Part 5

"Excuse me. Now I'll close my eyes, And think a little more. On busy days like this, I show My visitors the door. 'T is only little dogs who judge That one must idle be, Unless one's chasing round and round Or barking up a tree."

THE NORTH WIND DOTH BLOW

"The north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow, And what will the robin do then, poor thing? He'll sit in the barn and keep himself warm, And hide his head under his wing, poor thing."

But never a word of plaint will be heard From robin, no matter how tired and cold; For well will he know that the winter will go, And the blossoms and greenness of spring unfold.

And when the warm sun says winter is done, He'll gladden us all with his cheery song; And never will fret if the season is wet, Or wail that the winter was hard and long.

I HAD A LITTLE HUSBAND

"I had a little husband No bigger than my thumb, I put him in a pint pot, And there I bid him drum I bought a little handkerchief To wipe his little nose, And a pair of little garters To tie his little hose."

I bought a little carriage And took him out to ride, And yet with all my efforts He wasn't satisfied. I never would have married, Now this I do declare,-- If I'd supposed a husband Was such an awful care.

There was a man in our town

"There was a man in our town, And he was wondrous wise He jumped into a bramble bush And scratched out both his eyes. And when he saw his eyes were out, With all his might and main He jumped into another bush And scratched them in again."

This clever man then hastened on And bought a pair of shears, But when he tried to cut with them, He snipped off both his ears. And when he heard his ears were off, ('T was told him o'er and o'er), He seized the shears and snipped them back As they had been before.

"Because," said he, "wise men like me, Who travel round about, And keep their eyes, and use them well, May find some people out. And if they also use their ears, And hark what hearsay brings, They're likewise pretty sure to hear Some very funny things."

SEE SAW, SACARADOWN

"See saw, sacaradown, Which is the way to Boston town? One foot up, the other foot down. That is the way to Boston town."

See saw, steady and slow! Other places there are, I know, But they are not worth the trouble to go, For Boston people have told me so.

Sing a Song o' sixpence

"Sing a song o' sixpence Pocket full of rye; Four-and-twenty blackbirds Baked in a pie. When the pie was opened The birds began to sing Was not this a dainty dish To set before the King?

The King was in his counting-house Counting out his money; The Queen was in the parlor, Eating bread and honey. The maid was in the garden Hanging out the clothes When along came a blackbird And nipped off her nose."

Sing a song o' sixpence A pocket full of rye; I know another blackbird Baked in a pie. The maid it was who baked it With all her might and main, Resolved there'd be one blackbird That shouldn't nip again.

I LOVE LITTLE PUSSY

"I love little pussy, her coat is so warm, And if I don't hurt her, she'll do me no harm. I'll sit by the fire and give her some food, And pussy will love me because I am good."

I never will dress her again, that is sure. Her scratches, you see, are not easy to cure. And I find that it takes much more time than you'd guess, To sew up the rents in my dolly's best dress.

I'd give a good deal, if it wasn't for that, To see how she'd look in my dolly's new hat. But no, I'll not try it, you never can tell; And politeness is best till one's scratches get well.

The Horner Brothers

BY Elizabeth Raymond Woodward

Jack Horner had three brothers, Their names were Horner, too-- One was James, and one was George, And the little one was Hugh. And they always did exactly What they saw Jackie do-- James and George and the littlest one, The one whose name was Hugh.

So when Jack's Christmas pie was made, They made three others, too-- One for James, and one for George, And a little one for Hugh. And _they_ sat up in corners, As they'd seen Jackie do-- James and George and the littlest one, The one whose name was Hugh.

I'm sure 't was _very_ lucky (Does it not seem so to you?) That the room had just four corners For Jack James George and Hugh For if Jackie had a corner, There _must_ be corners, too, For James and George and the littlest one, The one whose name was Hugh.

* * *

A little old man with a shiny bald head Was told by his wife they were all out of bread. He puckered his lips and replied with a frown, "Then bring me some toast that is crusty and brown."

JINGLES

THERE WAS A MAN IN OUR TOWN

There was a man in our town, And all he did each day Was to skip and hop along the streets And on a trumpet play.

A MOST WONDERFUL SIGHT

The most wonderful sight I ever did see Was an owl on the branch of our old oak-tree; His eyes were so large and his head was so small That he seemed all eyes and no head at all.

SAILING

Afloat, afloat, in a golden boat! Hoist the sail to the breeze! Steer by a star to lands afar That sleep in the southern seas, And then come home to our teas!

An Up-to-date Pussy-cat.

Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been? I've been to London in my new machine. Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you there? The auto broke down and was hard to repair. Adeline Knapp.

MISERY IN COMPANY

The rain is falling, The fire is out! Jane has the toothache, John has the gout!

COURT NEWS

BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS

The king and queen went out to-day, A-riding on a load of hay. The king fell off and lost his crown, The queen fell, too, and tore her gown.

[Illustration: Old Mother Goose.]

A MESSAGE TO MOTHER GOOSE.

By Ellen Manly.

Once on a time there lived a child--so it was told to me-- Who never heard of Mother Goose and her fine family. The man who lived up in the moon he saw her with his eyes, And told the shocking story to the Man so Wondrous Wise, Who said the proper thing to do in such a case would be To send the dreadful news at once to good old Mother G.

So off he ran to Old King Cole and told the Fiddlers Three, And Old King Cole said, "Bless my soul! such things must never be!" And, putting up his pipe, dispatched a Fiddler in a trice To find Jack Horner and request the aid of his advice.

Jack Horner cried; "Alack-a-day! and can it really be, There lives a child who never heard about my pie and me? I cannot spread the news myself--I'm busy finding plums. You'd better ask the King of France when next this way he comes!"

The King of France was close at hand, a-marching up the hill, But kindly turned his men about to search for Jack and Jill; And Jack and Jill, with all good-will, they hunted up Bo-Peep, And then they wakened poor Boy Blue, beside the hay asleep.

Bo-Peep she left her wandering sheep; Boy Blue he blew his horn, And sent the Knave of Hearts to tell the Maiden all Forlorn. John Barleycorn, he heard the news, and Tom the Piper's Son; And Tom set out to find John Stout as fast as he could run.

The story shocked Miss Muffet so she dropped her curds and whey And flew to Mother Hubbard's house, but found her gone away To buy her poor old dog a bone, and so she told Jack Sprat As he was lecturing Tommy Green for drowning pussy cat.

Brave Tommy Tucker stopped his song at hearing what she said, And, quite forgetting supper-time, his butter and his bread, To Mary Quite Contrary went, as in the garden row She raked the shells and silver bells that she had coaxed to grow!

Then Mary left her precious flowers and ran with might and main, (The Man in Leather lent his coat in case it chanced to rain), And came to Mother Goose's farm before Bow Bells could ring, Which, Little Polly Flinders said, was quite a lucky thing.

Within her cosy little house beneath the jimcrack-tree The worthy dame was just about to brew a cup of tea. But when she heard the dreadful news she let the teapot fall, And for her Sunday cap and gown impatiently did call.

"Quick! get my steeple hat," quoth she, "my newest high heeled shoes, And bring my gander to the door; there is no time to lose! I must away to Santa Claus before the set of sun, To tell him this alarming tale and see what can be done!"

She wrapped her in her scarlet cloak, she donned her steeple hat; The gander flapped his lovely wings and circled like a bat, And then the noble bird away to Christmas Land did soar, Nor slackened speed till they arrived at Santa Claus's door!

Good Santa Claus was overjoyed his dear old friend to see, And treated her to cake and nuts from off a Christmas tree. Just what was said on either side I can't exactly tell, As nobody was near enough to hear it very well.

But this I've learned: old Santa Claus that very Christmas took That poor, benighted little child a most enchanting book, And now she knows old Mother Goose--her children great and small, And, as good little folks should do, she dearly loves them all!

#SLEEPY-TIME SONGS AND STORIES#

SWEET AND LOW

By Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Sweet and low, sweet and low, Wind of the Western Sea. Low, low, breathe and blow, Wind of the Western Sea! Over the rolling waters go, Come from the dying Moon, and blow, Blow him again to me; While my little one, while my pretty one, sleeps.

Sleep and rest, sleep and rest, Father will come to thee soon; Rest, rest on Mother's breast, Father will come to thee soon; Father will come to his Babe in the Nest, Silver sails all out of the West Under the Silver Moon; Sleep, my little one, sleep my pretty one, sleep.

THE SLEEPY-TIME STORY[C]

BY GERTRUDE SMITH

One night Arabella and Araminta's mamma was sewing, and their papa was reading his newspaper. And there was a fire in the grate--a warm, bright fire in the grate.

And Arabella sat on the rug before the fire, and Araminta sat on the rug before the fire.

And Arabella was playing with her little white kitty, and Araminta was playing with her little black kitty.

And Arabella's little white kitty's name was Annabel, and Araminta's little black kitty's name was Lillabel.

Arabella had a little red ball fastened to a long string, and Araminta had a little blue ball fastened to a long string. Arabella would roll her ball, and her little white kitty would run and jump for it. And Araminta would roll her ball, and her little black kitty would run and jump for it.

The kittens were so cunning and funny, and they were having such a splendid time.

Sometimes when Arabella's kitty would run very fast, or jump very high, Arabella would laugh until she tumbled right over on the floor.

And sometimes when Araminta's kitty would run very fast, or jump very high, Araminta would laugh until she would tumble right over on the floor.

Oh, they were having a splendid time.

But all at once their mamma looked up from her sewing, and said, "Good-night, Arabella. Good-night, Araminta. The clock is on the stroke of eight."

And their papa looked up from his paper, and said, "Yes, good-night, Arabella. Good-night, Araminta. The clock is on the stroke of eight."

And Arabella said, "Oh, must we go to bed right now?"

And Araminta said, "Oh, must we go to bed right now?"

And their papa said, "Yes, indeed; yes, indeed. Good-night, Arabella. Good-night, Araminta. The clock is on the stroke of eight."

Always, when it was bedtime, their papa and mamma would say, "Good-night, Arabella. Good-night, Araminta."

And sometimes they were good, and sometimes they were bad; but they always ran away to bed.

And their dear mamma always went with them and tucked them in and kissed them, and then came away downstairs and left them. And sometimes they were good, and sometimes they were bad; but they always went to sleep.

But to-night their mamma said,

"Run and get your nighties, dears, And get each a flannel gown, And we'll sit and rock you here, Till you go to sleepy-town."

And Arabella ran upstairs and got her nighty and her little flannel gown. And Araminta ran upstairs and got her nighty and her little flannel gown. And their mamma undressed Arabella, and their papa undressed Araminta.

Arabella's little flannel gown was red, and Araminta's little flannel gown was pink. When they had put them on over their nighties they were just as warm as toast.

Arabella's kitty was playing with Araminta's kitty on the rug before the fire. They were rolling and tumbling and chasing each other, and they looked so cunning and sweet.

And Arabella's mamma took Arabella on her lap, and Araminta's papa took Araminta on his lap.

Arabella said, "Oh, I want my kitty in my lap, mamma!"

And Araminta said, "Oh, I want my kitty in my lap, papa!"

So they jumped down and caught the kitties.

Their mamma rocked Arabella, and their papa rocked Araminta; and they sang to them,

"Now a nice little rock, And never mind the clock, Now a nice little rock, And never mind the clock!"

And they sang it over, and over, and over.

"Now a nice little rock, And never mind the clock, Now a nice little rock, And never mind the clock!"

And Arabella cuddled in her mamma's arms, and hugged her little kitty close; and Araminta cuddled in her papa's arms, and hugged her little kitty close.

And their mamma sang, and their papa sang,

"Now she goes to sleepy-town, sleepy-town, sleepy-town; Cuddled in her little gown, here she goes to sleepy-town."

And they sang it over, and over, and over.

"Now she goes to sleepy-town, sleepy-town, sleepy-town; Cuddled in her little gown, here she goes to sleepy-town."

And very soon Arabella could only just hear her mamma singing, and very soon Araminta could only just hear her papa singing, "Sleepy-town, sleepy-town." And soon they couldn't hear them at all. They were sound asleep!

And their mamma looked at their papa, and said, "Our precious little dears are both sound asleep."

And their papa said, "Yes, our little pets have both reached sleepy-town."

And Arabella's mamma carried her upstairs and put her in her little bed, and Araminta's papa carried her upstairs and put her in her little bed. And Arabella was hugging her white kitty up close in her arms and Araminta was hugging her black kitty up close in her arms. And the kitties were both sound asleep, too.

But Arabella's kitty and Araminta's kitty did not sleep with them all night--oh, no indeed! They had a nice little, warm little, soft little bed down in the basement, close to the furnace.

And their papa took the kitties out of their arms, and carried them down to their bed.

And Arabella slept, and slept, and slept, and slept, and slept. And Araminta slept, and slept, and slept, and slept, and slept.

And the little kitties in their soft little bed slept, and slept, too. All through the long, dark, beautiful night they slept.

And the sun came, and the morning came, and it was another day!

[C] From "Arabella and Araminta Stories." Used by permission of publishers, Small, Maynard & Co., Boston.

THE GO-SLEEP STORY[D]

BY EUDORA S. BUMSTEAD

"How can I go to bed," said Penny, the flossy dog, "till I say good-night to Baby Ray? He gives me part of his bread and milk, and pats me with his little, soft hand. It is bedtime now for dogs and babies. I wonder if he is asleep?"

So he trotted along in his silky, white nightgown till he found Baby Ray on the porch in mamma's arms.

And she was telling him the same little story that I am telling you:

The doggie that was given him to keep, keep, keep, Went to see if Baby Ray was asleep, sleep, sleep.

"How can we go to bed," said Snowdrop and Thistledown, the youngest children of Tabby, the cat, "till we have once more looked at Baby Ray? He lets us play with his blocks and ball, and laughs when we climb on the table. It is bedtime now for kitties and dogs and babies. Perhaps we shall find him asleep." And this is what the kitties heard:

One doggie that was given him to keep, keep, keep, Two cunning little kitty-cats, creep, creep, creep, Went to see if Baby Ray was asleep, sleep, sleep.

"How can we go to bed," said the three little Bunnies, "till we have seen Baby Ray?" Then away they went in their white, velvet nightgowns as softly as three flakes of snow. And they, too, when they got as far as the porch, heard Ray's mamma telling the same little story:

One doggie that was given him to keep, keep, keep, Two cunning little kitty-cats, creep, creep, creep, Three pretty little bunnies, with a leap, leap, leap, Went to see if Baby Ray was asleep, sleep, sleep.

"How can we go to bed," said the four white Geese, "till we know that Baby Ray is all right? He loves to watch us sail on the duck-pond, and he brings us corn in his little blue apron. It is bedtime now for geese and rabbits and kitties and dogs and babies, and he really ought to be asleep."

So they waddled away in their white, feather nightgowns, around by the porch, where they saw Baby Ray, and heard mamma tell the "Go-Sleep" story:

One doggie that was given him to keep, keep, keep, Two cunning little kitty-cats, creep, creep, creep, Three pretty little bunnies, with a leap, leap, leap, Four geese from the duck-pond, deep, deep, deep, Went to see if Baby Ray was asleep, sleep, sleep.

"How can we go to bed," said the five white Chicks, "till we have seen Baby Ray once more? He scatters crumbs for us and calls us. Now it is bedtime for chicks and geese and rabbits and kittens and dogs and babies, so little Ray must be asleep."

Then they ran and fluttered in their downy, white nightgowns till they came to the porch, where little Ray was just closing his eyes, while mamma told the "Go-Sleep" story:

One doggie that was given him to keep, keep, keep, Two cunning little kitty-cats, creep, creep, creep, Three pretty little bunnies, with a leap, leap, leap, Four geese from the duck-pond, deep, deep, deep, Five downy little chicks, crying peep, peep, peep, All saw that Baby Ray was asleep, sleep, sleep.

[D] Used by permission of _The Youth's Companion_.

[Illustration: THE LAND OF NOD]

THE GENTLE DARK[E]

BY W. GRAHAME ROBERTSON

So it is over, the long bright Day, And little Maid Twilight, quiet and meek, Comes stealing along in her creep-mouse way Whispering low--for she may not speak-- "The Gentle Dark is coming to play At a game of Hide and Seek."

Some babies are cross when she whispers them this, And some are afraid and begin to cry. I never can think what they find amiss. Afraid of the Dark! I wonder why. The Gentle Dark that falls like a kiss Down from the sleepy sky.

O Gentle Dark, we know you are kind By the lingering touch of your cool soft hand; As over our eyes the veil you bind We shut them tight at word of command, You are only playing at Hoodman-Blind, A game that we understand.

The voice is tender (O little one, hark!), The eyes are kindly under the hood, Blow out the candle, leave not a spark, Trusting your friend as a playmate should. Hold up your arms to the Gentle Dark, The Dark that is kind and good.

[E] From "A Year of Song," by W. Grahame Robertson; used by permission of the publishers, John Lane Company.

THE FERRY FOR SHADOWTOWN

Sway to and fro in the twilight gray; This is the ferry for Shadowtown; It always sails at the end of the day, Just as the darkness closes down.

Rest little head, on my shoulder, so; A sleepy kiss is the only fare, Drifting away from the world, we go, Baby and I in the rocking-chair.

See where the fire-logs glow and spark, Glitter the lights of the shadowland, The raining drops on the window, hark! Are ripples lapping upon its strand.

There, where the mirror is glancing dim, A lake lies shimmering, cool and still. Blossoms are waving above its brim, Those over there on the window-sill.

Rock slow, more slow in the dusky light, Silently lower the anchor down; Dear little passenger, say "Good-night." We've reached the harbor of Shadowtown.

HUSH-A-BYE, BABY

Hush-a-bye, baby, in the tree top: When the wind blows, the cradle will rock; When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, Down will come baby, cradle, and all.

THE KITTEN AND THE FALLING LEAVES

BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

See the kitten on the wall, Sporting with the leaves that fall, Withered leaves--one--two--and three-- From the lofty elder tree! Through the calm and frosty air Of this morning bright and fair, Eddying round and round they sink Softly, slowly: one might think From the motions that are made, Every little leaf conveyed Sylph or fairy hither tending, To this lower world descending, Each invisible and mute, In his wavering parachute. But the kitten, how she starts, Crouches, stretches, paws and darts! First at one and then its fellow, Just as light and just as yellow; There are many now--now one-- Now they stop and there are none: What intenseness of desire In her upward eye of fire! With a tiger-leap, halfway, Now she meets the coming prey; Lets it go as fast and then Has it in her power again. Now she works with three or four, Like an Indian conjuror; Quick as he in feats of art, Far beyond in joy of heart.

LATE

By Josephine Preston Peabody

My father brought Somebody up To show us all asleep. They came as softly up the Stairs As you could creep.

They whispered in the Doorway there, And looked at us awhile. I had my Eyes shut up, but I Could feel him smile.

I shut my Eyes up close, and lay As still as I could keep. Because I knew He wanted us To be asleep.

From "The Book of the Little Past," by Josephine Preston Peabody; used by permission of the publishers, Houghton Mifflin Co.

A BLESSING FOR THE BLESSED

BY LAURENCE ALMA-TADEMA