small block of wood, on which was +printed, "PULL." + +Eagerly the little hands obeyed, when in through the doorway slid an +oblong package. Across the rug and up on the bed the Little Cousin drew +it, till her excited fingers clasped the package tight--what could it +be? + +Fastened to the further end of the bundle was another block of wood, and +attached to it was another string which led outside the door. On this +block was printed. "When you are ready, PULL again!" + +"I'll open this first," said the Little Cousin to herself, untying the +block, and laying it aside with its dangling cord. Eagerly she tore off +the wrappings--it was, it _was_ a doll, such a darling of a doll! It had +brown eyes and fluffy yellow curls, and--this seemed very strange--the +only thing in the way of clothing that it possessed was a little blanket +that was wrapped around it. + +Never mind! she was learning to sew, and she would make it a dress as +soon as she was well again. She cuddled Dolly down against the pillows. +She would not be lonely any more, even if Mumps should stay for a longer +visit than was expected. Her dolls had all been left for the Little +Sister in Constantinople, and it was so nice to have a dolly of her own +again! + +Then her eyes fell on the block of wood, with its inscription, and she +began to pull in the string. + +A square package appeared in the doorway, and she drew it toward her. +Attached to it was a third block. This she untied as before, and removed +the paper from her gift. It was a small trunk. She lifted the cover, and +there were Dolly's missing garments! A blue dress, a pink dress, a white +dress, dainty underwear, sash ribbons, a coat and hat, and even a tiny +comb and brush, were found in that wonderful trunk. Of course, Dolly had +to come out from her nook in the pillows, and be dressed. It took some +time, because Little Cousin must stop to admire every separate garment. +At last, however, the third present was pulled in, and it was a chair +for Dolly to sit in. + +The fourth package was big and rather heavier than the others. The +Little Cousin wondered what it could be, and she found out just as soon +as she could get it open. It was a dining-table for Dolly, with a real +little table-cloth, and napkins, and a set of pretty china dishes. + +"Oh, oh!" gasped the Little Cousin, in sheer delight. It is a pity there +was no one there to see the shining of her eyes. She rested awhile among +her pillows; but not long, for Dolly must have her table set for +luncheon--she might be hungry. + +Ready for the make-believe repast, string number five was pulled, and +when the box was opened the Little Cousin fairly squealed, for there was +a real luncheon for Dolly and herself, all in twos! There were two tiny +buttered biscuits, two very small apple turnovers, and two little +frosted cakes. There were, also, two small bottles containing a brownish +liquid. It was chocolate! Oh, how glad the Little Cousin was that she +had passed the stage where she could not eat! It would have been hard, +indeed, to have left all those goodies for Dolly. As it was she had to +take food in very small bits, but that only made it last the longer; and +if it did hurt a little once in a while she did not mind, it tasted so +good. So on the whole, the luncheon was a very happy affair. + +When the sixth present was pulled upon the bed the Little Cousin said, +"Oh!" to the accompaniment of very bright eyes, for the shape of it told +her that must be a carriage--a carriage for Dolly, and it proved to be +one of the very prettiest that ever a small doll rode in. She was put on +the seat in a twinkling, and had only one tumble--which did not even +muss her dress, and the next time she was strapped in so that she could +not fall. + +The seventh gift was a little white bedstead, with mattress and sheets, +a dear little puffy comfortable, and a dainty coverlet and two pillows. +Of course, Dolly was tired enough after her ride to be undressed and go +to bed, and very sweet she looked as she was tucked snugly in. + +"Now shut your eyes and go right to sleep!" Dolly was bidden, and she +obeyed at once. + +"What a perfectly lovely birthday!" murmured Little Cousin, drawing her +darling--bed and all--close to her pillow. Then she shut her own eyes, +to keep Dolly company. + +When the Merry Mother peeped in, the Little Cousin from Constantinople +lay quite still among her treasures--fast asleep. + + +LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD + +RETOLD FROM GRIMM + +There was once a sweet little girl, who had gained the love of every +one, even those who had only seen her once. She had an old grandmother, +who knew not how to do enough for her, she loved her so much. Once she +sent her a little cloak with a red velvet hood, which became her so well +that she obtained the name of Little Red Riding-Hood. + +One day her mother said to her: "Come, Red Riding-Hood, I want you to go +and see your grandmother, and take her a piece of cake and a bottle of +wine; for she is ill and weak, and this will do her good. Make haste and +get ready before the weather gets too hot, and go straight on your road +while you are out, and behave prettily and modestly; and do not run, for +fear you should fall and break the bottle, and then grandmother would +have no wine. And when you pass through the village, do not forget to +courtesy and say 'Good-morning' to every one who knows you." + +"I will do everything you tell me, mother," said the child as she wished +her good-by and started for her long walk. + +It was quite half an hour's walk through the wood from the village to +the grandmother's house, and no sooner had Red Riding-Hood entered the +wood than she met a wolf. + +Red Riding-Hood did not know what a wicked animal he was, and felt not +the least afraid of him. + +"Good-day, Red Riding-Hood," he said. + +"Good-morning, sir," replied the little girl, with a courtesy. + +"Where are you going so early, Red Riding-Hood?" he asked. + +"To my grandmother, sir," she replied. "Mother baked yesterday, and she +has sent me with a piece of cake and a bottle of wine to her because she +is sick, and it will make her stronger and do her good." + +"Where does your grandmother live, Red Riding-Hood?" + +"About half a mile from here through the wood; her house stands under +three large oak trees, near to the nut hedges; you would easily know +it," said Red Riding-Hood. + +The wolf, when he heard this, thought to himself, "This little, delicate +thing would be a sweet morsel for me at last, and taste nicer than her +old grandmother, but she would not satisfy my hunger; I must make a meal +of them both." + +Then he walked quietly on by the side of Red Riding-Hood till they came +to a part of the wood where a number of flowers grew. + +"See, Red Riding-Hood," he said, "what pretty flowers are growing here; +would you not like to rest and gather some? And don't you hear how +sweetly the birds are singing? You are walking on as steadily as if you +were going to school, and it is much more pleasant here in the wood." + +Then Red Riding-Hood looked up and saw the dancing sunbeams shining +between the trees and lighting up the beautiful flowers that grew all +around her, and she thought, "If I were to take my grandmother a fresh +nosegay, it would make her so pleased; it is early yet, and I have +plenty of time." + +So she went out of her way into the wood to gather flowers. And when she +had picked a few, she saw some more beautiful still at a little distance +so she walked on further and further, till she was quite deep in the +wood. + +Meanwhile the wolf went straight on to the grandmother's house, and +knocked at the door. There was no answer. + +So the wolf lifted the latch and the door flew open; then he rushed in, +hoping to seize upon the poor old grandmother, and eat her up. But she +had gone out for a little walk, so he shut the door, dressed himself in +the old woman's nightgown and nightcap, and lay down in the bed to wait +for Red Riding-Hood. + +After Red Riding-Hood had gathered as many flowers as she could carry, +she found her way back quickly to the right path, and walked on very +fast till she came to her grandmother's house, and knocked at the door. + +"Who is there?" said the wolf, trying to imitate the grandmother. His +voice was so gruff, however, that Little Red Riding-Hood would have been +frightened, only she thought her grandmother had a cold. + +So she replied: "It's Little Red Riding-Hood. Mother sent you a piece of +cake and a bottle of wine." + +"Lift up the latch and come in," said the wolf. + +So Red Riding-Hood lifted the latch and went in. + +When she saw her grandmother, as she thought, lying in bed, she went up +to her and drew back the curtains; but she could only see the head, for +the wolf had pulled the nightcap as far over his face as he could. + + [Illustration: LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD. + (ENGRAVED FROM THE PAINTING BY G. FERRIER.)] + +"Good-morning," she said; but there was no answer. Then she got on the +bed, and cried out: "Grandmother, what great ears you have!" + +"The better to hear with, my dear," he said. + +"Grandmother, what great eyes you have!" + +"The better to see you, my dear, the better to see you." + +"Grandmother, what great teeth you have!" + +"The better to eat you up!" + +The old wolf jumped out of bed, and Little Red Riding Hood, in the +greatest terror, screamed as loud as she could. + +Just then the door opened, and in came the grandmother and some woodmen +who were passing. They were just in time to save Little Red-Riding-Hood +from the old wolf. + + +DOLLY'S DOCTOR + + MARY + + Come and see my baby dear; + Doctor, she is ill, I fear. + Yesterday, do what I would, + She would touch no kind of food; + And she tosses, moans, and cries. + Doctor, what do you advise? + + DOCTOR JOHN + + Hum! ha! good madam, tell me, pray, + What have you offered her to-day? + Ah, yes! I see! a piece of cake-- + The worst thing you could make her take. + Just let me taste. Yes, yes; I fear + Too many plums and currants here. + But, stop; I must just taste again, + For that will make the matter plain. + + MARY + + But, Doctor, pray excuse me, now-- + You've eaten all the cake, I vow! + I thank you kindly for your care; + But surely that was hardly fair. + + DOCTOR JOHN + + Ah, dear me! did I eat the cake? + Well, it was for dear baby's sake. + But keep him in his bed, well warm, + And, you will see, he'll take no harm. + At night and morning use once more + His draught and powder, as before; + And he must not be over-fed, + But he may have a piece of bread. + To-morrow, then, I dare to say, + He'll be quite right. Good day! good day! + + +THUMBELINA + +BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN + +She had a little house of her own, a little garden, too, this woman of +whom I am going to tell you, but for all that she was not quite happy. + +"If only I had a little child of my own," she said, "how the walls would +ring with her laughter, and how the flowers would brighten at her +coming. Then, indeed, I should be quite happy." + +And an old witch heard what the woman wished, and said, "Oh, but that is +easily managed. Here is a barley-corn. Plant it in a flower-pot and tend +it carefully, and then you will see what will happen." + +The woman was in a great hurry to go home and plant the barley-corn, but +she did not forget to say "Thank you" to the old witch. She not only +thanked her, she even stayed to give her six silver pennies. + +Then she hurried away to her home, took a flower-pot and planted her +precious barley-corn. + +And what do you think happened? Almost before the corn was planted, up +shot a large and beautiful flower. It was still unopened. The petals +were folded closely together, but it looked like a tulip. It really was +a tulip, a red and yellow one, too. + +The woman loved flowers. She stooped and kissed the beautiful bud. As +her lips touched the petals, they burst open, and oh! wonder of wonders; +there, in the very middle of the flower, sat a little child. Such a +tiny, pretty little maiden she was. + +They called her Thumbelina. That was because she was no bigger than the +woman's thumb. + +And where do you think she slept? A little walnut shell, lined with +blue, that was her cradle. + +When she slept little Thumbelina lay in her cradle on a tiny heap of +violets, with the petal of a pale pink rose to cover her. + +And where do you think she played? A table was her playground. On the +table the woman placed a plate of water. Little Thumbelina called that +her lake. + +Round the plate were scented flowers; the blossoms lying on the edge, +while the pale green stalks reached thirstily down to the water. + +In the lake floated a large tulip leaf. This was Thumbelina's little +boat. Seated there she sailed from side to side of her little lake, +rowing cleverly with two white horse hairs. As she rowed backward and +forward she sang softly to herself. The woman listening heard, and +thought she had never known so sweet a song. + +And now such a sad thing happened. + +In through a broken window-pane hopped a big toad--oh, such an ugly big +toad! She hopped right on to the table, where Thumbelina lay dreaming in +her tiny cradle, under the pale pink rose leaf. + +"How beautiful the little maiden is," she croaked. "She will make a +lovely bride for my handsome son." And she lifted the little cradle, +with Thumbelina in it, and hopped out through the broken window-pane, +and down into the little garden. + +At the foot of the garden was a broad stream. Here, under the muddy +banks, lived the old toad with her son. + +How handsome she thought him! But he was really very ugly. Indeed, he +was exactly like his mother. + +When he saw little Thumbelina in her tiny cradle, he croaked with +delight. + +"Do not make so much noise," said his mother, "or you will wake the tiny +creature. We may lose her if we are not careful. The slightest breeze +would waft her away. She is as light as gossamer." + +Then the old toad carried Thumbelina out into the middle of the stream. +"She will be safe here," she said, as she laid her gently on one of the +leaves of a large water lily, and paddled back to her son. + +"We will make ready the best rooms under the mud," she told him, "and +then you and the little maiden will be married." + +Poor little Thumbelina! She had not seen the ugly big toad yet, nor her +ugly son. + +When she woke up early in the morning, how she wept! Water all around +her! How could she reach the shore? Poor little Thumbelina! + +Down under the mud the old toad was very busy, decking the best room +with buttercups and buds of water-lilies to make it gay for her little +daughter-in-law, Thumbelina. + +"Now we will go to bring her little bed and place it ready," said the +old toad, and together she and her son swam out to the leaf where little +Thumbelina sat. + +"Here is my handsome son," she said, "he is to be your husband," and she +bowed low in the water, for she wished to be very polite to the little +maiden. + +"Croak, croak," was all the young toad could say, as he looked at his +pretty little bride. + +Then they took away the tiny little bed, and Thumbelina was left all +alone. + +How the tears stained her pretty little face! How fast they fell into +the stream! Even the fish as they swam hither and thither thought, "How +it rains today," as the tiny drops fell thick and fast. + +They popped up their heads and saw the forlorn little maiden. + +"She shall not marry the ugly toad," they said, as they looked with +eager eyes at the pretty child. "No, she shall not marry the ugly toad." + +But what could the little fish do to help Thumbelina? + +They found the green stem which held the leaf on which Thumbelina sat. +They bit it with their little sharp teeth, and they never stopped +biting, till at last they bit the green stem through; and away, down the +stream, floated the leaf, carrying with it little Thumbelina. + +"Free, free!" she sang, and her voice tinkled as a chime of fairy bells. +"Free, free!" she sang merrily as she floated down the stream, away, far +away out of reach of the ugly old toad and her ugly son. + +And as she floated on, the little wild birds sang round her, and on the +banks the little wild hare-bells bowed to her. + +Butterflies were flitting here and there in the sunshine. A pretty +little white one fluttered onto the leaf on which sat Thumbelina. He +loved the tiny maiden so well that he settled down beside her. + +Now she was quite happy! Birds around her, flowers near her, and the +water gleaming like gold in the summer sunshine. What besides could +little Thumbelina wish? + +She took off her sash and threw one end of it round the butterfly. The +other end she fastened firmly to the leaf. On and on floated the leaf, +the little maiden and the butterfly. + +Suddenly a great cockchafer buzzed along. Alas! he caught sight of +little Thumbelina. He flew to her, put his claw round her tiny little +waist and carried her off, up onto a tree. + +Poor little Thumbelina! How frightened she was! How grieved she was, +too, for had she not lost her little friend the butterfly? + +Would he fly away, she wondered, or would her sash hold him fast? + +The cockchafer was charmed with the little maiden. He placed her +tenderly on the largest leaf he could find. He gathered honey for her +from the flowers, and as she sipped it, he sat near and told her how +beautiful she looked. + +But there were other chafers living in the tree, and when they came to +see little Thumbelina, they said, "She is not pretty at all." + +"She has only two legs," said one. + +"She has no feelers," said another. + +Some said she was too thin, others that she was too fat, and then they +all buzzed and hummed together, "How ugly she is, how ugly she is!" But +all the time little Thumbelina was the prettiest little maiden that ever +lived. + +And now the cockchafer who had flown off with little Thumbelina thought +he had been rather foolish to admire her. + +He looked at her again. "Pretty? No, after all she was not very pretty." +He would have nothing to do with her, and away he and all the other +chafers flew. Only first they carried little Thumbelina down from the +tree and placed her on a daisy. She wept because she was so ugly--so +ugly that the chafers could not live with her. But all the time, you +know, she was the prettiest little maiden in the world. + +She was living all alone in the wood now, but it was summer and she +could not feel sad or lonely while the warm golden sunshine touched her +so gently, while the birds sang to her, and the flowers bowed to her. + +Yes, little Thumbelina was happy. She ate honey from the flowers, and +drank dew out of the golden buttercups and danced and sang the livelong +day. + +But summer passed away and autumn came. The birds began to whisper of +flying to warmer countries, and the flowers began to fade and hang their +heads, and as autumn passed away, winter came, cold, dreary winter. + +Thumbelina shivered with cold. Her little frock was thin and old. She +would certainly be frozen to death, she thought, as she wrapped herself +up in a withered leaf. + +Then the snow began to fall, and each snow-flake seemed to smother her. +She was so very tiny. + +Close to the wood lay a corn-field. The beautiful golden grain had been +carried away long ago, now there was only dry short stubble. But to +little Thumbelina the stubble was like a great forest. + +She walked through the hard field. She was shaking with cold. All at +once she saw a little door just before her. + +The field-mouse had made a little house under the stubble, and lived so +cozily there. She had a big room full of corn, and she had a kitchen and +pantry as well. + +"Perhaps I shall get some food here," thought the cold and hungry little +maiden, as she stood knocking at the door, just like a tiny beggar +child. She had had nothing to eat for two long days. Oh, she was very +hungry! + +"What a tiny thing you are!" said the field-mouse, as she opened the +door and saw Thumbelina. "Come in and dine with me." + +How glad Thumbelina was, and how she enjoyed dining with the +field-mouse. + +She behaved so prettily that the old field-mouse told her she might live +with her while the cold weather lasted. "And you shall keep my room +clean and neat, and you shall tell me stories," she added. + +That is how Thumbelina came to live with the field-mouse and to meet Mr. +Mole. + +"We shall have a visitor soon," said the field-mouse. "My neighbor, Mr. +Mole, comes to see me every week-day. His house is very large, and he +wears a beautiful coat of black velvet. Unfortunately, he is blind. If +you tell him your prettiest stories he may marry you." + +Now the mole was very wise and very clever, but how could little +Thumbelina ever care for him. Why, he did not love the sun, nor the +flowers, and he lived in a house underground. No, Thumbelina did not +wish to marry the mole. + +However she must sing to him when he came to visit his neighbor, the +field-mouse. When she had sung, "Ladybird, Ladybird, fly away home," and +"Boys and girls, come out to play," the mole was charmed, and thought he +would like to marry the little maiden with the beautiful voice. + +Then he tried to be very agreeable. He invited the field-mouse and +Thumbelina to walk along the underground passage he had dug between +their houses. Mr. Mole was very fond of digging underground. + +As it was dark the mole took a piece of tinder-wood in his mouth and led +the way. The tinder-wood shone like a torch in the dark passage. + +A little bird lay in the passage, a little bird who had not flown away +when the flowers faded and the cold winds blew. + +It was dead, the mole said. + +When he reached the bird, the mole stopped and pushed his nose right +up through the ceiling to make a hole, through which the daylight might +shine. + + [Illustration: "IN THE VERY HEART OF THE FLOWER STOOD A LITTLE PRINCE"] + +There lay a swallow, his wings pressed close to his side, his little +head and legs drawn in under his feathers. He had died of cold. + +"Poor little swallow!" thought Thumbelina. All wild birds were her +friends. Had they not sung to her and fluttered round her all the long +glad summer days? + +But the mole kicked the swallow with his short legs. "That one will sing +no more," he said roughly. "It must be sad to be born a bird and to be +able only to sing and fly. I am thankful none of my children will be +birds," and he proudly smoothed down his velvet coat. + +"Yes," said the field-mouse, "what can a bird do but sing? When the cold +weather comes it is useless." + +Thumbelina said nothing. Only when the others moved on, she stooped down +and stroked the bird gently with her tiny hand, and kissed its closed +eyes. + +That night the little maiden could not sleep. "I will go to see the poor +swallow again," she thought. + +She got up out of her tiny bed. She wove a little carpet out of hay. +Down the long underground passage little Thumbelina walked, carrying the +carpet. She reached the bird at last, and spread the carpet gently round +him. She fetched warm cotton and laid it over the bird. + +"Even down on the cold earth he will be warm now," thought the gentle +little maiden. + +"Farewell," she said sadly, "farewell, little bird! Did you sing to me +through the long summer days, when the leaves were green and the sky was +blue? Farewell, little swallow!" and she stooped to press her tiny +cheeks against the soft feathers. + +As she did so, she heard--what could it be? pit, pat, pit, pat! Could +the bird be alive? Little Thumbelina listened still. Yes, it was the +beating of the little bird's heart that she heard. He had not been dead +after all, only frozen with cold. The little carpet and the covering the +little maid had brought warmed the bird. He would get well now. + +What a big bird he seemed to Thumbelina! She was almost afraid now, for +she was so tiny. She was tiny, but she was brave. Drawing the covering +more closely round the poor swallow, she brought her own little pillow, +that the bird's head might rest softly. + +Thumbelina stole out again the next night. "Would the swallow look at +her," she wondered. + +Yes, he opened his eyes and looked at little Thumbelina, who stood there +with a tiny torch of tinder-wood. + +"Thanks, thanks, little Thumbelina," he twittered feebly. "Soon I shall +grow strong and fly out in the bright sunshine once more; thanks, +thanks, little maiden." + +"Oh! but it is too cold, it snows and freezes, for now it is winter," +said Thumbelina. "Stay here and be warm, and I will take care of you," +and she brought the swallow water in a leaf. + +And the little bird told her all his story--how he had tried to fly to +the warm countries, and how he had torn his wing on a blackthorn bush +and fallen to the ground. But he could not tell her how he had come to +the underground passage. + +All winter the swallow stayed there, and Thumbelina was often in the +long passage, with her little torch of tinder-wood. But the mole and the +field-mouse did not know how Thumbelina tended and cared for the +swallow. + +At last spring came, and the sun sent its warmth down where the swallow +lay in the underground passage. + +Little Thumbelina opened the hole which the mole had made in the +ceiling, and the sunshine streamed down on the swallow and the little +girl. + +How the swallow longed to soar away, up and up, to be lost to sight in +the blue, blue sky! + +"Come with me, little Thumbelina," said the swallow, "come with me to +the blue skies and the green woods." + +But Thumbelina remembered how kind the field-mouse had been to her when +she was cold and hungry, and she would not leave her. + +"Farewell! farewell! then, little maiden," twittered the swallow as he +flew out and up, up into the sunshine. + +Thumbelina loved the swallow dearly. Her eyes were full of tears as she +watched the bird disappearing till he was only a tiny speck of black. + +And now sad days came to little Thumbelina. + +The golden corn was once more waving in the sunshine above the house of +the field-mouse, but Thumbelina must not go out lest she lose herself +among the corn. + +Not go out in the bright sunshine! Oh, poor little Thumbelina! + +"You must get your wedding clothes ready this summer," said the +field-mouse. "You must be well provided with linen and worsted. My +neighbor the mole will wish a well-dressed bride." + +The mole had said he wished to marry little Thumbelina before the cold +winter came again. + +So Thumbelina sat at the spinning-wheel through the long summer days, +spinning and weaving with four little spiders to help her. + +In the evening the mole came to visit her. "Summer will soon be over," +he said, "and we shall be married." + +But oh! little Thumbelina did not wish the summer to end. + +Live with the dull old mole, who hated the sunshine, who would not +listen to the song of the birds--live underground with him! Little +Thumbelina wished the summer would never end. + +The spinning and weaving were over now. All the wedding clothes were +ready. Autumn was come. + +"Only four weeks and the wedding-day will have come," said the +field-mouse. + +And little Thumbelina wept. + +"I will not marry the tiresome old mole," she said. + +"I shall bite you with my white tooth if you talk such nonsense," said +the field-mouse. "Among all my friends not one of them has such a fine +velvet coat as the mole. His cellars are full and his rooms are large. +You ought to be glad to marry so well," she ended. + +"Was there no escape from the underground home?" little Thumbelina +wondered. + +The wedding-day came. The mole arrived to fetch his little bride. + +How could she say good-by forever to the beautiful sunshine? + +"Farewell, farewell!" she cried, and waved her little hands toward the +glorious sun. + +"Farewell, farewell!" she cried, and threw her tiny arms round a little +red flower growing at her feet. + +"Tell the dear swallow, when he comes again," she whispered to the +flower, "tell him I will never forget him." + +"Tweet, tweet!" What was that Thumbelina heard? "Tweet, tweet!" Could it +be the swallow? + +The flutter of wings was round her. Little Thumbelina looked. How glad +she was, for there, indeed, was the little bird she had tended and cared +for so long. She told him, weeping, she must not stay. She must marry +the mole and live underground, and never see the sun, the glorious sun. + +"Come with me, come with me, little Thumbelina," twittered the swallow. +"You can sit on my back, and I will fly with you to warmer countries, +far from the tiresome old mole. Over mountains and seas we will fly to +the country where the summer never ends, and the sunlight always +shines." + +Then little Thumbelina seated herself on her dear swallow's back, and +put her tiny feet on his outstretched wing. She tied herself firmly with +her little sash to the strongest feather of the bird. + +And the swallow soared high into the air. High above forests and lakes, +high above the big mountains that were crested with snow, he soared. + +They had reached the warm countries now. + +On and on flew the swallow, till he came to a white marble palace. +Half-ruined it was, and vine leaves trailed up the long slender pillars. +And among the broad, green leaves many a swallow had built his nest, and +one of these nests belonged to Thumbelina's little swallow. + +"This is my home," said the bird, "but you shall live in one of these +brilliant flowers, in the loveliest of them all." + +And little Thumbelina clapped her hands with joy. + +The swallow flew with her to a stately sun-flower, and set her carefully +on one of the broad yellow petals. + +But think, what was her surprise! In the very heart of the flower stood +a little Prince, fair and transparent as crystal. On his shoulders were +a pair of delicate wings, and he was small, every bit as small as +Thumbelina. He was the spirit of the flower. + +For you know in each flower there is a spirit--a tiny little boy or +girl, but this little Prince was King of all the flower spirits. + +The little King thought Thumbelina the loveliest maiden he had ever +seen. He took off his golden crown and placed it on the tiny head of the +little maid, and in a silvery voice he asked, "Will you be my bride, +little Thumbelina, and reign with me over the flower spirits?" + +How glad Thumbelina was! + +The little King wished to marry her. Yes, she would be his little Queen. + +Then out of each blossom stepped tiny little children. They came to pay +their homage to little Thumbelina. + +Each one brought her a present, and the most beautiful of all the +presents was a pair of wings, delicate as gossamer. And when they were +fastened on the shoulders of the little Queen, she could fly from flower +to flower. + +And the swallow sat on his nest above, and sang his sweetest bridal song +for the wedding of little Thumbelina. + + +THE FOX AND THE LITTLE RED HEN + +Once upon a time there was a little red hen. She lived in a little white +house and she had a little green garden. Every day she worked in the +house and garden. + +Near her home lived a family of foxes. One day Mamma Fox said to Papa +Fox, "I want a fat hen to eat." There was nothing in the pantry for the +baby foxes, so Papa Fox started out to find something for them all. + +He ran down the road until he came to the woods. "Surely I will find +something here," he said, but he found nothing to eat in the woods. As +he came near the little green garden he said, "Oh, I smell fresh cake! +Oh, I smell a little red hen!" + +Sure enough, there was the Little Red Hen eating her cake. + +Papa Fox stole up softly behind her and grabbed her and put her into the +bag on his back; then he ran quickly off down the hill toward his home. + +The Little Red Hen was so frightened that she could only whisper, "Oh, +dear! Oh, dear! Oh, dear!" + +Just then she had to sneeze, and when she put her claw into her pocket +for her handkerchief, she felt her little scissors. Quick as a flash she +took them out and cut a little hole in the bag. Peeping out she saw a +great hill just ahead, all covered with stones. As Papa Fox stopped to +rest on his way up the hill, with his back turned toward her, she cut a +big hole in the bag, jumped out and quickly put a big stone in the bag +in her place. + +As Papa Fox kept on up the hill, he thought the bag was pretty heavy, +but he said, "Never mind, she is a fat little red hen." + +Mamma Fox met him at the front door with all the baby foxes. + +"The water is boiling," said she. "What have you in your bag?" asked the +Baby Foxes. + +"A fat little red hen," said Papa Fox. + +As he held the bag over the pot, he said to Mamma Fox, "When I drop her +in, you clap on the lid." So he opened the bag. Splash! went the boiling +water. It spilled all over Papa Fox and Mamma Fox and the Baby Foxes. +Never again did they try to catch the Little Red Hen. + + +THE SHOEMAKER AND THE LITTLE ELVES + +BY THE BROTHERS GRIMM + +There was once a shoemaker, who, from no fault of his own, had become so +poor that at last he had nothing left, but just sufficient leather for +one pair of shoes. In the evening he cut out the leather, intending to +make it up in the morning; and, as he had a good conscience, he lay +quietly down to sleep, first commending himself to God. In the morning +he said his prayers, and then sat down to work; but, behold, the pair of +shoes were already made, and there they stood upon his board. The poor +man was amazed, and knew not what to think; but he took the shoes into +his hand to look at them more closely, and they were so neatly worked, +that not a stitch was wrong; just as if they had been made for a prize. +Presently a customer came in; and as the shoes pleased him very much, he +paid down more than was usual; and so much that the shoemaker was able +to buy with it leather for two pairs. By the evening he had got his +leather shaped out; and when he arose the next morning, he prepared to +work with fresh spirit; but there was no need--for the shoes stood all +perfect on his board. He did not want either for customers; for two came +who paid him so liberally for the shoes, that he bought with the money +material for four pairs more. These also--when he awoke--he found all +ready-made, and so it continued; what he cut out overnight was, in the +morning, turned into the neatest shoes possible. This went on until he +had regained his former appearance, and was becoming prosperous. + +One evening--not long before Christmas--as he had cut out the usual +quantity, he said to his wife before going to bed, "What say you to +stopping up this night, to see who it is that helps us so kindly?" His +wife was satisfied, and fastened up a light; and then they hid +themselves in the corner of the room, where hung some clothes which +concealed them. As soon as it was midnight in came two little manikins, +who squatted down on the board; and, taking up the prepared work, set to +with their little fingers, stitching and sewing, and hammering so +swiftly and lightly, that the shoemaker could not take his eyes off them +for astonishment. They did not cease until all was brought to an end, +and the shoes stood ready on the table; and then they sprang quickly +away. + + [Illustration: The Shoemaker & the Little Elves] + +The following morning the wife said, "The little men have made us rich, +and we must show our gratitude to them; for although they run about they +must be cold, for they have nothing on their bodies. I will make a +little shirt, coat, waistcoat, trousers, and stockings for each, and do +you make a pair of shoes for each." + +The husband assented; and one evening, when all was ready, they laid +presents, instead of the usual work, on the board, and hid themselves to +see the result. + +At midnight in came the Elves, jumping about, and soon prepared to work, +but when they saw no leather, but the natty little clothes, they at +first were astonished, but soon showed their rapturous glee. They drew +on their coats, and smoothing them down, sang-- + + "Smart and natty boys are we; + Cobblers we'll no longer be." + +And so they went on hopping and jumping over the stools and chairs, and +at last out at the door. After that evening they did not come again, but +the shoemaker prospered in all he undertook, and lived happily to the +end of his days. + + +THE GINGERBREAD BOY[N] + +Now you shall hear a story that somebody's great, great-grandmother told +a little girl ever so many years ago: + +There was once a little old man and a little old woman, who lived in a +little old house in the edge of a wood. They would have been a very +happy old couple but for one thing--they had no little child, and they +wished for one very much. One day, when the little old woman was baking +gingerbread, she cut a cake in the shape of a little boy, and put it +into the oven. + +Presently, she went to the oven to see if it was baked. As soon as the +oven door was opened, the little gingerbread boy jumped out, and began +to run away as fast as he could go. + +The little old woman called her husband, and they both ran after him. +But they could not catch him. And soon the gingerbread boy came to a +barn full of threshers. He called out to them as he went by, saying: + + "I've run away from a little old woman, + A little old man, + And I can run away from you, I can!" + +Then the barn full of threshers set out to run after him. But though +they ran fast, they could not catch him. And he ran on till he came to a +field full of mowers. He called out to them: + + "I've run away from a little old woman, + A little old man, + A barn full of threshers, + And I can run away from you, I can!" + +Then the mowers began to run after him, but they couldn't catch him. And +he ran on till he came to a cow. He called out to her: + + "I've run away from a little old woman, + A little old man, + A barn full of threshers, + A field full of mowers, + And I can run away from you, I can!" + +But though the cow started at once, she couldn't catch him. And soon he +came to a pig. He called out to the pig: + + "I've run away from a little old woman, + A little old man, + A barn full of threshers, + A field full of mowers, + A cow, + And I can run away from you, I can!" + +But the pig ran, and couldn't catch him. And he ran till he came across +a fox, and to him he called out: + + "I've run away from a little old woman, + A little old man, + A barn full of threshers, + A field full of mowers, + A cow and a pig, + And I can run away from you, I can!" + +Then the fox set out to run. Now, foxes can run very fast, and so the +fox soon caught the gingerbread boy and began to eat him up. + +Presently the gingerbread boy said: "O dear! I'm quarter gone!" And +then: "Oh, I'm half gone!" And soon: "I'm three-quarters gone!" And at +last: "I'm all gone!" and never spoke again. + + [N] First published in _St. Nicholas_. Used by permission of the + publishers, The Century Company. + + + + +#STORIES for LITTLE BOYS# + + + + +MISCHIEF + +BY ROSAMOND UPHAM + +Mischief was a cunning little fellow from the very first day that I saw +him. Such a round, plump little body, such short, clumsy legs, and such +a roguish face; just the one of all his nine brothers and sisters about +whom to write a story, and so you shall hear of his preparations for the +long journey upon which he went when he was two months old. + +His playmates were sent away, one by one, until at last he was left all +alone, with only the mastiff Rex for a companion, and a most forlorn +little pup he was, running about all day long, trying to keep up with +his new protector. + +One morning in January, the weather being very severe, Mischief was +taken into the kitchen to live, and a happier dog than he could not be +imagined, trotting about after the cook and housemaid from morning until +night, chasing the cats, stealing towels and brushes--in fact, attending +to all the mischief that came in his way. + +One day, about two weeks after he came into the house to live, a letter +came from Milwaukee saying that he, too, must be sent off. And of +course, Mischief knew about it. How could he help it, when the whole +household were so sorry to have him go? And accordingly he began to make +ready for the long journey he was so soon to take. + +As he sat by the range, evidently trying to make up his mind what to +take with him, his first thought was of the old coat he had had as a +bed; so he crossed the room, took the coat in his mouth, and with his +paws scratched it up into a bundle. + +Then he thought of his milk-dish. Of course he must take that, for how +could he drink from any other dish than the shiny one given him by the +cook two weeks before? So he took that between his teeth and put it +beside the coat. And the stove-hook, why not take that? No one seemed to +be using it just at the moment. And a gelatin-box that had just been +emptied, would it not be nice to pack his new collar in? + +So he ran tumbling across the floor for the box, and back again for the +string, when just then a pair of mittens caught his eye, and in this +cold weather the mittens would be a comfort on so long a journey, so +they were added to the collection under the table. And Mischief was just +thinking he was about ready to start, when the very thing he most +dreaded to leave behind him ran across the floor--the little yellow +kitten; why could she not go with him, and then the journey would not +seem so long? Accordingly, he ran after her, caught her by the neck, and +tried to put her down with his other baggage; but the kitten could not +understand what Mischief meant, and scratched and spit in a way that +plainly said she would not accompany him. + +Poor Mischief lay down in despair, and, after his hard morning's work, +took a long nap, only waking in time for his dinner. The next day he was +put into a warm box, carried to the station, and after a three days' +journey arrived in Milwaukee, happy, well, and delighted with his new +master, apparently quite forgetting his little mistress whom he left in +her New Hampshire home. + + +WILLIE AND HIS DOG DIVER + +BY H. N. POWERS + +Willie was a very little child and lived near a mill. One day he saw a +big cruel boy come along and throw a little puppy into the mill-pond, +and then run away. Willie cried out: "O Papa, Papa, do come here!" + +"What is the matter?" said his papa. + +"Oh, Papa! I want the little doggie! Please get him for me. He will be +drowned!" + +His papa took a long pole and put it under the puppy's neck and pulled +it out of the water and gave it to Willie. He was very happy with his +dog, which, by next year, grew to be a big, strong, shaggy fellow, and +was named Diver. He used to go with Willie everywhere the boy went, and +he loved Willie very much. Everybody said: "What a beautiful dog!" and +Willie was proud of him. + +One day when the nuts were ripe, Willie took his basket and went to pick +hazelnuts. One big bush full of nuts hung over a deep place in the +mill-pond, and, as Willie reached for the top branch, he slipped and +fell in the water out of sight. But when he came up, Diver jumped in, +took him by his collar, and brought him safe to land. So if it was good +for Willie to save the dog's life when he was a little puppy, it was +good for the dog to save Willie's life when _he_ was a little boy. + +And that was Diver's way of thanking Willie for saving his life. It was +a very good way, too! And Willie and Diver were always the best of +friends. + + +GORDON'S TOY CASTLE ON THE HILL + +BY EVERETT WILSON + +Last Christmas little Gordon Bruce had a fine, large Christmas tree and +lots of toys, just as a great many other nice boys and girls had. The +tree was up in his playroom, a great, big, sunny room that used to be +called the "nursery" when he was a baby. + +A few days after Christmas, Gordon's mother said: "Now, Gordon, I think +we will have to take down your Christmas tree, for it is getting all +dried up, and the little pine needles are dropping all over the floor, +and the maid has to sweep them up every day." + +Gordon was sorry to have the tree taken down, for it looked so bright +and Christmas-y, and he knew it would be a whole year before he would +have another Christmas tree, so he asked his mother if she wouldn't wait +just one day more. I think that is the way almost all the girls and boys +feel. And his mother said she would wait until to-morrow. + +It was a rainy day, and as none of his little friends were with him, he +began to play with all his toys one after the other; there were many of +them, and some of the little ones were still hanging on the tree. + +Gordon's father came from Scotland, and he had read to Gordon many +stories of the old days in Scotland, when the great generals and the +noble lords lived in strong castles set high up on the mountains, so +that the soldiers could not get near them. Now among Gordon's Christmas +presents was a tiny castle just like the ones he had seen in the books +his father read the stories from; and with this castle came a lot of +soldiers. + +So this day Gordon got out his castle and soldiers and began to play +with them. First he got a chair and put a big, thick rug over it to make +it look like a steep hill; then he set the castle on top of the hill and +stood the soldiers on the ground at the bottom of the hill--all in a +row. He was making believe that the soldiers were trying to get up to +the castle. Then he dropped some beautiful colored glass marbles, that +his Uncle George had given him, down on the floor of the castle. The +marbles rolled out of the front door of the castle and down the rug to +the bottom of the hill, and bang! they would bump right against the tall +soldiers and tumble them down. One after another Gordon would roll the +marbles down until by and by every one of the soldiers would be knocked +over, and as they were only wooden soldiers, of course they couldn't get +up by themselves. Then Gordon would stand them all up in a row again and +roll the marbles down the hill until not a single soldier was standing. +It was lots of fun for Gordon, for you know it really didn't hurt the +soldiers a bit, for they were only made of wood and their uniforms were +just red and blue paint. + +The next day Gordon's mother took down the tree, and packed up the +beautiful things that were on it, and put them away until next +Christmas. + + [Illustration: GORDON'S MAKE-BELIEVE CASTLE ON THE HILL.] + + +HANS THE INNOCENT + +WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY M. I. WOOD + +Once upon a time there was a woman called Mrs. Stockchen and she had a +son named Hans. They lived together in a little cottage and they had a +hen and a cow. + +One morning Mrs. Stockchen said to her son: "Hans, my dear, will you +take Cowslip, the cow, to pasture, and remember not to be late for +supper." "Very well," said Hans, and he took up his stick and started +for the field. + +The sun was very hot when he got there, and seeing a row of five shady +trees, he lay down underneath them and fell asleep in two seconds. He +snored with his mouth open. Cowslip had been watching him and when she +saw his eyes close, she said, "Now! here's my chance!" and, jumping over +the fence, she ran away. + +Hans stopped snoring and awoke at supper-time. He looked for Cowslip, +but she had disappeared; he ran about calling for her, but she did not +come; and at last he went home to his mother with a very sad face and +said: "Oh, mother, Cowslip ran away while I was asleep. I have looked +for her and cannot find her anywhere." + +"You lazy, careless, naughty, careless, naughty, lazy Boy!" cried Mrs. +Stockchen. "You have left my poor cow wandering all alone. She will lose +her way in the dark. Just you go and find her this instant. You will get +no supper till you bring her back, or my name is not Matilda Maria!" + +Mrs. Stockchen had grown quite scarlet with rage and she shook the +soup-ladle at her son to make him go faster. It was getting quite dark +by the time Hans reached the field again and nowhere did he see any +trace of the cow. He did not know in what direction she had gone, so he +walked round and round the field, feeling very miserable. + +Just as 10 o'clock was striking, Cowslip stepped out from behind a tree, +and kneeling at Hans's feet, said in a choking voice, "I am really very +sorry, Hans." "Well," said Hans, "I am sorry too, but let us get home +now." So they set out, tired and rather cross. + +But when they came within sight of the light in their own cottage +window, they met two soldiers who stopped them, and asked what they were +doing out so late. "We're just going home," said Hans. "Why," said the +soldiers "you ought to have been there two hours ago." + +"Well, I couldn't help it," said Hans, "this cow ran away and I had to +fetch her before going home to supper." + +"Boy!" said the soldiers, "you are not speaking the truth, you have +stolen the cow, and you are very impertinent as well. We will take you +to prison." + +They tied a rope round Hans's neck and another round the cow's, and took +them to prison. They put Hans into a dungeon full of horrid creatures, +but they let poor Cowslip wander about in the fields outside. + +One morning when Hans was crying because the door was locked and because +the window bars looked so strong, Cowslip heard him. She came up beside +the window, and standing on her hind-legs she peeped in and said, "Hans, +my dear master, do you think that if I tried to knock down the wall with +my horns, you could get out?" "I will try," said Hans. It was rather +hard work for Cowslip, but at last she made a big enough hole and Hans +leaped out. + +He knocked off his hat in doing so, but then Hans didn't care about a +little thing like that. + +He jumped on her back, and away they went, over fallen trees, stones, +ditches, hedges, everything. They came in sight of the cottage at last, +and the sound of their approach caused Mrs. Stockchen to look out of the +window. When she saw who it was she fairly jumped for joy and she rushed +out at once to meet them. + +Hans fell into his mother's arms. And they all lived happily ever +afterward. + + +A REAL LITTLE BOY BLUE + +BY CAROLINE S. ALLEN + +Once there were four little brothers. The oldest had black eyes. He was +called Little Boy Black. But I haven't time to tell about him just now. +The second little brother had brown eyes. He was called Little Boy +Brown. But I cannot tell you about him either. The third little brother +had gray eyes, and was called Little Boy Gray. There is a very nice +story I could tell you about him, but I am sure you would rather hear +about the fourth little brother. + + [Illustration: "'YES, PLEASE,' SAID LITTLE BOY BLUE."] + +For the youngest little brother had blue eyes; and his father and +mother, his grandfather and grandmother, and every one else, called him +Little Boy Blue. His eyes were very blue--as blue as the flowers you +find down by the brook. You love the blue flowers, I know. And so I will +tell you about Little Boy Blue. + +His jacket was blue, his trousers were blue, his stockings were blue, +and even his little shoes were blue. + +One day Little Boy Blue's mother said to him: "Do you want to go and +visit Aunt Polly?" "Who is Aunt Polly?" asked Little Boy Blue. "Aunt +Polly lives on a farm, on a high hill. She has horses, and cows, and +pigs, and hens, and ducks, and geese--" "And elephants?" asked Little +Boy Blue. "No, not any elephants. But she has a woolly white lamb." "Oh, +then I will go," cried Little Boy Blue. So his mother went up-stairs and +found a little blue traveling-bag. And in the little blue bag she packed +some of Little Boy Blue's clothes. Then Little Boy Blue and his mother +went to visit Aunt Polly, who lived on a farm on a high hill. + +Little Boy Blue's mother stayed two days, and Little Boy Blue stayed ten +days. When his mother was going home, she said to Aunt Polly: "Little +Boy Blue likes to play, but he likes to work, too. So be sure to give +him some work to do every day." + +"Very well," said Aunt Polly. And so by-and-by Aunt Polly went to find +Little Boy Blue. And she said to him: "Dear Little Boy Blue, what can +you do to help?" He thought a minute, and then he said: "I can eat +apples to see if they are ripe. And I can pull the roses in the garden, +if you have too many." + +"The apples are not ripe, and I have just enough roses in the garden," +said Aunt Polly. "Can you drive the cows out of the corn?" + +"Oh, yes, I can," said Little Boy Blue, "if Towzer can come too." Towzer +was the dog. + +"And perhaps you can look after the sheep?" + +"Yes, Aunt Polly, I can do that," said Little Boy Blue. + +On the shelf in Little Boy Blue's room stood a little blue clock. And +every morning at five o'clock the door of the clock flew open, and a +cuckoo came out. The cuckoo said, "Cuck-oo," five times, and then went +into the little blue clock again, and the little door closed after him. +Then Little Boy Blue knew it was time to get up. + +When he was dressed, he came down-stairs, and Aunt Polly gave him his +breakfast. He had new milk in a blue bowl, and johnny-cake on a little +blue plate. These he always carried out onto the door-step because he +liked, while he was eating and drinking, to see the green grass bending +in the breeze, and the yellow butterflies dancing here and there in the +sunshine. + +"This is the creamiest milk I ever saw," said Little Boy Blue. + +"That's nice," said Aunt Polly. "Do you want some more?" + +"Yes, please," said Little Boy Blue. So Aunt Polly brought the blue +pitcher, and poured more creamy milk into his little blue bowl, and +Little Boy Blue said: "Thank you, Aunt Polly." + +When Little Boy Blue could eat no more golden johnny-cake, and drink no +more creamy milk, he jumped up from the door-step. + +First he put his arms around Aunt Polly's neck, and gave her a hug and a +kiss. Then he went into the house to get his horn. The horn was a little +blue one, and it hung on a peg near the kitchen door. + +What do you suppose the horn was for? Why, Little Boy Blue watched the +cows and the sheep. Then if they got into the wrong places, and trampled +on the crops, Little Boy Blue blew the horn. One of the men always heard +the horn, and came to help drive the cows or the sheep back where they +belonged. + +All this was very pleasant. But one day--what do you think? The sheep +ran away, and jumped over a stone wall into the meadow, and the cows got +into the corn. Nobody knew how it happened. Little Boy Blue had gone out +that morning, just as he always did, to look after them; and no one had +heard any horn. At last Towzer ran up to the barn, barking loudly. That +was to give the alarm--about the sheep and the cows. + +"How queer!" said Aunt Polly, who was in the barn-yard feeding the +chickens. + +"How strange!" said Uncle Ben. + +"Where's Little Boy Blue?" asked the men. + + [Illustration: "'HE'S UNDER THE HAYCOCK, FAST ASLEEP!'"] + +"I'll call him," said Aunt Polly. So she walked, and she walked, all +around the farm. As Aunt Polly walked she looked here, and she looked +there. And she called: + + "Little Boy Blue! Come blow your horn. + The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn." + +Where do you think Aunt Polly found him? When the head-farmer asked her, +"Where's the little boy that looks after the sheep?" Aunt Polly said: +"He's under the haycock, fast asleep." + +"Shall we go wake him?" said the head-farmer. + +"No, no; let him lie," said Aunt Polly. "For if we should wake him, +'he'd cry, cry, cry.'" + +You see Little Boy Blue got up so early, he grew sleepy. And the sun was +hot. And the haymow made a soft pillow. So he fell sound asleep, and +dreamed about the woolly white lamb. + +But on the day after that, Little Boy Blue took a nap, first, so that +when he looked after the cows and the sheep he could keep awake. He +never again had to be told to blow his horn. + +When Little Boy Blue's visit was over, Aunt Polly said: "You've been a +dear little helper. I'm going to give you something to take home." And, +oh, joy! it was the woolly white lamb! + + +TRAVELS OF A FOX + +ADAPTED BY CECILIA FARWELL + +The Fox was digging under an old tree and found a bumblebee. He gathered +it up and put it into his bag and tied the string. Then he went to the +first cottage at the end of the village street and said: + +"Good morning, Good Mother. The way is long, and I am weary. May I leave +my bag here while I go to the grocery store?" + +"That will be all right," said the old woman, "put it behind the door." + +So the Fox put the bag behind the door, saying, as he did so: "Be sure +that you do not untie the string, Good Mother." Then he went out of the +cottage and on up the road. + +The old woman looked at the bag and said to herself: "Now, I wonder what +that sly fellow carries so carefully? It will do no harm to see." + +So she untied the string and started to look into the bag, and when the +bag was opened the bumblebee flew out, and the rooster which was +stalking about in the kitchen promptly ate him up. + +When the Fox came back he saw that his bag had been opened and he said +to the old woman: "Where is my bumblebee?" + +"I opened the bag for but an instant," said the old woman, "and the +bumblebee flew out and the rooster ate him up." + +"Then I must take the rooster," said the Fox. So he gathered up the +rooster, put him into the bag and tied the string, and threw the bag +over his shoulder and went on down the road. + +When he came to the next cottage he knocked at the door and said: "Good +morning, Good Mother. The way is long and I am weary. May I leave my bag +here while I go on to the grocery store?" + +"That will be all right," said the old woman, "put it behind the door." + +So the Fox put the bag behind the door, saying as he did so: "Be sure +that you do not untie the string, Good Mother," and he went on down the +road. + +The old woman looked at the bag and said to herself, "Now I wonder what +it is that that sly old fellow carries so carefully. It will do no harm +to see." + +So she untied the string and started to look into the bag, and when the +bag was opened the rooster flew out, and the pig which was in the +kitchen promptly ate him up. + +When the Fox came back he saw that the bag had been opened, and he said: +"Where is my rooster, Good Mother?" + +"I opened the bag for but an instant, and the rooster flew out and the +pig ate him up," said the woman. + +"Then I must have the pig," said the Fox. So he gathered up the pig and +put him into the bag and tied the string and threw the bag over his +shoulder and went on down the road. + +When he came to the next cottage he knocked at the door and said: "Good +morning, Good Mother. The way is long and I am weary. May I leave my bag +here while I go to the grocery store?" + +"That will be all right," said the old woman, "put it behind the door." + +So the Fox put the bag behind the door, saying as he did so, "Be sure +that you do not untie the string, Good Mother," and went on down the +road. + +The old woman looked at the bag and said to herself: "Now I wonder what +it is that that sly old fellow carries so carefully. It will do no harm +to see." + +So she untied the string and opened the bag the least little bit, and +the pig jumped out of the bag and ran into the house where the ox stood +and the ox promptly gored him to death. + +When the Fox came back and saw that the bag had been opened he said: +"Where is my pig, Good Mother?" + +"I opened the bag the least little bit, and the pig jumped out and the +ox gored him to death," said the woman. + +"Then I must have the ox," said the Fox. So he went out into the yard +and gathered up the ox and put him into the bag and tied the string and +threw the bag on his back and went on down the road. + +When he came to the next cottage he knocked at the door and said: "Good +morning, Good Mother. The way is long and I am weary. May I leave my bag +here while I go to the grocery store?" + +"That will be all right," said the old woman, "put it behind the door." + +So the Fox put the bag behind the door, saying as he did so: "Be sure +that you do not untie the string, Good Mother," and went on down the +road. + + [Illustration: "MAY I LEAVE MY BAG HERE?" SAID THE FOX] + +The woman looked at the bag and said to herself: "Now I wonder what it +is that that sly old fellow carries so carefully? It will do no harm to +see." + +So she untied the string and opened the bag and the ox jumped out and +ran out into the yard, and the little boy who was playing there chased +him off over the hill and into the wood. + +When the Fox came back he saw that the string had been untied, and he +said to the old woman: "Where is my ox?" + +"I opened the bag the least little bit, and the ox jumped out and the +little boy chased him over the hill and into the wood," said the old +woman. + +"Then I must take the little boy," said the Fox. + +So he gathered up the little boy and put him into the bag and tied the +string and threw the bag over his shoulder and started off down the +road. + +When he came to the next house he knocked at the door and said: "Good +morning, Good Mother. The way is long and I am weary. May I leave my bag +while I go to the store?" + +"That will be all right," said the woman, "put it behind the door." + +So the Fox put the bag behind the door, saying as he did so: "Be sure +that you do not untie the string, Good Mother," and went off. + +This woman was very busy that morning, making cake, and she had no time +to think of the bag, and it lay there for a long time. By-and-by when +the cake was done her little boys gathered around the table, crying: +"Let me taste the cake, Mother. Give me a piece of cake!" And she gave +each one of them a piece of cake. + +The cake smelled so good that the little boy in the bag cried out: "Oh, +I want a piece of cake, too." + +When the woman heard the little boy cry out she went to the bag, and +looking down at it, she said: "Now I wonder what that sly Fox has been +about?" And the little boy cried out again, and the woman untied the +string and let him out, and took the house dog and put him into the bag +instead, and the little boy joined the others around the table, and she +gave him a piece of the cake. + +When the Fox came back he saw that the bag was all tied up, and looked +just as it had when he left it, so he took it from behind the door and +threw it over his shoulder, saying to himself: "I have had a long +journey to-day, and I am hungry. And I have not done so badly, either. I +will now go into the woods and see how the little boy tastes." + +So he went into the woods and untied the string to take the little boy +out of the bag. But the little boy, as we know, was standing around the +table with the other little boys eating cake. And no sooner was the +string untied than the house dog jumped out of the bag and sprang right +on the Fox, and they had a fight right then and there in the woods. +Pretty soon the dog went trotting down the road. But the Fox did not go +home. In fact he did not go anywhere at all. + + +OEYVIND AND MARIT + +Oeyvind was his name. A low barren cliff overhung the house in which he +was born, fir and birch looked down on the roof, and wild-cherry strewed +flowers over it. Upon this roof there walked about a little goat, which +belonged to Oeyvind. He was kept there that he might not go astray, and +Oeyvind carried leaves and grass up to him. One fine day the goat leaped +down, and--away to the cliff; he went straight up, and came where he +never had been before. Oeyvind did not see him when he came out after +dinner, and thought immediately of the fox. He grew hot all over, looked +around about, and called, "Killy-killy-killy-goat." + +"Bay-ay-ay," said the goat, from the brow of the hill, as he cocked his +head on one side and looked down. + +But at the side of the goat there kneeled a little girl. + +"Is it yours, this goat?" she asked. + +Oeyvind stood with eyes and mouth wide open, thrust both hands into the +breeches he had on, and asked, "Who are you?" + +"I am Marit, mother's little one, father's fiddle, the elf in the house, +grand-daughter of Ole Nordistuen of the Heide farms, four years old in +the autumn, two days after the frost nights, I!" + +"Are you really?" he said, and drew a long breath, which he had not +dared to do so long as she was speaking. + +"Is it yours, this goat?" asked the girl again. + +"Ye-es," he said, and looked up. + +"I have taken such a fancy to the goat. You will give it to me?" + +"No, that I won't." + +She lay kicking her legs, and looking down at him, and then she said, +"But if I give you a butter-cake for the goat, can I have him then?" + +Oeyvind came of poor people, and had eaten butter-cake only once in his +life, that was when grandpapa came there, and anything like it he had +never eaten before nor since. He looked up at the girl. "Let me see the +butter-cake first," said he. + +She was not long about it, took out a large cake, which she held in her +hand. "Here it is," she said, and threw it down. + +"Ow, it went to pieces," said the boy. He gathered up every bit with the +utmost care; he could not help tasting the very smallest, and that was +so good, he had to taste another, and, before he knew it himself, he had +eaten up the whole cake. + +"Now the goat is mine," said the girl. The boy stopped with the last bit +in his mouth, the girl lay and laughed, and the goat stood by her side, +with white breast and dark brown hair, looking down. + +"Could you not wait a little while?" begged the boy; his heart began to +beat. Then the girl laughed still more, and got up quickly on her knees. + +"No, the goat is mine," she said, and threw her arms around its neck, +loosened one of her garters, and fastened it around. Oeyvind looked up. +She got up, and began pulling at the goat; it would not follow, and +twisted its neck downward to where Oeyvind stood. "Bay-ay-ay," it said. +But she took hold of its hair with one hand, pulled the string with the +other, and said gently, "Come, goat, and you shall go into the room and +eat out of mother's dish and my apron." And then she sung,-- + + "Come, boy's goat, + Come, mother's calf, + Come, mewing cat + In snow-white shoes. + Come, yellow ducks, + Come out of your hiding-place; + Come, little chickens, + Who can hardly go; + Come, my doves + With soft feathers, + See, the grass is wet, + But the sun does you good; + And early, early is it in summer, + But call for the autumn, and it will come." + +There stood the boy. + +He had taken care of the goat since the winter before, when it was born, +and he had never imagined he could lose it; but now it was done in a +moment, and he would never see it again. + +His mother came up humming from the beach, with wooden pans which she +had scoured: she saw the boy sitting with his legs crossed under him on +the grass, crying, and she went up to him. + +"What are you crying about?" + +"Oh, the goat, the goat!" + +"Yes; where is the goat?" asked his mother, looking up at the roof. + +"It will never come back again," said the boy. + +"Dear me! how could that happen?" + +He would not confess immediately. + +"Has the fox taken it?" + +"Ah, if it only were the fox!" + +"Are you crazy?" said his mother; "what has become of the goat?" + +"Oh-h-h--I happened to--to--to sell it for a cake!" + +As soon as he had uttered the word, he understood what it was to sell +the goat for a cake; he had not thought of it before. His mother said,-- + +"What do you suppose the little goat thinks of you, when you could sell +him for a cake?" + +And the boy thought about it, and felt sure that he could never again be +happy. He felt so sorry, that he promised himself never again to do +anything wrong, never to cut the thread on the spinning-wheel, nor let +the goats out, nor go down to the sea alone. He fell asleep where he +lay, and dreamed about the goat. + +Suddenly there came something wet close up to his ear, and he started +up. "Bay-ay-ay!" it said; and it was the goat, who had come back again. + +"What! have you got back?" He jumped up, took it by the two fore-legs, +and danced with it as if it were a brother; he pulled its beard, and he +was just going in to his mother with it, when he heard some one behind +him, and, looking, saw the girl sitting on the greensward by his side. +Now he understood it all, and let go the goat. + +"Is it you, who have come with it?" + +She sat, tearing the grass up with her hands, and said,-- + +"They would not let me keep it; grandfather is sitting up there, +waiting." + +While the boy stood looking at her, he heard a sharp voice from the road +above call out, "Now!" + +Then she remembered what she was to do; she rose, went over to Oeyvind, +put one of her muddy hands into his, and, turning her face away, +said,-- + +"I beg your pardon!" + +But then her courage was all gone; she threw herself over the goat, and +wept. + +"I think you had better keep the goat," said Oeyvind, looking the other +way. + +"Come, make haste!" said grandpapa, up on the hill; and Marit rose, and +walked with reluctant feet upward. + +"You are forgetting your garter," Oeyvind called after her. She turned +round, and looked first at the garter and then at him. At last she came +to a great resolution, and said, in a choked voice,-- + +"You may keep that." + +He went over to her, and, taking her hand, said,-- + +"Thank you!" + +"O, nothing to thank for!" she answered, but drew a long sigh, and +walked on. + +He sat down on the grass again. The goat walked about near him, but he +was no longer so pleased with it as before. + +The goat was fastened to the wall; but Oeyvind walked about, looking up +at the cliff. His mother came out, and sat down by his side, he wanted +to hear stories about what was far away, for now the goat no longer +satisfied him. So she told him how once everything could talk: the +mountain talked to the stream, and the stream to the river, the river to +the sea, and the sea to the sky; but then he asked if the sky did not +talk to any one; and the sky talked to the clouds, the clouds to the +trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the +animals, the animals to the children, the children to the grown-up +people; and so it went on, until it had gone round, and no one could +tell where it had begun. Oeyvind looked at the mountain, the trees, the +sky, and had never really seen them before. The cat came out at that +moment, and lay down on the stone before the door in the sunshine. + +"What does the cat say?" asked Oeyvind, pointing. His mother sang,-- + + "At evening softly shines the sun, + The cat lies lazy on the stone. + Two small mice, + Cream thick and nice, + Four bits of fish, + I stole behind a dish, + And am so lazy and tired, + Because so well I have fared," + +says the cat. + +But then came the cock, with all the hens. + +"What does the cock say?" asked Oeyvind, clapping his hands together. +His mother sang,-- + + "The mother-hen her wings doth sink, + The cock stands on one leg to think: + That gray goose + Steers high her course; + But sure am I that never she + As clever as a cock can be. + Run in, you hens, keep under the roof to-day, + For the sun has got leave to stay away," + +says the cock. + +But the little birds were sitting on the ridge-pole, singing. "What do +the birds say?" asked Oeyvind, laughing. + + "Dear Lord, how pleasant is life, + For those who have neither toil nor strife," + +say the birds. + +And she told him what they all said, down to the ant, who crawled in the +moss, and the worm who worked in the bark. + +That same summer, his mother began to teach him to read. He had owned +books a long time, and often wondered how it would seem when they also +began to talk. Now the letters turned into animals, birds, and +everything else; but soon they began to walk together, two and two; _a_ +stood and rested under a tree, which was called _b_, then came _c_, and +did the same; but when three or four came together, it seemed as if they +were angry with each other, for it would not go right. And the farther +along he came, the more he forgot what they were: he remembered longest +_a_, which he liked best; it was a little black lamb, and was friends +with everybody; but soon he forgot _a_ also: the book had no more +stories, nothing but lessons. + +One day his mother came in, and said to him,-- + +"To-morrow school begins, and then you are going up to the farm with +me." + +Oeyvind had heard that school was a place where many boys played +together; and he had no objection. Indeed, he was much pleased. He had +often been at the farm, but never when there was school there; and now +he was so anxious to get there, he walked faster than his mother up over +the hills. As they came up to the neighboring house, a tremendous +buzzing, like that from the water-mill at home, met their ears; and he +asked his mother what it was. + +"That is the children reading," she answered, and he was much pleased, +for that was the way he used to read, before he knew the letters. When +he came in, there sat as many children round a table as he had ever +seen at church; others were sitting on their luncheon boxes which were +ranged round the walls; some stood in small groups round a large printed +card; the schoolmaster, an old gray-haired man, was sitting on a stool +by the chimney-corner, filling his pipe. They all looked up as Oeyvind +and his mother entered, and the mill-hum ceased as if the water had +suddenly been turned off. All looked at the new-comers; the mother bowed +to the schoolmaster, who returned her greeting. + + [Illustration: "THE GOAT IS MINE," SHE SAID, AND THREW HER ARMS AROUND + ITS NECK] + +"Here I bring a little boy who wants to learn to read," said his mother. + +"What is the fellow's name?" said the schoolmaster, diving down into his +pouch after tobacco. + +"Oeyvind," said his mother, "he knows his letters, and can put them +together." + +"Is it possible!" said the schoolmaster, "come here, you Whitehead!" + +Oeyvind went over to him: the schoolmaster took him on his lap, and +raised his cap. + +"What a nice little boy!" said he, and stroked his hair. Oeyvind looked +up into his eyes, and laughed. + +"Is it at me you are laughing?" asked he, with a frown. + +"Yes, it is," answered Oeyvind, and roared with laughter. At that the +schoolmaster laughed, Oeyvind's mother laughed; the children understood +that they also were allowed to laugh, and so they all laughed together. + +So Oeyvind became one of the scholars. + +As he was going to find his seat, they all wanted to make room for him. + +"Now, what are you going to do?" asked the schoolmaster, who was busy +with his pipe again. Just as the boy is going to turn round to the +schoolmaster, he sees close beside him, sitting down by the hearthstone +on a little red painted tub, Marit, of the many names; she had covered +her face with both hands, and sat peeping at him through her fingers. + +"I shall sit here," said Oeyvind, quickly, taking a tub and seating +himself at her side. Then she raised a little the arm nearest him, and +looked at him from under her elbow; immediately he also hid his face +with both hands, and looked at her from under his elbow. So they sat, +keeping up the sport, until she laughed, then he laughed too; the +children had seen it, and laughed with them; at that, there rung out in +a fearfully strong voice, which, however, grew milder at every pause,-- + +"Silence! you young scoundrels, you rascals, you little +good-for-nothings! Keep still, and be good to me, you sugar-pigs." + +That was the schoolmaster, whose custom it was to boil up, but calm down +again before he had finished. It grew quiet immediately in the school, +until the water-wheels again began to go: every one read aloud from his +book, the sharpest louder and louder to get the preponderance, here +trebles piped up, the rougher voices drummed and there one shouted in +above the others, and Oeyvind had never had such fun in all his life. + +"Is it always like this here?" whispered he to Marit. + +"Yes, just like this," she said. + +Afterwards, they had to go up to the schoolmaster, and read; and then a +little boy was called to read, so that they were allowed to go and sit +down quietly again. + +"I have got a goat now, too," said she. + +"Have you?" + +"Yes; but it is not so pretty as yours." + +"Why don't you come oftener up on the cliff?" + +"Grandpapa is afraid I shall fall over." + +"Mother knows so many songs," said he. + +"Grandpapa does, too, you can believe." + +"Yes; but he does not know what mother does." + +"Grandpapa knows one about a dance. Would you like to hear it?" + +"Yes, very much." + +"Well, then, you must come farther over here, so that the schoolmaster +may not hear." + +He changed his place, and then she recited a little piece of a song +three or four times over, so that the boy learned it. + +"Up with you, youngsters!" called out the schoolmaster. "This is the +first day, so you shall be dismissed early; but first we must say a +prayer, and sing." + +Instantly, all was life in the school; they jumped down from the +benches, sprung over the floor, and talked into each other's mouths. + +"Silence! you young torments, you little beggars, you noisy boys! be +quiet, and walk softly across the floor, little children," said the +schoolmaster; and now they walked quietly, and took their places, after +which the schoolmaster went in front of them, and made a short prayer. +Then they sung. The schoolmaster began in a deep bass, all the children +stood with folded hands, and joined in. Oeyvind stood farthest down by +the door with Marit, and looked on; they also folded their hands, but +they could not sing. + +That was the first day at school. + + + + +#Happy Days# + + + + +WHAT THE CAT AND HEN DID + +Four little children were playing in their garden one day. There were +Mollie and Jamie and Betty and Teddy. + + [Illustration: "THEY WERE SO BUSY MAKING MUD-PIES THAT THEY DID NOT SEE + 'MRS. TOMKINS.'"] + +They were so busy making mud-pies that they did not see "Mrs. Tomkins," +the old cat, when she came and mewed, and mewed, and put up her paw, and +touched Mollie and Jamie and Betty and Teddy--first one and then the +other, as much as to say, "Do come, some of you, and help me! Do come, +_please_!" + +By and by the children's mama came out of the house and saw how queerly +the cat was acting, and said: "Children, Mrs. Tomkins is trying to get +you to go with her and see if her babies are all right." + +So the children left their play, and said: "Come, Mrs. Tomkins, we will +go with you now." + +The old cat gave a thankful "m-i-e-o-u," and started down the walk +leading to the barn. Every now and then she looked back to see if the +children were really coming. When she got to the stable, she ran and +jumped up on the manger, and looked down into it, and gave a quick, +sharp "m-i-e-o-u," as if to say, "What do you think of that?" And the +children looked in and saw a hen sitting upon the old cat's kittens and +trying to keep them all covered up! When the cat tried to go near them, +the hen would peck at her and drive her away. How the children laughed! +Mollie said: "Did you ever see anything so funny! I am going to ask Mama +to write a funny story about it,--how our old hen 'dopted the kittens." + +The hen had been sitting upon some eggs in a nest near where the cat had +set up housekeeping, and when the cat went out, the hen came over and +took the cat's little family under her wings, just as if they had been +so many chick-a-biddies. And when the cat went home again, the hen +wouldn't let her come near the kittens. Mollie took the hen off, and +Mrs. Tomkins was happy. + + [Illustration: "EVERY NOW AND THEN SHE LOOKED BACK TO SEE IF THE + CHILDREN WERE REALLY COMING."] + +The next day she came again, looking as though she said, "I am very +sorry to trouble you, but I _must_." Then she said, "M-i-e-o-u! +m-i-e-o-u!" So the children left their play and went to the stable with +her, and found the hen playing mother to Mrs. Tomkins's kittens again +and trying to make them keep still and stay under her wings. If one of +them poked its head out, she would give it a sharp peck to make it go +back. + +The children laughed again, and Mollie said: "Poor Mrs. Tomkins, I would +look for a new house if I were you--you do have such meddlesome +neighbors! Then she took the hen off, and Mrs. Tomkins picked up one of +the kittens. + + [Illustration: "MRS. TOMKINS GAVE A SHARP 'M-I-E-O-U,' AS IF TO SAY, + 'WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?'"] + +The children's mama was sitting in the library reading when the old cat +came in, with a kitten in her mouth. She put it softly down, went out, +and soon returned with another. She kept on doing this until she had +moved all her family of five kittens. Then she settled herself in a cozy +corner, and looked at the lady, and purred in this way: "If you only +knew how much trouble I have had with that bad old hen, you would let me +and my children stay here." + +The lady laughed and said: "I will see what I can do for you." + +Just then the children came in and begged to have the kittens stay. So a +new home was made for them in a box in the woodhouse. + + +DOT'S BIRTHDAY CAKE + +Once there was a little girl called Dot. And she was just five years +old. And she had a fine birthday cake. It was big and round, and it had +five beautiful little pink candles set in pink rosebuds on top. + +Dot sat at the big table at dinner that day, and by and by they put a +pretty pink paper cap on her head and then brought in the birthday cake. +And the little candles were all burning bright. And when she saw it she +said, "Oh! oh! how lovely! It is just too pretty to cut!" + +But her mama said, "I will cut it for you, dear." So she cut one piece +for Dot, and then she asked Dot, "Will Marie have a piece?" Marie was +Dot's big doll. And Dot looked at her and said, "Marie says, 'No, thank +you.'" And mama said, "Will Fuzzy have a piece?" Fuzzy was Dot's Teddy +Bear. And Dot looked at him and said: "He says, 'No, thank you.'" And +mama said, "Will papa have a piece?" And Dot said, "Oh, yes. Won't you, +papa?" And papa said, "Yes, please." And Dot said, "Mama, you will. You +_must_ have a piece of my birthday cake." And mama said, "Yes, thank +you." + +And mama cut the cake and gave Dot a piece and papa a piece and herself +a piece. But she left the parts of the cake where the candles were +burning,--one, two, three, four, five. And Dot's birthday cake lasted +one, two, three, four, five whole days before it was all gone. + + +NED AND ROVER AND JACK + +A boy named Ned had a little puppy-dog named Rover. One day, Ned's papa +gave him a nice new toy wagon. Ned was pulling it around the yard when +he saw Rover. "Come, Rover!" he said, "I will give you a fine ride." So +he took Rover and put him in the wagon and gave him a ride. + +But just then Ned saw a boy he knew, named Tom. Tom was running down the +street. Ned called to him but he did not hear. Ned wanted to show Tom +his new wagon. So he ran after Tom as fast as he could go, calling, +"Tom! Tom!" and never thinking of poor little Rover. He was barking with +all his might, "Bow! wow! Bow-wow! bow-wow-wow-wow!" which means "Oh, +stop! stop! I'm going to fall out!" And the next minute Rover went +"bumpity-bump!" out into the road, and ran off home, crying, +"Ow-wow-wow!" He was not hurt much, but he was badly frightened. But he +soon forgot his ride, and he grew and he grew and he grew, till, by and +by, he was a big dog. And then, Ned's little brother, Jack, had a little +wagon. But now Rover was too big to ride in it. So Jack said he would +make Rover pull it and _he_ would ride. + +Ned helped him to harness Rover in it like a horse, and Jack climbed in +and took the reins. "Get up!" said Jack, and away they went out into the +yard and on into a big field. But just then a little rabbit started up +in front of them, and the minute Rover saw it, he began to race after +the rabbit. Poor Jack couldn't hold him at all. Round and round they +went, and they ran, and they ran, and they ran! Jack called out, "Whoa, +Rover! Stop, Rover!" But Rover didn't stop. He wanted to catch the +rabbit and he forgot about Jack. + +At last the rabbit ran toward a hole under the wall, where Rover could +not get him. But Rover dashed after him as fast as he could go. +"Bumpity-bump" went the little wagon, and just as Rover missed the +rabbit, the wheel struck a big stone and poor _Jack_ tumbled out on the +ground. But he didn't cry. He was not hurt much, and he wasn't +frightened at all. He ran and caught Rover, and said, "Oho! Who cares +for a little bump like that? You're a funny horse, Rover. But you didn't +catch your rabbit, you old runaway--did you?" + + + I had a little Kitten, + His name was Pussy Grey-- + I lent him to a Lady + While I was far away-- + She petted him, she fed him + On things to make him fat-- + And now I have him back again + My Kitten is a Cat! + + +HOW POLLY HAD HER PICTURE TAKEN + +BY EVERETT WILSON + +It was a bright spring morning, and all the animals on the Meadowbrook +Farm had been given their breakfast, and the Piggy-wig family had +settled down to a cozy nap. Suddenly there was heard a great noise and +rushing out in the apple orchard. Old Mother Piggy-wig jumped up on her +hind legs and looked over the fence of her sty to see what it was all +about. The little pig that went to market, and the little pig that +stayed at home, also jumped up, quite as excited as their mother. Then +the little pig that had roast beef, and the little pig that had none, +woke up, and they, too, scampered about, wishing to know what was going +on down under the apple-trees. But before old Mother Piggy-wig could +tell them, the little pig, who, one day, could not find his way home, +found a big hole in the lower board of the sty, and at once shouted: + +"Oh, I see what it is! It is little Polly going to have her picture +taken." + +And, sure enough, there was Polly's brother Ned with his camera; and +after him came Polly, and after Polly came--guess what! + +Well, first there came Blackie, the cat, then came Banty, the hen; and +then came Gyp, the dog. And such a mew-mewing, and cluck-clucking, and +bow-wowing you never heard! + +Polly had often had her picture taken, but it was always with her papa +or her mamma, and she had never had her picture taken with her pets. So +brother Ned had promised that on her birthday he would take her picture +with all of her pets--if they would only keep still. This day was +Polly's birthday, and, as the weather was fine, her brother had told her +to follow him out to the orchard. + +Ned fastened his camera on its three sprawling legs, while Polly tried +to gather her pets around her. But by this time Blackie, the cat, was +chasing a squirrel (though he did not catch him), and Banty, the hen, +was away off scratching for worms; and Gyp, the dog, was barking at a +bossy calf down by the brook, for, of course, Polly's pets did not know +it was her birthday and that they were to have their pictures taken with +her. + +Polly called, as loud as she could, "Here, Blackie, Blackie; here, +Banty, Banty; here, Gyp, Gyp," and as quick as a wink the animals came +running up to her. + +At first she sat down, but all three of her pets got in her lap until +you could scarcely see Polly behind them. That would not do, of course, +because it was Polly's picture that was the most important. + +Finally, she stood up and made her pets stand up, too. Then she had more +trouble, for Gyp wanted to stand next to her, and so did Banty, and so +did Blackie, but she told them if they were not good and did not stand +just where she put them, they could not have their pictures taken at +all. She even said she would get the little pig that could not find his +way home, and would have her picture taken with _him_. They did not like +that, so they promised to be good. She stood Banty on one side of her, +and Gyp on the other side, and then she put Blackie on one end next to +Banty. But Gyp and Blackie jumped around so lively that Brother Ned ran +into the house and brought out Polly's toy cow, and stood her next to +Blackie, and that kept _him_ quiet, because he was afraid the cow would +hook him with her horns--he did not know it was not a _real_ cow. Then +Ned brought out Polly's toy lion and put him next to Gyp, and that kept +_him_ quiet, because he thought the lion would eat him up,--he did not +know it was not a _real_ lion. + +So, after they were all nice and quiet, Ned called out: + +"Ready! Look pleasant! One, two, three--all over!" + +And here is the way they looked in the picture that Ned took that +morning: + + [Illustration] + + +IDLE BEN + + Idle Ben was a naughty boy + (If you please, this story's true), + He caused his teachers great annoy, + And his worthy parents, too. + + Idle Ben, in a boastful way + To his anxious parents told + That while he was young he thought he'd play, + And he'd learn when he grew old. + + "Ah, Ben," said his mother, and dropped a tear, + "You'll be sorry for this, by-and-by" + Says Ben, "To me that's not very clear, + But at any rate I'll try." + + So idle Ben, he refused to learn, + Thinking that he could wait; + But when he had his living to earn, + He found it was just too late. + + Little girls, little boys, don't delay your work, + Some day you'll be women and men. + Whenever your task you're inclined to shirk, + Take warning by idle Ben. + + +THE HOLE IN THE CANNA-BED + +BY ISABEL GORDON CURTIS + +One evening in May, Chuckie Wuckie's papa finished setting out the +plants in the front yard. Into one large bed he put a dozen fine cannas. +They looked like fresh young shoots of corn. He told Chuckie Wuckie that +when summer came they would grow tall, with great spreading leaves and +beautiful red-and-yellow blossoms. + +"Taller than me, papa?" asked the little girl, trying to imagine what +they would look like. + +"Much taller; as tall as I am." + +Chuckie Wuckie listened gravely while papa told her she must be very +careful about the canna-bed. She must not throw her ball into it, or dig +there, or set a foot in the black, smooth earth. She nodded her head +solemnly, and made a faithful promise. Then she gathered up her tiny +rake and hoe and spade, and carried them to the vine-covered shed to put +beside her father's tools. + +Next morning, when papa went to look at the canna-bed, he discovered +close beside one of the largest plants a snug, round hole. It looked +like a little nest. He found Chuckie Wuckie digging with an iron spoon +in the ground beside the fence. + + [Illustration: "PAPA TOLD HER SHE MUST BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THE + CANNA-BED."] + +"Dearie," he said, "do you remember I told you, last night, that you +must not dig in the canna-bed?" + +"Yes," said the little girl. + +"Come and see the hole I found there." + +So Chuckie Wuckie trotted along at her father's heels. She stood +watching him as he filled in the hole and smoothed down the earth. + +"I did not dig it," said Chuckie Wuckie. "I just came and looked to see +if the canna had grown any through the night, but I did not dig it." + +"Really?" asked her papa, very gravely. + +"Really and truly, I did not put my foot on there," said Chuckie Wuckie. + +Papa did not say another word. But he could not help thinking that the +hole looked as if the iron spoon had neatly scooped it out. + +Next morning he found the hole dug there again, and Chuckie Wuckie was +still busy in her corner by the fence. He did not speak of it, however. +There were prints of small feet on the edge. He only smoothed down the +earth and raked the bed. He did this for three mornings, then he led +Chuckie Wuckie again to the canna-bed. + +"Papa," she said earnestly, "I did not dig there. Truly, I didn't. The +hole is there every morning. I found it to-day before you came out, but +I did not dig it." There were tears in her brown eyes. + +"I believe you, Chuckie Wuckie dear," said her father, earnestly. + +That night the little girl stood at the gate, watching for her father to +jump off the car. She could hardly wait for him to kiss her. She took +his hand and led him to the canna-bed. + +"Look!" she cried eagerly. + +She was pointing excitedly to a hole beside the roots of a fresh, green +canna plant. + +"That hole again," said her father. "There's a stone in it now, isn't +there?" + +"No, that's what I thought; stoop down and look close, papa!" cried +Chuckie Wuckie. + +It was the head of a fat hop-toad, but all that could be seen was its +mouth and bright eyes. It was staring at them. Papa poked it with the +point of his umbrella. It scrambled deeper into the hole, until there +was nothing to be seen but the dirt. It was slowly changing to the color +of the black earth. + +"I watched him," cried Chuckie Wuckie, excitedly--"oh, for an hour! When +I found him he was just hopping on the canna-bed. He was looking for his +house. He acted as if the door had been shut in his face. Then he began +to open it. He crawled and scrambled round and round, and threw up the +dirt, and poked and pushed. At last he had the hole made, just as it is +every morning, and he crawled in. Then he lay and blinked at me." + +"Clever fellow," said papa. "Well, we won't grudge him a home, and we +won't shut the door again in his face, will we, Chuckie Wuckie?" + +The cannas have grown very tall now--almost as tall as Chuckie Wuckie's +papa--and so thick that you cannot see where the roots are; but a fat, +brown hop-toad has a snug, cool, safe little nest there, and he +gratefully crawls into it when the sun grows very hot. + + +The Conceited Mouse + +BY ELLA FOSTER CASE + +Once upon a time there was a very small mouse with a very, very large +opinion of himself. What he didn't know his own grandmother couldn't +tell him. + +"You'd better keep a bright eye in your head, these days," said she, one +chilly afternoon. "Your gran'ther has smelled a trap." + +"Scat!" answered the small mouse--"'s if I don't know a trap when I see +it!" And that was all the thanks she got for her good advice. + +"Go your own way, for you will go no other," the wise old mouse said to +herself; and she scratched her nose slowly and sadly as she watched her +grandson scamper up the cellar stairs. + +"Ah!" sniffed he, poking his whiskers into a crack of the dining-room +cupboard, "cheese--as I'm alive!" Scuttle--scuttle. "I'll be squizzled, +if it isn't in that cunning little house; I know what that is--a +cheese-house, of course. What a very snug hall! That's the way with +cheese-houses. I know, 'cause I've heard the dairymaid talk about 'em. +It must be rather inconvenient, though, to carry milk up that step and +through an iron door. I know why it's so open--to let in fresh air. I +tell you, that cheese is good! Kind of a reception-room in there--guess +I know a reception-room from a hole in the wall. No trouble at all about +getting in, either. Wouldn't grandmother open her eyes to see me here! +Guess I'll take another nibble at that cheese, and go out. What's that +noise? What in squeaks is the matter with the door? This is a +cheese-house, I know it is--but what if it should turn out to be +a--O-o-o-eeee!" And that's just what it did turn out to be. + + [Illustration: End of ye Tale] + + + + +#RHYMES CONCERNING "MOTHER"# + + + + +A BOY'S MOTHER[O] + +BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY + + My mother she's so good to me, + Ef I was good as I could be, + I couldn't be as good--no, sir!-- + Can't any boy be good as her. + + She loves me when I'm glad er sad; + She loves me when I'm good er bad; + An', what's a funniest thing, she says + She loves me when she punishes. + + I don't like her to punish me-- + That don't hurt--but it hurts to see + Her cryin'.--Nen _I_ cry; an' nen + We both cry an' be good again. + + She loves me when she cuts an' sews + My little cloak an' Sund'y clothes; + An' when my Pa comes home to tea, + She loves him 'most as much as me. + + She laughs an' tells him all I said, + An' grabs me up an' pats my head; + An' I hug _her_, an' hug my Pa, + An' love him purt' nigh much as Ma. + + [O] From "Rhymes of Childhood," by James Whitcomb Riley. Used by special + permission of the publishers. The Bobbs-Merrill Company. + + +MOTHER + +BY ROSE FYLEMAN + + When mother comes each morning + She wears her oldest things, + She doesn't make a rustle, + She hasn't any rings; + She says, "Good-morning, chickies, + It's such a lovely day, + Let's go into the garden + And have a game of play!" + + When mother comes at tea-time + Her dress goes shoo-shoo-shoo, + She always has a little bag, + Sometimes a sunshade too; + She says, "I am so hoping + There's something left for me; + Please hurry up, dear Nanna, + I'm dying for my tea." + + When mother comes at bed-time + Her evening dress she wears, + She tells us each a story + When we have said our prayers; + And if there is a party + She looks so shiny bright + It's like a lovely fairy + Dropped in to say good-night. + + +THE GOODEST MOTHER + + Evening was falling, cold and dark, + And people hurried along the way + As if they were longing soon to mark + Their own home candle's cheering ray. + + Before me toiled in the whirling wind + A woman with bundles great and small, + And after her tugged, a step behind, + The Bundle she loved the best of all. + + A dear little roly-poly boy + With rosy cheeks, and a jacket blue, + Laughing and chattering full of joy, + And here's what he said--I tell you true: + + "You're the goodest mother that ever was." + A voice as clear as a forest bird's; + And I'm sure the glad young heart had cause + To utter the sweet of the lovely words. + + Perhaps the woman had worked all day + Washing or scrubbing; perhaps she sewed; + I knew, by her weary footfall's way + That life for her was an uphill road. + + But here was a comfort. Children dear, + Think what a comfort you might give + To the very best friend you can have here, + The lady fair in whose house you live, + + If once in a while you'd stop and say,-- + In task or play for a moment pause, + And tell her in sweet and winning way, + "You're the GOODEST mother that ever was." + + +MOTHER'S WAY + +BY CARRIE WILLIAMS + + Nowadays girls go to cooking-school + And learn to cook just so by rule; + But all I know, I'm glad to say, + My mother taught me day by day. + + She did not need a great cook-book; + She knew how much and what it took + To make things good and sweet and light. + What Mother does is always right. + + +WHO IS IT? + +BY ETHEL M. KELLEY + + Whose hair is all curly, an' eyes "baby-blue"? + Who wakes up too early 'fore night-time is fru? + Who dresses her pillow all up in the clo'es, + An' counts all her piggies when nobody knows? + An' who's des' as _quiet_ as _quiet_ can be? + Muvver says--_me_. + + Who w'ites wif a pencil all over a book? + An' who gets the ink when nobody does look? + An' who gets her fingies all blacker than black? + An' who gets 'em spatted when Muvver comes back? + An' who's des' as _sorry_ as _sorry_ can be? + Muvver says--_me_. + + Who goes down to dinner on Sundays at two, + All dressed in w'ite frillies, an' tied up in blue? + An' who waits for Father to cut up her meat, + When she is _so_ hungry an' nuffin' to eat? + An' who's des' as "_patient_" as "_patient_" can be? + Muvver says--_me_. + + Who gets on her nightie an' says all her prayers? + An' then comes a-stealin' an' creepin' down-stairs? + Who cuddles up comfy an' teases to stay? + An' who is so spoiled 'at she _won't_ go away, + Even when she's as _sleepy_ as _sleepy_ can be? + Muvver says--_me_. + + +MY DEAREST IS A LADY + +BY MIRIAM S. CLARK + + My dearest is a lady, she wears a gown of blue, + She sits beside the window where the yellow sun comes through; + The light is shining on her hair, and all the time she sews, + She sings a song about a knight, a dear, brave knight she knows. + + My dearest is a lady--and oh, I love her well! + Full five and twenty times a day this very tale I tell; + For I'm the knight in armor, a shield and sword I wear, + And Mother is my lady, with the light upon her hair. + + +HOW MANY LUMPS! + + How many lumps of sugar + Ought a little girl to use + To sweeten a cup of chocolate? + I can take just what I choose. + + Five make it just like candy, + And four are most as good-- + There's no one to say I mustn't, + Now I wonder if I should. + + Three is what Nurse allows me, + So that would be surely right. + Uncle Jack takes two lumps always + And says it is "out of sight." + + Five, four, three, two--I wonder-- + Or none, just like Papa? + Well, after all, I'll take but one + And copy my dear Mama. + + [Illustration: From the painting by H. Morisset. + By permission of the artist.] + + +When Mother Goes Away + +BY CLARA ODELL LYON + + Says Bobby to Mother: + "I'll be good as I can." + "I _know_ you will, Bobby; + You're Mother's little man." + + BUT-- + + His mother then takes every match from the box; + The door of the pantry securely she locks; + Puts the hammer and tacks, and the scissors and ink + In the best hiding places of which she can think + And wonders at last, as her hat she pins on, + What mischief her Bobby will do while she's gone! + + +AN OLD SONG--"THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!" + + When people ask me where I live, + I hate to have to go and give + A name like Smithville, plain. + I'd rather say:--"Sir, if you please, + My home is in the Hebrides," + Or, "High up in the Pyrenees," + Or, "At Gibraltar, Spain." + + "Constantinople," too, sounds fine, + And "Drachenfels-upon-the-Rhine," + And "Madagascar," too; + And "Yokohama" sounds so great, + And "Hindustan" is just first-rate; + I rather like even "Bering Strait," + And "Cuzco" in Peru. + + And yet, I would not be at night, + Alone upon the "Isle of Wight," + Or on the "Zuyder Zee." + At "Nova Zembla," in a gale, + I know that I should just turn pale; + For fear of earthquakes, I should quail + In "sunny Italy." + + A place that sounds nice on the map, + May have a little too much snap + To keep within its wall, + And so, though many names I see, + That sound as stylish as can be, + There's no place quite so good for me, + As Smithville, after all! + + _Blanche Elizabeth Wade._ + + + + +#UNCLES AND AUNTS AND OTHER RELATIVES# + + + + +GRANDMOTHER'S MEMORIES + +BY HELEN A. BYROM + + [Illustration: "STANDS WATCHING THE SETTING SUN."] + + Grandmother sits in her easy-chair, + In the ruddy sunlight's glow; + Her thoughts are wandering far away + In the land of Long Ago. + Again she dwells in her father's home, + And before her loving eyes + In the light of a glorious summer day + The gray old farm-house lies. + + She hears the hum of the spinning-wheel + And the spinner's happy song; + She sees the bundles of flax that hang + From the rafters, dark and long; + She sees the sunbeams glide and dance + Across the sanded floor; + And feels on her cheek the wandering breeze + That steals through the open door. + + Beyond, the flowers nod sleepily + At the well-sweep, gaunt and tall; + And up from the glen comes the musical roar + Of the distant waterfall. + The cows roam lazily to and fro + Along the shady lane; + The shouts of the reapers sound faint and far + From the fields of golden grain. + + And grandma herself, a happy girl, + Stands watching the setting sun, + While the spinner rests, and the reapers cease, + And the long day's work is done; + Then something wakes her--the room is dark, + And vanished the sunset glow, + And grandmother wakes, with a sad surprise, + From the dreams of long ago. + + +Great-Aunt Lucy Lee + +By Cora Walker Hayes + + Sometimes when I am tired of play + My mother says to me, + "Come, daughter, we will call to-day + On Great-aunt Lucy Lee." + + And soon, by mother's side, I skip + Along the quiet street, + Where tall old trees, on either side, + Throw shadows at my feet. + + The houses stand in solemn rows, + And not a child is seen; + The blinds are drawn, the doors are shut, + The walks are span and clean. + + Then when we come to number three, + I stretch my hand up--so! + And find the old brass knocker's ring; + I rap, and in we go. + + There Great-aunt Lucy, small and prim, + Sits by the chimney-piece; + Her knitting-needles clicking go, + And never seem to cease. + + Aunt Lucy's eyes are blue and kind, + Her wrinkled face is fair; + She hides with cap or snowy lace + Her pretty silver hair. + + Aunt Lucy's voice is sweet and low, + Her smile is quick and bright; + She wears a gown of lavender, + And kerchief soft and white. + + I fold my hands in front of me + And sit quite still and staid, + Till Great-aunt Lucy, smiling, says, + "Come hither, little maid!" + + There Great-aunt Lucy small and prim + Sits by the chimney-piece + Her knitting needles clicking go + And never seem to cease] + + [Illustration: + Pale roses of a hundred leaves + Sweet-William, Four-o'clocks + Pinks, daisies, bleeding-hearts and things + All bordered round with box] + + And from her silken bag she takes + A peppermint or two, + And questions me about my play, + My school, my dolls, the Zoo. + + And then she rings for Hannah, who + Comes hobbling stiffly in, + With sugared cakes and jelly-tarts + Upon a shining tin. + + When I have eaten all I can, + Aunt Lucy bids me go + Into the garden, where all kinds + Of lovely flowers grow. + + Pale roses of a hundred leaves, + Sweet-william, four-o'clocks, + Pinks, daisies, bleeding-hearts and things + All bordered 'round with box. + + And there's an arbor, where the grapes + Hang low enough to reach; + A plum-tree just across the path, + And by the wall a peach. + + And oh! I think it very nice + To come and visit here; + The house, the garden and the folks + All seem so very queer! + + And though I am well satisfied + A while to romp and play,-- + A wee old lady, kind and dear, + _I_ want to be some day; + + And so I hope that when I, too, + Have grown to eighty-three, + I'll be a lovely lady like + My Great-aunt Lucy Lee. + + +Our Visitors + +By Isabel Lyndall + + When grandma comes to visit, + She very often brings + Her satchel full of cookies, + And ginger cakes and things. + + Grandpa carries in his grip + For Dorothy and me, + One of the newest toys that moves, + When wound up with a key. + + Aunt Sarah says there is no need + To have so many toys! + She seems to think that useful things + Are best for girls and boys. + + Uncle Jack we're glad to see + Although he is a tease. + He gives us each a quarter + To spend just as we please! + + +BEAUTIFUL GRANDMAMMA + + Grandmamma sits in her quaint arm-chair-- + Never was lady more sweet and fair! + Her gray locks ripple like silver shells, + And her brow its own calm story tells + Of a gentle life and a peaceful even, + A trust in God and a hope in heaven! + + Little girl Mary sits rocking away + In her own low seat, like some winsome fay; + Two dolly babies her kisses share, + And another one lies by the side of her chair. + Mary is fair as the morning dew-- + Cheeks of roses and ribbons of blue! + + "Say, grandmamma," says the pretty elf, + "Tell me a story about yourself. + When you were little, what did you play? + Was you good or naughty, the whole long day? + Was it hundreds and hundreds of years ago? + And what makes your soft hair as white as snow? + + "Did you have a mamma to hug and kiss? + And a dolly like this, and this, and this? + Did you have a pussy like my little Kate? + Did you go to bed when the clock struck eight? + Did you have long curls and beads like mine? + And a new silk apron, with ribbons fine?" + + Grandmamma smiled at the little maid, + And laying aside her knitting, she said: + "Go to my desk and a red box you'll see; + Carefully lift it and bring it to me." + So Mary put her dollies away and ran, + Saying, "I'll be as careful as ever I can." + + Then grandmamma opened the box: and lo! + A beautiful child with a throat like snow, + Lips just tinted like pink shells rare, + Eyes of hazel and golden hair, + Hands all dimpled, and teeth like pearls-- + Fairest and sweetest of little girls! + + "Oh, who is it?" cried winsome May; + "How I wish she was here to-day! + Wouldn't I love her like everything, + And give her my new carnelian ring! + Say, dear grandmamma, who can she be?" + "Darling," said grandmamma, "that child was me!" + + [Illustration: AN AFTERNOON CALL ON GRANDMOTHER] + + May looked along at the dimpled grace, + And then at the saint-like, fair old face, + "How funny!" she cried, with a smile and a kiss, + "To have such a dear little grandma as this! + Still," she added, with a smiling zest, + "I think, dear grandma, I like you best!" + + So May climbed on the silken knee, + And grandma told her her history-- + What plays she played, what toys she had, + How at times she was naughty, or good, or sad. + "But the best thing you did," said May, "don't you see? + Was to grow a beautiful grandma for me!" + + +THANKSGIVING DAY + +BY LYDIA MARIA CHILD + + Over the river and through the wood, + To grandfather's house we go; + The horse knows the way + To carry the sleigh + Through the white and drifted snow. + + Over the river and through the wood-- + Oh, how the wind does blow! + It stings the toes + And bites the nose, + As over the ground we go. + + Over the river and through the wood, + To have a first-rate play; + Hear the bells ring, + "Ting-a-ling-ding!" + Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day! + + Over the river and through the wood, + Trot fast, my dapple-gray! + Spring over the ground, + Like a hunting hound! + For this is Thanksgiving Day. + + Over the river and through the wood, + And straight through the barn-yard gate. + We seem to go + Extremely slow-- + It is so hard to wait! + + Over the river and through the wood-- + Now grandmother's cap I spy! + Hurrah for the fun! + Is the pudding done? + Hurrah for the pumpkin pie! + + +GRANDMA'S MINUET + + Grandma told me all about it; + Told me so I couldn't doubt it; + How she danced--my grandma danced, + Long ago. + How she held her pretty head, + How her dainty skirt she spread, + How she turned her little toes, + Smiling little human rose! + Long ago. + + Grandma's hair was bright and sunny, + Dimpled cheeks, too--ah, how funny! + Really, quite a pretty girl, + Long ago. + Bless her! Why, she wears a cap, + Grandma, does, and takes a nap, + Every single day, and yet, + Grandma danced a minuet, + Long ago. + + No--they moved with stately grace, + Everything in proper place; + Gliding slowly forward, then + Slowly courtesying back again, + Long ago. + Modern ways are quite alarming, + Grandma says; but boys were charming-- + Girls and boys, I mean, of course-- + Long ago. + + Bravely modest, grandly shy-- + Now she sits there rocking, rocking, + Always knitting grandpa's stocking, + Every girl was taught to knit, + Long ago. + Yet her figure is so neat, + And her smile so staid and sweet, + I can almost see her now + Bending to her partner's bow, + Long ago. + + Grandma says our modern jumping, + Hopping, rushing, whirling, bumping + Would have shocked the gentlefolk, + Long ago. + What if all of us should try + Just to feel like those who met + In the graceful minuet, + Long ago? + + With the minuet in fashion, + Who could fly into a passion? + All would wear the calm they wore, + Long ago. + In time to come, if I perchance + Should tell my grandchild of our dance + I should really like to say: + "We did, dear, in some such way, + Long ago." + + +AUNT JAN + +BY NORMAN GALE + + When Aunt Jan's coming there's such romping in the house, + She's sweeter than a daffodil and softer than a mouse! + She sings about the passages, and never wants to rest, + And father says it's all because a bird is in her breast. + + When Aunt Jan's kissing there's such a crowding round her knees, + Such clambers to her bosom, and such battles for a squeeze! + We dirty both her snowy cuffs, we trample on her gown, + And sometimes all her yellow hair comes tumbling, tumbling down. + + When Aunt Jan's dancing we all watch her as she goes, + With in-and-out and round-about upon her shiny toes; + And when her merry breath is tired she stops the fun and stands + To curtsy saucily to us, or kiss her pretty hands. + + When Aunt Jan's playing, the piano seems alive, + With all the notes as busy as the bees are in a hive; + And when it's time for Bedfordshire, as sweetly as a lark + She sings that God is waiting to protect us in the dark. + + When Aunt Jan's leaving we are not ashamed to cry, + A-kissing at the station and a-waving her good-by; + But springtime brings the crocus after winter, rain and frost + So dear Aunt Jan will come again. She isn't really lost. + + +AFTER TEA + + Very often in the evening, + Shortly after tea, + Father, when he's read the paper, + Takes me on his knee. + + There I fix myself "quite comfy," + In his arms so strong, + While he makes up lovely stories + As he goes along. + + Mother near us with her sewing, + Rocking to and fro, + Smiles and listens to the stories, + Likes them too, I know. + + And I'm sure that she is thinking, + What perhaps you've guessed, + That the stories Father tells us + Are the very best. + + + + +#AMUSING ALPHABETS# + + + + +TINGLE, TANGLE TITMOUSE + + "Come hither, little puppy-dog, + I'll give you a new collar, + If you will learn to read your book, + And be a clever scholar." + + "No! no!" replied the puppy-dog, + "I've other fish to fry; + For I must learn to guard your house, + And bark when thieves come nigh." + + With a tingle, tangle titmouse, + Robin knows great A, + And B, and C, and D, and E, + F, G, H, I, J, K. + + "Come hither, pretty cockatoo, + Come and learn your letters; + And you shall have a knife and fork + To eat with, like your betters." + + "No! no!" the cockatoo replied, + "My beak will do as well; + I'd rather eat my victuals thus + Than go and learn to spell." + + With a tingle, tangle titmouse, + Robin knows great A, + And B, and C, and D, and E, + F, G, H, I, J, K. + + "Come hither, little pussy-cat, + If you'll your grammar study, + I'll give you silver clogs to wear, + Whene'er the gutter's muddy." + + "No! whilst I grammar learn," says puss, + "Your house will in a trice + Be overrun from top to toe + With flocks of rats and mice." + + With a tingle, tangle titmouse, + Robin knows great A, + And B, and C, and D, and E, + F, G, H, I, J, K. + + "Come hither, then, good little boy, + And learn your alphabet, + And you a pair of boots and spurs, + Like your papa's, shall get." + + "Oh, yes! I'll learn my alphabet, + And when I've learned to read, + Perhaps papa will give me, too, + A pretty, long-tailed steed." + + With a tingle, tangle titmouse, + Robin knows great A, + And B, and C, and D, and E, + F, G, H, I, J, K. + + +AN ENGLISH ALPHABET + + Ale, +A is for Apple, + Artichoke, + and Ann; + + Brown Bear, +B is for Black Bear, + and Bran; + + Chestnut, +C is for Clay, + Coke, and + Coal, + + Dear, +D is for Dray, + Dick, + Duck, and + Droll, + + Eve, +E is for Eagle, + Eel, + East, and + Ear; + + Fan, +F is for Feather, + Furrow, + Fox, and + Fear; + + Goose, +G is for Gander, + Green, + Grub, and + Gray; + + Horse, +H is for Hound, + Hip, + Haw, and + Hay; + + Ice, +I is for Idler, + Ink, + If, and + Ill; + + James, +J is for Jane, for + Jack, and + Jill; + + Kiss, +K is for Kitten, + King, + Kitchen, + and Kite; + + Lamb, +L is for Lady, + Lace, + Luck, and + Light; + + Moon, +M is for Mitten, + Mist, + Moth, and + Mote; + + Ned, +N is for Nurse, for + Nose, + Nut, and + Note; + + Oil, +O is for Order, + Oat, + Orange, + Oak; + + Pin, +P is for Pan, and + Pig in a + Poke; + + Queen, +Q is for Question, + Quarter, and + Quack; + + Reel, +R is for Radish, + Ruff, + Reeve, and + Rack; + + Skate, +S is for Salmon, + Sprat, + Saw, and + School; + + Tin, +T is for Teapot, + Tar, + Torch, and + Tool; + + Urn, +U is for Usher, + Umpire, and + Use; + + Vegetables, +V is for Varnish, + and Views; + + Want, +W is for War, + Water, and + Wing; + + Xenophon, +X is for and + Xerxes, + the King; + + Yam, +Y is for Yacht, + Yellow, and + Yawl; + + Zeal, +Z is for Zebra, + Zany-- + +That's all! + + +NONSENSE ALPHABET + +BY EDWARD LEAR + + A was an ant + Who seldom stood still, + And who made a nice house + In the side of a hill. + _a_ + Nice little ant! + + B was a book + With a binding of blue, + And pictures and stories + For me and for you. + _b_ + Nice little book! + + C was a camel; + You rode on his hump; + And if you fell off, + You came down such a bump! + _c_ + What a high camel! + + D was a duck + With spots on his back, + Who lived in the water, + And always said "Quack!" + _d_ + Dear little duck! + + E was an elephant, + Stately and wise: + He had tusks and a trunk, + And two queer little eyes. + _e_ + Oh, what funny small eyes! + + F was a fish + Who was caught in a net; + But he got out again, + And is quite alive yet. + _f_ + Lively young fish! + + G was a goat + Who was spotted with brown; + When he did not lie still + He walked up and down. + _g_ + Good little goat! + + H was a hat + Which was all on one side; + Its crown was too high, + And its brim was too wide. + _h_ + Oh, what a hat! + + I was some ice + So white and so nice, + But which nobody tasted; + And so it was wasted. + _i_ + All that good ice! + + J was a jackdaw + Who hopped up and down + In the principal street + Of a neighboring town. + _j_ + All through the town! + + K was a kite + Which flew out of sight, + Above houses so high, + Quite into the sky. + _k_ + Fly away, kite! + + L was a light + Which burned all the night, + And lighted the gloom + Of a very dark room. + _l_ + Useful nice light! + + M was a man, + Who walked round and round; + And he wore a long coat + That came down to the ground. + _m_ + Funny old man! + + N was a net + Which was thrown in the sea + To catch fish for dinner + For you and for me. + _n_ + Nice little net! + + O was an orange + So yellow and round; + When it fell off the tree, + It fell down to the ground. + _o_ + Down to the ground! + + P was a pig, + Who was not very big, + But his tail was too curly, + And that made him surly. + _p_ + Cross little pig! + + Q was a quail + With a very short tail; + And he fed upon corn + In the evening and morn. + _q_ + Quaint little quail! + + R was a rabbit, + Who had a bad habit + Of eating the flowers + In gardens and bowers. + _r_ + Naughty fat rabbit! + + S was the sugar-tongs, + Nippity-nee, + To take up the sugar + To put in our tea. + _s_ + Nippity-nee! + + T was a tortoise, + All yellow and black: + He walked slowly away, + And he never came back. + _t_ + Torty never came back! + + U was an urn + All polished and bright, + And full of hot water + At noon and at night. + _u_ + Useful old urn! + + V was a veil + With a border upon it, + And a ribbon to tie it + All round a pink bonnet. + _v_ + Pretty green veil! + + W was a whale + With a very long tail, + Whose movements were frantic + Across the Atlantic. + _w_ + Monstrous old whale! + + X was King Xerxes, + Who, more than all Turks, is + Renowned for his fashion + Of fury and passion. + _x_ + Angry old Xerxes. + + Y was a yew, + Which flourished and grew + By a quiet abode + Near the side of a road. + _y_ + Dark little yew! + + Z was a zebra, + All striped white and black; + And if he were tame, + You might ride on his back. + _z_ + Pretty striped zebra! + + +PAST HISTORY + +BY EDWARD LEAR + + _a_ + A was once an apple-pie, + Pidy, + Widy, + Tidy, + Pidy, + Nice insidy, + Apple-pie! + + _b_ + B was once a little bear, + Beary, + Wary, + Hairy, + Beary, + Take cary, + Little bear! + + _c_ + C was once a little cake, + Caky, + Baky, + Maky, + Caky, + Taky caky, + Little cake! + + _d_ + D was once a little doll, + Dolly, + Molly, + Polly, + Nolly, + Nursy dolly, + Little doll! + + _e_ + E was once a little eel, + Eely, + Weely, + Peely, + Eely, + Twirly, tweely, + Little eel! + + _f_ + F was once a little fish, + Fishy, + Wishy, + Squishy, + Fishy, + In a dishy, + Little fish! + + _g_ + G was once a little goose, + Goosey, + Moosy, + Boosey, + Goosey, + Waddly-woosy, + Little goose! + + _h_ + H was once a little hen, + Henny, + Chenny, + Tenny, + Henny, + Eggsy-any, + Little hen? + + _i_ + I was once a bottle of ink, + Inky, + Dinky, + Thinky, + Inky, + Black minky, + Bottle of ink! + + _j_ + J was once a jar of jam, + Jammy, + Mammy, + Clammy, + Jammy, + Sweety, swammy, + Jar of jam! + + _k_ + K was once a little kite, + Kity, + Whity, + Flighty, + Kity, + Out of sighty, + Little kite! + + _l_ + L was once a little lark, + Larky, + Marky, + Harky, + Larky, + In the parky, + Little lark! + + _m_ + M was once a little mouse, + Mousy, + Bousy, + Sousy, + Mousy, + In the housy, + Little mouse! + + _n_ + N was once a little needle, + Needly, + Tweedly, + Threedly, + Needly, + Wisky, wheedly, + Little needle! + + _o_ + O was once a little owl, + Owly, + Prowly, + Howly, + Owly, + Browny fowly, + Little owl! + + _p_ + P was once a little pump, + Pumpy, + Slumpy, + Flumpy, + Pumpy, + Dumpy, thumpy, + Little pump! + + _q_ + Q was once a little quail, + Quaily, + Faily, + Daily, + Quaily, + Stumpy-taily, + Little quail! + + _r_ + R was once a little rose, + Rosy, + Posy, + Nosy, + Rosy, + Blows-y, grows-y, + Little rose! + + _s_ + S was once a little shrimp, + Shrimpy, + Nimpy, + Flimpy, + Shrimpy, + Jumpy, jimpy, + Little shrimp! + + _t_ + T was once a little thrush, + Thrushy, + Hushy, + Bushy, + Thrushy, + Flitty, flushy, + Little thrush! + + _u_ + U was once a little urn, + Urny, + Burny, + Turny, + Urny, + Bubbly, burny, + Little urn! + + _v_ + V was once a little vine, + Viny, + Winy, + Twiny, + Viny, + Twisty-twiny, + Little vine! + + _w_ + W was once a whale, + Whaly, + Scaly, + Shaly, + Whaly, + Tumbly-taily, + Mighty whale! + + _x_ + X was once a great king Xerxes, + Xerxy, + Perxy, + Turxy, + Xerxy, + Linxy, lurxy, + Great King Xerxes! + + _y_ + Y was once a little yew + Yewdy, + Fewdy, + Crudy, + Yewdy, + Growdy, grewdy, + Little yew! + + _z_ + Z was once a piece of zinc, + Tinky, + Winky, + Blinky, + Tinky, + Tinkly minky, + Piece of zinc! + + +THE APPLE PIE + + A was an apple pie, + B bit it; + C cut it; + D dealt it; + E ate it; + F fought for it; + G got it; + H had it; + I inquired about it; + J joined it; + K kept it; + L longed for it; + M mourned for it; + N nodded at it; + O opened it; + P peeped in it; + Q quartered it; + R ran for it; + S stole it; + T took it; + U upset it; + V viewed it; + W wanted it; + X, Y, Z, and amper-sand, + All hoped for a piece in hand. + + +WHO'S WHO IN THE ZOO? + +BY CAROLYN WELLS. + + A is for the Antelope, + A beast that I have never met; + They say he jumps the skipping-rope + And makes a charming household pet. + + Well, as to that I cannot say; + But A is for him, anyway. + + + B stands for Bajjerkeit; maybe + You've never chanced this beast to see; + So I'll describe him to you. Well, + There isn't very much to tell. + One day I idly chanced to look + Within a Natural History book, + And there I saw his funny name, + And thought I'd hand him down to fame. + + C is for Codfish. He must be + The saltest fish that swims the sea. + And, oh! + He has a secret woe! + You see, he thinks it's all his fault + The ocean is so very salt! + And so, + In hopeless grief and woe, + The Codfish has, for many years, + Shed quarts of salty, briny tears! + And, oh! + His tears still flow-- + So great his grief and woe! + + D stands for Dodo. He's a bird + That isn't known to many; + And this the reason, I have heard-- + Because there aren't any! + The Dodo, who once blithely blinked, + Is now exceedingly extinct, + And doesn't it seem rather nice + To think that D stands for him twice? + + [Illustration: MARY MARY! QUITE CONTRARY.] + + E is for Elephant. I know + He isn't natty, trim, or trig; + His eyes are rather small, and, oh, + I fear his ears are far too big! + But there's a well-attested rumor + That he has quite a sense of humor; + So crack a joke whene'er you meet + An Elephant upon the street. + + F is Flamingo. All please note + His wondrous height and girth; + He has the longest legs and throat + Of anything on earth. + Such throats are trying, are they not? + In case one catches cold; + Ah, yes! but just think what a lot + His Christmas stockings hold! + + G stands for Gnu. Of course that's right, but then, + It seems as if it _should_ begin with N. + I could select some other beast as well-- + Say, Goose or Grampus, Gadfly or Gazelle; + But seems to me the Gnu is more attractive, + He is so merry, frivolous, and active. + + H is for Hippopotamus. + If you desire a pet, + He is, it really seems to us, + The best that you can get. + Train him to follow at your heels + Whene'er you walk abroad, + And note with what delighted squeals + The lookers-on applaud! + + I is for Ibex. This fine creature + Is favored well in form and feature. + And I is for Ichneumon, too-- + But what is that to me or you? + But Ibex answers just as well, + And isn't near so hard to spell. + + J stands for Jay. This little fellow + Is blue. Sometimes I think + I'd like him better were he yellow, + Or even reddish pink. + I know, of course, it is absurd + To mind the color of a bird; + And, now I think of it, I've seen + Some Jays that were exceeding green. + + K stands for Kangaroo. I've looked all round: + A better beast for K cannot be found. + The Kangaroo can hop and hop and hop; + Somehow he never seems to want to stop. + What more could one desire of him, I pray, + Than just to hop around and stand for K? + + L is for Leopard. Do you know + He's very, very vain? + And sometimes quite dejectedly + He mopes along the plain. + At these sad times the Leopard's heart + Is filled with angry passion, + Because his spots are out of date, + And Zebra stripes in fashion! + But other years, when fashion-books + Say spots are all the style, + The Leopard proudly stalks abroad + With most complacent smile. + + M is for Microbe. This bad beast + Is very, very small; + Some people say--or think, at least-- + He isn't there at all! + He's smaller than the mitiest mite; + The only way he comes in sight + Is when he's pictured in a book, + Or through a microbescope you look. + + N is for Nautilus, and he's + A pirate, bold and gay; + He dashes madly through the seas, + A-searching of his prey. + He's just a sort of silvery mass, + All spotted blue and pink; + And with his eye, which looks like glass, + He winks a wicked wink. + + O stands for the obsequious Ounce, + Who weighs full many a pound; + At you he playfully would bounce, + If you were walking round. + Approach him and the Ounce you'll see + Spring like a catapult; + Just try it once, and you will be + Surprised at the result. + + P stands for Puma. His sleek paws + Go softly pit-a-pat; + His teeth are sharp, and sharp his claws; + He's just a great big cat. + There were some Pumas in the ark; + There are some also in the park: + But, strange to say, in Montezuma + They do not raise a single Puma! + + Q stands for Quagga. We've been taught + Nothing was ever made in vain; + But even after serious thought + The Quagga's use is not quite plain. + Though, stay!--ah, yes! at last I see + Why the queer Quagga has to be: + Were there no Quaggas, how would you + Find any beast to stand for Q? + + R's for Rhinoceros. You see + His clothing does not fit; + Yet so indifferent is he, + He doesn't care a bit. + Although it does not seem to us + The unconcerned Rhinoceros + Has any claim to wit or grace, + We must admire his earnest face. + + S stands for Sponge. You'd scarce suppose + This could be called a creature; + It hasn't any eyes or nose-- + Indeed, it has no feature. + And, though this may cause some surprise, + The mermaids, I dare say, + Will set a Sponge at night to rise, + And make sponge-cake next day. + + T stands for Tiger. In the south + He roams his native heath. + He has a wide, capacious mouth, + And long and glistening teeth. + 'Tis not worth while your time to spend + To cultivate him as a friend; + But to your house, so warm and snug, + Invite the Tiger as a rug. + + U is for the Unicorn, + The dearest little thing; + Though he has but a single horn, + And not a single wing. + A Unicorn of any age + Is nicer, so I've heard, + To keep within a gilded cage + Than a canary-bird. + + V is for Vervet. From his name + You'd be inclined to think + This creature rather mild and tame, + In color somewhat pink. + But not at all; the Vervet's green, + And very cross and spunky; + In fact, it's plainly to be seen + The Vervet's just a monkey! + + W is for Whale. He's in + The oceans, north and south. + He doesn't have a dimpled chin, + Nor yet a rosebud mouth. + Yet he is very fond of fun, + And has wide smiles for every one. + + X stands for Xiphias; he's a fish. + If you a Xiphias should wish, + Don't let him roam around the grass, + But keep him in a globe of glass. + His name, as everybody knows, + Is _Xiphias Gladius_. I suppose + That means the Xiphias is glad + Because he wasn't born a Shad. + + Y is for Yak, + Who is not very tidy; + And he's lazy, alack! + He sleeps all day Friday. + About a yard wide + The Yak is, precisely; + With fringe on each side + He's trimmed very nicely. + + Z stands for Zibet. I've been told + This beast was much esteemed of old; + But, latterly, most people think + They'd rather have a moose or mink. + In a museum that's in Tibet + They have one stuffed--he's an Ex-Zibet! + + +A WAS AN ARCHER + + A was an Archer, who shot at a frog; + B was a Butcher, and had a great dog. + + C was a Captain, all covered with lace; + D was a drunkard, and had a red face. + + E was an Esquire, with pride on his brow; + F was a Farmer, and followed the plough. + + G was a gamester, who had but ill-luck; + H was a Hunter, who hunted a buck. + + I was an Innkeeper, who loved to carouse; + J was a Joiner, and built up a house. + + K is the King, who governs England; + L was a Lady, who had a white hand. + + M was a Miser, and hoarded up gold; + N was a Nobleman, gallant and bold. + + O was an Oyster-Girl, who went about town; + P was a Parson, and wore a black gown. + + Q was a Queen, who wore a silk slip; + R was a Robber, and wanted a whip. + + S was a Sailor, and spent all he got; + T was a Tinker, and mended a pot. + + U was an Usurer, a miserable elf; + V was a Vintner, who drank all himself. + + W was a Watchman, and guarded the door; + X was expensive, and so became poor. + + Y was a Youth, that did not love school; + Z was a Zany, a poor harmless fool. + + +A LITTLE FOLKS' ALPHABET + +BY CAROLYN WELLS + + Affable Andy + Ate sugar candy. + + Boisterous Ben + Shot at a hen. + + Careless Corinne + Lost her gold pin. + + Dear little Davy + Liked chicken gravy. + + Elegant Ed + Had a new sled. + + Fair little Fanny + Wrote to her Granny. + + Gay little Guy + Thought he could fly. + + Helen and Hugh + Called the sky blue. + + Ignorant Ike + Fell off his bike. + + Jaunty young Jack + Stepped on a tack. + + Kind little Kay + Gave things away. + + Lovable Lenny + Lost his new penny. + + Merry young Mac + Rode in a hack. + + Nice little Nettie + Never was fretty. + + Opulent Ollie + Rode on the trolley. + + Popular Polly + Made pies so jolly. + + Queer little Queen + Always wore green. + + Rollicking Rory + Read a long story. + + Sturdy St. Clair + Marched everywhere. + + Tommy and Teddy + Climbed straight and steady. + + Unsocial Una + Gazed up at Luna. + + Vigorous Vinton + Always was "sprintin'." + + Whimsical Winnie + Started for Guinea. + + Xenophon Bump + Tried a high jump. + + Yellow-haired Yorick + Made leaps historic. + + Zealous young Zed + Stood on his head. + + Ampersand held a book in his hand. + + +CHILD HEALTH ALPHABET[P] + +BY MRS. FREDERICK PETERSON + + A is for _Apples_ + and also for _Air_; + Children need both + and we have them to spare. + + B is for _Butter_ spread + thick on _Brown Bread_, + Also for _Baths_ + before Breakfast or Bed. + + C is for _Cereals_ + and _Cocoa_ too; + Consider the _Calories_ + coming to You. + + D is for _Dates_, + the kind that You eat, + Deliciously sweet + and far cheaper than Meat. + + E is the Excellent + Edible _Egg_, + One daily at least, + dear Children, we beg. + + F is for _Fruits_, whether + fresh, dried or stewed; + Dried, at the Grocer's, + you'll buy them, if shrewd. + + G is for _Gaining_, + as every Child could, + A half pound a Month + is the least that he should. + + H is for _Height_, + be as tall as you can, + Weight up to _Height_ + makes a healthy strong Man. + + I is for _Iron_ + in Spinach and Eggs, + Builds Red Blood and Sinews + for strong Arms and Legs. + + J is for _Jam_ + and also for _Joy_, + Which spread on his Bread + it brings to a Boy. + + K is for _Kitchen_ + so spick and so span, + We all like our Food + from a shining clean Pan. + + L is for _Luncheon_ + served hot in the School; + We wish all the Teachers + could follow this Rule. + + M is for _Milk_ which + makes _Muscle_ and Bone; + One pint a day + would be best till you're grown. + + N is for _News_ + of habits you need, + To grow up so healthy + you're bound to succeed. + + O is for _Oatmeal_, + the finest of Food; + With Milk for your Breakfast + there's nothing so good. + + P is for _Prunes_, + _Potatoes_ and _Peas_, + And _Patriots_ who will + be glad to eat these. + + Q is for _Quiet_, + we frequently need; + After Meals don't run + at the top of your speed. + + R is for _Rest_ + and _Round Rosy Faces_; + _Rest_ is a thing + which nothing replaces. + + S is important + and therefore I hope + You'll pardon my specially + mentioning _Soap_. + + T is a _Topic_ + which _Trouble_ begins; + Both _Tea_ and Coffee + for Children are Sins. + + U _Understanding_ + the best way to live, + _United_ for Service + our Country to give. + + V is for _Vegetables_; + if you're too slim, + These _Victuals_ are full + of _Vigor_ and _Vim_. + + W is for _Water_, + the best thing to drink + Between Meals + as often as ever we think. + + X is for _Xtras_ + of Soup or of Milk + For a thin little Girl + till she's finer than Silk. + + Y is for _You_, + and I tell you the Truth, + Learn to be Healthy + and Strong in your _Youth_. + + Now march for it, Children, + with Drum and with Fife. + Z is the _Zest_ + which Health gives to Life. + + [P] Used by permission of the author and of the publishers, The Child + Health Organization. + + +HERE'S A, B, C, D + + Here's A, B, C, D, + E, F and G, + H, I, J, K, + L, M, N, O, P, + Q, R, S, T, + U, V, W, + X, Y, and Z, + And oh, dear me, + When shall I learn + My A, B, C. + + +OUR STORIES + + A is Aladdin + B is Little Boy Blue + C is Cinderella + D is A Year with Dolly + E is Echo and Narcissus + F is The Fisherman and his Wife + G is The Gingerbread Boy + H is The House that Jack Built + I is Indian Legends + J is The Jackal and the Lion + K is The King of the Golden River + L is The Lion and the Mouse + M is Mary and her Lamb + N is Naughty Peter + O is Old Mother Hubbard + P is Prince Cherry + Q is Quaint Stories for Children + R is Little Red Hen + S is Simple Simon + T is Tiny Hare and the Red Fire + U is Una and the Lion + V is Viggo and Beate + W is The Wake-up Story + At the last you will see + X, Y and Z. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOYS AND GIRLS BOOKSHELF; A +PRACTICAL PLAN OF CHARACTER BUILDING, VOLUME I (OF 17)*** + + +******* This file should be named 25359.txt or 25359.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/3/5/25359 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + |