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diff --git a/old/53030-0.txt b/old/53030-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e7d0b6d..0000000 --- a/old/53030-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6180 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Lilliput Lyrics, by W. B. Rands - -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/license - - -Title: Lilliput Lyrics - -Author: W. B. Rands - -Editor: R. Brimley Johnson - -Illustrator: Charles Robinson - -Release Date: September 11, 2016 [EBook #53030] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LILLIPUT LYRICS *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Chuck Greif and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - [Illustration] - - - - - [Illustration: LILLIPUT LYRICS - - EDITED BY R. BRIMLEY JOHNSON - - BY W. B. RAND ILLUSTRATED BY CHAS. ROBINSON - - JOHN LANE - - THE BODLEY HEAD. - - LONDON & NEW YORK. 1899] - - - - - [Illustration] - - Lillput Lyrics - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE EDITOR’S NOTE - - -_The following verses have been selected from “Lilliput Levee,” 1868, -and from W. B. Rands’ numerous contributions to magazines.[A] He wrote_ -_under many signatures, never enumerated; but--with the generous -assistance of his son, Mr. Paul W. Rands, and his publisher, Mr. -Alexander Strahan--I have been able to identify and examine all his -work. Three poems are included, by permission, from the reprint of -“Lilliput Lectures,” which I lately edited for Mr. James Bowden. Messrs. -Dalziel have allowed me to use one from “Hood’s Comic Annual.” All other -rights belonged to Mr. Strahan, and have been transferred, with the full -concurrence of Mr. P. W. Rands, to Mr. John Lane for this volume. -Nothing has been included from “Innocent’s Island,” which we hope to -reprint shortly with some of the “Lilliput Revels.” - -These are poems for children, with whom Rands was always at his best, -and have been chosen in remembrance of their tastes and understandings. -As many of them are printed from magazines and never received the -author’s final revision, I have occasionally edited the text, without -scruple, by omitting weak lines or even altering a word._ - -_R. B. J._ - - [Illustration] - - The End of the Editor’s Note - - [A] _A portion of the Introductory Verses to “Lilliput Legends” is - also included._ - - - _RAT-TAT! the postman knocks!_ - _This is the Lilliput letter-box._ - _A penny for your thoughts, my dear!_ - _So said the Raven in Odin’s ear._ - _Here comes a letter from Thing-a-my-Bob,_ - _A letter from Ruth, a letter from Rob._ - _Rat-tat! the postman knocks!_ - _This is the Lilliput letter-box._ - - - - - [Illustration] - - CONTENTS - - -_LYRICS_ - -_Lilliput Levee_ _Page_ 17 - -_Doll Poems_ - -1. _The Picture_ 24 - -2. _The Love Story_ 25 - -3. _Dressing Her_ 27 - -_The Little Doll’s House in Arcady_ 30 - -_The Pedlar’s Caravan_ 35 - -_The First Tooth_ 37 - -_Praise and Love_ 40 - -_Two Pictures_ 43 - -_The Ship that Sailed into the Sun_ 46 - -_The Young Exile_ 48 - -_The Coming Storm_ 51 - -_The Discontented Yew-Tree_ 52 - -_The Little Brother_ 55 - -_Cuckoo in the Pear-Tree_ 57 - -_Madcap_ 59 - -_The Bewitched Toys; or, Queen Mab in Child-World_ 65 - -_The New World_ 72 - -_Lina and her Lamb_ 75 - -_The Boy that Loves a Baby_ 78 - -_Harold and Alice; or, The Reformed Giant_ 81 - -_Prince Philibert_ 91 - -_Gold-Boy and Green-Girl_ 94 - -_At Harvest-Time_ 97 - -_See-Saw_ 99 - -_Great, Wide, Beautiful, Wonderful World_ 101 - -_Kittens and Chickens_ 103 - -_The Making of the Music_ 106 - -_The Race of the Flowers_ 109 - -_Polly_ 112 - -_The Windmill_ 116 - -_The Girl that Garibaldi Kissed_ 118 - -_Seeing God_ 122 - -_Fair Lady, Rare Lady_ 124 - -_The Absent Boy_ 126 - -_Morning_ 129 - -_The Rising, Watching Moon_ 131 - -_The Flowers_ 133 - -_The Penance of the Little Maid_ 135 - -_Frodgedobbulum’s Fancy_ 137 - -_The Guinea-Pig_ 148 - -_Little Boy Blue_ 150 - -_Miss Hooper_ 152 - -_A Shooting Song_ 156 - -_A Fishing Song_ 158 - -_Shockheaded Cicely and the Two Bears_ 161 - -_Mother’s Joy_ 168 - -_The Baby_ 170 - -_What will Auntie send?_ 173 - -_Lords-and-Ladies_ 176 - -_The Dog and the Patch of Moonshine_ 178 - -_Autumn Song_ 182 - -_The Drummer-Boy and the Shepherdess_ 184 - -_Lullaby_ 186 - -_Clean Clara_ 188 - -_The Lavender Beds_ 191 - - -_LITTLE DITTIES_ 194 - - -_BABY’S BELLS_ 237 - - -_NONSENSE RHYMES_ - -_Tuesday_ 279 - -_Jolly Jack_ 281 - -_The Duck and her Ducklings_ 282 - -_Little Ben Bute_ 284 - -_The Dream of a Girl who Lived at Seven-Oaks_ 286 - -_The Dream of a Boy who Lived at Nine-Elms_ 287 - -_Four Little Histories_ 289 - -_A Big Noise_ 294 - -_The Alarm_ 295 - -_Cicero Brick_ 297 - -_The Obstinate Cow_ 301 - -_Lavender Lady_ 304 - -_Odd Rhymes_ 311 - -_Topsyturvey-World_ 316 - -_Miss Waver_ 319 - -_Jeremy Jangle_ 320 - -_Stalky Jack_ 322 - -_The Fiddler and the Crocodile_ 324 - -_L’Envoi_ 330 - - [Illustration] - - Lyrics - - - - - [Illustration] - - LILLIPUT LEVEE - - - Where does Pinafore Palace stand? - Right in the middle of Lilliput-land! - There the Queen eats bread-and-honey, - There the King counts up his money! - - Oh, the Glorious Revolution! - Oh, the Provisional Constitution! - Now that the children, clever bold folks, - Have turned the tables upon the Old Folks! - - Easily the thing was done, - For the children were more than two to one; - Brave as lions, quick as foxes, - With hoards of wealth in their money-boxes! - - They seized the keys, they patrolled the street, - They drove the policeman off his beat, - They built barricades, they stationed sentries-- - You must give the word, when you come to the entries! - - They dressed themselves, in the Riflemen’s clothes, - They had pea-shooters, they had arrows and bows, - So as to put resistance down-- - Order regions in Lilliput-town! - - They made the baker bake hot rolls, - They made the wharfinger send in coals, - They made the butcher kill the calf, - They cut the telegraph-wires in half. - - They went to the chemists, and with their feet - They kicked the physic all down the street; - They went to the schoolroom and tore the books, - They munched the puffs at the pastrycook’s. - - They sucked the jam, they lost the spoons, - They sent up several fire-balloons, - They let off crackers, they burnt a guy, - They piled a bonfire ever so high. - - They offered a prize for the laziest boy, - And one for the most Magnificent toy; - They split or burnt the canes offhand, - They made new laws in Lilliput-land. - - _Never do to-day what you can - Put off till to-morrow_, one of them ran; - _Late to bed and late to rise_ - Was another law which they did devise. - - They passed a law to have always plenty - Of beautiful things: we shall mention twenty: - A magic lantern for all to see, - Rabbits to keep, and a Christmas-tree, - - A boat, a house that went on wheels, - An organ to grind, and sherry at meals, - Drums and wheelbarrows, Roman candles, - Whips with whistles let into the handles, - - A real live giant, a roc to fly, - A goat to tease, a copper to sky, - A garret of apples, a box of paints, - A saw and a hammer, and no complaints. - - Nail up the door, slide down the stairs, - Saw off the legs of the parlour chairs-- - That was the way in Lilliput-land, - The children having the upper hand. - - They made the Old Folks come to school, - And in pinafores,--that was the rule,-- - Saying, _Eener-deener-diner-duss, - Kattler-wheeler-whiler-wuss_; - - They made them learn all sorts of things - That nobody liked. They had catechisings; - They kept them in, they sent them down - In class, in school, in Lilliput-town. - - O but they gave them tit-for-tat! - Thick bread-and-butter, and all that; - Stick-jaw pudding that tires your chin, - With the marmalade spread ever so thin! - - They governed the clock in Lilliput-land, - They altered the hour or the minute-hand, - They made the day fast, they made the day slow, - Just as they wished the time to go. - - They never waited for king or for cat; - They never wiped their shoes on the mat; - Their joy was great; their joy was greater; - They rode in the baby’s perambulator! - - There was a Levee in Lilliput-town, - At Pinafore Palace. Smith and Brown, - Jones and Robinson had to attend-- - All to whom they cards did send. - - Every one rode in a cab to the door; - Every one came in a pinafore; - Lady and gentleman, rat-tat-tat, - Loud knock, proud knock, opera hat! - - The place was covered with silver and gold, - The place was as full as it ever could hold; - The ladies kissed her Majesty’s hand, - Such was the custom in Lilliput-land. - - His Majesty knighted eight or ten, - Perhaps a score, of the gentlemen, - Some of them short and some of them tall-- - _Arise, Sir What’s-a-name What-do-you-call_! - - Nuts and nutmeg (that’s in the negus); - The bill of fare would perhaps fatigue us; - Forty-five fiddlers to play the fiddle; - Right foot, left foot, down the middle. - - Conjuring tricks with the poker and tongs, - Riddles and forfeits, singing of songs; - One fat man, too fat by far, - Tried “Twinkle, twinkle, little star.” - - His voice was gruff, his pinafore tight, - His wife said, “Mind, dear, sing it right,” - But he forgot, and said Fa-la-la! - The Queen of Lilliput’s own papa! - - She frowned, and ordered him up to bed: - He said he was sorry; she shook her head; - His clean shirt-front with his tears was stained-- - But discipline had to be maintained. - - The Constitution! The Law! The Crown! - Order reigns in Lilliput-town! - The Queen is Jill, and the King is John; - I trust the Government will get on. - - I noticed, being a man of rhymes, - An advertisement in the _Lilliput Times_:-- - “PINAFORE PALACE. This is to state - That the Court is in want of a Laureate. - - “Nothing menial required. - Poets, willing to be hired, - May send in Specimens at once, - Care of the Chamberlain DOUBLEDUNCE.” - - Said I to myself Here’s a chance for me - The Lilliput Laureate for to be! - And these are the Specimens I sent in - To Pinafore Palace. Shall I win? - - PUBLIC NOTICE.--_This is to state_ - _That these are the specimens left at the gate_ - _Of Pinafore Palace, exact to date,_ - _In the hands of the porter, Curlypate,_ - _Who sits in his plush on a chair of state,_ - _By the gentleman who is a candidate_ - _For the office of_ LILLIPUT LAUREATE. - - - - - [Illustration] - - DOLL POEMS - - - I - - THE PICTURE - - This is her picture--Dolladine-- - The beautifullest doll that ever was seen! - Oh, what nosegays! Oh, what sashes! - Oh, what beautiful eyes and lashes! - - Oh, what a precious perfect pet! - On each instep a pink rosette; - Little blue shoes for her little blue tots; - Elegant ribbons in bows and knots. - - Her hair is powdered; her arms are straight, - Only feel--she is quite a weight! - Her legs are limp, though;--stand up, miss!-- - What a beautiful buttoned-up mouth to kiss! - - - II - - THE LOVE STORY - - This is the doll with respect to whom - A story is told that ends in gloom; - For there was a sensitive little sir - Went out of his mind for love of her! - - They pulled a wire, she moved her eye; - They squeezed the bellows, they made her cry; - But the boy could never be persuaded - That these were really things which _they_ did. - - “My Dolladine,” he said, “has life; - I love her, and she shall be my wife; - Dainty delicate Dolladine, - The prettiest girl that ever was seen!” - - To give his passion a chance to cool, - They sent the lover to boarding-school. - But absence only made it worse-- - He never learnt anything, prose or verse! - - He drew her likeness on his slate; - His Grammar was in a _dreadful_ state, - With Dolladine all over the edges, - And true-love knots, and vows, and pledges. - - What was the consequence?--Doctor Whack - Begged of his parents to take him back. - When his condition, poor boy, was seen, - Too late, they sent for Dolladine. - - And now he will never part with her: - He calls her lily, and rose, and myrrh, - Dolly-o’-diamonds, precious lamb, - Humming-bird, honey-pot, jewel, jam, - - Darling, delicate-dear-delight, - Angel-o’-red, angel-o’-white, - Queen of beauty, and suchlike names; - In fact all manner of darts and flames! - - Of course, while he keeps up this wooing - His education goes to ruin: - What are his prospects in future life, - With only a doll for his lawful wife? - - It is feared his parents’ hearts will break! - And there’s one remark I wish to make: - I may be wrong, but it seems a pity - For a movable doll to be made too pretty. - - An old-fashioned doll, that is not like nature, - Can never pass for a human creature; - It is in a doll that moves her eyes - That the danger of these misfortunes lies! - - The lover’s name must be suppressed - For obvious reasons. He lives out west, - And if I call him Pygmalion Pout, - I don’t believe you will find him out! - - - III - - DRESSING HER - - This is the way we dress the Doll:-- - You may make her a shepherdess, the Doll, - If you give her a crook with a pastoral hook, - But this is the way we dress the Doll. - - _Chorus:_ Bless the Doll, you may press the Doll, - But do not crumple and mess the Doll! - This is the way we dress the Doll. - - First, you observe her little chemise, - As white as milk, with ruches of silk; - And the little drawers that cover her knees, - As she sits or stands, with golden bands, - And lace in beautiful filagrees. - - _Chorus:_ Bless the Doll, you may press the Doll, - But do not crumple or mess the Doll! - This is the way we dress the Doll. - - Now these are the bodies: she has two, - One of pink, with ruches of blue, - And sweet white lace; be careful, do! - And one of green, with buttons of sheen, - Buttons and bands of gold, I mean, - With lace on the border in lovely order, - The most expensive we can afford her! - - _Chorus:_ Bless the Doll, you may press the Doll, - But do not crumple or mess the Doll! - This is the way we dress the Doll. - - Then, with black at the border, jacket; - And this--and this--she will not lack it; - Skirts? Why, there are skirts, of course, - And shoes and stockings we shall enforce, - With a proper bodice, in the proper place - (Stays that lace have had their days - And made their martyrs); likewise garters, - All entire. But our desire - Is to show you her night attire, - At least a part of it. Pray admire - This sweet white thing that she goes to bed in! - It’s not the one that’s made for her wedding; - _That_ is special, a new design, - Made with a charm and a countersign, - Three times three and nine times nine: - These are only her usual clothes: - Look, _there’s_ a wardrobe! gracious knows - It’s pretty enough, as far as it goes! - - So you see the way we dress the Doll: - You might make her a shepherdess, the Doll, - If you gave her a crook with a pastoral hook, - With sheep, and a shed, and a shallow brook, - And all that, out of the poetry-book. - - _Chorus:_ Bless the Doll, you may press the Doll, - But do not crumple and mess the Doll! - This is the way we dress the Doll; - If you had not seen, could you guess the Doll? - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE LITTLE DOLL’S HOUSE IN ARCADY - - - The boys and girls were exceeding gay, - With billycock bonnets and curds and whey, - And I thought that I was in Arcady, - For the fringe of the forest was fair to see. - - But the very first hayrick that I came to - Did turn to a Doll’s House, fair and true; - I saw with my eyes where the same did sit, - And there was a rainbow over it. - - The people inside were setting the platters, - The chairs and tables, and suchlike matters, - And making the beds and getting the tea: - But through a bow-window I saw the sea. - - Up came a damsel: “Sir,” she said, - “Will you walk with me by my garden bed? - Will you sit in my parlour by-and-by?” - “I will sit in your parlour, my dear,” said I. - - “Will you hear my starling gossip?” said she, - And now I felt sure it was Arcady; - But a starling never could do the rhyming - That very soon in my ears was chiming:-- - - “Jigglum-jogglum, Lilliputlandum, - Twopenny tiptop, sugaricandum, - Snip-snap snorum, hot-cross buns, - Conjugatorum, double-dunce. - - “Fannyfold funnyface, fairy-tale, - Cat in a cockle-boat, wigglum-whale, - Dickory-dolphin, humpty-hoo, - Floppety-fluteykin, tootle-tum-too.” - - Said I, “There may be a clown outside, - And a clown I never could yet abide,-- - A picker and stealer, a clumsy joker, - Who stirs up his friends with a burning poker. - - “But perhaps,” said I, “I mistake the plan; - It may be the Punch-and-Judy man, - Or the other, that keeps the galante show - And the marionettes, for what I know.” - - Then I opened the window through thick and thin, - And in with a bounce came a Harlequin, - And very distinctly I heard a band - Strike up the dances of Lilliput Land. - - To wonder at this I did incline, - “And where,” said I, “is the Columbine-- - Tip-toe twist-about, shimmer and shine, - Where is the beautiful Columbine?” - - Then out from the curtains, all shimmer and shine, - With a rose-red sash came Columbine, - And Harlequin took her by the hand, - And they stepped it out in Lilliput Land; - Twirl about, whirl about, shimmer and shine, - O a rose-red sash had Columbine! - - Then one of the folks who had set the tea - In Doll’s House fashion, did climb my knee, - And he said, “Would you like, sir, to take a trip - With me? Have you seen my little ship?” - - The ship, as he called it, was certainly small, - For the dot of a sailor could carry it all: - So both got in, and away went we, - Coasting the sea-board of Arcady. - - Then I told a story, and he told one, - But they both got mixed before they were done; - And so did we, as the day grew dim, - And the child was myself, and myself was him. - - But now it was getting time to land, - So I stepped into Fleet Street, and went up the Strand, - For I thought I should like to study the trade - They drive in toys at the Lowther Arcade. - - And whom should I see, at a Doll’s House door, - But the very same damsel I met before! - “I thought I should see you again,” says she; - “And a few of my friends will be here to tea.” - - Then the Punch-and-Judy man came in, - And Columbine and the Harlequin, - The man that patters in front of the show, - And the children--and how their tongues did go! - - But what makes the place so sweet? thought I, - As scents of the heather and furze went by, - And with them a whiff of the rolling sea;-- - And then I remembered Arcady, - As the party were tittering over the tea. - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE PEDLAR’S CARAVAN - - - I wish I lived in a caravan, - With a horse to drive, like a pedlar-man! - Where he comes from nobody knows, - Or where he goes to, but on he goes! - - His caravan has windows two, - And a chimney of tin, that the smoke comes through; - He has a wife, with a baby brown, - And they go riding from town to town. - - Chairs to mend, and delf to sell! - He clashes the basins like a bell; - Tea-trays, baskets ranged in order, - Plates, with alphabets round the border! - - The roads are brown, and the sea is green, - But his house is like a bathing-machine; - The world is round, and he can ride, - Rumble and slash, to the other side! - - With the pedlar-man I should like to roam, - And write a book when I came home; - All the people would read my book, - Just like the Travels of Captain Cook! - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE FIRST TOOTH - - - There once was a wood, and a very thick wood, - So thick that to walk was as much as you could; - But a sunbeam got in, and the trees understood. - - I went to this wood, at the end of the snows, - And as I was walking I saw a primrose; - Only one! Shall I show you the place where it grows? - - There once was a house, and a very dark house, - As dark, I believe, as the hole of a mouse, - Or a tree in my wood, at the thick of the boughs. - - I went to this house, and I searched it aright, - I opened the chambers, and I found a light; - Only one! Shall I show you this little lamp bright? - - There once was a cave, and this very dark cave - One day took a gift from an incoming wave; - And I made up my mind to know what the sea gave. - - I took a lit torch, I walked round the ness - When the water was lowest; and in a recess - In my cave was a jewel. Will nobody guess? - - O there was a baby, he sat on my knee, - With a pearl in his mouth that was precious to me, - His little dark mouth like my cave of the sea! - - I said to my heart, “And my jewel is bright! - He blooms like a primrose! He shines like a light!” - Put your hand in his mouth! Do you feel? He can bite! - - - - - [Illustration] - - PRAISE AND LOVE - - - Tell me, Praise, and tell me, Love, - What you both are thinking of? - - “Oh, we think,” said Love, said Praise, - “Now of children and their ways.” - - Give me of your cup to drink, - Praise, and tell me all you think. - - “Oh, I think of crowns of gold - For the clever and the bold.” - - Then I turned to Love, and said,-- - Love was glowing heavenly-red,-- - - Give me of your cup to drink, - Love, and tell me all you think. - - Let me taste your bitter-sweet; - Who are those that kiss your feet? - - Love looked up--I read her eyes-- - They were stars and they were skies. - - Clinging to her garment’s hem, - Smiling as I looked at them, - - There were children scarred and halt, - Children weeping for a fault; - Those who scarcely dared to raise - Doubtful eyes to smiling Praise. - - Love looked round, and Praise and Pride - Brought their glad ones to her side. - - “Yea, these too,” she said or sang, - And the world with music rang. - - - - - [Illustration] - - TWO PICTURES - - - I - - - There was a little fellow - Who lived across the sea, - His hair was brown and yellow - As any honey-bee. - Sometimes he was the smartest - Of warriors in the van; - He was a Bonapartist, - And a Republican. - - A fort of cards he builded, - Though now and then they slid; - With ammunition filled it, - Or made believe he did; - And when the fort was wrought up, - This little man amain - His big artillery brought up, - And blew it down again! - - - II - - This little Bonapartist, - Or, say, Republican, - Would sometimes play the artist,-- - The busy little man! - Sometimes he was untidy, - Though often he was smart; - He thought that he was mighty - In many kinds of Art. - He sat like any fixture, - The drawing-board before; - And, oh, to see the mixture - Of colours on the floor! - Such was this little fellow, - Who lived across the sea, - Whose hair was brown and yellow, - Just like a honey-bee. - - - III - - Seven-and-seventy mothers, - This side of the sea, - Said, “We know some others - Quite as nice as he!” - Seven-and-seventy brothers - Said, “And so do we!” - Seven-and-seventy sisters, - Hearing this acclaim, - Said to those young misters, - “We think just the same.” - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE SHIP THAT SAILED INTO THE SUN - - - They said my brother’s ship went down, - Down into the sea, - Because a storm came on to drown - The biggest ships that be; - But I saw the ship, when he went away; - I saw it pass, and pass; - The tide was low, I went out to play, - The sea was all like glass; - The ship sailed straight into the sun, - Half of a ball of gold-- - Onward it went till it touched the sun-- - I saw the ship take hold! - - But soon I saw them both no more, - The sun and the ship together, - For the wind began to hoot and to roar, - And there was stormy weather. - Yet every day the golden ball - Rests on the edge of the sky; - The sun it is, with the ship and all, - For the ship sailed into the golden ball - Across the edge of the sky. - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE YOUNG EXILE - - - Little Boy - From Savoy, - With the slouch-sandalled feet, - With the pipe in your hand, - To play on, as you stand - In the long, stony, stupid, stumbling street; - I heard a noise just now, - And I got up from my desk, - Saying, “What can be the row?” - For the dogs went bow-wow, - And I-cannot-tell-you-how - Went your music; and the whole thing was grotesque. - Then I saw you, picturesque, - In the weather, - With a feather - In your rough wide-awake, - And a bowl, - Poor young soul! - In your hand for the coppers you might take; - And the handsome face you had, - Little lad, - Olive skin of the South, - Large eyes and well-set mouth, - I admired very much, yes, I did; - And I wished you back again - To your dear native plain - On the loose with a marmot or a kid; - With your father, and a bag full of money, - In a cottage all your own - Pretty much got up of stone, - And with flocks - In the rocks - At your call, and the maids, - Blue-kirtled, in the shades, - And a score of beehives very full of honey! - -[Illustration] - - - - -THE COMING STORM - - - The tree-tops rustle, the tree-tops wave, - They hustle, they bustle; and, down in a cave, - The winds are murmuring, ready to rave. - - The skies are dimming; the birds fly low, - Skimming and swimming, their wings are slow; - They float, they are carried, they scarcely go. - - The dead leaves hurry; the waters, too, - Flurry and scurry; as if they knew - A storm was at hand; the smoke is blue. - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE DISCONTENTED YEW-TREE - - - A Dark-green prickly yew one night - Peeped round on the trees of the forest, - And said, “_Their_ leaves are smooth and bright, - My lot is the worst and poorest: - - I wish I had golden leaves,” said the yew; - And lo, when the morning came, - He found his wish had come suddenly true, - For his branches were all aflame. - - Now, by came a Jew, with a bag on his back, - Who cried, “I’ll be rich to-day!” - He stripped the boughs, and, filling his sack - With the yellow leaves, walked away! - - The yew was as vexed as a tree could be, - And grieved as a yew-tree grieves, - And sighed, “If Heaven would but pity me, - And grant me crystal leaves!” - - Then crystal leaves crept over the boughs; - Said the yew, “Now am I not gay?” - But a hailstorm hurricane soon arose - And broke every leaf away! - - So he mended his wish yet once again,-- - “Of my pride I do now repent; - Give me fresh green leaves, quite smooth and plain, - And I will be content.” - - In the morning he woke in smooth green leaf, - Saying, “This is a sensible plan; - The storm will not bring my beauty to grief, - Or the greediness of man.” - - But the world has goats as well as men, - And one came snuffing past, - Which ate of the green leaves a million and ten, - Not having broken his fast. - - O then the yew-tree groaned aloud, - “What folly was mine, alack! - I was discontented, and I was proud-- - O give me my old leaves back!” - - So, when daylight broke, he was dark, dark green, - And prickly as before!-- - The other trees mocked, “Such a sight to be seen! - To be near him makes one sore!” - The south wind whispered his leaves between, - “Be thankful, and change no more! - - “The thing you are is always the thing - That you had better be”-- - But the north wind said, with a gallant fling, - “The foolish, weak yew-tree! - - “What if he blundered twice or thrice? - There’s a turn to the longest lane; - And everything must have its price-- - Poor faulterer, try again!” - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE LITTLE BROTHER - - - Little brother in a cot, - Baby, baby! - Shall he have a pleasant lot? - Maybe, maybe! - - Little brother in a nap, - Baby, baby! - Bless his tiny little cap, - Noise far away be! - - With a rattle in his hand, - Baby, baby! - Dreaming--who can understand - Dreams like this, what they be? - - When he wakes kiss him twice, - Then talk and gay be; - Little cheeks soft and nice, - Baby, baby! - - Pretty little pouting boy, - Baby, baby! - Let his life, with sweet and toy, - Pleasure all and play be. - - Seven white angels watching here, - Baby, baby! - Pray be kind to baby dear, - Pray be, pray be! - - Little brother in a cot, - Baby, baby! - His shall be a pleasant lot-- - _Must_, not may be! - -[Illustration] - - - -CUCKOO IN THE PEAR-TREE - - - The Cuckoo sat in the old pear-tree. - Cuckoo! - Raining or snowing, nought cared he. - Cuckoo! - Cuckoo, cuckoo, nought cared he. - - The Cuckoo flew over a housetop nigh. - Cuckoo! - “Dear, are you at home, for here am I? - Cuckoo! - Cuckoo, cuckoo, here am I.” - - “I dare not open the door to you. - Cuckoo! - Perhaps you are not the right cuckoo? - Cuckoo! - Cuckoo, cuckoo, the right Cuckoo!” - - “I am the right Cuckoo, the proper one. - Cuckoo! - For I am my father’s only son, - Cuckoo! - Cuckoo, cuckoo, his only son.” - - “If you are your father’s only son-- - Cuckoo! - The bobbin pull tightly, - Come through the door lightly-- - Cuckoo! - - If you are your father’s only son-- - Cuckoo! - It must be you, the only one-- - Cuckoo, cuckoo, my own Cuckoo! - Cuckoo!” - - - - -MADCAP - - - Swift, lithe, plastical; - High-fantastical - In feats gymnastical; - Enthusiastical; - - She is a glorious - Romp; victorious; - Is uproarious - Too censorious? - - She is a mighty, - Elfy, spritey, - Highty-tighty - Ma’mselle Flighty. - -[Illustration] - - The gayest wench, if - Her mood’s extensive; - But full of sense, if - Her mood is pensive. - - What resolution - In execution! - “O mum,” says Susan, - “She is a Rooshian!” - - But when she’s graver - No girl is braver - In her behaviour, - As I’m a shaver! - - Bid Mystery pack again! - With sudden tack again, - My Romp is back again, - Madcap, clack again! - - When I am priming - Myself for rhyming - Of Jove or Hymen, - That girl is climbing, - - Athletic, able, - The chairs, the table, - An admirable - Gymnastic Babel! - - It makes me shiver - In lungs and liver, - To look! However, - Three cheers I give her. - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE BEWITCHED TOYS; OR, QUEEN MAB IN CHILD-WORLD. - - - I - - Here comes Queen Mab in her coach-and-six! - Look out for mischievous fairy tricks! - Look out, good girls! Look out, brave boys! - I know she comes to bewitch your toys! - Hither she floats, like the down of a thistle!-- - So mind the pegtop; and mind the hoop; - Bring down the kite with a sudden swoop; - Hide the popgun; and plug up the whistle; - But don’t say Dolly’s a-bed with the croup: - For, if you tell her a fib, my dear, - She’ll fasten the door-key to your ear! - - - II - - Then the Kite went flying up to the Moon, - And the Man with the Sticks, who lives up there, - Kick’d it through with his clouted shoon, - And the tail hung dangling down in the air. - - But Harry wouldn’t let go the string, - Although it nearly broke with the strain; - Said he: “Well, this is a comical thing, - But the kite is mine, and I’ll have it again!” - - “Now whistle three times,” cried cunning Nell, - “And over your shoulder throw your shoe, - And pull once more, and say this spell: - FUSTUMFUNNIDOSTANTARABOO!” - - But Harry made a mistake in the charm, - Saying, “FUSTUMFUNNIDOSTANTABOORACK!” - And a dreadful pain went all up his arm, - And he fell down, shouting, right on his back. - - Then Nell took hold, and pulled the string, - And the kite came down, all safe and sound, - And a piece of the moon away did bring, - Which you may have for a silver pound! - - - III - - Said Thomas, with the round straw hat, - “My popgun bring to me, - And hey! to shoot the Tabby Cat - Up in the Cherry-tree! - - “Last night she stole my supper all,-- - She must be better taught; - And I shall make her caterwaul - ‘I’m sorry,’ as she ought.” - - Then Thomas, taking hasty aim - At Tabby on the bough, - Hit Tabby’s mistress, an old Dame - Who had a Brindled Cow. - - The Brindled Cow could not abide - To see her mistress struck. - And after trembling Thomas hied,-- - Said he, “It’s just my luck!” - - She tossed him once, she tossed him twice, - When Tabby at her flew, - Saying, “Tom, your custard was so nice - That I will fight for you.” - - The old Dame flung the pellet back, - And, when Tom picked it up, - He cried, “The pellet has turned, good lack! - To a custard in a cup!” - - And so it had! The Brindled Cow, - The Dame, and Tabby Cat - Were much surprised. “It’s strange, I vow,” - Said Tom in the round hat. - - But nothing came amiss to him; - He ate the custard clean-- - There was a brown mark round the rim - To show where it had been. - - - IV - - “Pegtop, pegtop--fast asleep! - Pray, how long do you mean to keep - Humming and droning and spinning away? - Do you mean to keep on all the day? - Ten minutes have passed since your nap was begun; - Pegtop, when will your nap be done? - - “Forty winks, forty, and forty more! - You never slept so long before; - This is a pretty sleep to take! - Boxer, Boxer, yawn and wake!” - - Then said Marian, “Never fear; - Dolly’s nightcap, Richard dear, - Put on Boxer--perhaps he thinks - He would like forty times forty winks!” - - Three o’clock, four o’clock, all day long - Richard’s pegtop hummed so strong, - Hummed away and would not stop-- - Dick had to buy another top! - For though this Boxer was certainly clever, - Who wants a pegtop to hum for ever? - - All the Queen’s horses and all the Queen’s men - Couldn’t get Boxer to wake again; - They made him a house, and put him in; - The people came to see Boxer spin; - “A penny apiece,” said Dick, “and cheap, - To see my Pegtop’s wonderful sleep!” - - - V - - Kate had quarrelled and would not speak - To Cousin John, - Who, trying to kiss her on the cheek, - With her bonnet on, - Had crumpled her bonnet at the border, - And put the trimming in disorder. - - “Pray let me kiss you, Katy dear,” - Said John so gay. - “Now. Master John,” said Kate severe, - “Please get away! - And if you don’t, I only hope - You’ll get hit with my skipping-rope!” - - Skip, skip, - Never trip; - Round and round! - “Does it touch the ground? - Don’t I skip well?” said sulky Kate; - But, oh, at last - Her feet stuck fast-- - Her pretty feet, - So small and neat, - Were glued by magic to the skipping-cord, - Which turned into a Swing! And then my lord - Johnny said, “This is fine, upon my word!” - - Backwards and forwards Katy swung;-- - To the magic rope, which by nothing hung, - Frightened out of her breath she clung-- - An apple for the Queen, and a pear for the King! - Wasn’t that a wonderful swing? - It kept on going like anything! - - “John!” said Katy, turning faint, - And the colour of white paint, - “Save me from this dreadful swing!” - Then our Johnny made a spring - Up to Kate, and held her tight, - And kissed her twice, with all his might, - Which stopped the magic swing; and Katy then - Said, “Thank you, Jack!” and kissed him back again. - - - VI - - Then the Children all said, “She spoils our play: - We must really get Queen Mab away; - She mustn’t bewitch our Toys too much. - Who will speak to her? Does she talk Dutch? - John knows Magic, and Greek, and such; - No one than John can be cleverer-- - Perhaps he knows how to get rid of her!” - - - VII - - Six White Mice, with harness on, - What do you think of Cousin John, - Who taught them so, - And made them go?-- - Six white mice, with harness on! - - A wee coach, gilt like the Lord Mayor’s own! - Made by Cousin John alone, - Bright and gay,-- - On a Lord Mayor’s Day - Just such a coach is the Lord Mayor’s own! - - Marian’s Doll come out for a ride, - Dressed like a queen in pomp and pride: - The six wee mice, - That trot so nice, - Draw Marian’s Doll come out for a ride! - - Every mouse had a silver bell - Round its neck, as I’ve heard tell; - Tinkle tink!-- - But who would think - Of a harnessed mouse, with a silver bell? - - “What can six white mice intend?” - Thought Queen Mab, with her hair on end-- - “And silver bells, - And what-not-else-- - What can six white mice intend? - - “When was such a procession seen? - It frightens me, as I’m a Queen!” - So she stopped her tricks, - And her coach-and-six - Drove away with the Fairy Queen. - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE NEW WORLD - - - I saw a new world in my dream, - Where all the folks alike did seem; - There was no Child, there was no Mother, - There was no Change, there was no Other, - - For everything was Same, the Same; - There was no praise, there was no blame; - There was neither Need nor Help for it; - There was nothing fitting, or unfit. - - Nobody laughed, nobody wept; - None grew weary, and so none slept; - There was nobody born, and nobody wed; - This world was a world of the living-dead. - - I longed to hear the Time-Clock strike - In the world where the people were all alike; - I hated Same, I hated For-Ever, - I longed to say Neither, or even Never. - - I longed to mend, I longed to make, - I longed to give, I longed to take, - I longed for a change, whatever came after, - I longed for crying, I longed for laughter. - - At last I heard the Time-Clock boom, - And woke from my dream in my little room; - With a smile on her lips my mother was nigh, - And I heard the Baby crow and cry. - - And I thought to myself,--How nice it is - For me to live in a world like this, - Where things can happen, and clocks can strike, - And none of the people are made alike; - - Where Love wants this, and Pain wants that, - And all our hearts want Tit for Tat - In the jumbles we make with our heads and our hands, - In a world that nobody understands, - But with work, and hope, and the right to call - Upon Him who sees it and knows us all. - - - - - LINA AND HER LAMB - - - I - - This is Lina, with her lamb, - Lina and her lamb together, - In the pleasant, flowery weather. - “What a happy lamb I am!”-- - That is what the lamb would say - If the lamb could only speak-- - “Lina loves me all the week; - Lina loves me night and day; - Lina loves me all the hours; - Lina goes to gather flowers; - Lina knows them, Lina finds them; - Lina takes the flowers, and binds them - In a necklace for her lamb!”-- - Happy Lina, happy lamb! - Lina and her lamb together, - In the pleasant flowery weather. - -[Illustration] - - - II - - This is Lina with her lamb, - Lina and her lamb together, - In the snowy winter weather; - “What a happy lamb I am!” - That is what the lamb would say - If the lamb could only speak-- - “Lina loves me, Lina heeds me, - Lina carries me, and feeds me!” - Happy Lina, happy lamb! - Lina and her lamb together, - In the freezing winter weather. - - - - - THE BOY THAT LOVES A BABY - - - Good morrow, Little Stranger, - Good morrow, Baby dear! - Good morrow, too, Mrs. Grainger, - And what do you do here? - With your boxes, caps, and cap-strings, - Drowsy, hazard-hap things, - And love of good cheer? - - I’m a little boy that goes, ma’am, - Straight to the point; - You said that my nose, ma’am, - Would soon be out of joint; - But my nose keeps its place, ma’am-- - The middle of my face, ma’am; - It is a nose of grace, ma’am-- - Aroint thee, aroint! - -[Illustration] - - Good morrow, Little Stranger, - A girl, or a boy? - Good morrow, Mrs. Grainger-- - Where are you, ma’am?--ahoy! - Here’s all things in their proper place, - And people likewise, - The laundry-maid in the copper-place, - The skylark in the skies! - Here’s love for Mamma, - And love for Papa; - Here’s a penny for a scavenger, - And a bag for the blooming lavender, - And a rope for Don’t Care, - And a kiss for the little Baby, - And one for a pretty lady - With a diamond in her hair! - - - - -[Illustration: HAROLD AND ALICE; - - OR, - - THE REFORMED GIANT] - - - I - - The Giant sat on a rock up high, - With the wind in his shaggy hair; - And he said, “I have drained the dairies dry, - And stripped the orchards bare; - - “I have eaten the sheep, with the wool on their backs,” - (A nasty giant was he,) - “The eggs and the shells, the honey, the wax, - The fowls, and the cock-turkéy; - -[Illustration] - - “And now I think I could eat a score - Of babies so plump and small; - And if, after that, I should want any more, - Their brothers and sisters and all. - - “To-morrow I’ll do it. Ha! what was that?” - Said he, for a sound he heard; - “Was it fluttering owl or pattering rat, - Or bough to the breeze that stirred?” - - Oh, it was neither rat nor owl, - Giant! nor shaking leaf; - Young Harold has heard your scheme so foul, - And it may come to grief! - - One thing which you ate has escaped your mind,-- - Young Harold his guinea-pig dear; - And he has crept up to try and find - His pet, and he shakes with fear; - - He has hid himself in a corner, you know, - To listen and look about; - And if to the village to-morrow you go, - You may find the babes gone out! - -[Illustration] - - - II - - Now, when to the village came Harold back - And told his tale so wild, - Then every mother she cried, “Good lack! - My child! preserve my child!” - - And every father took his sword - And sharpened it on a stone; - But little Harold said never a word, - Having a plan of his own. - - He laid six harrows outside the stile - That led to the village green, - Then on them a little hay did pile, - For the prongs not to be seen. - - A toothsome sucking-pig he slew, - And thereby did it lay; - For why? Because young Harold knew - The Giant would pass that way. - - Then he went in and said his prayers,-- - Not to lie down to sleep; - But at his window up the stairs - A watch all night did keep, - - Till the little stars all went pale to bed, - Because the sun was out, - And the sky in the east grew dapple-red, - And the little birds chirped about. - - - III - - Now, all the village was early awake, - And, with short space to pray, - Their preparations they did make, - To bear the babes away. - - The horses were being buckled in,-- - The little ones looked for a ride,-- - When on came the Giant, as ugly as Sin, - With a terrible six-yard stride. - - Then every woman and every child - To scream aloud began; - Young Harold up at his watch-tower smiled, - And his sword drew every man; - - For now the Giant, fierce and big, - Came near to the stile by the green, - But when he saw that luscious pig - His lips grew wet between! - - Now, left foot, right foot, step it again, - He trod on----the harrow spikes! - And how he raged and roared with pain - He may describe who likes. - - At last he fell, and as he lay - Loud bellowing on the ground, - The stalwart men of the village, they - With drawn swords danced around. - - “O spare my life, I you entreat! - I will be a Giant good! - O take out those thorns that prick my feet, - Which now are bathed in blood!” - - Then the little village maids did feel - For this Giant so shaggy-haired, - And to their parents they did kneel, - Saying, “Let his life be spared!” - - His bleeding wounds the maids did bind; - They framed a litter strong - With all the hurdles they could find; - Six horses drew him along; - - And all the way to his castle rude - Up high in the piny rocks, - He promised to be a Giant good-- - The cruel, crafty fox! - - - IV - - “O mother, lend me your largest tub!”-- - “Why, daughter? tell me quick!”-- - “O mother, to make a syllabub - For the Giant who is so sick.” - - Now in fever-fit the Giant lay, - From the pain in his wounded feet, - And hoping soon would come the day - When he might the babies eat. - - “O mother, dress me in white, I beg, - With flowers and pretty gear; - For Mary and Madge, and Jess and Peg, - And all my playmates dear, - - “We go to the Giant’s this afternoon, - To carry him something nice,-- - A custard three times as big as the moon, - With sugar and wine and spice.” - - “O daughter, your father shall go with you; - Suppose the Giant is well, - And eats you up, what shall we do?” - Then her thought did Alice tell:-- - - “No, mother dear; we go alone, - And Heaven for us will care; - If the Giant bad has a heart of stone, - We will soften it with prayer!” - - Now, when the Giant saw these maids, - Drest all in white, draw near, - He twitched his monstrous shoulder-blades, - And dropped an honest tear! - - “Dear Giant, a syllabub nice we bring, - Pray let us tuck you in!” - The Giant said, “Sweet innocent thing! - “Oh, I am a lump of sin! - - “Go home, and say to the man of prayer - To make the church-door wide, - For I next Sunday will be there, - And kneel, dears, at your side. - - “Tell brave young Harold I forgive - Him for the harrow-spikes; - And I will do, please Heaven I live, - What penance the prayer-man likes. - - “Set down, my dears, the syllabub, - And as I better feel, - I’ll try and eat a fox’s cub - At my next mid-day meal; - - “And all my life the village I’ll keep - From harmful vermin free; - But never more will eat up the sheep, - The honey, or cock-turkéy!” - - - V - - Now Sunday came, and in the aisle - Did kneel the Giant tall; - The priest could not forbear a smile, - The church it looked so small! - - And, as the Giant walked away, - He knocked off the roof with his head; - But he quarried stones on the following day, - To build another instead. - -[Illustration] - - And it was high and broad and long, - And a hundred years it stood, - To tell of the Giant so cruel and strong - That kindness had made good. - - And when Harold and Alice were married there, - A handsome sight was seen; - For the bridegroom was brave, and the bride was fair-- - LONG LIVE OUR GRACIOUS QUEEN! - - - - - [Illustration] - - PRINCE PHILIBERT - - - Oh, who loves Prince Philibert? - Who but myself? - His foot’s in the stirrup; - His book’s on the shelf; - His dapple-grey Dobbin - Attends to his whip, - And rocks up and down - On the floor like a ship. - - I went to the pond with him, - Just like the sea, - To swim his three-decker - That’s named after me; - His cheeks were like roses; - He knew all the rocks; - He looks like a sailor - In grey knickerbocks. - - Oh, where is the keepsake - I gave you, my prince? - I keep yours in a drawer - That smells of a quince: - So how can I lose it? - But you, giddy thing! - Keep mine in your pocket, - Mixed up with some string. - - Remember the riddle - I told you last week! - And how I forgave you - That scratch on the cheek! - - You could not have helped it,-- - You never would strike, - Intending to do it, - The girl that you like! - - You call me Miss Stupid, - You call me Miss Prue; - But how do you like me - In crimson and blue? - We go partners in findings, - And money, and that, - You help me in ciphering; - Look at my hat! - - I love you, Prince Philibert! - Who but myself? - With your foot in the stirrup, - Your book on the shelf! - We call you a prince, John, - But oh, when you crack - The nuts we go halves in, - You’re my Filbert Jack! - - - - - [Illustration] - - GOLD-BOY AND GREEN-GIRL - - - There was a little jackdaw - Lived on a vane; - He was a very black daw, - Shiny in the rain. - - There was a boy in gold; - There was a girl in green; - The lad was very bold; - The maid was more serene. - - There was a little church; - It had a little steeple; - The jackdaw on his perch - Cawed at the people. - - This little golden boy - And green damosel - Did make it their employ - Their loves for to tell. - - And early in the morning, - It came into their head - Themselves to be adorning - And go for to be wed. - - The girl in green did stammer - At saying _I take thee_; - Gaffer said, and Gammer, - “What a pair they be!” - - The yellow boy was bolder, - And spoke up like a king, - As if he had been older-- - Hark, the bells ring! - - In pops the jackdaw - At the belfry-door; - “Caw!” says the jackdaw, - “One peal more!” - - - - - [Illustration] - - AT HARVEST-TIME - - - The tawny sheaves of wheat - Are standing on their feet, - They cuddle together, - They huddle together, - They laugh out bold, - Their tassels of gold - They toss up together; - They gossip together - In the harvest weather; - And what may the thing they are whispering be? - - The trees stand waiting; - The windmills are prating - And gesticulating-- - But what is debating? - What do they wait to hear or to see? - - We shall soon know, I trust-- - Whew, the wind! just - A soft, rapid gust, - That swirls about the dust - In the serpentine green lane, and the straws upon the lea! - - The light white mill divines; - I can see him making signs - To his heavy black brother; - They nod to each other-- - “Hail-fellows-well-met with the Wind are we!” - - And my lady in her bower, - Or her parlour, or her tower, - Says, “In about an hour - We shall have a thunder-shower”---- - Shine or storm, pretty lady, keep a kiss for me! - - - - - [Illustration] - - SEE-SAW - - - I said to the babe, out of swaddling bands, - As it kicked up its heels, and flung out its hands, - And blew little bubbles, and cried, and crew, - “You innocent dear! But I wouldn’t be you! - - And yet I don’t know: you have never to think; - You have only to snuggle, and sleep, and drink, - And, in spite of original sin, grow fat. - Yes, really, one might do worse than that!” - - I said to the schoolboy, “You joyous elf!”-- - I mean, I murmured the thing to myself, - Or he would have laughed--“Get out, sir, do! - I have half a mind to wish I were you!” - - He looked so jolly, that scaramouch did, - As gay as a Clown, as bold as the Cid; - But then I remembered task and taws-- - There is always something to make one pause. - - And my dot of a daughter, she says, “Papa! - I wish you would make me my own mamma! - She _is_ so happy, she _is_ so nice! - And then I would give you my three white mice!” - - Says I, “You’re a duck, a dear, a pearl!” - But really my brain was inclined to whirl; - “There is always something,” I thought; “but why? - Perhaps we shall know of it by-and-bye.” - - So I went to my bed, and I dreamed that night - Of a saint in heaven, all shining white. - “Sweet, fair-eyed seraph!” said I, in sleep; - “I wish I were you, in the rest you keep!” - - And yet at the word I thought, in bed, - Of wife, and Walter, and Winifred; - The Christmas bells my slumber broke: - “There is always something!” thought I, and woke. - - - - - [Illustration] - - GREAT, WIDE, BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL WORLD - - - Great, wide, beautiful, wonderful World, - With the wonderful water round you curled, - And the wonderful grass upon your breast-- - World, you are beautifully drest. - - The wonderful air is over me, - And the wonderful wind is shaking the tree, - It walks on the water, and whirls the mills, - And talks to itself on the tops of the hills. - - You friendly Earth! how far do you go, - With the wheat-fields that nod and the rivers that flow, - With cities and gardens, and cliffs, and isles, - And people upon you for thousands of miles? - - Ah, you are so great, and I am so small, - I tremble to think of you, World, at all; - And yet, when I said my prayers to-day, - A whisper inside me seemed to say, - “You are more than the Earth, though you are such a dot: - You can love and think, and the Earth cannot!” - - - - - [Illustration] - - KITTENS AND CHICKENS - - - That is the Kitten, - The one in black - That you see at the back, - Whose heart was smitten - (For kittens have hearts - As well as brains - And other parts, - For pleasures and pains)-- - Was smitten, I say, - On a sunshiny day, - By a callow chicken, - And made a picking - Of the chicken’s bones - Out there, on the stones, - To the great disgust - Of the mother Hen, - Who came up then, - When the feast was ended, - And the undefended - Fowl just swallowed! - And the Hen was followed - By the Cock well-grown, - Who seemed disgusted - That the Hen had trusted - The chicken alone. - - It was on the next day - That the Cat did essay - To visit the place - Of this disgrace, - In search of a chicken - Again for picking; - But now the Cock, - As firm as a rock, - Beholding the Kitten, - With rage was smitten, - And stuck out his chest, - And set up his crest, - And crowed defiance, - Like an army of lions, - To the Kitten who there, - With his tail in the air, - Saw that the hens,-- - Three in number,-- - Were not in slumber, - And so had the sense - To take his departure, - Like the arrow of an archer - Swift from a bow, - And left the Cock, - As firm as a rock, - To ruffle and crow, - All under the door, - As we said before, - With nothing to tire him, - And the hens to admire him. - - In a corner was sitting - Another Kitten, - White, not black, - Who heard the clack, - And knowing the story - Of the chicken gory, - And, seeing the Cock - Defying the other - (It was her brother!) - Had trepidations - And meditations - About taking chickens, - And such, for pickings. - But cats will be cats - The whole world long! - - - - - THE MAKING OF THE MUSIC - - - “Make us a song, then, mother dear! - Sweet to think of, and sweet to sing,” - Said the little daughter and the little son; - Their lips were gay, and their eyes were clear-- - “And let the song be an easy one, - Sweet to think of, and sweet to sing.” - - “Sweet to think of, and sweet to hear? - How shall I make it, children dear? - The night is falling, the winds are rough; - What will you give me to make it of?” - - “No, mother dear, the winds are soft, - And the sky is blue and clear aloft, - And oh! we can give you things enough - To make the beautiful music of. - -[Illustration] - - “We will give you the morning and afternoon, - We will give you the sun, and a white full moon; - You shall have all our prettiest toys, - And fields and flowers, and girls and boys. - - “We will give you a bird, and a ship at sea, - And a golden cloud, and an almond-tree, - A picture gay, a river that runs, - A chime of bells, and hot cross-buns. - - “You may have roses and rubies rare, - And silks and satins beyond compare, - A sceptre and crown, a queen, a king, - And beautiful dreams, and everything! - We will give you all that we think or know-- - The song will be sweet if you make it so.” - - Then the mother smiled as she began - To make the music, and sweet it ran, - And easy enough, for a strain or two; - And the children said, “Mother, the song will do!” - - But soon the melody ran less clear; - There came a pause, and a wandering tear, - And a thought that went back many a year; - And the children fancied the music long, - And asked, “What have you put into the song - That we did not tell you, mother dear?” - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE RACE OF THE FLOWERS - - - The trees and the flowers seem running a race, - But none treads down the other; - And neither thinks it his disgrace - To be later than his brother. - - Yet the pear-tree shouts to the lilac-tree, - “Make haste, for the Spring is late!” - And the lilac whispers to the chestnut-tree - (Because he is so great), - “Pray you, great sir, be quick, be quick, - For down below we are blossoming thick!” - - Then the chestnut hears, and comes out in bloom, - White, or pink, to the tip-top boughs-- - Oh, why not grow higher, there’s plenty of room, - You beautiful tree, with the sky for your house? - Then like music they seem to burst out together, - The little and the big, with a beautiful burst; - They sweeten the wind, they paint the weather, - And no one remembers which was first: - White rose, red rose, - Bud rose, shed rose, - Larkspur, and lily, and the rest, - North, south, east, west, - June, July, August, September! - - Ever so late in the year will come - Many a red geranium, - And chrysanthemums up to November! - Then the winter has overtaken them all, - The fogs and the rains begin to fall, - And the flowers, after running their races, - Are weary, and shut up their little faces, - And under the ground they go to sleep. - Is it very far down? Yes, ever so deep. - - - - - POLLY - - - Brown eyes, - Straight nose; - Dirt pies, - Rumpled clothes; - - Torn books, - Spoilt toys; - Arch looks, - Unlike a boy’s; - - Little rages, - Obvious arts; - (Three her age is,) - Cakes, tarts; - - Falling down - Off chairs; - Breaking crown - Down stairs; - -[Illustration] - - Catching flies - On the pane; - Deep sighs,-- - Cause not plain; - - Bribing you - With kisses - For a few - Farthing blisses; - - Wide awake, - As you hear, - “Mercy’s sake, - Quiet, dear!” - - New shoes, - New frock; - Vague views - Of what’s o’clock - - When it’s time - To go to bed, - And scorn sublime - Of what is said; - - Folded hands, - Saying prayers, - Understands - Not, nor cares; - - Thinks it odd, - Smiles away; - Yet may God - Hear her pray! - - Bedgown white, - Kiss Dolly; - Good-night!-- - That’s Polly, - - Fast asleep, - As you see; - Heaven keep - My girl for me! - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE WINDMILL - - - Now, who will live in the windmill, who, - With the powdery miller-man? - The miller is one, but who’ll make two, - To share his loaf and can? - - “O, I will live with the miller, I! - To grind the corn is grand; - The great black sails go up on high, - And come down to the land!” - - Now who will be the miller’s bride? - The miller’s in haste to wed - A girl in her pride, with a sash at her side, - A girl with a curly head! - - “O, I will be the miller’s wife; - The dust is all my joy; - To live in a windmill all my life - Would be a sweet employ!” - - Then spake the goblin of the sails - (You heard, but could not see), - “The wickedest man of the hills and dales, - The miller-man is he! - - “None ever dwelt in the mill before - But died by the miller’s steel; - The whiskered rats lap up their gore, - He grinds their bones to meal!” - - O gossiping goblin, my dreams will be bad, - You tell such dreadful tales! - O mill, how secret you seem! how mad, - How wicked you look, black sails! - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE GIRL THAT GARIBALDI KISSED - - - Oh, where’s the little maid - That Garibaldi kissed? - She ought to be displayed, - She shall be, I insist, - - Command, resolve, determine,-- - Beneath a tent of gold, - In swan’s-down and in ermine, - If Christmas should be cold! - - I am not very rich, - But would give a golden guinea - To see that little witch, - That happy pick-a-ninny! - - He bowed to my own daughter, - And Polly is her name; - She wore a shirt of slaughter, - Of Garibaldi flame,-- - - Of course I mean of scarlet; - But the girl he kissed--who knows?-- - May be named Selina Charlotte, - And dressed in yellow clothes! - - I look for her in church, - I seek her in the crowd; - Some bellman on a perch - Ought to ask for her out loud! - - I would offer a reward, - But I might get cheated then, - And I cannot well afford - To make that guinea ten. - - She may live up in Lancashire, - All in her yellow gown, - Or down in Hankypankyshire, - Or here in London town. - - She may be on board a steamer - Upon the briny sea-- - O stewardess! esteem her, - For a glorious girl is she! - - Perhaps at some academy - Her _Télémaque_ is read-- - They would think it very bad of me - To turn her little head! - - She may be doing fancy-work, - She may be taking tea; - But I wish some necromancy-work - Would bring that girl to me! - - For I would dress the little girl - That Garibaldi kissed - In a necklace all of precious pearl, - With a bracelet for her wrist, - - With diamonds in her stomacher, - And garlands in her hair; - She should sit, for folks to come at her, - All in a silver chair; - - And no one would be rude - To Garibaldi’s pet,-- - The sight would do the people good, - They never would forget! - - Oh glorious is the girl - Whom such a man has kissed, - The proudest duke or earl - Stands lower in the list! - - It would be a happy plan - For everything that’s human, - If the pet of such a man - Should grow to such a woman! - - If she does as much in her way - As he has done in his,-- - Turns bad things topsy-turvey, - And sad things into bliss,-- - Oh, we shall not need a survey - To find that little miss, - Grown to a woman worthy - Of Garibaldi’s kiss! - - - - - [Illustration] - - SEEING GOD - - - It is dark, the night is come, - And the world is hushed and dumb; - Sleep, my darling; God is here!-- - _Shall I see Him, mother dear?_ - - It is day, the sun is bright, - And the world is laid in light; - Wake, my darling, God is here!-- - _Shall I see Him, mother dear?_ - - Not the day’s awakening light, - Babe, can show thee God aright; - Not the dark, that brings thee sleep, - Him can from my darling keep. - - Day and night are His, to fill: - We are His, to do His will; - Do His will, and, never fear, - _Thou shalt see Him, baby dear_. - - - - - [Illustration] - - FAIR LADY, RARE LADY - - - Fair lady, rare lady, - Light on the lea - Wandering, and pondering-- - “Oh, bring him to me!” - - Gallant knight, valiant knight, - Swift on the sea - Sailing, prevailing, - Thy shallop shall be! - - Ringing bells, singing bells, - Chime merrilie! - Brave knight and lady bright - Wedded shall be! - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE ABSENT BOY - - - I know an absent-minded boy, - To meditate is all his joy; - He seldom does the thing he ought - Because he is so rapt in thought. - - At marbles he can never win; - He wears his waistcoat outside in; - He cannot add a sum up right; - And often he is not polite. - - His mother cries, “My poor heart breaks, - Because the child makes such mistakes; - He never knows,” she says with sighs, - “Which side his bread the butter lies!” - - One day, absorbed in meditation, - He roamed into a railway station, - And in a corner of a train - Sat down, with inattentive brain. - - They rang the bell, the whistle blew, - They shook the flags, the engine flew; - But all the noise did not induce - This boy to quit his mood abstruse. - - And when three hours were past and gone - He found himself at Something_ton_; - “What is this place?” he sighed in vain, - For railway men can not speak plain. - - When he got home his parents had - To pay his fare, which was too bad; - More than two hundred miles, alas! - The Absent Boy had gone first-class. - - For fear he should, in absentness, - Forget his own name and address - Whilst he pursues his meditations, - And so be lost to his relations, - - Would it be best that he should wear - A collar like our Tray? or bear - His name and home in indigo - Pricked on his shoulder, or below? - - The chief objection to this plan - Is, that his father is a man - Who often moves. If we begin - To prick the Boy’s home on his skin, - - Before long he will be tattooed - With indigo from head to foot: - Perhaps a label on his chest - Would meet the difficulty best. - - - - - [Illustration] - - MORNING - - - Welcome to the new To-day! - Yesterday is past and gone; - Good-bye Night and Twilight gray, - Earth has put the Morning on: - - Morning on the high hill’s shoulder, - On the valley’s lap so soft, - On the river running colder, - On the trees with heads aloft. - - All night Baby thought of nothing, - Sleep took care of Baby dear; - Baby, too, has fine new clothing, - Now the sweet To-day is here. - - Tell me, without many guesses,-- - Come! it is not much to con,-- - Tell me what my Babe’s new dress is? - Babe has put the Morning on! - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE RISING, WATCHING MOON - - - Ah, the moon is watching me! - Red, and round as round can be, - Over the house and the top of the tree - Rising slowly. We shall see - Something happen very soon;-- - Hide me from the dreadful moon! - - Slowly, surely, rising higher, - Soon she will be as high as the spire! - It seems as if something must happen then - To all the world, and all the men! - Oh, I dare not think, for I am not wise-- - I must look away, I must shut my eyes! - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE FLOWERS - - - When Love arose in heart and deed, - To wake the world to greater joy, - “What can she give me now?” said Greed, - Who thought to win some costly toy. - - He rose, he ran, he stooped, he clutched, - And soon the flowers, that Love let fall, - In Greed’s hot grasp were frayed and smutched, - And Greed said, “Flowers! can this be all?” - - He flung them down, and went his way, - He cared no jot for thyme or rose; - But boys and girls came out to play, - And some took these, and some took those, - - Red, blue, and white, and green and gold; - And at their touch the dew returned, - And all the bloom a thousand fold, - So red, so ripe, the roses burned. - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE PENANCE OF THE LITTLE MAID - - - I met a fair maiden, I saw her plain, - In the five-acre when the corn was mellow, - Counting her fingers again and again, - Her kirtle was green, her hair was yellow, - “Oh, what are you counting, fair maid?” said I, - “Counting, I will be bound, your treasures?” - “Oh no, kind sir,” she made sad reply, - “Counting, for penance, my unshared pleasures.” - - Her head was bent low, and slowly went she; - If she goes on straight, she must come to the sea! - - Blow, blow, south wind, the year’s on the turn; - Creep, little blue-bell, close under the fern! - - I hope that the penance the little maid is doing - Will be finished before winter comes with rattle, rain, and ruin? - - “Oh yes, kind sir, my penance will be over” - (She told me in a dream last night, I know it will come true), - “Come and look for me next summer, when the bee is in the clover, - And I will share my pleasures then with you, you, you!” - - - - - [Illustration] - - FRODGEDOBBULUM’S FANCY - - - I - - Did you ever see Giant Frodgedobbulum, - With his double great-toe and his double great thumb? - - Did you ever hear Giant Frodgedobbulum, - Saying _Fa-fe-fi_ and _fo-faw-fum_? - - He shakes the earth as he walks along, - As deep as the sea, as far as Hong-kong! - - He is a giant and no mistake; - With teeth like the prongs of a garden rake! - - - II - - The Giant Frodgedobbulum got out of bed, - Sighing, “Heigh-ho! that I were but wed!” - - The Giant Frodgedobbulum sat in his chair, - Saying, “Why should a giant be wanting a fair?” - - The Giant Frodgedobbulum said to his boots, - “The first maid I meet I will wed, if she suits!” - - They were Magic Boots, and they laughed as he spoke-- - “Oh, ho,” says the giant, “you think it’s a joke?” - - - III - - So he put on his boots, and came stumping down, - Clatter and clump, into Banbury town-- - - He did not fly into Banbury, - For plenty of time to walk had he! - - He kicked at the gate--“Within there, ho!” - “Oh, what is your name?” says the porter Slow. - - “Oh, the Giant Frodgedobbulum am I, - For a wife out of Banbury town I sigh!” - - Up spake the porter, bold and free, - “Your room we prefer to your company.” - - Up spake Frodgedobbulum, free and bold, - “I will build up your town with silver and - gold!” - - Up spake Marjorie, soft and small, - “I will not be your wife at all!” - - The giant knocked in the gate with his feet, - And there stood Marjorie in the street! - - She was nine years old, she was lissome and fair, - And she wore emeralds in her hair. - - She could dance like a leaf, she could sing like a thrush, - She was bold as the north wind, and sweet as a blush. - - Her father tanned, her mother span, - “But Marjorie shall marry a gentleman,-- - - Silks and satins, I’ll lay you a crown!”-- - So said the people in Banbury town. - - Such was Marjorie--and who should come - To woo her but this Frodgedobbulum, - - A vulgar giant, who wore no gloves, - And very pig-headed in his loves! - - - IV - - They rang the alarum, and in the steeple - They tolled the church-bells to rouse the people. - - But all the people in Banbury town - Could not put Frodgedobbulum down. - - The tanner thought to stab him dead-- - “Somebody pricked me?” the giant said. - - The mother wept--“I do not care,” - Said F.--“Why should I be wanting a fair?” - - He snatched up Marjorie, stroked his boot, - And fled; with Banbury in pursuit! - - “What ho, my boots! put forth your power! - Carry me sixty miles an hour!” - - In ditches and dykes, over stocks and stones, - The Banbury people fell, with groans. - - Frodgedobbulum passed over river and tree, - Gallopy-gallop, with Marjorie;-- - - The people beneath her Marjorie sees - Of the size of mites in an Oxford cheese! - - - V - - Castle Frodgedobbulum sulked between - Two bleak hills, in a deep ravine. - - It was always dark there, and always drear, - The same time of day and the same time of year, - - The walls of the castle were slimy and black, - There were dragons in front, and toads at the back. - - Spiders there were, and of vampires lots; - Ravens croaked round the chimney-pots. - - Seven bull-dogs barked in the hall; - Seven wild cats did caterwaul! - - The giant said, with a smirk on his face, - “My Marjorie, this is a pretty place; - - As Mrs. F. you will lead, with me, - A happier life than in Banbury! - - Pour out my wine, and comb my hair, - And put me to sleep in my easy chair; - - But, first, my boots I will kick away”-- - And Marjorie answered, “_S’il vous plait!_” - - Then the giant mused, “It befits my station - To marry a lady of education; - - But who would have thought this Banbury wench - Was so accomplished, and could speak French?” - - Did you ever hear Frodgedobbulum snore? - He shook the castle from roof to floor! - - Fast asleep as a pig was he-- - “And very much like one!” thought Marjorie. - - - VI - - Then Marjorie stood on a leathern chair, - And opened the window to the air. - - The bats flap, the owls hoot-- - Marjorie lifted the giant’s boot! - - The ravens shriek, the owls hoot-- - Marjorie got into the giant’s boot! - - And Marjorie said, “I can reach the moon - Before you waken, you big buffoon!” - - Once, twice, three times, and away,-- - “Which is the road to Banbury, pray?” - - The Boot made answer, “Hah, hah! hoh, hoh! - The road to Banbury town I know.” - - - VII - - The giant awoke in his easy chair, - Saying, “Ho, little Marjorie, are you there? - - A stoup of wine, to be spiced the same!-- - Exquisite Marjorie, _je vous aime_!” - - Now where was Marjorie? Safe and sound - In the Magic Boot she cleared the ground. - - Frodgedobbulum groaned--“I am bereft! - The left boot’s gone, and the right is left!-- - - The window’s open! I’ll bet a crown - The chit is off to Banbury town! - - But follow, follow, my faithful Boot! - One is enough for the pursuit; - - And back to my arms the wench shall come - As sure as my name’s Frodgedobbulum!” - - - VIII - - Hasty Frodgedobbulum, being a fool, - Forgot of the Magic Boots the rule. - - They were made on a right and a left boot-tree, - But he put the wrong leg in the boot, you see! - - It was a terrible mistake - For even a giant in love to make-- - - Terrible in its consequences, - Frightful to any man’s seven senses! - - Down came a thunderbolt, rumble and glare! - Frodgedobbulum Castle blew up in the air! - - The giant, deprived of self-control, - Was carried away to the very North Pole; - - For such was the magic rule. Poor F. - Now sits on the peak of the Arctic cliff! - - The point is so sharp it makes him shrink; - The northern streamers, they make him blink; - - One boot on, and one boot off, - He shivers and shakes, and thinks, with a cough, - - “Safe in Banbury Marjorie dwells; - Marjorie will marry some one else!” - - - IX - - And so Frodgedobbulum, the giant, - Sits on the North Pole incompliant. - - He blinks at the snow with its weary white; - He blinks at the spears of the northern light; - - Kicks out with one boot; says, “Fi-fo-fum! - I am the Giant Frodgedobbulum!” - - But who cares whether he is or not, - Living in such an inclement spot? - - Banbury town is the place for me, - And a kiss from merry Marjorie, - - With the clerk in the vestry to see all fair-- - For she wears orange-flowers in her hair! - - She can dance like a leaf, she can sing like a thrush, - She is bold as the north wind, and sweet as a blush; - - Her father he tans, her mother she spins; - Frodgedobbulum sits on the Pole for his sins; - - But here comes Marjorie, white as milk, - A rose on her bosom as soft as silk, - - On her finger a gay gold ring; - The bridegroom holds up his head like a king! - - Marjorie has married a gentleman; - Who knows when the wedding began? - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE GUINEA-PIG - - - “Oh, I never would be a guinea-pig, never! - They have so little brains!”-- - The guinea-pig sprang, and--wasn’t it clever?-- - He hid in the raspberry canes. - - They scratched their fingers, they taxed their wits, - To get the guinea-pig out; - They nearly laughed themselves to fits - To see him run about. - - The old and the young, the patient, the bold, - Were in that companie; - But the guinea-pig baffled the young and the old, - And merrily scampered he. - - You thought you had him, but oh, mistake! - You grappled a lump of mould-- - The guinea-pig stuck to the raspberry brake - As hath before been told. - - “Oh, make me into a guinea-pig, make, - And never mind what I said; - For then I can hide in the raspberry brake, - When it’s time to go to bed.” - - - - - [Illustration] - - LITTLE BOY BLUE - - - All in the morning early, - The Little Boy in Blue - (The grass with rain is pearly) - Has thought of something new. - - He saddled dear old Dobbin; - He had but half-a-crown; - And jogging, cantering, bobbing, - He came to London town. - - The sheep were in the meadows, - The cows were in the corn; - Beneath the city shadows - At last he stood forlorn. - - He stood beneath Bow steeple, - That is in London town; - And tried to count the people - As they went up and down. - - Oh, there was not a daisy, - And not a buttercup; - The air was thick and hazy, - The Blue Boy gave it up. - - The houses, next, in London, - He thought that he would count; - But still the sum was undone, - So great was the amount. - - He could not think of robbing, - He had but half-a-crown; - And so he mounted Dobbin, - And rode back from the town. - - The sheep were in the meadows, - The cows were in the corn; - Amid the evening shadows - He stood where he was born. - - - - - [Illustration] - - MISS HOOPER - - - Miss Hooper was a little girl, - Whose head was always in a whirl; - For she had hoop upon the head-- - “My precious, precious hoop!” she said. - - Trundling a hoop was her delight - From breakfast time to nearly night, - She loved it so! and, truth to tell, - At last she drove her hoop too well. - - That hoop began to go one day - As if it never meant to stay; - Of course the girl would not give in, - But followed it through thick and thin. - - The King and Queen came out to see - What sort of hoop this hoop might be; - My Lady said, “I think, my Lord, - That hoop goes of its own accord.” - - This vexed the little girl, and so - She gave the hoop another blow, - And off it went--oh, just like mad-- - She ran with all the strength she had. - - Her hat-strings slipped, her hat hung back, - And soon she felt her waistband crack, - Her dear long hair flew out behind her,-- - Her parents sent forth scouts to find her. - - The King leapt on his swiftest horse, - And followed her with all his force; - Her father cried, “A thousand pound - To get my girl back safe and sound!” - -[Illustration] - - Some people came and made a dash - To pull her backward by the sash, - But all in vain--she did not stop-- - At last she fainted, with a flop. - - When she came to she sighed, with pain, - “I’ll never touch a hoop again!” - Is it not sad, when girls and boys - Go to excess like this with toys? - - As for the hoop, the people say - It kept on going night and day, - Turning the corners, quite correct,-- - A thing which you would not expect. - - And so it lived, a hoop at large, - Which no one dared to take in charge; - Of course it thinned, but kept its shape, - A sort of hoop of wooden tape. - - It thinned till people took a glass - To see the ghostly circle pass, - And only stopped--the facts are so-- - When there was nothing left to go. - - - - - [Illustration] - - A SHOOTING SONG - - - To shoot, to shoot, would be my delight, - To shoot the cats that howl in the night; - To shoot the lion, the wolf, the bear, - To shoot the mad dogs out in the square. - - I learnt to shoot with a pop-gun good, - Made out of a branch of elder-wood; - It was round, and long, full half a yard, - The plug was strong, the pellets were hard. - - I should like to shoot with a bow of yew, - As the English at Agincourt used to do; - The strings of a thousand bows went twang! - And a thousand arrows whizzed and sang! - - On Hounslow Heath I should like to ride, - With a great horse-pistol at my side: - It is dark--hark! A robber, I know! - Click! crick-crack! and away we go! - - I will shoot with a double-barrelled gun, - Two bullets are better than only one; - I will shoot some rooks to put in a pie; - I will shoot an eagle up in the sky. - - I once shot a bandit in a dream, - In a mountain-pass I heard a scream; - I rescued the lady and set her free, - “Do not fear, madam, lean on me!” - - With a boomerang I could not aim; - A poison blow-pipe would be the same; - A double-barrelled is my desire, - Get out of the way--one, two, three, fire! - - - - - [Illustration] - - A FISHING SONG - - - There was a boy whose name was Phinn, - And he was fond of fishing; - His father could not keep him in, - Nor all his mother’s wishing. - - His life’s ambition was to land - A fish of several pound weight; - The chief thing he could understand - Was hooks, or worms for ground-bait. - - The worms crept out, the worms crept in, - From every crack and pocket; - He had a worm-box made of tin, - With proper worms to stock it. - -[Illustration] - - He gave his mind to breeding worms - As much as he was able; - His sister spoke in angry terms - To see them on the table. - - You found one walking up the stairs, - You found one in a bonnet, - Or, in the bed-room, unawares, - You set your foot upon it. - - Worms, worms, worms for bait! - Roach, and dace, and gudgeon! - With rod and line to Twickenham Ait - To-morrow he is trudging! - - O worms and fishes day and night! - Such was his sole ambition; - I’m glad to think you are not quite - So very fond of fishing! - - - - - [Illustration] - - SHOCKHEADED CICELY AND THE TWO BEARS - - - “O yes! O yes! O yes! ding dong!” - The bellman’s voice is loud and strong; - So is his bell: “O yes! ding dong!” - - He wears a red coat with golden lace; - See how the people of the place - Come running to hear what the bellman says! - - “O yes! Sir Nicholas Hildebrand - Has just returned from the Holy Land, - And freely offers his heart and hand-- - - O yes! O yes! O yes! ding dong!”-- - All the women hurry along, - Maids and widows, a chattering throng. - - “O sir, you are hard to understand! - To whom does he offer his heart and hand? - Explain your meaning, we do command!” - - “O yes! ding dong! you shall understand! - O yes! Sir Nicholas Hildebrand - Invites the ladies of this land - - To feast with him in his castle strong - This very day at three. Ding dong! - O yes! O yes! O yes! ding dong!” - - Then all the women went off to dress, - Mary, Margaret, Bridget, Bess, - Patty, and more than I can guess. - - They powdered their hair with golden dust, - And bought new ribbons--they said they must-- - But none of them painted, we will trust. - - Long before the time arrives, - All the women that could be wives - Are dressed within an inch of their lives. - - Meanwhile, Sir Nicholas Hildebrand - Had brought with him from the Holy Land - A couple of bears--oh, that was grand! - - He tamed the bears, and they loved him true, - Whatever he told them they would do-- - Hark! ’tis the town clock striking two! - - - II - - Among the maidens of low degree - The poorest of all was Cicely-- - A shabbier girl could hardly be. - - “O I should like to see the feast, - But my frock is old, my shoes are pieced, - My hair is rough!”--(it never was greased). - - The clock struck three! She durst not go! - But she heard the band, and to see the show - Crept after the people that went in a row. - - When Cicely came to the castle gate - The porter exclaimed, “Miss Shaggypate, - The hall is full, and you come too late!” - - Just then the music made a din, - Flute, and cymbal, and culverin, - And Cicely, with a squeeze, got in! - - Oh what a sight! full fifty score - Of dames that Cicely knew, and more, - Filling the hall from daïs to door! - - The dresses were like a garden-bed, - Green and gold, and blue and red,-- - Poor Cicely thought of her tossy head! - - She heard the singing--she heard the clatter-- - Clang of flagon, and clink of platter-- - But, oh, the feast was no such matter! - - For she saw Sir Nicholas himself, - Raised on a daïs just like a shelf, - And fell in love with him--shabby elf! - - Her heart beat quick; aside she stept, - Under the tapestry she crept, - Touzling her tossy hair, and wept! - - Her cheeks were wet, her eyes were red-- - “Who makes that noise?” the ladies said; - “Turn out that girl with the shaggy head!” - - - III - - Just then there was heard a double roar, - That shook the place, both wall and floor: - Everybody looked to the door. - - It was a roar, it was a growl; - The ladies set up a little howl, - And flapped and clucked like frightened fowl. - - Sir Hildebrand for silence begs-- - In walk the bears on their hinder legs, - Wise as owls, and merry as grigs! - - The dark girls tore their hair of sable; - The fair girls hid underneath the table; - Some fainted; to move they were not able. - - But most of them could scream and screech-- - Sir Nicholas Hildebrand made a speech-- - “Order! ladies, I do beseech!” - - The bears looked hard at Cicely - Because her hair hung wild and free-- - “Related to us, miss, you must be!” - - Then Cicely, filling two plates of gold - As full of cherries as they could hold, - Walked up to the bears, and spoke out bold:-- - - “Welcome to you! and to _you_, Mr. Bear! - Will you take a chair? will _you_ take a chair?” - “This is an honour, we do declare!” - - Sir Hildebrand strode up to see, - Saying, “Who may this maiden be? - Ladies, this is the wife for me!” - - Almost before they could understand, - He took up Cicely by the hand, - And danced with her a saraband. - - Her hair was as rough as a parlour broom, - It swung, it swirled all round the room-- - Those ladies were vexed, we may presume. - - Sir Nicholas kissed her on the face, - And set her beside him on the daïs, - And made her the lady of the place. - - The nuptials soon they did prepare, - With a silver comb for Cicely’s hair: - There were bands of music everywhere. - - And in that beautiful bridal show - Both the bears were seen to go - Upon their hind legs to and fro! - - Now every year on the wedding-day - The boys and girls come out to play, - And scramble for cherries as they may, - - With a cheer for this and the other bear, - And a cheer for Sir Nicholas, free and fair, - And a cheer for Cis of the tossy hair-- - - With one cheer more (if you will wait) - For every girl with a curly pate - Who keeps her hair in a proper state. - - Sing bear’s grease! curling-irons to sell! - Sing combs and brushes! sing tortoise-shell! - O yes! ding dong! the crier, the bell! - --Isn’t this a pretty tale to tell? - - - - - [Illustration] - - MOTHER’S JOY - - - Baby boy was Mother’s joy, - And Mother nursed him sweetly; - Baby’s skin was pink and thin, - And mother dressed him neatly. - - Baby boy was Mother’s joy, - But sometimes cried a-plenty; - Mother mild said, “Oh, my child!” - And gave him kisses twenty. - - Baby boy was Mother’s joy, - Wide awake or sleeping; - Mother said, “God overhead - Have thee in His keeping!” - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE BABY - - - Who can tell what Baby thinks? - _I can, I!_ - Who knows what she means when she crows or blinks? - _I do, I!_ - - She thinks that a picture is good to eat, - _She does, she!_ - She thinks she should love to swallow her feet. - _Hah, hah, he!_ - - She thinks when I touch the piano-keys, - _La, si, do!_ - That _I_ make the noise, as I do when I sneeze. - _Hah, hah, hoh!_ - - When I put her fat hand on the key-board shelf, - _Do, re, mi!_ - She fancies she makes the noise herself. - _She, sir, she!_ - - She thinks she could swallow the lamp entire. - _Flame, flame, flame!_ - She thinks she should like to cuddle the fire. - (_Same, same, same!_) - - I wished her a pair of leather shoes-- - _I did, did!_ - Nothing like leather--and riper views. - _Kid, kid, kid!_ - - But whether the wit or the leather comes first, - (_Post, hoc, hoc!_) - One thing I know--she _will_ be nursed. - _Rock, rock, rock!_ - - And Baby’s mamma is a beautiful nurse, - _Joy, joy, joy_! - She might go farther and fare much worse, - _With a boy, boy, boy_! - - For though I have studied her wits and ways, - _Bye-bye-bye_! - I couldn’t take charge of her, nights and days. - _Cry, cry, cry_! - - - - - [Illustration] - - WHAT WILL AUNTIE SEND? - - - Oh, do you know Aunt Mary Ann, - The dearest Aunt since time began, - Aunt Kate, Aunt Jane, Aunt Edith Ellen, - Aunt--oh, but never mind the spelling! - - She lives up North, she lives down South, - Sweet are the kisses of her mouth; - She lives out East, she lives out West, - Bona puella Auntie est! - - Always about the time of year - When Christmas Day is drawing near, - Auntie goes in for treats and toys, - And things, you know, for girls and boys. - - Then, with a smile upon her lips, - She sits and thinks of tops and tips, - And takes her pen and writes to us, - My sister Fan, and me--that’s ’Gus. - - She walks Cheapside, she walks the Strand, - And Paul’s Churchyard, with purse in hand, - She looks at dolls, she looks at drums, - And boxes full of bloomy plums. - - She goes and finds out picture books, - And jewellery hung on hooks; - She knows the games we like to play; - She buys things, all to give away! - - The loveliest things in every part - She goes and gets them all by heart, - And then sits down, with time to think, - And writes to us with pen and ink. - - I know her thoughts,--she thinks of us,-- - She thinks, “What would be nice for ’Gus?” - She dips in Santa Klaus’s pouch: - “What shall I send that scaramouch?” - - She keeps it dark, but writes to say - She will be here for Christmas Day; - And when I know that Aunt will come, - Quam felix puer ego sum! - - - - - [Illustration] - - LORDS-AND-LADIES - - - Lords-and-ladies, red and white, - By the river growing, - Red-and-white is my delight, - When the stream is flowing. - - I will be a lord to-day - (Round the world is going), - Will you be a lady gay? - (Roses, roses blowing). - - “I will be your lady fair, - If you will show duty:” - I will love beyond compare, - You shall be my beauty. - - Lords-and-ladies, red and white, - By the river growing; - Red-and-white is my delight, - When the stream is flowing. - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE DOG AND THE PATCH OF MOONSHINE - - - A harvest moon! Was ever seen - A harvest moon so bright? - The crowded ivy, darkly green, - Was touched with primrose white. - - The quiet skies uncovered lay, - And, far as you could see, - The night was like a ghostly day - On road, and field, and tree. - - Silence and light! Will nothing speak - In the light and silence wide? - O lady moon, your other cheek - Why do you always hide? - - Sweet on the air was the jessamine, - As I stood at my gate; - Yet I shuddered, and thought, “I will go in,-- - The silence is too great!” - - I looked to where the hill-tops showed - Behind the poplars green, - When there came trotting down the road - A dog--the dog was lean; - - And you could tell, as he came by, - He had no friend on earth, - Nobody in whose partial eye - He was of any worth. - - His tail hung down; his matted hair - Was like a worn-out thatch; - This dog came trotting up to where - The moonlight made a patch, - - Falling between two poplar-trees; - And there the dog turned round, - Round, and round, by slow degrees-- - Then crouched upon the ground. - - And I brought forth some broken food, - And cried, “Old dog, get up! - That patch of moonlight may be good, - But on it you cannot sup.” - - He came away--came many a pace, - And took what I bestowed; - Then, being refreshed, snuffed all the place, - And up and down the road. - - I showed him where the thick grass grew - Against a sheltering wall; - I said, “Here is a bed for you, - With half-a-house and all.” - - But two hours after--I kept watch - From my bedroom window-pane-- - I saw that on that moony patch - He had lain down again! - - And in the morning he was gone.-- - What charm was it he found - In sleeping where the moonlight shone - In a patch upon the ground? - He might have slept where he had his bone, - Where the moon shone all around! - - I am a superstitious man, - And it is my delight - To think there was a magic plan, - A meaning, in that night! - - That magic dog that lay i’ the moon, - He will come back to me, - A fairy princess bright and boon, - Whom I that night set free! - - There was a mystery in the air, - And in the primrose light; - The silence seemed to say, “Prepare! - It shall be done to-night!” - - And could that mystery only mean - A dog that was not fat? - I saw a glint of elfin green - In the moonshine where he sat-- - - I heard the midnight clocks all round, - In distant falls and swells-- - I heard a little silver sound, - The clink of elfin bells-- - But will my princess be unbound, - If anybody tells? - - - - - [Illustration] - - AUTUMN SONG - - - The ash-berry clusters are darkly red; - The leaves of the limes are almost shed; - The passion-flower hangs out her yellow fruit; - The sycamore puts on her brownest suit. - - After a silence, the wind complains, - Like a creature longing to burst its chains; - The swallows are gone, I saw them gather, - I heard them murmuring of the weather. - - The clouds move fast, the south is blowing, - The sun is slanting, the year is going; - O I love to walk where the leaves lie dead, - And hear them rustle beneath my tread! - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE DRUMMER-BOY AND THE SHEPHERDESS - - - Drummer-boy, drummer-boy, where is your drum? - And why do you weep, sitting here on your thumb? - The soldiers are out, and the fifes we can hear; - But where is the drum of the young grenadier? - - “My dear little drum it was stolen away - Whilst I was asleep on a sunshiny day; - It was all through the drone of a big bumble-bee, - And sheep and a shepherdess under a tree.” - - Shepherdess, shepherdess, where is your crook? - And why is your little lamb over the brook? - It bleats for its dam, and dog Tray is not by, - So why do you stand with a tear in your eye? - - “My dear little crook it was stolen away - Whilst I dreamt a dream on a morning in May; - It was all through the drone of a big bumble-bee, - And a drum and a drummer-boy under a tree.” - - - - - [Illustration] - - LULLABY - - - The wind whistled loud at the window-pane-- - Go away, wind, and let me sleep! - Ruffle the green grass billowy plain, - Ruffle the billowy deep! - “Hush-a-bye, hush! the wind is fled, - The wind cannot ruffle the soft smooth bed,-- - Hush thee, darling, sleep!” - - The ivy tapped at the window-pane,-- - Silence, ivy! and let me sleep! - Why do you patter like drops of rain, - And then play creepity-creep? - “Hush-a-bye, hush! the leaves shall lie still, - The moon is walking over the hill,-- - Hush thee, darling, sleep!” - - A dream-show rode in on a moonbeam white,-- - Go away, dreams, and let me sleep! - The show may be gay and golden bright, - But I do not care to peep. - “Hush-a-bye, hush! the dream is fled, - A shining angel guards the bed, - Hush thee, darling, sleep!” - - - - - [Illustration] - - CLEAN CLARA - - - What! not know our Clean Clara? - Why, the hot folks in Sahara, - And the cold Esquimaux, - Our little Clara know! - Clean Clara, the Poet sings, - Cleaned a hundred thousand things! - - She cleaned the keys of the harpsichord, - She cleaned the hilt of the family sword, - She cleaned my lady, she cleaned my lord; - All the pictures in their frames, - Knights with daggers, and stomachered dames-- - Cecils, Godfreys, Montforts, Græmes, - Winifreds--all those nice old names! - - She cleaned the works of the eight-day clock, - She cleaned the spring of a secret lock, - She cleaned the mirror, she cleaned the cupboard; - All the books she India-rubbered! - - She cleaned the Dutch-tiles in the place, - She cleaned some very old-fashioned lace; - The Countess of Miniver came to her, - “Pray, my dear, will you clean my fur?” - All her cleanings are admirable; - - To count your teeth you will be able, - If you look in the walnut table! - - She cleaned the tent-stitch and the sampler; - She cleaned the tapestry, which was ampler; - Joseph going down into the pit, - And the Shunammite woman with the boy in a fit; - You saw the reapers, _not_ in the distance, - And Elisha coming to the child’s assistance, - With the house on the wall that was built for the prophet, - The chair, the bed, and the bolster of it; - - The eyebrows all had a twirl reflective, - Just like an eel; to spare invective, - There was plenty of colour, but no perspective. - However, Clara cleaned it all, - With a curious lamp, that hangs in the hall! - She cleaned the drops of the chandeliers,-- - Madame in mittens was moved to tears! - - She cleaned the cage of the cockatoo, - The oldest bird that ever grew; - I should say a thousand years old would do-- - I’m sure he looked it; but nobody knew; - She cleaned the china, she cleaned the delf, - She cleaned the baby, she cleaned herself! - - To-morrow morning she means to try - To clean the cobwebs from the sky; - Some people say the girl will rue it, - But my belief is she will do it. - - So I’ve made up my mind to be there to see: - There’s a beautiful place in the walnut-tree; - The bough is as firm as the solid rock; - She brings out her broom at six o’clock. - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE LAVENDER BEDS - - - The garden was pleasant with old-fashioned flowers, - The sunflowers and hollyhocks stood up like towers; - There were dark turncap lilies and jessamine rare, - And sweet thyme and marjoram scented the air. - - The moon made the sun-dial tell the time wrong; - ’Twas too late in the year for the nightingale’s song; - The box-trees were clipped, and the alleys were straight, - Till you came to the shrubbery hard by the gate. - - The fairies stepped out of the lavender beds, - With mob-caps, or wigs, on their quaint little heads; - My lord had a sword and my lady a fan; - The music struck up and the dancing began. - - I watched them go through with a grave minuet; - Wherever they footed the dew was not wet; - They bowed and they curtsied, the brave and the fair; - And laughter like chirping of crickets was there. - - Then all on a sudden a church clock struck loud: - A flutter, a shiver, was seen in the crowd, - The cock crew, the wind woke, the trees tossed their heads, - And the fairy folk hid in the lavender beds. - - - - - [Illustration] - - Little Ditties. - - - - - LITTLE DITTIES - - I - - - Winifred waters sat and sighed - Under a weeping willow; - When she went to bed she cried, - Wetting all the pillow; - - Kept on crying night and day, - Till her friends lost patience; - “What shall we do to stop her, pray?” - So said her relations. - - Send her to the sandy plains, - In the zone called torrid: - Send her where it never rains, - Where the heat is horrid! - -[Illustration] - - Mind that she has only flour - For her daily feeding; - Let her have a page an hour - Of the driest reading,-- - - Navigation, logarithm, - All that kind of knowledge,-- - Ancient pedigrees go with ’em, - From the Heralds’ College. - - When the poor girl has endured - Six months of this drying, - Winifred will come back cured, - Let us hope, of crying. - - Then she will not day by day - Make those mournful faces, - And we shall not have to say, - “Wring her pillow-cases.” - -[Illustration] - - - II - - There was a Little Boy, with two little eyes, - And he had a little head that was just the proper size, - And two little arms, and two little hands; - On two little legs this Little Boy he stands. - - Now, this Little Boy would now and then be cross - Because that he could only be the very thing he was; - He wanted to be this, and then he wanted to be that; - His head was full of wishes underneath his little hat! - - “I wish I was a drummer to beat a kettledrum, - I wish I was a giant to say Fee-fo-fi-faw-fum; - I wish I was a captain to go sailing in a ship; - I wish I was a huntsman to crack a nice whip. - - I wish I was a horse to go sixty miles an hour; - I wish I was the man that lives up in the lighthouse tower; - I wish I was a sea-gull with two long wings; - I wish I was a traveller to see all sorts of things. - - I wish I was a carpenter; I wish I was a lord; - I wish I was a soldier, with a pistol and a sword; - I wish I was the man that goes up high in a balloon; - I wish, I wish, I wish I could be something else, and soon!” - - But all the wishing in the world is not a bit of use; - That Little Boy this very day he stands in his own shoes; - That Little Boy is still but little Master What-do-you-call, - As much as if that Little Boy had never wished at all! - - He eats his bread and butter, and he likes it very much; - He grubs about, and bumps his head, and bowls his hoop, and such; - And his father and his mother they say, “Thank the gracious powers, - Those wishes cannot wish away that Little Boy of ours!” - -[Illustration] - - - III - - Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore-- - No doubt you have heard the name before-- - Was a boy who never would shut a door! - - The wind might whistle, the wind might roar, - And teeth be aching and throats be sore, - But still he never would shut the door. - - His father would beg, his mother implore, - “Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore, - We really _do_ wish you would shut the door!” - - Their hands they wrung, their hair they tore; - But Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore - Was deaf as the buoy out at the Nore. - - When he walked forth the folks would roar, - “Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore, - Why don’t you think to shut the door?” - - They rigged out a Shutter with sail and oar, - And threatened to pack off Gustavus Gore - On a voyage of penance to Singapore. - - But he begged for mercy, and said, “No more! - Pray do not send me to Singapore - On a Shutter, and then I will shut the door!” - - “You will?” said his parents; “then keep on shore! - But mind you do! For the plague is sore - Of a fellow that never will shut the door, - Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore!” - -[Illustration] - - - IV - - Timothy Tight, Timothy Tight, - Says he will neither have sup nor bite, - Nor comb to his hair, nor sleep in his bed, - Till he has done what he thinks in his head. - - What is it poor little Timothy thinks - To do before he eats, or drinks, - Or combs, or sleeps? Why, Timothy Tight - Thinks in his head to turn black into white! - - He caught a crow, and he tried with that, - He tried again with a great black cat, - He tried again with dyes and inks; - He keeps on trying to do what he thinks! - - He tried with lumps of coals a score, - He tried with jet, and a blackamoor, - He tried with these till he got vext-- - He means to try the Black Sea next. - -[Illustration] - - - V - - Baby, baby, bless her; - How shall mammy dress her? - - The summer cloud - Is not too proud - To find soft wool to dress her. - - The bluebell - Is a true bell, - And will find the blue to dress her. - - The cherry-tree - Is a merry tree, - And will find the pink to dress her. - - The lily bright - Will find the white, - The beautiful white to dress her. - - The leaves in the wood - Are sweet and good, - And will find the green to dress her. - - The honeysuckle, - With buds for a buckle, - Will make a girdle to dress her. - - The heavens hold - Both silver and gold - In the stars, and they will dress her. - - - VI - - There was a man so very tall, - That when you spoke you had to bawl - Through both your hands, put like a cup, - His head was such a long way up! - - But there was something even sadder,-- - His wife had to go up a ladder - Whenever she desired a kiss-- - And he, alas, was proud of this! - - Said he, “I am the tallest man - That ever grew since time began,” - As down on a house-top he sat; - Well, he _was_ tall; but what of that? - -[Illustration] - - This monstrous man, as we shall see, - Was punished for his vanity: - He grew and grew,--the people placed - A telescope to see his waist! - - He grew and grew--you could not see - Without a telescope his knee; - He grew till he was over-grown, - And seen by over-sight alone! - -[Illustration] - - - VII - - My man John - To sea is gone - All in a wicker cradle; - The cradle creaks, - The cradle leaks, - But John has got a ladle. - -[Illustration] - - - VIII - - There is a curious boy, whose name - Is Lumpy Loggerhead; - His greatest joy is--oh, for shame!-- - To spend his time in bed. - - They fit with gongs alarum clocks - That make your blood run chill; - And they encourage crowing cocks - Beneath his window-sill. - - In vain the gongs,--his eyes are shut-- - In vain the cocks do crow; - Empty on him a water-butt, - And he will say, “Hallo!” - - But only in a drowsy style, - And in a second more - He sleeps--and, oh! to see him smile! - And, oh! to hear him snore! - - He seems to carry, all day long, - Sleep in his very shape; - And, though you may be brisk and strong, - You often want to gape - - When Lumpy Loggerhead comes near, - Whose bed is all his joy. - How glad I am he is not here, - That very sleepy boy! - -[Illustration] - - - IX - - There was a giant walked out one day, - To eat whatever came in his way; - This giant was greedy, this giant was grim, - And the people were all afraid of him. - - He crossed the field and came into the street, - And a dainty damsel he there did meet; - “What is your name?” says he to her, - And she says, “Lucy Locket, sir.” - - “A very nice name is Lucy Locket, - And you will just fit my waistcoat-pocket;” - So said the giant, and popped her in, - And the pocket was more than up to her chin. - - The giant says, “Oh, this is the street; - Your father and mother I mean to eat.” - But Lucy, she thought, “You wicked man!” - And then to tickle him she began. - - Her hand was light, her hand was small, - He scarcely felt it at first at all; - She tickled and tickled, and by degrees - He felt as if he should like to sneeze! - - This giant could growl, and shout, and roar, - But he never had laughed in his life before, - And now he began to look less grim - As Lucy kept on tickling him. - - The people heard and the people saw,-- - “He, hee!” says the giant, “ha hah! haw haw!” - Oh, they were puzzled, but Lucy Locket - Made signs to them out of his doublet-pocket. - - His mad guffaws for a mile they hear, - His mouth is stretched from ear to ear; - Thinks he, “To laugh is a pleasant plan, - So now I will laugh as long as I can.” - - He laughed till he ached and his eyes grew dim, - As Lucy kept on tickling him; - He laughed till the tears ran down his face, - And he fell down, flop, in the market-place! - - Then out of his pocket Lucy leapt, - And close behind him the people crept; - With twisted cables and iron bands - And things of that sort they tied his hands. - - They tied his hands and they tied his feet, - They said, “Pray, what would you like to eat?” - And Lucy got into his pocket again, - And made him laugh like a thousand men! - - He laughed all day, he laughed all night, - He laughed when they woke in the morning light, - He laughed that week and the fortnight after,-- - Travellers came to hear his laughter! - - They let him laugh on to his heart’s content - In a show as high as the Monument; - They gave to Lucy a penny clear - For every person who came to hear, - So now the girl is as rich as a prince, - For he has been laughing ever since. - -[Illustration] - - - X - - Baby, baby bowling, - Set the hoop a-rolling; - The hoop will wait - At the turnpike gate, - And the man will take the toll in. - -[Illustration] - - - XI - - Diddy Doddy Dumpling, - Muslin all a-crumpling; - Cap like an arch, - Stiff with starch-- - Diddy Doddy Dumpling! - - Niddy Noddy Nursey, - How shall we make _her_ see? - Bobs and blinks, - Wobbles and winks-- - Niddy Noddy Nursey! - -[Illustration] - - - XII - - What do you think? - Why, pen and ink, - And a rosewood desk, or better; - The old black hen, - She mended the pen, - And the little pig wrote a letter. - -[Illustration] - - - XIII - - Johnny drew a picture, but Johnny couldn’t spell; - What he wrote under it I’m ashamed to tell; - All in large capitals Johnny wrote PECTURE, - Stuck it up upon the wall, and said that he would lecture; - What a funny lecture, though, Johnny will deliver; - While, with aches at his mistakes, all the people shiver! - -[Illustration] - - - XIV - - Mind the cat, - Find the cat, - Who will be first behind the cat? - The cat’s on the mat - In a billycock hat, - And that’s the way to find the cat. - -[Illustration] - - - XV - - Large eyes, little eyes, brown eyes, blue eyes, - My doll has had an accident and wants a pair of new eyes; - Strong legs, long legs, one leg and two legs, - My doll has had an accident and wants a pair of new legs; - Dribble dribble, trickle trickle, what a lot of raw dust! - Dolly had an accident, and out came the sawdust! - -[Illustration] - - - XVI - - One, two, three, - Put the cups for tea; - Two, three, one, - Toast a Sally-Lunn. - Fanny sat down - In a new gown; - Emma spilt the milk - Over the satin and silk, - One, two, three, - “Never wear silk at tea,” - - (Two, three, one), - So said Dimity Dunn; - Ever so many slices, - Bread and butter, and niceys; - One, two, three, - White sugar for me! - Two, three, one, - Now the tea’s done. - -[Illustration] - - - XVII - - Baby has just been feeding; - See, he has emptied the cup! - And now he sits a-reading, - But the book is wrong-side up; - - Will he make out what the book is about - Before it is time to sup? - His fist he doubles; - He blows little bubbles; - He splutters and stutters, - And tells you his troubles, - Reading the book that is wrong-side up! - -[Illustration] - - - XVIII - - “Daughter, daughter, - Mind the water!” - She said she never should, - So she went in - Right up to her chin, - And did not find it good; - - For the water was bitter, - And made her twitter, - As nobody thought she could! - She cried in haste, - “What a nasty taste! - I wish I had understood!” - - Oh, send and save her! - A beautiful flavour - Is not to be found in the flood; - And wine or tea - Is the drink for me - At a picnic in the wood! - -[Illustration] - - - XIX - - Hurly Burly - And Curly Wurly - Went to the fair together; - It rained in the night - For more delight, - And it was windy weather. - - Hurly Burly jumped the stiles, - Laughed and in-and-outed; - Hurly Burly ran for miles, - Hurly Burly shouted. - - Curly Wurly went off in smiles, - Except just when she pouted! - The Quakeress peeped from under the tiles, - Saying, “If I could smile as thou did!” - - Hurly Buriy’s talk was mad, - Like Singlestick and Latin; - Curly Wurly a sweet tongue had, - And she was soft as satin. - - Then Hurly Burly and Curly Wurly, - When they had their airing, - Came home betimes, like a poet’s rhymes, - Each of them with a fairing. - - For he had a monstrous popgun got, - That went with a noise like thunder; - And she had a beautiful true-love knot, - That never would come in sunder. - -[Illustration] - - - XX - - Nathan Nobb, - Oh, what a job! - Always walked on his head; - His mother would sob - To his brother Bob, - And his father took to his bed. - - They made him a boot - His head to suit, - But a horrible thing must be said,-- - His hair took root, - And began to shoot, - One day, in the garden bed! - - So there he stands - With the help of his hands - And a little support from his nose: - The gardener man, - With the watering-can, - Says, “Gracious, how fast he grows!” - -[Illustration] - - - XXI - - Blow, blow, east wind! - What does the east wind do? - Shine, shine, sunlight! - And what does the sunshine do? - The sunshine clear - Goes there and here, - And searches in every nook, - And, while it is going, - The wind is blowing - Farther than you can look; - The east wind blows, - It sweeps, it goes - The whole world through; - As the world grows green, - It sweeps it clean, - And the sky is a pale, cold blue: - Blow, blow, east wind, - Finish your blowing, do! - And the west wind, dear, will soon be here, - With skies of deep, warm blue. - - - - - [Illustration] - - Baby’s Bells - - - - - [Illustration] - - BABY’S BELLS - - - I - - Ding, Dong, and Dell - Went and sat under the bell, - Saying, “Bell, bell, bell, - What have you got to tell?” - And the clapper rose and fell, - And the bell rang well - Over Ding, Dong, and Dell, - As they sat under the bell. - - Here is pencil, and here is pen, - Walk up, ladies and gentlemen! - Here are their pictures, as you see, - Ding, and Dong, and Dell make three, - There they are, and here are we. - - First there is Ding, a dot of a thing, - And, not to go wrong, her brother Dong, - A little older and ever so much bolder, - And both of them seem ready to sing, - And Dell will belong and take part in the song. - - Now Dell--I am not so sure about Dell-- - Dell wears a mask, and hides till you ask, - And peeps at you from over a screen; - But if you must know the truth of it,--well!-- - I really am not so sure about Dell. - - So Ding, Dong, and Dell - Went and sat under the bell, - Saying, “Bell, bell, bell, - What have you got to tell?” - And the clapper rose and fell, - And the bell rang well - Over Ding, Dong, and Dell, - As they sat under the bell. - -[Illustration] - - - II - - Ding and Dong went out a-walking, - Ding and Dong were gaily talking: - “My eyes are strong, - You know,” says Dong, - “And once on a time I saw through a wall.” - “And so did I,” says little Ding, - “I also can do a wonderful thing.” - - Thus they disputed, and by-and-bye - Poor little Ding began to cry. - “You didn’t,” says Dong; “it isn’t true----” - I did, you didn’t, no more did you, - You didn’t, I did, you didn’t, pooh! - - So they came squabbling to Dell, who said, - “You both deserve to be put to bed. - When Ding saw through a wall, the wall - Was made of glass, and that is all! - When Dong saw through a wall, it had - A hole in it.” Then both were glad, - Ding and Dong, that they thought to ask - Dell of the screen, who wore the mask; - And Ding and Dong said, “Clever Dell; - Who would have thought that Dell could tell? - -[Illustration] - - - III - - Ding and Dong, because they find - Dell so very clever. - Say they have made up their mind - To go in masks for ever. - Is there wisdom in a mask? - They are none the wittier yet; - Is there beauty? do not ask! - They are none the prettier yet! - -[Illustration] - - - IV - - The girls and the boys - They made such a noise - At play, that they frightened away their toys. - Dolly, she fled, - And went to bed, - Because she had caught such a pain in her head! - The German bricks, - The candlesticks, - The elephant, - And the cormorant, - The ass and the horse, - And the rest in their course, - (But there was no shark,) - Of the Noah’s Ark, - The saucers and the cups, - And the little woolly pups, - (You heard them bark) - Belonging to the Ark, - Were frightened, like all the rest of the toys, - And hid themselves from the dreadful noise: - So, if I were you, next time I played, - I would not be so loud in the noise that I made! - -[Illustration] - - - V - - Sparrow, sparrow, - Swift as an arrow, - What are you doing there in the sun? - A hunter am I, - And the white butterfly - I am chasing to-day in the summer sun. - -[Illustration] - - - VI - - Sit in the sun - Till the day is done, - Reading and working and making fun: - Then look at the moon, - And eat with a spoon - A basin of sop that is made from a bun. - -[Illustration] - - - VII - - What makes the starling so merry? - The starling has had a cherry, - A cherry as soft as a baby’s cheek, - I can see the pulp hanging out of his beak. - This is the lass, this is the lad, - That like to see the starling glad! - -[Illustration] - - - VIII - - Here is a rug - That looks very snug; - And here is a cat-- - What shall we be at? - You take off your bonnet, - I take off my hat, - And let us sit upon it, - And talk to the cat-- - Not upon the hat, you know, - But on the little rug-- - The hat would not come pat, you know, - But, oh, the rug is snug! - Ding, Dong, Dell, - Said “Bell, bell, bell! - What have you got to tell?”-- - And you hear what the bells say - From Greenwich up to Chelsea; - Ring, ring, ring, - About this, and the other thing, - These, and those, and that, - The cat, and the rug, and the mat, - The Noah’s Ark and the sparrow, - And the sop as soft as marrow! - And whether you live by Bow bells, - Or out in a place with no bells, - And neither at Greenwich nor at Chelsea, - You shall hear what the different bells say - From Ding, Dong, and Dell, - Who like to sit under the bell. - - - IX - - Said Ding, Dong, and Dell, - “Listen to the bell!” - Now it was not bell, but bells, - For the bells that rang were many,-- - Bells upon bells; - You shall have a silver penny, - Or almost anything else, - If you can count the bells - That are ringing. And what for?-- - Ding, Dong, and Dell - Will explain every bell, - That is to say, the bells, - Neither less nor more - Than the meaning of the Bells. - -[Illustration] - - - X - - “Who are you?” - Says One to Two; - Says Two to One “I’m plenty;” - “Think again!” - Says little Ten, - And, “Think again!” says Twenty. - -[Illustration] - - - XI - - Lily white, Rose red, - Standing in the garden-bed; - Wind from the south, wind from the west, - Can you tell me which is best? - -[Illustration] - - - XII - - Johnny has finished his lessons, - All in good time; - Then in his very resence, - The bells set up a chime; - - All round the school-room - The bells began to ring, - All round the school-room, - “Johnny is a king!” - -[Illustration] - - - XIII - - Now, then, let us tell a tale-- - Six travellers in a dale, - Feeling weak about the knees, - Resting under six elm-trees; - Six robbers, after them, - Draw their swords and say, “Ahem!” - Then the travellers, who have not - Any weapons with them got, - Shake and shiver in their boots, - And they play upon their flutes - Then the robbers six remark - To the travellers, “It is dark.” - “No,” say they, “it is not quite.-- - Every traveller strikes a light! - Will you see some conjuring tricks?” - “Yes,” say all the robbers six; - Then six tigers and six lions - Came along and roared defiance, - And the thieves and travellers too - Could not tell what next to do: - “This,” said they, “is very sad!” - Then there came an earthquake bad, - And the air was very hot, - And it swallowed up the lot. - - - XIV - - When Ding and Dong, - Had finished a song, - One day, they went to Dell, - And to him or her - Said, “We should prefer - That you should do something as well,-- - Something amusing - Of your own choosing.”-- - “And so I will,” says Dell. - - There goes a bell, - Ding, dong, dell, - A cracked old bell, - A shaky old bell, - A quavering old bell,-- - Can anybody tell - What the cracked old bell is saying? - - “Yes, I can tell,” says Dell, - “Without measuring or weighing, - And this is what it is saying; - Ding, dong, dell! - Goes the cracked old bell; - And this is what it is saying: - - “There is an old woman whose name it is Gray, - Lives in an old town in an old-fashioned way; - You cross an old bridge, and go up an old road, - And down an old lane, to find out her abode. - - “She wears an old cap that stands ever so high; - She looks through old goggles as round as the sky; - She keeps an old dog, and a very old cat; - She sits in an arm-chair much older than that. - - “She crosses her old arms; she shakes her old pate; - She only hears half of the tale you relate; - She puts her old ear-trumpet up, and cries ‘_What?_’ - And when you say ‘Freezing!’ she thinks you say ‘Hot!’ - -[Illustration] - - - ‘She thinks as she sits that she hears a bell ring, - As even and slow as a rook on the wing; - It booms in her old ear; she shakes her old head; - That old bell says, _Put out the lights and to bed!_” - -[Illustration] - - - XV - - Ding, dong, dell, - Bell, bell, bell! - What have you got to tell? - What is it the bells say, - From Greenwich up to Chelsea,-- - The bells of wandering fancies, - Up and down - By sea and town - Like knights in old romances? - What is it that the bells say? - What is it you hear Dell say? - Explaining what the bells say? - - An August day: an August night; - A morning in September; - A lily red; a jasmine white; - What more do you remember? - - A harvest-moon, a hunter’s moon; - A partridge on the moorland; - A stack of wheat; an afternoon - In a yacht out by the Foreland. - - A foxglove faded, a brook to be waded, - Apples and pears grown redder; - And the ways of the birds, which, without any words, - Say, “Come let us consider!” - -[Illustration] - - - XVI - - Then those bells stop, - The bells of wandering fancies - And Autumn and Summer chances; - - And a bell rings with a flop, - A sort of heavy drop, - A distant blunt bark, - As if it was made in the dark, - And lived underground like a mole, - And the rope was as black as a coal. - O bell, what a comical voice! - What a stupid sort of noise! - Do you call it ringing or drumming? - And who is it that is coming? - It must be a bogie of some sort, - A blunt, black, stupid, dumb sort! - Hark! what do we hear this bell say? - And what do you hear Dell say? - - “This is the King of the Blackaways, - And very black is he, - So black you cannot see his face,-- - Not you! No more can we! - - Black, black, - Breast and back; - Teeth and eyes, - Lips likewise; - Just like a blot - Tied in a knot! - - And oh, the land of the Blackaways, - Where this King reigns, is a very black place. - - The grass is black, and so are the trees, - The chalk is black, and so are the geese; - The milk, the eggs, the flour, and the cheese; - The sheets and the shirts; for it all agrees!” - - Get you gone, Blackaway King, if you please! - And dine off black bread, and flesh of black geese, - Where the grass grows black on the Blackaway leas! - -[Illustration] - - - XVII - - What sort of bell is this? - A wisdom bell, - Or a nonsense bell? - What sort of bell is this? - - “Bell, bell, how high do you hang?” - I said to the bell as it rang, as it rang, - And “Never _you_ mind!” a goblin sang, - One who did dwell - Within the bell! - Wibbling-wobbling - Went the bell, - And what had the goblin - Got to tell? - Why, ill said or well said, - This is what the bell said; - Wisdom bell - Or nonsense bell, - This is what the bell said: - - BETSY BOUNCE--her taste was such-- - Of her bonnet thought too much; - Strutting up and down she went, - (People wondered what she meant). - - In the villages and towns - Folks said, “Look how Betsy Bounce - Takes her walks around the nation!” - She thought this was admiration. - - “Oh, that all the world,” says she, - “Could my lovely bonnet see, - See my bonnet, but without - All this walking round about!” - - For in truth the girl got tired, - Though her bonnet was admired, - Of this walking round the nation - After people’s admiration. - - Now observe what came to pass-- - One fine day this foolish lass - Found her bonnet growing, growing - On her head like flowers a-blowing! - - Higher still, and higher piled - Grew the bonnet on the child, - Farther back and farther out, - Farther down and round about! - - Rivers sprawling to the sea - Both the strings appeared to be, - Till the bow beneath her chin - Shut her up and shut her in. - - Oh, how foreigners did stare - When her bonnet filled the air, - Russian, Turk, and Mexican, - Folks in India and Japan! - - Betsy Bounce has her desire: - All the world can now admire! - Yet perhaps she will not pout - When the bonnet is worn out. - - But her parents, being poor, - Cannot, for a time, procure - Betsy Bounce another hat, - So she must keep on with that. - -[Illustration] - - - XVIII - - You cannot count the bluebells - That are upon the heath,-- - The ferns stand tall and stately, - The bells hang underneath; - But I can count the tassels - As big as flowers of clover - That hang on baby’s curtain, - The curtain that hangs over; - And when I rock the cradle - The tassels swing and swing, - And they make fairy music, - And baby hears them ring; - Ding-dong in the morning, - And in the evening too, - Rhime, chime, in fairy time, - Baby, dear, for you! - -[Illustration] - - - XIX - - When the moon was on the wane, - Ding was looking through the window-pane, - Dong was counting drops of rain, - And Dell was thinking with might and main; - But all of them listened to the bell again, - A wisdom bell, - Or a nonsense bell? - - And the goblin said, “Let Dell explain, - She knows what the bells say - From Greenwich up to Chelsea, - She will explain what the bells say!” - -[Illustration] - - - XX - - O have you heard of Reuben Rammer, - The little fellow that _would_ stammer? - He talked at such a headlong rate - That at last he got through Stuttering Gate. - - If fellows will talk madly fast, - They come to Stuttering Gate at last; - Some boys take warning and they pause,-- - Not thus with Reuben Rammer ’twas. - - He made a plunge, dashed past the bar. - He went on stuttering fast and far; - And what was the result? Why, now - He speaks no better than a cow! - - He has been trying,--how absurd!-- - For several months to speak a word; - His mouth works open like a door, - His arm goes like a semaphore! - - He strives to say what he desires; - His jaws jolt up like jaws on wires; - But Reuben Rammer could not speak - When last I saw him this day week! - - How awkward to be driven to use - A pencil to express your views, - Try to say, “Hallo, Johnny Brown!” - And yet be forced to write it down! - -[Illustration] - - - XXI - - When the bell sounds - Over land and sea, - And the wind, in its rounds, - Blowing fresh and free, - Carries the ringing - Far out of sight, - There where the clinging - Sails are white, - White on the sea; - And over the hills. - - How far does the sound - Of the sweet bell go? - Over the round - Where the waters flow, - And up to the bound - Where the winds can blow. - Is it lost, is it found, - Is it gone, do you know? - - - - - [Illustration] - - Nonsense Rhymes - - - - - [Illustration] - - NONSENSE RHYMES - - - - - TUESDAY - - - Carry and Kate - Swallowed a slate: - David and Dick - Lived in a stick: - Hetty and Helen - Said, “Oh, what a dwelling!” - - Patty and Prue - Took baths in a flue: - Nathan and Ned - Caught fish in their bed: - Nothing could hide ’em, - And Dorothy fried ’em: - This was on Tuesday, - Which always was news day. - - - - - [Illustration] - - JOLLY JACK - - - “If black was white, - And white was black, - I would swallow a light - And live in a sack, - And swim on a kite,”-- - Says jolly Jack. - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE DUCK AND HER DUCKLINGS - - - There was an old duck which had three little ducks, - Three little ducklings, chuck, chuck, chucks! - She took them for a walk, - And she march’d them back, - And taught them how to say, - “Quack, quack, quack!” - - The ducklings went behind, and the duck went before, - Three ducks and one duck, that made four: - - A duckling is a duck, if I know white from black, - But a duck is not a duckling, though, - “Quack, quack, quack!” - - This duck was genteel, and she walk’d with great state, - Then cried, “Now, ducklings, mark my gait, - So much, you see, depends on the style of the back;” - And the ducklings said, “Yes, mamma, - Quack, quack, quack!” - - - - - [Illustration] - - LITTLE BEN BUTE - - - O little Ben Bute - Had a flute, flute, flute, - And went about the world in a knickerbocker suit; - Down, up and down, - And round about the town, - He played and he played tootle-too, toot, toot! - _Tootle-too, tootle-too-ey!_ - - He could not play it well, - So the notes rose and fell, - Tootle, tootle-too, with a twirl and a squeak; - The wind, puff, puff, - Was forty times enough, - That he sent into the flute from his cheek, cheek, cheek, - _Tootle-too, tootle-too-ey!_ - - Then people to the lad - Said, “This is very bad! - Our ears they are splitting, with your toot, toot, toot; - Is there no one within reach-- - What, no one!--who will teach - Little Bute how to play upon the flute, flute, flute?” - _Tootle-too, tootle-too-ey!_ - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE DREAM OF A GIRL WHO LIVED AT SEVEN-OAKS - - - Seven sweet singing birds up in a tree; - Seven swift sailing-ships white upon the sea; - Seven bright weather-cocks shining in the sun; - Seven slim race-horses ready for a run; - Seven gold butterflies, flitting overhead; - Seven red roses blowing in a garden bed; - Seven white lilies, with honey bees inside them; - Seven round rainbows with clouds to divide them; - Seven pretty little girls with sugar on their lips; - Seven witty little boys, whom everybody tips; - Seven nice fathers, to call little maids joys; - Seven nice mothers, to kiss the little boys; - Seven nights running I dreamt it all plain; - With bread and jam for supper I could dream it all again! - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE DREAM OF A BOY WHO LIVED AT NINE-ELMS - - - Nine grenadiers, with bayonets in their guns; - Nine bakers’ baskets, with hot cross-buns; - Nine brown elephants, standing in a row; - Nine new velocipedes, good ones to go; - Nine knickerbocker suits, with buttons all complete; - Nine pair of skates with straps for the feet; - Nine clever conjurors eating hot coals; - Nine sturdy mountaineers leaping on their poles; - Nine little drummer-boys beating on their drums; - Nine fat aldermen sitting on their thumbs; - Nine new knockers to our front door; - Nine new neighbours that I never saw before; - Nine times running I dreamt it all plain; - With bread and cheese for supper I could dream it all again! - - - - - [Illustration] - - FOUR LITTLE HISTORIES - - - I - - There was an old man, and he had an old gun, - And he went to a cake shop, and aimed at a bun; - The bullet it shot the old baker’s old cat, - “Stop thief!” says the baker, “why, what are you at?” - -[Illustration] - - - II - - Jack and Joe were tinmen, - And oh, but they were thin men! - Bags of bones, - Or bags of stones,-- - I think they couldn’t have _been_ men! - -[Illustration] - - - III - - Sarah Page, - In a rage, - Drest in satin; - Bertha Newry, - Learning Latin, - In a fury, - Drest in silk, - And lapping milk-- - Which is best? Oh, what a bother! - Neither one nor yet the other. - -[Illustration] - - - IV - - Says Aleck to Alice, - “I live in a palace.” - Says Alice to Tim, - “I don’t believe him.” - Says Tim to his cousin, - “I love you three dozen;” - The cousin, she wondered, - And asked for a hundred, - Instead of three dozen: - Says Tim, “You are fussing; - Three dozen I love you, - If that will not move you, - My love I will carry - To Magsie or Mary.” - - - - - [Illustration] - - A BIG NOISE - - - Twenty whales - Lashing their tails; - Twenty guns - Fired at once; - Twenty cats - Howling in flats; - Twenty parrots - Calling carrots; - Twenty apiece, - Besides, of these,-- - Lions roaring, - Giants snoring, - Waggons rolling, - Bells tolling; - These together, - In stormy weather, - With a steam hammer, - Would make a clamour. - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE ALARM - - - A giant at the door behind, - For Baby? Nothing of the kind! - But even if a Giant were to come, - With an eye like an Orleans plum, - And hands like wolf’s paws, - And teeth like horrible saws, - And a voice like a dreadful cough, - And he carried baby off, - And fed her up in a dungeon - (To fatten her for his luncheon), - A dungeon as high as the stars; - And, if the dungeon had bars, - And was guarded by a horrid vulture, - And an eagle of savage culture; - And if from the wall of the castle - A dragon hung like a tassel, - And the castle was built among mountains, - In a lonely situation - At the very end of creation, - With flames spouting round it like fountains-- - Why, mother could find her way - To the castle any day, - And make the old dragon wriggle, - And fight the vulture and the eagle, - And blow up the castle--pop! - And bring baby home to her sop, - And the sop should have sugar extra, - Because the Giant had vexed her. - - - - - [Illustration] - - CICERO BRICK - - - I - - There was a boy at Hampton Wick, - Whose name, as it happened, was Cicero Brick; - He fell in love in desperate fashion - With a girl who fully returned his passion. - - But she had a father who said, “No, no! - What! marry a boy named Cicero? - Never, with my consent, my dear!”-- - What happened next we soon shall hear. - - The daughter wept till the father said, - “Cicero Brick and you may wed - When he has spoken an oration - To an enormous congregation!” - - - II - - The public felt no great surprise - When Cicero Brick did advertise - A course of lectures--five or six,-- - O, what a notion of Cicero Brick’s! - - St. James’s Hall, in Regent Street, - For these orations he said was meet; - The first oration that he spoke - Two dozen heard it--what a joke! - - The next time ten, the next time four, - And then the public came no more; - But Cicero Brick--_this_ who shall blame?-- - Spoke the oration all the same. - - “Read my advertisement,” quoth he, - “And tell me what you in it see - About the oration’s being _heard_! - It says, ‘_delivered_.’ I keep my word!” - - - III - - This was so honest and well-meant, - The father well-nigh did relent; - He said, “I never saw before - So persevering an orator!” - - The lover spoke, perhaps with grace, - For two hours in that empty place! - The servants at the Hall let out - The fact, and it got noised about - - At concerts, balls, and conversations, - That Cicero spoke these orations - In that huge Hall, week after week, - With no one there to hear him speak. - - What was the consequence? A run, - A rush, to see and hear it done; - “We really _must_ hear Cicero Brick!” - All London cried. The crowd was thick. - - They mobbed the men who took the pay; - Hundreds that night were turned away; - And Cicero Brick spoke this oration - To an enormous congregation! - - The father of the girl he wooed - Now kept his promise, as he should; - The wedding feast of Cicero Brick - Came off at once near Hampton Wick; - And all the guests gave three cheers for - The persevering Orator. - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE OBSTINATE COW - - - This, if you please, is the Obstinate Cow,-- - It all befell I will tell you how; - And that, if you please, is the Resolute Boy,-- - He tugs at her tail, and he shouts, “Ahoy!” - - It stands to reason, if you but think, - That the milk of an Obstinate Cow to drink - Must make a fellow grow obstinate-- - There they are by the Manor-house gate. - - He breakfasted, year after year, - On the milk of the cow that you see here; - Her name is Dapple, his name is Jim; - He pulls the cow, and the cow pulls him. - - On the gate of the Manor-house may be read - That trespassers will be prosecuted; - The boy is right, and the cow is wrong, - But the cow, as it happens, is much more strong. - - It _does_ look awkward, and, if we attend, - We soon shall see how it all will end: - The Squire had a boy who was weak of bone, - And very much wanting in will of his own. - - Admiring the pluck of Resolute Jim, - The Squire comes out, and he says to him, - “How came you so plucky?” and Jim says, “How? - I lived on the milk of this Obstinate Cow!” - - “Oh, oh!” said the Squire, exceedingly pleased, - “Your father shall sell me this obstinate beast, - And you shall be cowherd.” So said, so done,-- - The boy and his father enjoyed the fun. - - The Squire’s little boy, who was weak of bone, - And very much wanting in will of his own, - Was fed on the milk of the Obstinate Cow, - And, oh, what a change! You should see him _now_! - - His mind is not worth a threepenny-bit, - ’Tis dull as a ditch and as void of wit, - Yet he makes it up, and from day to day, - “_Do_ change your mind!” the people say; - But his will is so strong that the people find - They cannot induce him to change his mind! - - - - - [Illustration] - - LAVENDER LADY - - - I - - - Light Lady Lavender - Went to wed a Scavenger, - All the boys and girls in town - Laughed at Lady Lavender. - - Light Lady Lavender - Hadn’t any provender, - All the boys and girls in town - Cried for Lady Lavender. - -[Illustration] - - - II - - Lavender Lady got rich again, - And lived in a palace in Lavender Lane; - Flowers and provender! - Sweet Lady Lavender - Lived in a palace in Lavender Lane! - - Lavender Lady is kind and gay, - Lavender House is not a long way; - Puddings and pies, - And turkeys’ thighs, - And peacocks’ tails, too, all over eyes! - - Ask for her up, ask for her down, - If ever you go to London Town: - In all the nation - There’s no relation - So kind as she is in London town! - -[Illustration] - - - III - - “When you saw the New Moon pass” - (Loud laughed the Scavenger), - “Did you look at her through glass, - Proud Madam Lavender?” - - “Stab my heart through with your horn!” - Laughed Lady Lavender - To the New Moon all forlorn. - Light Lady Lavender. - - She fell sad, and he fell sick, - Proud Lady Lavender. - O the snow fell fast and thick, - Poor Lady Lavender! - - “Take the broom and sweep the street, - Proud Lady Lavender;” - O but she had dainty feet, - Soft Lady Lavender. - - “Sweep you must and sweep you shall, - Soft Lady Lavender, - Up the Mall and down the Mall, - Proud Lady Lavender. - - “Have you done your sweeping yet, - Proud Madam Scavenger? - Are your slippers cold and wet?” - Poor Lady Lavender! - - “Wet is wet, and cold is cold,” - Wept Lady Lavender, - But the broom had turned to gold-- - Loud laughed the Scavenger. - - “Take your sampler, Madam Witch, - Laid up in lavender; - Do you see a golden stitch, - And a silver P in provender?” - - Silver and gold for a golden broom, - Rich Lady Lavender; - Then she danced all round the room, - Light Lady Lavender. - - Take the New Moon for a cup, - Witch-lady Lavender; - Ladle the gold and silver up, - Proud Lady Lavender. - - “Here’s an angel-piece for you,” - Laughed Lady Lavender; - “Here’s a golden guinea too,” - Kind Lady Lavender! - - Now we are all safe and sound - (China plates and provender), - Now we’re on Tom Tiddler’s Ground,-- - Laugh, Lady Lavender! - - - - - [Illustration] - - ODD RHYMES - - - I - - - Rook, rook, - Read in a book! - Mouse, mouse, - Build a house! - Bee, bee, - Get your tea! - Pig, pig, - Dance a jig! - Goose, goose, - Put on shoes! - Snail, snail, - Fill the pail! - Rabbit, rabbit, - Mind you stab it! - Cricket, cricket, - Mind you kick it! - -[Illustration] - - - II - - My maid Molly, - She pricked her thumb, - But only with holly, - And the blood wouldn’t come. - -[Illustration] - - - III - - Martin, Martin - Went a carting; - And why did he travel? - To bring home some gravel. - -[Illustration] - - - IV - - Hey-down, high-down, furze and thistle, - Rain and wind, and a dog and whistle; - The wind blows, the rain drops, - The seeds are gone from the thistle-tops: - Whistle! find me a flower in the clover, - And you shall have turkey for supper, Rover! - - - - - [Illustration] - - TOPSYTURVEY-WORLD - - - If the butterfly courted the bee, - And the owl the porcupine; - If churches were built in the sea, - And three times one was nine; - If the pony rode his master, - If the buttercups ate the cows, - If the cat had the dire disaster - To be worried, sir, by the mouse; - If mamma, sir, sold the baby - To a gipsy for half-a-crown; - If a gentleman, sir, was a lady,-- - The world would be Upside-Down! - - [Illustration] - - If any or all of these wonders - Should ever come about, - I should not consider them blunders, - For I should be Inside-Out! - - _Chorus_: Ba-ba, black wool, - Have you any sheep? - Yes, sir, a pack-full, - Creep, mouse, creep! - - Four-and-twenty little maids - Hanging out the pie, - Out jumped the honey-pot, - Guy-Fawkes, Guy! - Cross-latch, cross-latch, - Sit and spin the fire, - When the pie was opened, - The bird was on the brier! - - - - - [Illustration] - - MISS WAVER - - - Little Miss Waver - Sings with a quaver, - A musical maid is she; - Her voice is as clear - As any you hear-- - Let little Miss Waver be. - - - - - [Illustration] - - JEREMY JANGLE - - - Jeremy Jangle - Lives in a tangle; - You never know where to take him: - His head is immense, - And he might talk sense - Perhaps, if you could but make him. - - But he says that a tailor has a tail, - And every sailor is made for sale, - Also that bunting is made of buns! - But everybody can see at once - That this is nonsense. And yet his head - Is large, and he calls himself well read! - - - - - [Illustration] - - STALKY JACK - - - I knew a boy who took long walks, - Who lived on beans, and ate the stalks; - To the Giants’ Country he lost his way; - They kept him there for a year and a day. - But he has not been the same boy since; - An alteration he did evince; - For you may suppose that he underwent - A change in his notions of extent! - - He looks with contempt on a nice high door, - And tries to walk in at the second floor! - He stares with surprise at a basin of soup, - He fancies a bowl as large as a hoop; - He calls the people minikin mites; - He calls a sirloin a couple of bites! - Things having come to these pretty passes, - They bought him some magnifying glasses. - - He put on the goggles, and said, “My eyes! - The world has come to its proper size!” - But all the boys cry, “Stalky John! - There you go with your goggles on!” - What girl would marry him--and _quite_ right-- - To be taken for three times her proper height? - So this comes of taking extravagant walks, - And living on beans, and eating the stalks. - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE FIDDLER AND THE CROCODILE - - - One day a fiddler from the North, - Out Memphis way, went walking forth; - He smoked his pipe and winked his lids, - And said, “Ah, ah! the Pyramids?” - - In this that fiddler took good heed; - The Pyramids were there indeed; - Sing Amon-Râ, sing Gizeh town, - Cheops, Cephrenes, mummy brown! - - Thus said he on the banks of Nile, - When out there crawled a crocodile, - And when he turned, more scared than hurt, - The creature seized him by the skirt. - - The crocodile was fierce and strong, - And twenty mortal feet was long. - The fiddler said, “It has been guessed - That music soothes the savage breast.” - - He drew his skirt--there being a pause-- - From out the alligator’s jaws; - For, crocodile or alligator, - The beast was something of that nature. - - Sing bulrushes, sing cats and leeks, - Sing tawny gods with senseless beaks, - Sing scarabæi, if you’ve patience, - Isis, Osiris, inundations! - - The fiddler raised his violin, - And to perform did next begin-- - Sing lotus-flower, papyrus stiff, - Sarcophagus and hieroglyph! - - The district, since Amenophis, - Had never heard the like of this; - (Oh, to have seen the fiddler man - As up and down the scale he ran!) - - That crocodile sat down to hear, - And to his eye there came a tear; - He turned it over in his mind; - His tail lay limp and long behind. - - _Affettuoso_ was the plan - Which struck at first that fiddler man; - _Allegro_ next--his soul was stirr’d-- - _Con molto brio_ was the word. - - At this the alligator brute-- - Or crocodile, if that will suit-- - Rose, much excited, from his seat, - And danced like mad, with heart and heat. - - Sing Pompey, plectrum, strings and pegs, - Ichneumons, sand, and serpents’ eggs, - Cheops, Cephrenes, Memnon, Sphinx-- - “I _knew_ it!”--so that fiddler thinks. - - “I knew,” said he, with joy and jest, - “That music soothes the savage breast;” - He swept the strings with maddening go, - From _presto_ to _prestissimo_. - - But though the brute had dropped his plan - Of eating up at once the man, - It did not seem, his ways were such, - That music yet had soothed him much. - - In fact he leapt and danced like mad; - He danced with all the legs he had; - Our friend, with violin to shoulder, - Sat, proudly playing, on a boulder. - - He played until his arm grew weak, - And heat-drops gathered on his cheek; - He saw there would be mischief in it - If he but dropped his bow a minute! - - For in that alligator’s look - He read, as plain as in a book, - “Play on, or I will eat you yet, - With appetite the sharper set!” - - Just as he thought he soon must faint - (And his emotions who can paint?) - He felt, and saw on looking round, - A curious trembling of the ground. - - Thinks he, “This dancing crocodile - Is shaking up the land of Nile”-- - He looked again, and saw, in places, - The pyramids leap from their bases! - - As six or seven together rushed, - He cried, “Confound it! I am crushed!” - But, happy chance! a moment later - They fell and crushed the alligator. - - Sing Cleopatra’s almond eye, - Sing reeds and hippopotami, - Sing tamarisk-trees by Mœris Lake, - And mud left in the sun to bake! - - Then, as the fiddler wiped his brow, - Says he, “I feel exhausted now!” - Those ruins he no more regards - Than any fallen house of cards. - - Out on the sands he chanced to find - A bit of temple to his mind, - And, as he sat down in the shade, - There came an Ethiop to his aid. - - “De Hyksos,” said that nigger lad, - “Dis way some secret cellarage had; - Yah, massa, yah, de best ob wine; - De Shepherd Kings, dey know’d de Rhine.” - - He quaffed those hocks, that fiddler bold, - Hocks five and thirty centuries old; - The cellar-man was older still-- - Sing Typhon, Ptah, or what you will. - - Sing Ra, sing Sos, sing Seb, sing Khem, - Sing Mycerinus, after them; - Sing Diodorus Siculus, - Who tells untruths, for all his fuss; - Sing Manetho; but keep this clue-- - The tale which _I_ have told is true. - - - - - [Illustration] - - L’ENVOI - - - Versification, - Likewise illustration; - Flowers of my growing - From seed to blowing; - Flowers of my finding, - Gathering, and binding; - Home-flower and heather - Mingled together;-- - Take these confusions, - Ye dear Lilliputians. - - - Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. - - London & Edinburgh - - -Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber: - -Pianofore Palace stand=> Pinafore Palace stand {pg 17} - -Oh, the Giant Frodgedobblum am I=> Oh, the Giant Frodgedobbulum am I {pg -139} - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Lilliput Lyrics, by W. B. Rands - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LILLIPUT LYRICS *** - -***** This file should be named 53030-0.txt or 53030-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/0/3/53030/ - -Produced by David Edwards, Chuck Greif and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -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. 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