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 I i SIR
 
 THE JINGLE BOOK
 
 Jl?e Jutor 
 
 A TUTOR who tooted the flute 
 
 Tried to teach two young tooters to toot. 
 Said the two to the tutor, 
 "Is it harder to toot, or 
 To tutor two tooters to toot?"
 
 THE JINGLE BOOK 
 
 BY 
 
 CAROLYN WELLS 
 
 pictured by 
 
 OLIVER HERFORD 
 
 Ncfo 
 THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 
 
 LONDON : MACMILLAN & CO., LTD. 
 
 1901 
 AU rights reserved
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1899, 
 BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. 
 
 Set up and electrotyped October, 1899. Reprinted November, 
 1899; June, 1901.
 
 Co fiflda's ChUd
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 THE TUTOR Frontispiece 
 
 PAGE 
 
 A SERIOUS QUESTION I 
 
 Two OLD KINGS 3 
 
 A DAY DREAM 5 
 
 OUR CLUB y 
 
 PUZZLED 9 
 
 AN INTERCEPTED VALENTINE n 
 
 A LONG-FELT WANT 13 
 
 THE MUSICAL CARP 14 
 
 THE INTELLIGENT HEN 15 
 
 THE HAPPY HYENA 17 
 
 A GREAT LADY 18 
 
 OPULENT OLLIE 20 
 
 THE Two BEARS 21 
 
 THE MACARONI MAN 24 
 
 THE 4.04 TRAIN 29 
 
 A VALUABLE GIFT 30 
 
 THE GRANDILOQUENT GOAT 32 
 
 How THE CAT WAS BELLED -33 
 
 TRIANGULAR TOMMY 40 
 
 A MODERN INVENTION ....." 45 
 
 Ax APRIL JOKE 46 
 
 AN ALICE ALPHABET 48 
 
 THE FUNNY KITTENS 57 
 
 THE STRIKE OF THE FIREWORKS . . . . .*.". .60 
 
 THE ARCH ARMADILLO 63 
 
 [vii]
 
 PAGE 
 
 A DREAM LESSON 64 
 
 THE RIVALS * 68 
 
 THE NEW CUP 7 
 
 A PHOTOGRAPHIC FAILURE 71 
 
 CHRISTMAS GIFTS 73 
 
 YOUNG AMERICA 74 
 
 A BICYCLE BUILT FOR Two 75 
 
 DOROTHY'S OPINION 77 
 
 ROLY POLY ROY 79 
 
 MY BAROMETER 85 
 
 THE BUTTER BETTY BOUGHT 86 
 
 A MARVEL 87 
 
 AN ALPHABET Zoo 88 
 
 FOUND WANTING 94 
 
 A TRAGIC TALE OF TEA 9 6 
 
 THE ERRATIC RAT 97 
 
 THE Two FRIENDS 99 
 
 THE SMILING "SHARK 102 
 
 THE MERCURY'S PLAINT 103 
 
 THE PIRATE POODLE 105 
 
 AN OLD LOVE - . 107 
 
 BOBBY'S POCKET 109 
 
 THE INSTRUCTIPHONE "2 
 
 THE LAY OF THE LADY LORRAINE 115
 
 BooK
 
 Questioi? 
 
 A KJIILX went a- walking 
 
 One morning in July, 
 And idly fell a-talking 
 
 Witb a great big butterfly. 
 
 The kitten's tone was airy, 
 The butterfly would scoff; 
 
 When there came along a fairy 
 Who whisked his wings right 
 off. 
 
 And then for it is 
 
 Fairies can do such things 
 Upon the startled kitten 
 
 She stuck the yellow wings. 
 
 With 
 
 The kitten felt a 
 
 quiver, 
 She rose into 
 
 the air, 
 
 Then flew down 
 to the river 
 To view her 
 image there. 
 
 fear her heart was 
 
 And she began to cry, 
 Am I a butter-kitten? 
 Or just a kitten-fly?" 
 
 []
 
 5u/o Old 
 
 OH ! the King of Kanoodledum 
 And the King of Kanoodledee, 
 
 They went to sea 
 
 In a jigamaree 
 A full-rigged jigamaree.
 
 And one king couldn't steer, 
 And the other, no more could he ; 
 So they both upset 
 And they both got wet, 
 As wet as wet could be. 
 
 And one king couldn't swim 
 And the other, he couldn't, too; 
 
 So they had to float, 
 
 While their empty boat 
 Danced away o'er the sea so blue. 
 [3]
 
 Then the King of Kanoodledum 
 He turned a trifle pale, 
 
 And so did he 
 
 Of Kanoodledee, 
 But they saw a passing sail ! 
 
 And one king screamed like fun 
 
 And the other king screeched like mad, 
 
 And a boat was lowered 
 
 And took them aboard ; 
 And, my! but those kings were glad! 
 
 [4]
 
 f\ Day Dr^am 
 
 POLLY'S patchwork oh, dear me! 
 Truly is a sight to see. 
 Rumpled, crumpled, soiled, and frayed 
 Will the quilt be ever made? 
 See the stitches yawning wide 
 Can it be that Polly tried f 
 [5]
 
 Some are right and some are wrong, 
 Some too short and some too long, 
 Some too loose and some too tight ; 
 Grimy smudges on the white, 
 And a tiny spot of red, 
 Where poor Polly's finger bled. 
 Strange such pretty, dainty blocks 
 Bits of Polly's summer frocks 
 Should have proved so hard to sew, 
 And the cause of so much woe ! 
 
 One day it was very hot, 
 And the thread got in a knot, 
 Drew the seam up in a heap 
 Polly calmly fell asleep. 
 Then she had a lovely dream ; 
 Straight and even was the seam, 
 Pure and spotless was the white ; 
 All the blocks were finished quite 
 Each joined to another one. 
 Lo, behold! the quilt was done, 
 Lined and quilted, and it seemed 
 To cover Polly as she dreamed ! 
 
 [6] 
 
 it
 
 Our Qub 
 
 WE'RE going to have the mostest fun! 
 
 It's going to be a club; 
 And no one can belong to it 
 
 But Dot and me and Bub. 
 
 We thought we'd have a Reading Club, 
 But couldn't 'cause, you see, 
 
 Not one of us knows how to read 
 Not Dot nor Bub nor me. 
 [7]
 
 And then we said a Sewing Club, 
 But thought we'd better not; 
 
 'Cause none of us knows how to sew 
 Not me nor Bub nor Dot. 
 
 And so it's just a Playing Club, 
 We play till time for tea; 
 
 And, oh, we have the bestest times ! 
 Tust Dot and Bub and me. 
 
 [8]
 
 puzzled 
 
 THERE lived in ancient Scribbktown a wise old writer- 
 
 ~~_ '-. T. 
 
 Whose name was Homer Cicero Demosthenes McCann. 
 
 He'd written treatises and themes tin, " For a change," 
 
 he said, 
 "I think ril write a children's book before I go to 
 
 bed." 
 
 [9]
 
 He pulled down all his musty tomes in Latin and in 
 
 Greek ; 
 
 Consulted cyclopaedias and manuscripts antique, 
 Essays in Anthropology, studies in counterpoise 
 "For these," he said, "are useful lore for little girls 
 
 and boys." 
 
 He scribbled hard, and scribbled fast, he burned the 
 
 midnight oil, 
 And when he reached "The End" he felt rewarded 
 
 for his toil; 
 He said, " This charming Children's Book is greatly to 
 
 my credit." 
 And now he's sorely puzzled that no child has ever 
 
 read it. 
 
 [10]
 
 fti) Igtereepted l/alei)tige 
 
 LITTLE Bo-Peep, will you be mine? 
 
 I want you for my Valentine. 
 
 You are my choice of all the girls, 
 
 With your blushing cheeks and your fluttering curls, 
 
 With your ribbons gay and your kittle neat, 
 
 None other is so fair and sweet.
 
 Little Bo-Peep, let's run away, 
 
 And marry each other on Midsummer Day ; 
 
 And ever to you I'll be fond and true, 
 
 Your faithful Valentine, 
 
 LITTLE BOY BLUE.
 
 U/apt 
 
 NE day wee Willie and his dog 
 
 Sprawled on the nursery floor. 
 He had a florist's catalogue, 
 And turned the pages o'er, 
 
 Till all at once he gave a spring, 
 " Hurrah ! " he cried with joy ; 
 
 " Mamma, here's just the very thing 
 To give your little boy! 
 
 "For when we fellows go to school, 
 We lose our things, you know; 
 
 And hi that little vestibule 
 They do get mixed up so. 
 
 "And as you often say you 
 
 can't 
 Take care of 'em for 
 
 me, 
 
 Why don't you buy 
 a rubber plant, 
 And an um- 
 brella tree?" 
 
 [3]
 
 /T^usieal <arp 
 
 THERE once was a corpulent carp 
 Who wanted to play on a harp, 
 
 But to his chagrin 
 
 So short was his fin 
 That he couldn't reach up to C sharp. 
 
 [14]
 
 5l?e 
 
 ftei? 
 
 'TWAS long ago, a year or so, 
 
 In a barnyard by the sea, 
 That an old hen lived whom 
 
 you may know 
 By the name of 
 
 Fiddle-de-dee. 
 She scratched around in 
 
 the sand all day, 
 For a lively old hen 
 was she. 
 
 And then do you know, it happened this way 
 
 In that barnyard by the sea ; 
 A great wise owl came down one day, 
 
 And hooted at Fiddle-de-dee, 
 
 Just hooted at Fiddle-de-dee. 
 And he cried, "Hi! Hi! old hen, I say! 
 
 You're provincial, it seems to me ! " 
 
 " Why, what do you mean ? " cried the old red hen, 
 
 As mad as hops was she. 
 "Oh, I've been 'round among great men, 
 
 In the world where the great men be. 
 And none of them scratch with their claws like you, 
 
 They write with a quill like me." 
 ['5]
 
 Now very few people could get ahead 
 Of that old hen, Fiddle-de-dee. 
 
 She went and hunted the posy-bed, 
 And returned in triumphant glee. 
 
 And ever since then, that little red hen, 
 
 She writes with a jonquil pen, quil pen, 
 She writes with a jonquil pen. 
 
 [16]
 
 THERE once was a happy Hyena 
 Who played on an old concertina- 
 He dressed very well, 
 And in his lapel 
 He carelessly stuck a verbena. 
 C'll.
 
 f\ (Jreat (ady 
 
 THIS is the Queen of Nonsense Land, 
 
 She wears her bonnet on her hand; 
 
 She carpets her ceilings and frescos her floors, 
 
 She eats on her windows and sleeps on her doors. 
 
 Oh, ho ! Oh, ho ! to think there could be 
 
 A lady so silly-down-dilly as she ! 
 
 She goes for a walk on an ocean wave, 
 She fishes for cats in a coral cave; 
 
 [18]
 
 She drinks from an empty glass of milk, 
 And lines her potato trees with silk. 
 I'm sure that fornever and never was seen 
 So foolish a thing as the Nonsense Queen ! 
 
 She ordered a wig for a blue bottle fly, 
 
 And she wrote a note to a pumpkin pie; 
 
 She makes all the oysters wear emerald rings, 
 
 And does dozens of other nonsensible things. 
 
 Oh ! the scatterbrained, shatterbrained lady so grand, 
 
 Her Royal Skyhighness of Nonsense Land! 
 
 C'9]
 
 Opulept 
 
 ONE Saturday opulent Ollie 
 
 Thought he'd go for a ride on the trolley; 
 
 But his pennies were few, 
 
 He only had two, 
 So he went and made mud-pies with Polly. 
 
 [20]
 
 Stye 5u/o Bears 
 
 PRINCE CURLILOCKS remarked one day 
 
 To Princess Dimplecheek, 
 "I haven't had a real good play 
 
 For more than 'most a week." 
 
 Said Princess Dimplecheek, "My dear, 
 
 Your majesty forgets 
 This morning we played grenadier 
 
 With grandpa's epaulets. 
 
 "And yesterday we sailed to Spain 
 
 We both were pirates bold, 
 And braved the wild and raging main 
 
 To seek for hidden gold." 
 
 "True," said the prince; "I mind me well 
 
 Right hardily we fought, 
 And stormed a massive citadel 
 
 To gain the prize we sought. 
 
 "But if your ladyship agrees, 
 
 Methinks we'll go upstairs 
 And build a waste of arctic seas, 
 
 And we'll be polar bears." 
 [ft]
 
 "Yes, if you'll promise not to bite," 
 
 Fair Dimplecheek replied, 
 Already half-way up the flight, 
 
 His highness by her side. 
 
 " Princess, on that far window-seat, 
 
 Go, sit thee down and wait, 
 While I ask nursie for a sheet, 
 
 Or maybe six or eight." 
 
 A pile of sheets his highness brought. 
 
 " Dear princess, pray take these ; 
 Although our path with danger's fraught, 
 
 We'll reach the polar seas." 
 
 Two furry rugs his lordship bore, 
 
 Two pairs of mittens white ; 
 He threw them on the nursery floor 
 
 And shouted with delight. 
 
 He spread those sheets the funny boy- 
 
 O'er table, floor, and chair. 
 " Princess," said he, " don't you enjoy 
 
 This frosty, bracing air ? 
 
 "These snowy sheets are fields of ice, 
 
 This is an iceberg grim." 
 "Yes, dear, I think it's very nice," 
 
 She said, and smiled at him. 
 [22]
 
 And then they donned the rugs of fur, 
 The mittens, too, they wore; 
 
 And Corlflocks remarked to her, 
 "Now you must roar and roar." 
 
 Dimplecheek looked out from the cowl 
 
 Formed hy her furry rug. 
 Tm "fraid of bears that only growl 
 
 I like the kind that hug." 
 03]
 
 Jl?e l/ery /T)erry Uoya<^ of 
 /T)aearopi 
 
 THIS figure here before you is a Macaroni Man, 
 
 Who is built, as you may notice, on a most ingenious 
 
 plan. 
 His skeleton, I beg to state, is made of hairpins 
 
 three, 
 Which are bent and curved and twisted to a marvellous 
 
 degree. 
 His coat-sleeves and his trouser-legs, his head and eke 
 
 his waist 
 
 Are made of superfine imported macaroni paste. 
 And if you care to listen, you may hear the thrilling 
 
 tale 
 
 Of the merry Macaroni Man's extraordinary sail. 
 One sunny day he started for a voyage in his yacht, 
 His anxious mother called to him, and said, " You'd 
 
 better not! 
 Although the sun is shining bright, I fear that it may 
 
 rain; 
 And don't you think, my darling boy, you'd better take 
 
 the train?" 
 
 04 ]
 
 "Oh, no," said he, "no clouds I see, the sky is blue 
 
 and clear, 
 I wfll return in time for tea good-by, my mother 
 
 dear." 
 
 Full merrily he started off, the day was fine and fair, 
 And to his great delight he found no dampness in the 
 
 air. 
 
 You know if he gets wet, a Macaroni Man is spoiled, 
 And if he stands too near the steam, of course he may 
 
 get boiled. 
 But our hero used precautions, carefully he shunned 
 
 the spray, 
 And when the steam blew toward him, he just steered 
 
 the other way. 
 Now, as the breeze was from the land, his course lay 
 
 out to sea; 
 He sailed so far that he felt sure he would be late for 
 
 tea. 
 
 [$3
 
 He sailed, and sailed, and sailed, and sailed, he 
 
 feared the dew would fall 
 He tried to turn, but oh, that steam! it would not do 
 
 at all! 
 
 A single puff blew toward him, and it nearly cooked 
 
 his face ! 
 
 The mournful Macaroni Man felt sadly out of place. 
 But a happy thought occurred to him, "Ha, ha, ho, 
 
 ho ! " said he, 
 "I'll just sail on around the world, and then, it seems 
 
 to me, 
 
 I'll reach my home (according to a careful estimate) 
 In time for tea, although I'll be perhaps a trifle 
 
 late." 
 
 [26]
 
 Then merrily his gallant ship sped o'er the bounding 
 
 main, 
 Quickly he crossed the ocean wide, he flew by France 
 
 and Spain ; 
 
 Covered the Mediterranean, spanned the Suez Canal, 
 "I'll reach my home to-night," he thought, "oh, yes, 
 
 I'm sure I shall." 
 He skimmed the Red Sea like a bird, the Indian 
 
 Ocean crossed 
 
 (But once, hi Oceanica, he feared that he was lost). 
 
 He passed Australia on the fly, cut over Capri- 
 corn, 
 
 And as the sunset gun he heard, he swung around Cape 
 Horn.
 
 Still at full speed, he sailed due north, he rounded 
 
 Cape St. Roque, 
 Crossed the equator, and found out the Gulf Stream 
 
 was no joke. 
 He coasted by the seaboard States. Hurrah ! all danger 
 
 past, 
 Quickly he sailed the last few miles and reached his 
 
 home at last ; 
 His mother welcomed him, and said, " I'm glad there 
 
 was no shower ; 
 But hurry in, my bonny boy, I've waited tea an hour." 
 
 [28]
 
 <5f?e 4.04 Srair? 
 
 "THERE'S a train at 4.04," said Miss Jenny; 
 "Four tickets I'll take. Have you any?" 
 
 Said the man at the door: 
 
 "Not four for 4.04, 
 For four for 4.04 is too many."
 
 f\ l/aluable (Jift 
 
 OLD Father Time, one day 
 In his study, so they say, 
 
 Was indulging in a surreptitious nap, 
 When from his drowsy dreams 
 He was wakened, as it seems, 
 
 By a timid but persistent little rap. 
 
 He yawned and rubbed his eyes 
 In indolent surprise, 
 
 Then slowly he arose from where he sat ; 
 He opened wide his door, 
 And nearly tumbled o'er 
 
 The figure that stood waiting on the mat. 
 [30]
 
 A tiny litfle dog, 
 
 With excitement all agog, 
 
 And angry eyes that seemed to flash and glower. 
 His manner was polite, 
 But he said, " I claim my right! 
 
 And I've called, sir, to demand of you my hoar. 
 
 "Your what?" the old man said, 
 As he shook his puzzled head; 
 
 And the pertinacious puppy spoke with force: 
 "Well, sir, they often say, 
 'Ever}* dog must have his day/ 
 
 So a puppy ought to have an hour, of course!" 
 
 The old man shook with glee, 
 But he said obligingly, 
 
 "The dog days are all gone, I grieve to say; 
 But since you've 
 
 come so far, 
 And so mannerly 
 
 you are, 
 111 give 
 
 yon just an 
 
 hour to 
 
 getaway.
 
 A VERY grandiloquent Goat 
 Sat down to a gay table d'hote; 
 
 He ate all the corks, 
 
 The knives and the forks, 
 Remarking : " On these things I dote. 
 
 Then, before his repast he began, 
 While pausing the menu to scan, 
 
 He said : " Corn, if you please, 
 
 And tomatoes and pease, 
 I'd like to have served in the can." 
 [32]
 
 \\o\u 
 
 <Sat u/as 
 
 A FABLE told by La Fontaine, 
 
 Two centuries or more ago, 
 Describes some rats who would arraign 
 
 A cat, their direst foe, 
 Who killed so many rats 
 
 And caused the deepest woe, 
 This Catiline of cats. 
 
 The poor rats were at their wits' end 
 Their homes and families to defend; 
 
 And as a last resort 
 
 They took the case to court- 
 
 It seems they called a caucus wise 
 Of rats of every age and size, 
 
 And then their dean, 
 
 With sapient mien, 
 A very Solon of a rat, 
 Said it was best to bell the cat. 
 
 The quaint old tale goes on to tell 
 How this plan woukl have worked quite well, 
 [33]
 
 But, somehow, flaws 
 Appeared, because 
 No one would hang the bell. 
 
 Though there the ancient fable ends, 
 Later report the tale extends, 
 No longer is the truth withheld; 
 Developments appear, 
 And so you have it here. 
 For the first time 
 Set down in rhyme 
 Just how that cat was belled. 
 
 The council, as 'twas getting late, 
 Was just about to separate, 
 When suddenly a rat arose 
 Who said he could a plan propose 
 Which would, he thought, succeed 
 And meet their urgent need. 
 
 Now as this rat was very small, 
 And had no dignity at all, 
 
 Although his plan was well advised, 
 We really need not be surprised 
 That all the rats of riper years 
 Expressed the gravest doubts and fears 
 Till suddenly 
 He said, said he, 
 " If you will leave it all to me, 
 [34]
 
 I will avow 
 Three days from now 
 That you shall all be free." 
 The solemn council then adjourned. 
 Each rat to home and fireside turned; 
 But each shook his wise head 
 And to his neighbor said : 
 " It is a dangerous job, in truth, 
 Though it seems naught to headstrong youth. 1 
 
 Now young Sir Rat we next behold, 
 With manner brave and visage bold, 
 
 Go marching down 
 
 To London town, 
 Where wondrous things are sold. 
 
 We see him stop 
 
 At a large shop, 
 
 And with the bland clerk's courteous aid 
 This was the purchase that he made: 
 A bicycle of finest make, 
 With modern gear and patent brake, 
 Pedometer, pneumatic tire, 
 And spokes that looked like silver wire, 
 
 A lantern bright 
 
 To shine at night, 
 Enamel finish, nickel plate, 
 And all improvements up to date. 
 Said sly Sir Rat: "It suits me well, 
 Especially that sweet-toned bell" 
 [35]
 
 The shades of night were falling fast 
 When Sir Rat turned toward home at last. 
 The neighbors watched him as he passed 
 And said: "What is that queer-shaped thing? 
 
 Surely that can't be made to ring." 
 Sir Rat went on, nor stayed 
 To hear the jests they made; 
 And just outside the old cat's gate 
 He stopped and boldly braved his fate, 
 [36]
 
 For if that cat 
 
 Should smell a rat 
 
 How quickly he'd come out and catch him, 
 And with what gusto he'd despatch him! 
 Sir Rat, against the picket-fence 
 Leaned the machine, then hurried hence, 
 
 And hid himself with glee, 
 
 And waited breathlessly 
 To see what that 
 Cantankerous cat 
 
 Would say, when in the twilight dim 
 He saw that brightly shining rim. 
 
 Sir Rat, though hidden quite, 
 
 And safely out of sight, 
 Had scarcely time to wink his eye, 
 When Mr. Cat came sauntering by. 
 
 "Ha! Ha!" said he, 
 
 "What's this I see, 
 A bicycle! and just my size! 
 Well, this, indeed, is a surprise! 
 
 I'll confiscate 
 
 This treasure great ; 
 How quickly I'll fly o'er the ground 
 When I pursue my hunting round!" 
 
 He mounted it with eager haste, 
 It suited well his sporting taste; 
 [37]
 
 He guided it at will, 
 
 And used the brake with skill, 
 He grasped the handle-bars, and then 
 You see it was his custom when 
 
 He did a thing, to do it well 
 
 Of course he used the clear-toned bell! 
 
 Victory now! the deed is done! 
 No longer at the set of sun 
 [38]
 
 The rats fly shrieking to their nests, 
 They saunter round with merry jests 
 And ne'er a thought of fear, 
 Knowing full well 
 They'll hear the hell 
 When Mr. Cat draws near. 
 
 And young Sir Rat who did the deed, 
 Whose cleverness relieved their need, 
 His wondrous enterprise 
 Was lauded to the skies. 
 And everywhere his name 
 Was hailed with shouts of fame. 
 
 In difficulties, oft we see 
 Modern improvements frequently 
 Will prove a happy remedy. 
 
 [39]
 
 of Sriai^ular Sommy 
 
 ^^ TRIANGULAR TOMMY, one morning in May, 
 ^B Went out for a walk on the public highway. 
 fi|9 Just here I will say, 
 
 ^SL 'Twas a bright sunny day, 
 
 "^r 1 And the sky it was blue, and the grass it 
 
 was green, 
 
 The same sky and grass that you've all of you seen; 
 And the birds in the trees sang their usual song, 
 And Triangular Tommy went trudging along. 
 
 But I can tell you 
 
 He cared naught for the view. 
 He did just what small boys of his age always do: 
 
 He shouted out " Scat ! " 
 
 At a wandering cat, 
 And he picked a big daisy to stick in his hat ; 
 
 The clovers he topped, 
 
 And the toadstools he cropped, 
 And sometimes he scuffled and sometimes he hopped. 
 
 He took an old stick and poked at a worm, 
 And merrily chuckled to see the thing squirm; 
 [40]
 
 When he chanced to look up, 
 
 and in gorgeous array 
 Triangular Tilly was coming his 
 
 way. 
 Triangular Tom straightened up 
 
 in a jiff, 
 And put on his best manner fw^ntd- 
 
 ' ingry stiff; 
 And as far as his angular shape would 
 
 allow 
 Triangular Tom made a beautiful bow. 
 
 Triangular Tffly went smilingly by, 
 
 /With a glance that was friendly, but just a bit 
 shy. 
 And Tom so admired her that after she passed, 
 A backward look over his shoulder he cast. 
 And he said, "Though I think many, girls are 
 but silly, 
 I really admire that Triangular Tilly." 
 
 But soon all such thoughts were put out of his head, 
 For who should come by but Triangular Ted, 
 The very boy Tom had been wishing to see! 
 "Hello!" said Triangular Tommy, said he. 
 "Hello!" said Triangular Ted, and away 
 Those two children scooted to frolic and play. 
 
 And they had, on the green, 
 
 Where 'twas all dry and clean, 
 The best game of leap-frog that ever was seen.
 
 Triangular Tom beat down this way, you know, 
 
 ^ And Triangular Ted stood be- 
 ^^^^^^ k side him, just so, 
 
 ^P^^^^k ^fli When one, two, three 
 
 A& -go! 
 
 BB jl With the greatest 
 
 ^ gusto, 
 
 Ted flew over Tom in a manner not slow. 
 
 They played hide-and-seek, they played marbles and tag, 
 They played they were soldiers, 
 and each waved a flag ; 
 
 Till at last they confessed, 
 They wanted to rest ; 
 So they sat down and chatted 
 with laughter and jest; 
 
 When Schoolmaster Jones they suddenly spied, 
 
 Come clumping along with his pedagogue stride, 
 ML As usual, with manner quite preoccupied ; 
 ^^S With his hat on one side, 
 
 And his shoe-lace untied 
 A surly old fellow, it can't be denied; 
 Jf And each wicked boy 
 
 Thought that he would enjoy 
 An occasion the thoughtful old man to annoy, 
 And all of his wise calculations destroy. 
 So they thought they'd employ 
 A means known to each boy. 
 [42]
 
 And across the wide pavement they fastened a twine 
 Exceedingly strong but exceedingly fine ; 
 And Triangular Tommy laughed out in his glee, 
 i To think how upset the old master would be ! 
 
 i Although very wicked, their mischievous scheme 
 Was a perfect success; and with a loud scream, 
 A horrible clash, 
 A thump and a smash, 
 Old Schoolmaster Jones came down 
 
 with a crash. 
 His hat rolled away, and his spectacles 
 
 broke, 
 And those dreadful boys thought it a howling good 
 
 joke. 
 And they just doubled up in immoderate glee, 
 
 Saying, " Look at the Schoolmaster ! 
 ^^P Tee-hee! tee-hee!" ^^^ 
 
 ^ Tom gave a guffaw, ^R 
 
 ^^fc And Ted roared a "haw- 
 
 *^ haw"; MM 
 
 But soon their diversion was turned into awe, 
 
 For old Schoolmaster Jones was angry, they 
 & saw. 
 
 IS Triangular Ted 
 
 ^^P^ Turned swiftly and fled, 
 
 4^ And far down the street like a reindeer he sped, 
 
 [43]
 
 Leaving Tommy to face the old gentleman's rage, 
 
 Who quickly jumped up, he was brisk 
 ^Sm for his age, 
 
 |9J| And with just indignation portrayed on 
 
 gl his face, 
 
 ^^r^^^^ To Triangular Tommy he quickly gave 
 chase. 
 
 And hearing his squeals 
 And his frantic appeals, 
 Triangular Tommy fast took to his heels. 
 Now Tommy was agile and Tommy was spry; 
 
 He whizzed through the air he just seemed 
 
 to fly; 
 He rushed madly on, until, dreadful to 
 
 say 
 
 He came where the railroad was just in his 
 
 way 
 And alas ! and alack ! 
 He tripped on the track 
 
 And then with a terrible, sudden ker-thwack ! 
 Triangular Tommy sprawled flat on his back 
 And the train came along with a crash, and a crack, 
 A din, and a clatter, a clang, and a clack, 
 A toot, and a boom, and a roar, and a hiss, 
 And chopped him up all into pieces like this 
 If you cut out papers just like them, 
 
 why, then, 
 
 If you try, you can put him together again. 
 [44]
 
 OLD Santa Glaus is up-to-date, 
 
 And hereafter, rumors say, 
 He'll come with his pack of glittering toys, 
 And visit the homes of girls and boys, 
 
 In a new reindeerless sleigh. 
 
 [45]
 
 OH, it was a merry, gladsome day, 
 When the April Fool met the Queen of May; 
 She had roguish eyes and golden hair, 
 And they were a mischief-making pair. 
 They planned the funniest kind of a joke 
 On the poor, long-suffering mortal folk; 
 [46]
 
 And a few mysterious words he said, 
 
 His fool's cap close to her flower-crowned head. 
 
 Then he laughed till he made his cap-bells ring, 
 
 At the thought of the topsy-turvy Spring. 
 
 " 'Tis a fair exchange," he said, with a wink 
 
 "It is!" she said, and what do you think? 
 
 The flowers that should bloom in the month of May 
 
 Every one of them came on an April day! 
 
 And they looked for April showers in vain, 
 
 But all through May it did nothing but rain! 
 
 [47]
 
 A is for Alice a-dressing 
 the Queen. 
 
 is for Borogoves, mimsy 
 and lean. 
 
 is the Cheshire 
 Cat, wearing a 
 grin.
 
 D 
 
 is the Duchess who had 
 a sharp chin. 
 
 \ 7 is the Eaglet who barred 
 
 out long words. 
 
 the Flamingo, the queer- 
 est of birds. 
 
 [49]
 
 is the Gryphon, 
 loquacious and gay. 
 
 H 
 
 44 
 
 Humpty Dumpty 
 9 in gorgeous array 
 
 is for Insects with 
 curious names. 
 
 [50]
 
 j 
 
 44 
 
 is the Jabberwock 
 burbling with flames. 
 
 K 
 
 is the King who was 
 whizzed through the 
 
 ar. 
 
 L 
 
 :is the Lobster who sug- 
 ared his hair.
 
 M, 
 
 the Mock Turtle, 
 whose tears freely 
 flowed. 
 
 Ois for Oysters who 
 / , trotted so quick. 
 
 [50
 
 Pis the Puppy 
 who played 
 9 9 with a stick. 
 
 is the Queen who ran very fast 
 
 46 
 
 R 
 
 is the Rabbit who blew 
 a great blast 
 
 [53]
 
 is the Sheep, on her 
 knitting intent. 
 
 T 
 
 Tweedledum, with his 
 9 noisy lament. 
 
 u 
 
 is the Unicorn, valiant in 
 feud. 
 
 [54]
 
 V 
 
 f is the Violet, sancy 
 and rude. 
 
 w 
 
 the Walrus, 
 9 addicted to 
 chat. 
 
 x. 
 
 Executioner, seek- 
 ing the cat. 
 
 C55]
 
 is the Youth Father Wil- 
 liam surveyed. 
 
 is the Zigzag the mouse's 
 tail made. 
 
 Fury said to 
 a mouse. That 
 
 he met in the 
 house, -Lai 
 
 "^ 
 
 n?'i" 
 
 [56]
 
 5f?e 
 
 r\itteps 
 
 ONCE there were some silly kittens, 
 And they knitted woolly mittens 
 
 To bestow upon the freezing Hottentots. 
 But the Hottentots refused them, 
 Saying that they never used them 
 
 Unless crocheted of red with yellow spots. 
 
 So the silly little kittens 
 
 Took their blue and white striped mittens 
 
 To a Bear who lived within a hollow tree; 
 
 [57]
 
 [58]
 
 The Bear responded sadly, 
 
 "I would wear your mittens gladly, 
 
 But I fear they are too gay for such as me." 
 
 Then the kittens, almost weeping, 
 Came to where a Cow lay sleeping, 
 
 And they woke her with this piteous request, 
 "Won't you wear our mittens furry?" 
 Said the Cow, "My dears, don't worry; 
 
 I wfll put them on as soon as I am dressed.*" 
 
 Then the Cow put on her bonnet 
 With a wreath of roses on it, 
 
 And a beautiful mantilla fringed with white; 
 And she donned the pretty mittens, 
 While the sffly tittle kittens 
 
 Clapped then- paws in admiration at the sight 
 [59]
 
 T 1 ?? 5 tri ^ f 
 
 TWAS the night before the Fourth of July, the people 
 
 slept serene; 
 The fireworks were stored in the old town hall that 
 
 stood on the village green. 
 The steeple clock tolled the midnight hour, and at its 
 
 final stroke, 
 The fire in the queer old-fashioned stove lifted its voice 
 
 and spoke ; 
 "The earth and air have naught to do, the water, too, 
 
 may play, 
 And only fire is made to work on Independence Day. 
 
 "I won't stand such injustice! It's wrong, beyond a 
 
 doubt, 
 
 And I shall take my holiday. Good-by, I'm going out ! " 
 Up spoke a Roman candle then, " The principle is 
 
 right ! 
 Suppose we strike, and all agree we will not work 
 
 to-night ! " 
 " My stars ! " said a small sky-rocket. " What an awful 
 
 time there'll be, 
 When the whole town comes together to-night, the great 
 
 display to see ! " 
 
 [60]
 
 "Let them come," said a saucy pinwheel, "yes, let 
 
 them come if they like, 
 As a delegate I'll announce to them that the fireworks 
 
 are going to strike ! " 
 " My friends," said a small cap-pistol, " this movement 
 
 is all wrong, 
 Gunpowder, noise, and fireworks to Fourth of July 
 
 belong. 
 
 My great ancestral musket made Independence Day, 
 I frown on your whole conspiracy, and you are wrong, 
 
 I say ! " 
 
 And so they talked and they argued, some for and 
 
 some against, 
 And they progressed no further than they were when 
 
 they commenced. 
 Until in a burst of eloquence a queer little piece of 
 
 punk 
 Arose in his place and said, " I think we ought to 
 
 show some spunk. 
 
 And I for one have decided, although I am no shirk, 
 That to-day is a legal holiday and not even fire should 
 
 work. 
 
 "And I am of some importance," here he gave a 
 
 pretentious cough, 
 " For without my assistance none of you could very 
 
 well be put off." 
 "You are right," said the Roman candle, "and I think 
 
 we are all agreed 
 
 [61]
 
 To strike for our rights and our liberty. Hurrah! we 
 
 shall succeed ! " 
 The dissenters cried with one accord, " Our objections 
 
 we withdraw. 
 Hurrah, hurrah for the fireworks' strike ! " and they 
 
 cried again, " Hurrah ! " 
 
 Then a match piped up with a tiny voice, " Your 
 splendid scheme I like. 
 
 I agree with all your principles and so I, too, will 
 strike ! " 
 
 Suiting the action to the word, the silly little dunce 
 
 Clambered down from his matchsafe and excitedly struck 
 at once. 
 
 He lost his head, and he ran around among the fire- 
 works dry, 
 
 And he cried, "Hurrah for the fireworks' strike! Hur- 
 rah for the Fourth of July ! " 
 
 With his waving flame he lit the punk a firecracker 
 
 caught a spark, 
 Then rockets and wheels and bombs went off no 
 
 longer the place was dark! 
 The explosions made a fearful noise, the flames leaped 
 
 high and higher, 
 The village folk awoke and cried, " The town hall is on 
 
 fire ! " 
 So the strike of the fireworks ended in a wonderful 
 
 display 
 
 Of pyrotechnic grandeur on Independence Day! 
 [62]
 
 Jfje 
 
 Armadillo 
 
 THERE once was an arch Armadillo 
 Who built him a but "neath a willow ; 
 He hadn't a bed 
 So he rested his head 
 On a young Porcupine for a pillow. 
 
 [63]
 
 ONCE there was a little boy who wouldn't go to bed, 
 When they hinted at the subject he would only shake 
 
 his head, 
 When they asked him his intentions, he informed them 
 
 pretty straight 
 That he wouldn't go to bed at all, and Nursey needn't wait. 
 
 As their arguments grew stronger, and their attitude 
 
 more strict, 
 I grieve to say that naughty boy just yelled and screamed 
 
 and kicked. 
 And he made up awful faces, and he told them up and 
 
 down 
 That he wouldn't go to bed for all the nurses in the 
 
 town. 
 
 Then Nursey lost her patience, and although it wasn't 
 
 right, 
 Retorted that for all she cared he might sit up all 
 
 night. 
 He approved of this arrangement, and he danced a jig 
 
 for joy, 
 And turned a somersault with glee; he was a naughty 
 
 boy. 
 
 [64]
 
 And so they all went off to bed and left him sitting there, 
 Right in the corner by the fire in Grandpa's big arm- 
 
 chair. 
 He read his books and played his games, he even 
 
 sang a song 
 And thought how lovely it ^=^ =- . 
 
 would be to sit up all 
 
 night long. 
 
 But soon his games grew 
 
 stupid, and his puz- 
 
 zles wouldn't 
 
 work; 
 He drew himself 
 
 up stiffly with 
 
 a sudden lit- 
 
 tle jerk, 
 And he said, " I am 
 
 not sleepy, and I 
 
 love to play alone 
 And I think " the rest was 
 
 mumbled in a drowsy monotone. 
 
 v -^J// /^ x ' 
 ne O' \*~| 
 " 
 
 He leaned back on the cushions like that night he had 
 
 the croup; 
 
 His head began to wobble and his eyes began to droop ; 
 He closed them for a minute, just to see how it would 
 
 seem, 
 And straightway he was sound asleep, and dreamed this 
 
 awful dream! 
 
 [65]
 
 He thought he saw a garden filled with flowers and 
 
 roses gay, 
 A great big gardener with a hoe came walking down 
 
 his way; 
 " Ah, ha ! " exclaimed the gardener, as he clutched him 
 
 by the head, 
 
 
 "Here's a fine specimen I've found; I'll plant him in 
 
 this bed ! " 
 He held the boy in one big hand, unheeding how he 
 
 cried, 
 
 And with the other dug a hole enormous, deep, and wide. 
 [66]
 
 He jammed the little fellow in, and said in gruffest tone, 
 "This is the bed for naughty boys who won't go to 
 their own." 
 
 And then the dirt was shovelled in, it covered up his 
 
 toes, 
 His ankles, knees, and waist and arms, and higher yet 
 
 it rose. 
 
 For still the gardener shovelled on, not noticing his cries; 
 It came up to his chin and mouth it almost reached 
 
 his eyes; 
 
 Just then he gathered all his strength and gave an 
 
 awful scream, 
 
 And woke himself, and put an end to that terrific dream. 
 And he said, as Nursey tucked him up and bade him 
 
 snugly rest, 
 "When I am planted in a bed, I Kke my own the 
 
 best." 
 
 [67]
 
 Rivals 
 
 IP t 
 
 EK ^N^^^L 
 
 I 
 
 Two well-built men, neither giant nor dwarf, 
 Were Monsieur Elims and Mynheer Nworf. 
 They lived in a town not far away, 
 And spent their time in work and play. 
 Now Monsieur Elims was loved by all 
 By rich and poor, by great and small. 
 And Mynheer Nworf remarked one day, 
 "Brother, explain to me, I pray, 
 
 jB=a 
 
 ^^ 
 
 [68]
 
 Why no one likes me as well as you, 
 
 No matter what I may say or do. 
 
 I have stores of knowledge packed in my head; 
 
 I am learned and wise and very well read; 
 
 I can dance, I can sing, I'm extremely polite ; 
 
 I am worth a large fortune all in my own right. 
 
 But still, and this question has caused me much 
 
 thought, 
 
 While I am neglected, you're even-where sought." 
 Monsieur Elims replied : " My dear sir, that is true, 
 But you see, I am I, and you see, you are you. 
 If I receive praises and you receive blame, 
 Tis doubtless because each lives up to his name." 
 
 You'll find his defence rather puzzling, I fear; 
 
 But read their names backward the meaning is clear. 
 
 [69]
 
 fleu; 
 
 "I'VE a lovely new cup from Uncle John," 
 
 Said Dorothy ; " only see 
 It has beautiful golden letters on, 
 
 And they spell ' Remember Me.' '" 
 
 "Oho!" laughed Fred. "Why, Dorothy dear, 
 They put that on mugs and plates : 
 
 /'ve studied jography 'most a year, 
 And I know the names of the States. 
 
 And when you see that anywhere, 
 At least, since this fuss with Spain, 
 
 It's the President who puts it there, 
 
 And it means ' Remember the Maine ' ! " 
 
 [70]
 
 ic; pailure 
 
 MR. HEZEKIAH HINKLE 
 Saw a patient Periwinkle 
 
 With a kodak, sitting idly by a rill 
 Feeling a desire awaken 
 For to have his picture taken, r 
 
 Mr. Hezekiah Hinkle stood stock-stilL 
 
 Mr. Hezekiah Hinkle 
 
 Felt his brow begin to wrinkle, 
 And his pose assume a sad and solemn style; 
 
 But the Periwinkle trusted, 
 
 As the focus he adjusted, 
 That his customer would kindly try to smile. 
 
 Mr. Hezekiah Hinkle 
 
 Felt his eyes begin to twinkle, 
 
 And his mouth took on a broad and open grin ; 
 Said the Periwinkle, sadly, 
 "If you stretch your jaw so madly, 
 
 I fear perhaps that I shall tumble in." 
 
 Mr. Hezekiah Hinkle 
 
 Felt his hair begin to crinkle,
 
 As it rose up on his forehead in affright; 
 
 Though his comrade spoke so mildly, 
 
 Mr. Hinkle wondered wildly, 
 How he could escape this dire and awful plight. 
 
 Mr. Hezekiah Hinkle 
 
 Said, " I fear it's going to sprinkle, 
 And really for a storm I'm not prepared." 
 
 Then without a further warning 
 
 He politely said, " Good morning," 
 And the patient Periwinkle stood and stared.
 
 Christmas (lifts 
 
 TEX Christmas presents standing in a line; 
 Robert took the bicycle, then there were nine. 
 Nine Christmas presents ranged in order straight; 
 Bob took the steam engine, then there were eight. 
 Eight Christmas presents and one came from Devon; 
 Robbie took the jackknife, then there were seven. 
 Seven Christmas presents direct from St. Nick's; 
 Bobby took the candy box, then there were six. 
 Six Christmas presents, one of them alive; 
 Rob took the puppy dog, then there were five. 
 Five Christmas presents yet on the floor; 
 Bobbin took the soldier cap, then there were four. 
 Four Christmas presents underneath the tree; 
 Bobbet took the writing desk, then there were three. 
 Three Christmas presents still in full view; 
 Robin took the checker board, then there were two. 
 Two Christmas presents, promising fun, 
 Bobbles took the picture book, then there was one. 
 One Christmas present and now the list is done; 
 Bobbinet took the sled, and then there were none. 
 And the same happy child received every toy, 
 So many nicknames had one little boy. 
 [73]
 
 You\)<j> f\(r\er\ea 
 
 WEE Willie sat a- 
 
 thinking, 
 And he shook his 
 
 curly head. 
 Around him on the 
 
 nursery floor 
 His treasures lay outspread. 
 
 Firecrackers and torpedoes, 
 
 Trumpet and flag and drum, 
 Rockets and pinwheels and paper caps, 
 
 For Fourth of July had come. 
 
 " But it makes me sort o' sorry," 
 
 Wee Willie said with a sigh, 
 "To think of those poor little English boys 
 
 Without any Fourth of July." 
 [74]
 
 ft Bieyel^ built for 5u/o 
 
 THERE was an ambitious young eel 
 Who determined to ride on a wheel; 
 
 But try as he might, 
 
 He couldn't ride right, 
 In spite of his ardor and zeaL 
 
 If he sat on the saddle to ride 
 His tail only pedalled one side; 
 
 And I'm sure you'll admit 
 
 That an eel cvuldnt sit 
 On a bicycle saddle astride. 
 
 Or if he hung over the top, 
 He could go, but he never could stop; 
 For of course it is clear 
 He had no way to steer, 
 And under the wheel he would flop. 
 
 His neighbor, observing the fun, 
 
 Said, "I think that the thing can be done, 
 
 If you'll listen to me, 
 
 You'll quickly agree 
 That two heads are better than one. 
 [75]
 
 "And this is my project, old chap, 
 Around our two waists I will wrap 
 This beautiful belt 
 Of bottle-green felt 
 And fasten it firm with a strap." 
 
 This done, with a dignified mien 
 The two squirmed up on the machine, 
 And rode gayly away, 
 Or at least, so they say, 
 Who witnessed the wonderful scene. 
 
 [76]
 
 Dorothy's 
 
 MAMMA has bought a calendar, 
 
 And every single page 
 Has pictures on of little girls 
 
 'Most just about my age. 
 
 And when she bought it yesterday, 
 Down at the big bazaar, 
 
 She said, "What lovely little girls, 
 How true to life they are." 
 [77]
 
 But I don't think they're true to life, 
 
 And I'll just tell you why ; 
 They never have a rumpled frock 
 
 Or ribbon bow awry. 
 
 And though they play with cats and dogs, 
 
 And rabbits and white mice, 
 And sail their boats and fly their kites, 
 
 They always look so nice. 
 
 And I am sure no little girl 
 
 That ever / have seen, 
 Could play with dogs or sail a boat 
 
 And keep her frock so clean. 
 
 [78]
 
 Jl?e I^oll of F^oly poly F^oy 
 
 OXCE on a time a lad I knew 
 
 His sister called him Bubby; 
 His cheeks were red, bis eyes were 
 
 blue, 
 
 And he was plump and chubby. 
 Indeed, he was so stout a boy, 
 Some called him Roly Poly Roy; 
 They called him that 
 For he was fat 
 And very plump and chubby. 
 
 He caused his father grief profound, 
 And made his mother worry, 
 
 Because he'd roll along the ground 
 
 When he was in a hurry. 
 For as he couldn't see his toes, 
 He often tumbled on bis nose; 
 [79]
 
 So, on the whole, 
 
 'Twas best to roll 
 
 When he was in a hurry. 
 
 " Get up ! " the people urged, but he 
 Replied, " There's no use talking ; 
 I roll around because, you see, 
 
 It's easier than walking." 
 And though it looked extremely droll 
 To see the lad lie down and roll, 
 It was, forsooth, 
 For that fat youth 
 Far easier than walking. 
 
 One day he thought he'd try to ride; 
 
 Alas, he was so bulky, 
 He tumbled off the other side, 
 
 Which made him rather sulky. 
 [80]
 
 He heard his comrades jeer and scoff, 
 Again he tried and tumbled off, 
 
 And when he fell 
 
 They'd shout and yell 
 Of course it made him sulky. 
 
 Just out of town there was a place 
 
 With rolling ground and hilly, 
 And here Roy started for a race 
 
 With Dick and Tom and Willy. 
 You'll know of course before you're told 
 That Roy just laid him down and rolled; 
 And so, you see, 
 He easily 
 Beat Dick and Tom and Willy. 
 
 That day two giants came along 
 
 From Huncamunca Valley, 
 Seeking some tenpins good and strong 
 
 For their new bowling alley. 
 They reached the hilly sort of place 
 Just as our hero won the race; 
 "Look at him roll!" 
 They said. " He'll bowl 
 On our new bowling alley. 
 
 "The other boys are squarely built; 
 
 For tenpins they'll do finely! 
 No matter if a few get kilt," 
 
 And then they smiled benignly.
 
 [82]
 
 Quickly they kidnapped ten small boys, 
 All howling with a fearful noise ; 
 
 They took them all, 
 
 And Roy for ball, 
 And then they smiled benignly. 
 
 They hurried to their home and then 
 Began their barbarous bowling. 
 
 They set in rows the children ten 
 And then set Roy a-rolling. 
 
 But as the giants were strong and great, 
 They shot poor Roy at such a rate, 
 
 And with such might, 
 
 That out of sight 
 Poor Roy was set a-rolling. 
 
 He rolled and rolled and rolled and rolled, 
 But soon, his fears dispelling, 
 [83]
 
 With happiness he did behold 
 
 He'd safely reached his dwelling. 
 Secure and safe from further harms, 
 His mother caught him in her arms, 
 And said with joy, 
 " My darling boy, 
 You've safely reached your dwelling. 
 
 Now rolling seems to -him to be 
 More dangerous than walking. 
 And Roly Poly Roy you'll see 
 Along the sidewalks stalking. 
 He'll always have a certain fear 
 That giants may be lurking near, 
 And so he'll go 
 With motion slow 
 Along the sidewalk stalking.
 
 (T\y Barometer 
 
 MY little maid with golden hair 
 Comes each morning for a 
 
 kiss; 
 And I know the day will be 
 
 fine and fan- 
 When Polly looks like this. 
 
 Or I know the clouds will frown 
 
 and lower, 
 The skies will be dull and 
 
 And perhaps there'll be a pass- 
 
 ing shower, 
 When Polly looks this way. 
 
 But a violent storm of rain or 
 
 snow 
 
 I can prognosticate, 
 For the sign will never fail, I 
 
 know, 
 When this is Polly's pate. 
 
 [85]
 
 Butter Betty 
 
 BETTY BOTTA bought some butter; 
 
 " But," said she, " this butter's bitter ! 
 
 If I put it in my batter 
 
 It will make my batter bitter. 
 
 But a bit o' better butter 
 
 Will but make my batter better." 
 
 Then she bought a bit o' butter 
 
 Better than the bitter butter, 
 
 Made her bitter batter better. 
 
 So 'twas better Betty Botta 
 
 Bought a bit o' better butter. 
 
 [86]
 
 f\ /T)aruel 
 
 AN old astronomer there was 
 
 Who lived up in a tower, 
 Named Ptolemy Copernicus 
 
 Flammarion McGower. 
 He said : " I can prognosticate 
 
 With estimates correct; 
 And when the skies I contemplate, 
 
 I know what to expect. 
 When dark'ning clouds obscure my sight, 
 
 I think perhaps 'twill rain; 
 And when the stars are shining bright, 
 
 I know 'tis clear again." 
 And then abstractedly he scanned 
 
 The heavens, hour by hour, 
 Old Ptolemy Copernicus 
 
 Flammarion McGower. 
 [87]
 
 Zoo 
 
 A WAS an apt Alligator, 
 Who wanted to be a head- waiter; 
 He said, " I opine 
 In that field I could shine, 
 Because I am such a good skater.' 5 
 
 B was a beggarly Bear, 
 
 Who carefully curled his front hair; 
 
 He said, "I would buy 
 
 A red-spotted tie, 
 But I haven't a penny to spare." 
 
 C was a cool Chimpanzee, 
 Who went to an afternoon tea. 
 
 When they said, "Will you take 
 
 A caraway cake ? " 
 He greedily took twenty-three ! 
 
 D was a diligent Doe, 
 
 In summer she shovelled the snow ; 
 
 In the spring and the fall 
 
 She did nothing at all, 
 And in winter the grass she would mow. 
 [88]
 
 E was an erudite Ermine, 
 Who tried very hard to determine 
 If he sJwuld earn a cent, 
 How it ought to be spent, 
 And decided to purchase a sermon. 
 
 F was a fussy Flamingo, 
 
 Who remarked to his family, " By jingo ! 
 
 I think I would go 
 
 To that animal show, 
 But they all talk such barbarous lingo." 
 
 G was a giddy Gazelle, 
 
 Who never could learn how to spell; 
 But she managed to pass 
 To the head of her class, 
 
 Because she did fractions so welL 
 
 H was a haughty young Hawk, 
 
 Who affected society talk; 
 But when introduced 
 At a large chicken roost 
 
 He excitedly screamed out, "Oh, Lawk!' 
 
 I was an idle Iguana, 
 Who lived upon curried banana; 
 With tears he'd protest 
 That he never could rest 
 Till he learned to sing "Eileen Alanna." 
 [89]
 
 J was a jimp Jaguar, 
 
 Who purchased a Spanish guitar; 
 
 He played popular airs 
 
 At f ties and at fairs, 
 And down at the Fancy Bazaar. 
 
 K was a kind Kangaroo, 
 Whose bonnet was always askew ; 
 So they asked her to wait 
 While they put it on straight 
 And fastened it firmly with glue. 
 
 L was a lachrymose Leopard, 
 
 Who ate up twelve sheep and a shepherd, 
 
 But the real reason why 
 
 He continued to cry 
 Was his food was so lavishly peppered. 
 
 !M was a mischievous Marten, 
 
 Who went to the Free Kindergarten ; 
 
 When they asked him to plat 
 
 A gay-colored mat, 
 He tackled the job like a Spartan. 
 
 N was a naughty Nylghau, 
 Who wandered too near a buzz saw. 
 It cut off his toes, 
 And the shrieks that arose 
 Filled all of the neighbors with awe. 
 [90]
 
 O was an ossified Oyster, 
 Who decided to enter a cloister. 
 
 He could not return, 
 
 So continued to yearn 
 For his home in the sea, which was moisten 
 
 P was a poor old Poll Parrot, 
 
 Who had nothing to eat but a carrot, 
 
 And nothing to wear 
 
 But a wig of red hair, 
 And nowhere to live but a garret. 
 
 Q was a querulous Quab 
 Who at every trifle would sob; 
 
 He said, "I detest 
 
 To wear a plaid vest, 
 And I hate to eat corn from the cob ! " 
 
 R was a rollicking Ram, 
 Attired in an old pillow sham. 
 
 When asked if he'd call 
 
 At the masquerade ball, 
 He said, " I'll go just as I am." 
 
 S was a shy Salamander, 
 Who slept on a sunny veranda. 
 
 She calmly reposed, 
 
 But, alas! while she dozed 
 They caught her and killed her and canned her.
 
 T was a tidy young Tapir, 
 Who went out to bring in the paper ; 
 And when he came back 
 He made no muddy track, 
 For he wiped his feet clean on the scraper. 
 
 TJ was a young Unicorn, 
 
 The bravest that ever was born. 
 
 They bought him a boat 
 
 And they set him afloat, 
 And straightway he sailed for Cape Horn. 
 
 V was a vigorous Vulture, 
 
 Who taught animals physical culture ; 
 
 When a pupil dropped dead, 
 
 The kind teacher said, 
 "You needn't consider sepulture." 
 
 "W was a wild Worm, 
 
 All day he did nothing but squirm. 
 
 They sent him to school, 
 
 But he broke every rule, 
 And left at the end of the term. 
 
 X was a Xiphias brave, 
 
 Who lived on the crest of the wave, 
 To each fish he would say, 
 " Good day, sir, good day ! " 
 
 And then a polite bow he gave. 
 [92]
 
 Y was a young Yellowhammer, 
 Who raised a ridiculous clamor; 
 And he chattered until 
 An owl said, " Keep still ! 
 I'm trying to study my grammar." 
 
 Z was a zealous old Zibet, 
 Toboggans he tried to prohibit. 
 
 If any one tried 
 
 To take a sly slide, 
 He ordered him hanged on a gibbet. 
 
 [93]
 
 poupd 
 
 THERE lived a wondrous sculptor once, a genius in his 
 
 way, 
 Named Phidias Praxiteles Canova 
 
 Merry day. 
 He sat within his studio and said, 
 
 " I really must 
 Begin a Rhodian anaglyptic cero- 
 
 plastic bust. 
 
 " My customers demand them, their 
 fame rings near and far, 
 
 But then, alas, the 
 trouble is, I 
 don't know 
 what they are.
 
 Though I could carve a Venus or a Belvedere with ease, 
 My wondrous skill is lacking when it comes to carving 
 these. 
 
 "I cast and cut and chisel, I model and I mould, 
 I copy poses picturesque from studies new and old; 
 In marble, bronze, and potter's clay, in wax and wood 
 
 and stone 
 I carve the old-time statues with improvements of my 
 
 "I have Apollo on a horse, Minerva on a wheel, 
 I Hercules going fishing with his basket and his creel. 
 A Mercury on roller-skates, Diana 
 
 with a hat, 
 And Venus playing tennis with 
 
 Achilles at the bat 
 
 "Yet these my customers pass by, 
 and ask with interest keen, 
 
 For things with long and 
 tiresome names, I 
 don't know what 
 they mean. 
 
 And so I let my ham- 
 mers hang, and let 
 my chisels rust, 
 
 iFor I cannot 
 do an ana- 
 glyptic cero- 
 plastic bust" 
 
 [95]
 
 f\ 
 
 Jale of Jea 
 
 THE Beetle was blind, and the Bat was blinder, 
 And they went to take tea with the Scissors-grinder. 
 The Scissors-grinder had gone away 
 Across the ocean to spend the day ; 
 But he'd tied . | his bell to the grapevine swing, 
 the Beetle heard it ring, 
 the Beetle nor Bat could see 
 offered them any tea. 
 and patient, they're waiting yet 
 of tea they expect to get. 
 
 The Bat and 
 
 And neither 
 Why no one 
 So, polite 
 For the cup 
 
 '^*+~f> 
 
 [96]
 
 Erratic 
 
 THERE was a ridiculous Rat 
 Who was awfully puffy and fat. 
 "Ill cany," he said, 
 "This plate on my head, 
 Twill answer in place of a hat." 
 
 And then he remarked with a frown, 
 "I suppose that I must have a gown; 
 111 make me a kflt 
 Of this old crazy-quilt, 
 To wear when I'm going to 
 town. 
 
 "And of course, though the weather is warm, 
 It may be there'll come up a storm; 
 
 An umbrella 111 make 
 
 Of a caraway cake, 
 It'll match with my whole
 
 And I'll carry a bottle of ink 
 In case I should wish for a drink 
 And this flat-iron so sweet 
 I'll take with me to eat, 
 And now I am ready, I think." 
 
 [ 9 8]
 
 Ju/o priepd5 
 
 A SPIDER and a Centipede went out to take a walk; 
 The Centipede said frankly, "I will listen while you 
 
 talk, 
 
 But I may appear distracted, or assume a vacant stare, 
 Because to keep my feet in step requires my constant 
 
 care." 
 
 Said the Spider: "I appreciate your most pe- 
 culiar case, 
 
 And your feet must be quite handy when you 
 want to run a race; 
 [99]
 
 But though you gain in some ways, in some 
 
 other ways you lose ; 
 And, of course, my friend, you must be quite 
 
 extravagant in shoes." 
 
 "Ah! yes. Ah! yes," a heavy sigh escaped the Centi- 
 pede; 
 
 " And I have other trials, too ; my life is hard in- 
 deed ! 
 
 Why, sometimes when I'm very tired, a long, long time 
 it takes 
 
 To ascertain with certainty which foot it is that aches. 
 
 " And when I go to dancing-class on Saturdays at three, 
 
 I find the First Position very difficult for me. 
 
 Though I put my best foot foremost, and good time I 
 
 try to keep, 
 To my chagrin, I often find a foot or two asleep. 
 
 Athletics I attempted, but, alas ! I must admit 
 That every exercise I tried I put my foot in it. 
 I think I'll join a foot-ball team, as many 
 
 friends suggest, 
 Before I've one foot in the grave and gout in 
 
 all the rest. 
 
 But now I'll say good-morning; for, my friend, I have 
 
 to stop 
 To get my boots blacked neatly at this little boot-black's 
 
 shop; 
 
 [100]
 
 And, as you may imagine, it will keep me here some 
 time, 
 
 But, what is worse, I'll have to pay him many a hard- 
 earned dime." 
 
 The Spider said good-morning, and pursued his 
 way alone, 
 
 And as he went he murmured, in a thoughtful 
 undertone : 
 
 "I'm a happy little Spider, and I'm very glad 
 indeed, 
 
 That I was born an octoped and not a centi- 
 pede!" 
 
 [101]
 
 THERE was an old Shark with a smile 
 So broad you could see it a mile. 
 He said to his friends, 
 As he sewed up the ends, 
 " It was really too wide for the style."
 
 /T\ereury's 
 
 I DON'T know why I'm slandered so, \ 
 If I go high, if I go tow, 
 There's always some one who wfll 
 
 say, 
 
 "Just see that mercury to-day!" 
 And whether toward the top 
 
 I ciawl 
 Or down toward zero I may 
 
 fall, 
 
 They always fret, and say that I 
 Am far too low or far too high. 
 Although I try with all my might, 
 I never seem to strike it right. 
 Now I admit it seems to me 
 They show great inconsistency. 
 Bat they imply / am to blame ; 
 Of coarse that makes my anger flame, 
 And in a fiery fit of pique 
 I stay at ninety for a week. 
 Or sometimes in a dull despair, 
 I give them just a frigid stare;
 
 And as upon their taunts I think 
 My spirits down to zero sink. 
 Mine is indeed a hopeless case; 
 To strive to please the human race! 
 
 [104]
 
 ONCE there was a Pirate Poodle, 
 And he sailed the briny seas 
 
 From the land of Yankee Doodle 
 Southward to the Caribbees. 
 
 He would boast with tales outlandish, 
 
 Of his valor and renown; 
 And his cutlass he would brandish 
 
 With a fearful pirate frown. 
 [105]
 
 So ferocious was his manner 
 All his crew looked on, aghast; 
 
 And his fearful pirate banner 
 Floated from his pirate mast. 
 
 He reiterated proudly 
 
 Naught had power to make him quail; 
 Yet when thunder roared too loudly 
 
 He. would turn a trifle pale. 
 
 And he turned a little paler 
 
 When there came a sudden squall; 
 
 For this funny little sailor 
 Was ridiculously small. 
 
 And whene'er a storm portended 
 He'd betake himself below. 
 
 So much fear and courage blended 
 Did a pirate ever show ? 
 [106]
 
 Old 
 
 PRISCILLA, Auntie's promised me 
 
 A brand-new Paris doll; 
 And though I km: you, yet you see 
 
 I cannot keep you alL 
 
 Nursey declares I really must 
 
 Throw one of you away; 
 And you're the oldest, so I trust 
 
 Yon wfll not care to stay. 
 
 You've lost an arm, your dress is torn, 
 
 Your wig is all awry; 
 Priscflla, you are so forlorn, 
 
 WeH have to say good-by.
 
 And yet oh, don't! my dolly dear, 
 
 Don't look so sad, I pray ! 
 You precious dolly, come right here, 
 
 You shan't be thrown away ! 
 
 You're ragged, yes, and lame and blind, 
 
 You're really but a wreck ; 
 But, dear Priscilla, never mind, 
 
 / do not care a speck. 
 
 Your eyes do nicely when they're shut, 
 
 And I can mend the rest ; 
 Well p'raps I'll love the new one but 
 
 I'll always love you best. 
 
 [108]
 
 Bobby's 
 
 OUR Bobby is a little boy, of six years old, or so; 
 And every kind of rubbish in his pocket he will stow. 
 
 One day he thought he'd empty it (so he again could 
 
 stock it); 
 And here's an alphabet of what was found in Bobby's 
 
 pocket. 
 
 A. was a rosy Apple, with some bites out, here and 
 
 there; 
 B was a bouncing rubber Ball that bounded in the air. 
 
 C was a crispy crusty Cake with citron on the top; 
 D was a dancing Donkey that could jump around and 
 hop. 
 
 E was a little robin's Egg, all speckled blue and brown ; 
 F was a fluffy Feather that was white and soft as 
 down. 
 
 G was a lively Grasshopper, whose legs and wings 
 
 were green ; 
 H was a grimy Handkerchief that once perhaps was 
 
 clean. 
 
 [109]
 
 I was a plaster Image that had lost its plaster head ; 
 J was a jolly Jumping-Jack all painted blue and red. 
 
 K was a keen and shining Knife, 'twould cut the 
 
 toughest bark; 
 L was a little wooden Lion, strayed out of Noah's Ark. 
 
 M was a Marble, large and round, with colors bright 
 
 and clear; 
 N was a bent and rusty Nail, of little use, I fear. 
 
 O was a tiny Oil-can, which was always upside down ; 
 P was a Penny Bob had saved to spend some day in 
 town. 
 
 Q was a Quilted ear-tab, which had lost its velvet mate ; 
 R was a Ring with a glassy gem of wondrous size and 
 weight. 
 
 S was a String, a piece of Soap, a Stone, a Sponge, a 
 
 Stick ; 
 T was a lump of Taffy, exceeding soft and thick. 
 
 U, an Umbrella-handle, of silver-mounted horn ; 
 
 V was a comic Valentine, a little creased and worn. 
 
 "W was some sticky Wax, lovely to pinch and mould; 
 
 X was an old Xpress receipt, worn out in every fold. 
 
 [no]
 
 Y was a lot of Yellow Yarn, all bunched up like a 
 
 mop; 
 Z was a jagged piece of Zinc, found in a plumber's 
 
 shop. 
 
 All these are Bob's possessions; he loves every single 
 
 thing; 
 And owning all these treasures he's as happy as a 
 
 King!
 
 THERE was a youthful genius once, a boy of thirteen 
 
 years, 
 
 Named Cyrus Franklin Edison Lavoisier De Squeers. 
 To study he was not inclined, for fun he had a bent ; 
 But there was just one article he 
 wanted to invent. 
 
 " It's a sort of a contraption which 
 
 will work itself," he said, 
 " And, without studying, will put 
 
 my lessons in my head." 
 He thought and puzzled o'er his 
 
 plan, he worked with might 
 
 and main 
 To utilize the wondrous schemes 
 
 within his fertile brain : 
 
 Until at last the thing was done, and to his friends 
 
 said he : 
 
 " It is the wonder of the age ! Success I can foresee ! 
 My great invention is complete, and 'tis no idle vaunt 
 I'm sure that my Instructiphone will fill a long-felt want. 
 
 [118]
 
 "The action is quite simple I will try to make it 
 
 clear: 
 
 This funnel-shaped receiver I apply to my left ear; 
 Then in this hopper I will put whate'er I wish to 
 
 learn 
 A page of history or of Greek, and then this crank 
 
 I'll turn. 
 
 "The topic goes into this tube, a sort of phonograph 
 Which acts directly on my mind, it dves, you needn't 
 
 laugh ! 
 I do not have to think at all, for, as I pull this 
 
 chain, 
 My wonderful machine transmits the knowledge to my 
 
 brain." 
 
 The plan was good, the works were fine, and yet there 
 
 was a flaw; 
 When Cyrus turned the crank around, the neighbors 
 
 watched with awe. 
 He confidently pulled the chain with motion quick and 
 
 deft; 
 The knowledge entered his right ear and came out at 
 
 his left 
 
 He tried again, a page of Greek; he tried a theme 
 occult, 
 
 A message and an errand, every time the same re- 
 sult!
 
 Then Cyrus knew that somehow his machine had missed 
 
 its aim ; 
 For though the works ran smoothly it was always just 
 
 the same. 
 
 No matter what the book might be, or what it was 
 
 about, 
 It would go in at one ear, at the other 'twould come 
 
 out! 
 
 So in his laboratory, baffled Cyrus sitting lone, 
 Strives to correct the sad defect in his Instructiphone. 
 
 But it is my opinion, there's no fault in the machine : 
 The trouble is that Cyrus is like other boys I've seen.
 
 l^ay of t^ Cady 
 
 THE Lady Lorraine was sweet and fair; 
 
 The Lady Lorraine was young; 
 She had wonderful eyes and glorious hair, 
 And a voice of a cadence rich and rare; 
 Oh, she was a lady beyond compare 
 By all were her praises sung, 
 Till valley and plain 
 Took up the refrain, 
 And rang with the praise of the Lady Lorraine. 
 
 And besides all charms of form and face, 
 There were other attractions about Her Grace; 
 Besides her delicate, lily-white hands, 
 She had rolling acres and broad, rich lands; 
 Besides her patrician coat of arms, 
 She had far-reaching forests and fertile farms; 
 And of many an ancient and wide domain - 
 The beautiful lady was chatelaine. 
 So of course at her door 
 There were suitors galore; 
 They came by the dozen, and came by the score. 
 
 They came in droves, and they came in hordes, 
 Titled nobility, princes, lords, 
 E"5]
 
 Dukes and marquises, viscounts and peers, 
 Ambassadors, marshals, grandees, grenadiers, 
 Barons and baronets, earls, and esquires, 
 Illustrious sons of illustrious sires : 
 
 But 'twas ever in vain 
 
 They sought to attain 
 The heart and the hand of the Lady Lorraine. 
 
 And day after day 
 
 They turned sadly away; 
 For the Lady Lorraine continued to say, 
 Decidedly, certainly, stubbornly, 
 
 "Nay!" 
 
 She cared not for wreaths of 
 laurel or bay, 
 
 Their titles or rent rolls or uniforms gay, 
 Their medals or ribbons or gaudy display, 
 Their splendid equipment, demeanor, or bearing ; 
 She observed not their manners, nor what they were 
 wearing; - iifi -
 
 Their marvellous exploits for her had no charms: 
 
 Their prowess in tourney, their valor at arms; 
 
 Their wondrous achievements of brawn or of brain, 
 
 All, all were as naught to the Lady Lorraine. 
 
 To each suitor she'd say, with her hand on her heart, 
 
 " Sir, I ask of you only that you will depart" 
 
 In vain they entreated, they begged and they plead, 
 They coaxed and besought, and they sullenly said 
 That she was hard-hearted, unfeeling, and cruel 
 They challenged each other to many a duel; 
 They scowled and they scolded, they sulked and they 
 
 sighed, 
 But they could not win Lady Lorraine for a bride. 
 
 Now the reason for this, as you may have divined, 
 Was because in her maidenly heart was enshrined 
 The image of one who was just to her mind: 
 Who was loving and kind, 
 To whose faults she was blind, 
 The lord of her heart, and the love of her Me, 
 To whom she had promised to be a fond wife. 
 Her Highness was happy, for even now he 
 Was hastening to her across the blue sea. 
 He had written to say he was then on the way, 
 And would greet his fair lady on Christmas day. 
 ** 
 
 Twas Christmas eve. In the old oak hall 
 Preparations were made for the Christmas ball 
 C7]
 
 Gay garlands were hung from ceiling and wall; 
 
 The Yule log was laid, the tables arrayed, 
 
 And the Lady Lorraine and her whole cavalcade, 
 
 From the pompous old 
 steward to the scul- 
 lery-maid, 
 
 Were all in a fluster, 
 Excitement and bluster, 
 And everything shone with 
 a marvellous lustre. 
 
 Such savory viands the larders presented ; 
 Such wondrous confections the bakers invented: 
 Such pasties and cates of eccentric design; 
 Such sparkling decanters of rarest old wine; 
 And ready at hand was the great wassail-bowl, 
 And the jolly old boar's head, with lemon, 
 
 so droll. 
 The nook for musicians was carefully 
 
 planned, 
 And carols and glees would be played by 
 
 the band. 
 
 At last all was ready. The workmen were done ; 
 And awaiting the jollity, mirth, and frivolity, 
 The games and the dancing, the feasting and fun, 
 The old hall was empty, save only for one, 
 The Lady Lorraine, who surveyed it with pride, 
 And said, "It is worthy of Lord Cecil's bride!" 
 [118]
 
 Then a bright smile illumined her happy young face, 
 
 Her roguish eyes twinkled, and gayly Her Grace 
 
 Crossed the old polished floor with a step light and 
 quick, 
 
 And her high slipper, heels went clickety-click. 
 
 She looked cautiously round, she was all by herself ; 
 Like a mischievous elf, 
 She took from a shelf 
 
 A mistletoe spray with its berries 
 like pearls; 
 
 Then tossing her head and shak- 
 ing her curls, 
 
 In a manner half daring and yet 
 half afraid, 
 
 The madcap maid, with a smile 
 that betrayed 
 
 Expectant thoughts of her lover 
 dear, 
 
 Fastened the spray to the chande- 
 lier. 
 
 Them in a merry, fanciful mood, 
 Inspired by the time and the solitude, 
 
 The Lady Lorraine, 
 
 In whimsical vein, 
 
 Said, "On Christmas eve, 'neath this mistletoe bough, 
 I'll solemnly make an immutable vow." 
 With a glance at the portraits that hung on the wall, 
 She said, "I adjure ye to witness, all:
 
 I vow by the names that I've long revered, 
 By my great-great-grandfather's great gray beard, 
 
 By my father's sword, by my uncle's 
 
 hat, 
 
 By my spinster aunt's Angora cat, 
 By my ancient grandame's buckled 
 
 shoes, 
 By my uncle Gregory's marvellous 
 
 brews, 
 
 By Sir Sydney's wig, 
 And his ruff so big, 
 Indeed, by his whole preposterous rig, 
 By the scutcheon and crest, and all the rest 
 Of the signs of my house, I vow this vow : 
 That whoever beneath this mistletoe bough 
 Shall first kiss me, he none but he 
 My partner for life shall henceforth be." 
 
 She had scarcely ceased when she 
 
 heard a sound. 
 
 She looked around, 
 And, startled, found 
 From the old oak chimney place it 
 
 came. 
 
 For there, as if in an old oak frame, 
 A figure quaint, yet familiar too, 
 Met her astonished, bewildered view. 
 Of aspect merry, yet something weird, 
 With kind blue eyes and a long white beard, 
 
 [120]
 
 Fur-trimmed cloak, and a peaked cap, 
 Rosy cheeks, a jolly old chap; 
 And, though surprised, she recognized 
 St. Nicholas, dear to her childhood days, 
 And she met his smfle with a welcome gaze. 
 
 The jolly old man beheld Her Grace, 
 
 With her laughing eyes and her winsome face; 
 
 He couldn't resist her, 
 
 Indeed, who could? 
 
 .And he heartily kissed her 
 
 Where she stood! 
 And exultingry cried, "I heard 
 
 your vow; 
 
 And Lady Lorraine shall be my 
 bride now ! " 
 
 The lady trembled, as in a daze ; 
 With a startled gaze of blank 
 
 amaze, 
 She looked at the figure who 
 
 stood by her side 
 And audaciously claimed her for 
 
 his bride. 
 
 Then she bowed her head 
 
 And the color fled 
 
 From the cheeks that his kiss had flushed rosy red. 
 Her heart was filled with a sad despair 
 As she thought of her lover, Lord Cecil Clare,
 
 And his dire dismay 
 
 When on Christmas day 
 He should ride up gayly in brave array, 
 And find his sweetheart stolen away. 
 
 But the honor and pride of her race were at stake ; 
 
 And for conscience' sake 
 
 She dared not break 
 
 Her solemn vow, though her heart might ache. 
 To be true to her word, her sire had taught her, 
 And she was a loyal, obedient daughter. 
 She appealed to the portraits of squires and dames, 
 Who looked sternly down from their gilded frames ; 
 But they seemed to say, " There must ne'er be broken 
 A promise or vow a Lorraine has spoken." 
 
 With stifled sighs, and with tears in her eyes, 
 Though she tried to assume a cheerful guise, 
 She turned to the suitor who stood apart, 
 Awaiting the gift of her hand and heart; 
 And she said with a gentle, dignified air: 
 "My heart belongs to Lord Cecil Clare; 
 
 But my fatal vow, 
 
 Though I rue it now, 
 I dare net break. So, at your command, 
 I fulfil it ! On you I bestow my hand." 
 
 " O noble lady ! " her suitor cried, 
 "'Twas only a merry test I tried. 
 [122]
 
 Full well I knew 
 
 That your heart was true. 
 
 Behold your lover, my bonny bride! 
 
 I assumed this guise for a Christmas joke.' 
 And as he spoke, 
 He threw off his cloak, 
 
 He flung to the floor his peaked hood, 
 
 And a gallant knight before her stood! 
 
 He doffed his wig and his long white beard ; 
 All signs of St. Nicholas disappeared; 
 And smiling there, in the firelight's glare, 
 Was the gay and noble Lord Cecil Clare! 
 
 The lady marvelled a glad surprise 
 Betokened itself in her lovely eyes; 
 And with her merriment quite restored, 
 She said, "You are welcome home, my lord; 
 
 And I'm thankful, now, 
 
 That I kept my vow."
 
 Lord Cecil raised her hand to his lips, 
 And gallantly kissed her finger tips; 
 
 While the squires and dames 
 
 Looked down from their frames, 
 
 And " Bless you, my children ! " they seemed to say. 
 Then the band appeared, and began to play ; 
 The guests arrived, and without delay 
 The fun commenced, and the old oak hall 
 Never had known such a Christmas ball! 
 
 The feast was spread, 
 
 And the dance was led 
 
 'By the knight and the lady, and every one said, 
 With a shout that rent the midnight air, 
 " Long live Lord Cecil and Lady Clare ! "
 
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 ^v 

 
 Singing Verses for Children 
 
 BY 
 
 LYDIA AVERT COONLEY 
 
 Illustrated and Decorated by Alice Music by Frederic W. Root Eleanor 
 
 Kellogg Tyler Smltb , Jessie L . G . ynor> Ffank 
 
 H. Atkinson, Jr. 
 
 Quarto. Cloth, price $2.00, net 
 
 COMMENTS OF THE PRESS 
 
 The Inter- Ocean, Chicago, calls it "one of the most imaginative and 
 exquisite publications of this or any other season. It is poetrv music and 
 fine art all in one." Of the verses it adds, We know of nothing so good 
 trom any single author, embracing so wide a range of strictly nursery topics." 
 
 The Ata York Tribune also finds it " in every way attractive. The rhvmes 
 deal with themes calculated to appeal to children, and the lines are cle'verlv 
 and gracefully turned." Mrs. Tyler's " pictures and decorations reproduced 
 in dainty colors " are " the finishing touch to a useful and pleasing anthology." 
 
 The Evening Post, Chicago, is enthusiastic over the " exquisite volume " of 
 delightful rhymes," and the beautiful drawings which express in another way 
 the fancies Mrs. Ward has shaped in such dainty verse. The music is the 
 complement of the words and pictures. Catching 'the spirit of both, the com- 
 posers have suited the melody to rhyme and composition, making the whole 
 a work of rare beauty ... an artistic achievement that is sure to enjoy endur- 
 ing fame." 
 
 The Philadelphia Evening Telegraph will review the lxx>k later, but an- 
 nounces it with the words, " It makes a strong bid for holiday favor." 
 
 The Times-Herald gives its paragraph a head-line, " the gem of holiday 
 books," and goes on : 
 
 " The verses are by Mrs. Coonley-Ward, and are specially fitted to their 
 purpose, being simple, wholesome, and joyous." 
 
 " As for the pictures, if only one could be reproduced here in colors, there 
 would be a stampede for the book. They are verses in themselves." 
 
 THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 
 
 66 Fifth Avenue, New York
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 RECD 
 
 OCT 17-90 
 
 SEP 
 
 315
 
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