Chapter I: Prefer a Lazy Bee (1)

Once I saw a little bee
Sitting very quietly
On a baby elder tree.

Coming near to the young bee
I reproached him scornfully,
Saying, "You're not busy, bee."

Instantly the wicked bee
Made himself to busy be
By most cruelly stinging me.

Since that time I never see
Any busy buzzing bee
But I wish he'd lazy be.

WHEN WOMEN VOTE

[_Written for the Evansville, Indiana, Courier._]

When women vote
On high will float
The banner of true worth.
No more Sir Graft
Or Wily Craft
Shall rule good Mother Earth.

Then peace will be
On land and sea,
The goddess we adore.
Not e'en a germ
Or ugly worm
Will dare molest us more.

* * * * *

This jingle may be sung to the air of _Auld Lang Syne_.

AN OLD GARDEN

In my old Savannah garden,
There roses and jasmine grew
And many sweet for-get-me-nots
Of lovely shades of blue.
Japonica's waxen blossoms
Of purest white and pink,
Wistarias with honey cups
From which the bees could drink.
Sweet old-time shrubs whose odors
Filled all the sun-kissed air
And many another beauty
Of "Flora" was found there;
So one would think that garden
A place of pure delight,
But, alas, not so since Tom Cat
Sang ditties there each night.

SPELLING WRONG "RONG"

To-day I got a lickin'
And teacher called me bad,
But I can't see the reason--
I guess it's just her fad.
For when in class she asked me,
"The word wrong will you spell?"
"R-O-N-G," I quickly cried,
And thought that I did well.
"That's wrong!" she cried out fiercely,
"I know it," I replied,
While beaming with a pleasant grin
So very broad and wide.
And then to think she seized me
And called me "sassy boy"
While lashing me with a peach limb
And blasting all my joy.

LET MA VOTE

(_Spoken at U. S. Arsenal Park on July the Fourth, 1912._)

Ma can sew and Ma can bake--
Every sort of thing can make
Out of thread and wool and yarns,
And, besides, 'tis she who darns
All the rents in all our clothes,
And the holes made by our toes--
But our Ma she cannot vote
Any more than Bill, our goat.

Ma it is who keeps us neat
From our head down to our feet;
Watches o'er us night and day
When we work or when we play;
Nurses us when we are ill,
Saving Pa a doctor's bill--
But our Ma has naught to say
Who will rule this U. S. A.

Ma helps Pa, too, with his work.
For the good soul ne'er will shirk
From whatever's to be done--
Our brave Ma will never run.
But will always do her best,
And she rarely takes a rest,
Like our Pa, with pipe alight,
When he comes from work at night.

Ma has taught us kids to read--
In all things our Ma we need.
The good "Queen of Home" is Ma,
Though U. S. thinks more of Pa,
Since he gives him power to rule
O'er affairs of state and school;
While concerning laws Ma may
Ne'er a word have right to say.

All you boys must truly love
Your good mother far above
Anyone upon this earth,
For 'twas she who gave you birth;
And you noble, youthful knights,
Should not wish for any rights
That your mother does not share--
Which is only right and fair.

Won't you work for more just laws,
With an equal franchise clause,
So ere one more Fourth has passed
Ma will win her rights at last,
And may help to rule this land,
Which for equal rights will stand?
Rah! Rah! Rah! Three cheers for Ma
When she'll vote next year with Pa!

A SONG OF HOME

There's but one place on this great earth
Where I can happy be,
And that is in my own dear home
Perched on my mother's knee,
For there I find all that I seek
Of comfort, love and joy,
May no dread sorrow come to me
And my dear home destroy!

THEN AND NOW

[_Published in a suffrage booklet, "A Plea to Gallant Knights."_]

THEN--

In ancient days, so I've been told,
Knights were gallant, kind and bold,
But ladies e'en though fair and sweet,
Made the knights kneel at their feet.

NOW--

The modern ladies quite compare
In beauty with these dames so fair,
But they no longer wish to see
Bold knights so humbly bending knee,
They ask only to keep beside
The modern knight in his bold stride.

THE FIVE BEST FAIRIES

The joyous CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
Is flying through the air,
He's in our homes and in our hearts,
About us everywhere.
We see him in the night time
When we have gone to bed,
Sitting on our pillow,
Or floating round our head.
We hear him in the morning
As soon as we arise,
"Don't forget the aged
And little ones," he cries.
"If you are well and happy
Still happier you'll be,
If you will open wide your heart
And say 'COME IN' to me.
I'll tell you of your neighbors
Who are both ill and sad,
But who by deeds of kindness
You may make very glad.
And for your Christmas presents
Oh, how I hope and pray
That Earth's five best good fairies
To you will come and stay."

"The first is GOOD HEALTH FAIRY,
Whose aid all mortals seek,
For he is life's elixir
And gives strength to the weak.
Without this gracious fairy
No one can ever know
A single hour of perfect peace
Away from GOBLIN WOE.
So treasure this good fairy
And keep him safe with you,
For he will be a faithful friend
And one that's ever true.

"I'll ask GOOD COMFORT FAIRY
To all your wants give heed,
So you may never suffer
From dreaded SPECTER NEED.

"A third most precious fairy
I know will stay with you
If you have HEALTH to make you smile
And MEANS so you may do
The little deeds of kindness
And little acts of love
Which bring true gladness to this earth
From radiant realms above.

"With health and comfort and true love,
No fairies, it would seem,
Would be quite necessary
To make this life a dream,
But as most every mortal
Has hopes of great success,
Reaching high for certain goals
Toward which they go in quest.
I pray SUCCESS, the fairy,
Will help to win your part
In everything you undertake,
In finance, science, art.

"Now, with good health and comfort
And love and great success,
There always travels side by side
THE FAIRY HAPPINESS.
Oh, may these five good fairies
Forever dwell with thee,
And then you'll be as happy
As any one can be."

AN EQUAL FRANCHISE VALENTINE

[_Published on valentine cards by the Norfolk, Virginia, Equal Franchise Association._]

Oh, noble knight, you oft have said
That when a maiden you would wed,
In everything you both should share
And make a truly happy pair.

Now, as you vow your love is mine.
And that I am your Valentine,
Oh, prove these loving words of thine,
And make the right of franchise mine!

BEWARE OF STINGS

Once I heard a Christian Science lady who was very wise,
Say that love is all about us in all things of every size,
And if we each day would utter "God is love" to everything
Not a thing on earth would hurt us with its claws, or horns, or sting.
So believing what she told me, when a hornet I did meet,
Graciously I smiled upon him and with words of love did greet
This most wicked of all insects who refused good friends to be
But rewarded my advances by most cruelly stinging me.

So, my little friends, take warning and of love though you may sing
I am sure you'll never find it in an insect with a sting.

'NEATH NIAGARA FALLS

[_These lines came to me as I stood in the underground tunnel beneath the Horse Shoe Falls and watched the mighty volumes of water pouring down upon the rocks beneath._]

While standing 'neath Niagara Falls
A voice to me from Heaven calls
And asks me in deep, thundering tone,
Mortal, can you stand alone?
Do you believe there is no God
Who made these waters at His nod?
Are works like these but tricks of earth?
Did nature only give them birth?
Or was there an immortal hand
Brought them to life by His command?

The roaring waters seem to say--
"To God, our Maker, homage pay."

GRAMMAR IN A NUTSHELL

The ARTICLES are, oh, so wee,
These little words are A, AN, THE.
The nouns are names of anything
As BOOK or PLAYGROUND, BALL or RING.
PRONOUNS are used for NOUNS instead--
MY face, HER hand, YOUR feet, HIS head.
All adjectives just tell the kind
Of everything that we may find,
As GOOD and BAD, and SOFT and SWEET,
RUDE and NAUGHTY, WISE and NEAT.
While of manner ADVERBS tell
As SWEETLY, NEATLY, ILL or WELL.
The PREPOSITIONS help each day
IN our work and AT our play.
When relationship is shown
They must do the work alone.
Good CONJUNCTIONS join together
Man AND woman; plume OR feather.
INTERJECTIONS will exclaim--
"OH, ALAS! AH, what a shame!"
But we cannot get along
In conversation or in song
Without the VERB, the subject's fate,
Expressing action, being, state.

HOW SIMPLE SIMON BECAME WISE

Simple Simon met young Heiman reading from a book.
Said Simple Simon to young Heiman, "Let me have a look?"
Said young Heiman to Simple Simon, "I will not selfish be,
My great delight, ST. NICHOLAS, I'll gladly let you see."

Then Simple Simon and young Heiman spent an hour or two
Reading from this wondrous book, so full of all that's true,
And when they'd finished, Simon lad of Mother Goose's fame,
By virtue of his knowledge great, WISE SIMON, he became.

THE B. O. K. FAIRY

BRINGER OF JOY

In far away Persia of long, long ago
Lived GOOD FAIRY BOK, BAD TROUBLE'S great foe.
Wherever he went there was sunshine and joy
For all of the grown-ups and each girl and boy.

He knew that the secrets of happiness lay
In knowing just how one should work and should play;
And he taught big and little how they could well use
Their minds and their bodies with no time to lose.

Then "TROUBLE" at last drove GOOD BOK from the earth
But wise men revived this great giver of mirth
In THE BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE which points out the way
To lead useful lives and be happy all day,

Since this wholesome fairy is the dreaded foe
Of IDLENESS, first cause of all earthly woe;
So one never finds a bad girl or boy
In homes where BOK FAIRY radiates joy.

And in every home where BOK has a shelf[B]
He brings as his helper N. E., goodly elf,[C]
Who knows how to open all good parents' eyes
And help them make kiddies glad, wealthy and wise.

[Footnote B: _The Book of Knowledge._]

[Footnote C: _Natural Education._]

PAPA'S SAINTED LEG

"My papa has one wicked leg,
Which troubles him with aches.
He has also a second leg,
He calls "a wooden fake,"
And still another sainted leg
Which he most gladly gave
When fighting in the cruel war
His country's flag to save.

AN APPEAL TO THE FAIRIES

[_This poem was written in the hope of saving a beautiful forest near my home in Evansville, Indiana._]

Good Fairies, save the lovely trees, which live on Coal Mine Hill!
Their home has been your home so long, your hearts with grief would fill
Should stout men armed with axes come and fell them to the earth,
These monarchs of the forest, these jewels of great worth.
The giant oaks and stately elms, the rulers of this wood
Have watched the growth of Evansville and helped it as they could.
They gave their shade and soft bright leaves to make a downy nest
To shelter the first baby boy that Evansville possessed.
Before this city had a church in which both bad and good
Could ask forgiveness of the Lord, they worshipped in this wood;
And those who love the beautiful and lovely scenes to see
They climb upon this grassy hill and stand beneath some tree,
While gazing far as eye can reach to fair Kentucky's lands,
Or looking at the river shore on which our city stands.
Above their heads the bright blue sky, green grass beneath their feet,
And all around a lovely scene such as we seldom meet;
Green pastures with cows grazing, broad river flowing by,
And many tall church spires lifted toward the sky,
No fitter place for children nor grown-up folks could be
Than on this lovely Coal Mine Hill where NATURE we can see.
'Tis here the little orphans and poor children all around
Find the greatest pleasures which in this woods abound.
So dearest, kindest FAIRIES, please rescue these grand trees,
And save them for the children, we ask you on our knees.

IN INDIA

[_To the air of "We Won't Go Home Till Morning."_]

To India we now will go
To India we now will go
To India we now will go
To see a monkey show.
To see a monkey show.
To see a monkey show.

We cannot travel there by rail,
We cannot travel there by rail,
We cannot travel there by rail.
And so we'll have to sail.

And there Mount Everest we'll see
And there Mount Everest we'll see
And there Mount Everest we'll see
And lowly bend the knee.

In India the sun's so hot
In India the sun's so hot
In India the sun's so hot
We may melt on the spot.

And when it rains great torrents fall
And when it rains great torrents fall
And when it rains great torrents fall
To soak the great and small.

In India we'll have a fright
In India we'll have a fright
In India we'll have a fright
If cobras try to bite.

Or maybe a cruel tiger beast
Or maybe a cruel tiger beast
Or maybe a cruel tiger beast
Upon our bones will feast.

Or even worse a crocodile
Or even worse a crocodile
Or even worse a crocodile
May come too close and smile.

If we escape his awful jaws
If we escape his awful jaws
If we escape his awful jaws
We may feel the leopard's claws.

But I am glad as I can be
But I am glad as I can be
But I am glad as I can be
No juggernaut we'll see.

And no harm will come our way
And no harm will come our way
And no harm will come our way
If fairies with us stay.

Agra, Calcutta, old Delhi,
Agra, Calcutta, old Delhi,
Agra, Calcutta, old Delhi,
And Bombay we will see.

But I'm so sad we won't behold
But I'm so sad we won't behold
But I'm so sad we won't behold
The peacock throne of gold.

Still we may see the Taj Mahal
Still we may see the Taj Mahal
Still we may see the Taj Mahal
Called beautiful by all.

Indigo, cotton, tobacco and tea
Indigo, cotton, tobacco and tea
Indigo, cotton, tobacco and tea
In India we will see.

Well find in Burma rubies red
Well find in Burma rubies red
Well find in Burma rubies red
And copper, tin and lead.

Mahogany and teakwood too,
Mahogany and teakwood too,
Mahogany and teakwood too,
And plenty of bamboo,

With ebony and sandalwood
With ebony and sandalwood
With ebony and sandalwood
And other trees as good.

And here we find the humped zebu
And here we find the humped zebu
And here we find the humped zebu
Which makes a funny moo.

And in this pearl of the far East
And in this pearl of the far East
And in this pearl of the far East
On mangoes we will feast.

And lots of sugar we will eat,
And lots of sugar we will eat,
And lots of sugar we will eat,
Our rice we'll make so sweet.

And lovely silken robes we'll wear
And lovely silken robes we'll wear
And lovely silken robes we'll wear
With turbans round our hair.

But in the Ganges we'll not wash
But in the Ganges we'll not wash
But in the Ganges we'll not wash
For that is silly bosh.

Instead we'll take an elephant ride
Instead we'll take an elephant ride
Instead we'll take an elephant ride
Upon his trunk astride.

THE BEST MONTH OF ALL

Of flowery spring
The poets sing,
Or else of bright September,
But girls and boys
Who love nice toys
Will always praise December;
For that's the time
In every clime
Us Santa doth remember.

A PLEA TO KNIGHTS AND LADIES FAIR

TO LADIES FAIR:

Would you be classed with lunatics,
Or, even worse, with fierce convicts?
Then work for equal franchise laws.

TO GALLANT KNIGHTS:

Do you wish rights, oh, my good brothers,
Denied your sisters, wives and mothers?
Then give them equal franchise laws.

SAYING HIS SPEECH

One day last week good Mrs. Jones
Sat making a new gown
When home from school her young son came
And strode first up, then down.
He waved his arms and muttered much
And frightened the pet cat
And every time he neared the fire
Right into it he spat.
"Why, Jimmie," said his frightened ma,
"Oh, what makes you act so?
And if you do not soon behave
Right straight to bed you'll go!"
"Ah, mother," said the wise young lad,
"I'm neither bad nor bold.
I'm just rehearsing a short speech
So don't begin to scold.
To-day at school the teacher gave
These lines to every one
And bade us all learn them to-night
Or else the stick would come."
"Well, Jimmie, dear," his mother said,
Recite these lines to me.
And why do you when by the fire
Spit out so furiously?"
"The reason, Ma," said Jimmie Jones,
"You very soon shall see.
When I recite these lines to you
You'll know that act must be.
'The embers glow, the fire burns
The kid turns on the spit!'
And now you see, my mother dear,
That gesture well does fit."

A PLEA TO EDITORS

Mary Jane's so lachrymosy
She won't laugh and she won't sing
Since the cruel newspaper people
Would not print her poem SPRING.

Won't you be more tender-hearted
To the rhymesters who must sing,
E'en though they fill your waste baskets
Full of poems on sweet spring?

TASMANIA

[_To the air of "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush."_]

To Tasmania, we will go, we will go, we will go,
And there we will not see much snow, see much snow, see much snow.

To Tasmania we will sail, we will sail, we will sail
And catch a kangaroo's big tail, his big tail, his big tail.

To Tasmania we will fly, we will fly, we will fly
And see the wheat which grows this high, grows this high, grows
this high.

In Tasmania we have heard, we have heard, we have heard
Lives the funny penguin bird, penguin bird, penguin bird.

In Tasmania we will spy, we will spy, we will spy
An emu bird which cannot fly, cannot fly, cannot fly.

In Tasmania we will see, we will see, we will see
Many a eucalyptus tree, 'lyptus tree, 'lyptus tree.

In Tasmania we are told, we are told, we are told
There are heaps and heaps of gold, heaps of gold, heaps of gold.

In Tasmania we will keep, we will keep, we will keep
A big flock of lovely sheep, lovely sheep, lovely sheep.

ESPERANTO GRAMMAR

All the nouns must end in O,
Akvo (water), Banto (bow),
While adjectives all end in A,
Bona patro (good papa),
And adverbs end in letter E,
Rapide in a rapid way.
Soon I'll teach the vowels to you,
Saying, "Pa, may we go too?"
And the diphthongs au, aj, oj
We pronounce as "Thou, my boy."
Best of all the charming verbs,
They can never wreck our nerves
With exceptions cruel, unkind,
For the same you'll always find
Blessed AS, IS, OS, US, U,
Endings that are ever true.

THE ARMADILLO

If I would fight on land and sea,
And all my armor take with me,
An ARMADILLO I would be.

Then I could wear as my best clothes
To cover me from tail to nose,
Strong armor to ward off my foes.

And dig, ah, my, but I could dig!
Much swifter than a rooting pig,
With my sharp claws so strong and big.

And eat, ah, yes, but I would eat
All things bitter and all things sweet,
For feasting would be my best feat!

FIVE GOOD GIANTS

ARITHMETIC GIANT, most wise, never slumbers;
His is the science which teaches of numbers.
His cousin GEOGRAPHY treats of Ma Earth
And all of her children to whom she gave birth.
His aunt PHYSIOLOGY brings to us wealth,
Describing our bodies and how to have health.
His grandma called GRAMMAR tells how to use
Good language at all times in spreading the news.
Great LITERATURE teaches of many a work
Written by authors who never would shirk
From learning a little just day after day
By listening to what the wise giants would say
Who led them to drink from the great Knowledge Fount
And thus to FAME'S LADDER helped them to mount.

A BOOK MARK

So very happy I shall be,
If you'll permit poor humble me
To keep your place by my poor art
Within your bookfriend's gracious heart.

UNCLE SAM'S PITTSBURGH ARSENAL

[_Spoken at the Centenary Celebration, April 17th._]

These hoary walls if they could speak
What wondrous tales they'd tell!
Of many strange encounters
That long ago befell
Good Pittsburgh folks who laid these stones
One hundred years ago
When Uncle Sam looked at John Bull
As his most hated foe.
The builders in those good old days,
Who fashioned this old wall
Knew naught of graft or cheap cement:
They built things not to fall.
And so we see the magazines
And walls are just as good
As when in days of Lafayette
These sturdy bulwarks stood
And frowned on him as he passed by
As if they wished to say,
"Your day will pass but we will stand
Till centuries roll away."
They heard the dread explosion
That shook their very ground
But firm they stood as bulwarks
When stones fell all around.
Again when dreadful RIOT
Brought bloodshed in its path
These walls though dyed with crimson
Looked coldly on man's wrath.
Not even blood of soldiers
Could make them shed a tear
And that is why these sturdy walls
Have reached their hundredth year.

The moral of this little tale
Is that we should not weep and wail
But ever put away all fears
So we may live a hundred years.

DUX FEMINA VIA

My wise Professor Kurniker
Has not quite wisely said
That masculines in German
Will ever rank ahead.

But how about good Mother Earth,
The sun, air and the sea,
Without which not a single soul
Could in existence be?

Depending on the masculines
We could not even speak
For we would have no lips, lung, tongue
Or voices strong or weak.

What sights we'd be without our skin
And none of us could write
Sans pen and hand and without fists
We could not even fight.

What freaks we'd be without our cheeks,
Our shoulders, chest and nose
And how could we walk all about
Unless we had our toes?

We'd have no milk to keep us well,
No butter for our bread.
On most of the delicious fruits
We could not then be fed.

But few sweet flowers we would have
To cheer the sick and sad;
No lovely pearls of greatest price
To make the ladies glad.

We would not have a church or bank
Post-office or good school;
No linen, silk or wool to wear
When Jack Frost makes us cool.

We could not patriotic be
With no flag for our own
And without a good naval fleet
We could not stand alone.

Without a purse or library,
Without a cup for tea,
Sans the ETERNAL FEMININE
What would this poor world be?

Without the seasons and the week,
Without the night and stars,
We'd better leave this mundane sphere
And fly right up to Mars.

A BIRTHDAY WISH

"Long years, full seven score and ten,"
The gods have said, "we give to men!"
Though since Methuselah was here
No one has reached this age, I fear.

On this, your birthday, I invoke
The wondrous little fairy folk
And ask them that they give to you
A chance to live man's whole life through.
One hundred fifty years or more
Be kept for you in Long-Life-Shop.

THE MILLER ON THE DEE

Sur la DE-O rivereto,
Pitoreska en dometo,
Loĝis bona muelisto
Kiu estas fabrikisto
De feliĉa vera ĝojo
En la grandanima koro.

Ĉiutage li kantadis,
Ke por ĉiam li rabados
Bedaŭregojn de kun-homoj
Kaj metos ĝojon en la domoj.

BAA! BAA! BLACK SHEEP

Bleku, bleku, nigra ŝafo!
Ĉu lanon havas vi?
Jes Sinjoro, jes Sinjor', mi havas sakojn tri.
Por la bona mastro kaj la mastrineto
Ankaŭ por la knab' kiu loĝas en vojeto.

THE OLD WOMAN, MOTHER GOOSE

La maljuna virino,
Patrino Anserino,
Loĝis en domego
En granda arbarego.
Tie je pordego
Estas la strigego,
Gardostarantino
De la Anserino.

La maljuna virino,
Patrino Anserino,
Ofte tre deziris
Vojaĝi, kaj ekiris
For de la domego;
Sur bona anserego
Rajdis ŝi trans la ĉielojn
Vidis ĉiujn brilajn stelojn.

SIX LITTLE MICE SAT DOWN TO SPIN

Por ŝpini sidis ses musetoj
Sur siaj belaj ses seĝetoj;
Malbona venis katinego
Terure ruĝa ĉe buŝego:
Diris ŝi, "Permesu min
Ke mi nun' vizitu vin!"
Musetoj kriis--"Savu nin!
Ho, ni ne deziras vin!"

THREE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM

En Gotham' estas tri saĝuloj,
Kiuj estis ja kunuloj;
Unufoje en pelvego
Iris ili sur marego.

Jen fino de la tri kunuloj,
Kiuj estis saĝeguloj.

BO-PEEP

Dolĉa Bo-Peepo estis knabineto
Kiu kun lerta kaj sprita hundeto
Ĉiam gardadis pri belaj ŝafetoj,
Kiujn ŝi nomis siaj amatoj.
Sed unufoje perdinte la vojon
Ili ekrompis de Bo-Peep' la koron.

THE LITTLE MAN WITH THE LITTLE GUN

Foje estis juna homo,
Kiu logis en la domo;
Kiu havis pafileton
Kaj rondan plumban kugleton.

Li ekiris rivereton,
Tie vidis anaseton;
Ĝin li pafis je l' kapeto,
Donis ĝin al Joaneto,
Ordonante, "Rostu vi
L' anaseton nun por mi."

PRETTY MAID, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

"Ho bela knabino, mi multe deziras
Lerni de vi kien vi iras."

"Por melki" respondis la juna fraŭlino,
La bela kaj dolĉa kaj lerta knabino.

La Sinjoro diris--"Ho, donos al mi
Tre grandan plezuron iri kun vi!"

Tiam ŝi diris, "Ho jes, se vi volas,
Permeson al vi kuniri mi donas."

"Ĉu grandan riĉaĵon posedas do vi?"
De tiu knabino demandis nun li.

"Jen estas la sola riĉaĵo la mia,
Nur la vizaĝo," respond' estis sia.

"Do nepre mi ne edziĝos kun vi."
La mono-serĉisto diris al ŝi.

"Ho ne, certe ne," respondis ŝi,
"Ĉar tion neniam mi petis de vi."

A FROG WHO WOULD A-WOOING GO

Unufoje estis rano,
Kiu estis la infano
De tre bona Patrineto
Kiu loĝis en marĉeto.

Patrineto al li diris--;
"Ranideto, mi deziras,
Ke ne estu vi amanto
De Fraŭlino Musobanto.
Ŝi ne havas bonon sangon
Ĉar ŝi manĝas buterpanon,
Kaj ne ŝatas bonajn vermojn,
Muŝojn, cimojn kaj la herbojn.

"Kaj se vi kun ŝi edziĝos
Tre malĝoja vi fariĝos."

GOOSEY, GOOSEY GANDER

Anserino, anserego,
Unufoje en ĉambrego
Estis viro, kaj al li
"Preĝu, preĝu" diris mi.
Sed li ne obeis min
Kaj mi tuj elĵetis lin.

LITTLE MISS MUFFET

Fraŭlineto Muffet sidis
Sur herbaĵo, kaj ekridis,
Dum ŝi manĝis el pelveto
Multe da la kazeaĵo
Kun selakto kaj fruktaĵo.

Sed ŝi sentis teruregon
Ekvidinte aranegon
Kaj rapide kuris ŝi
Tiam for de tie ĉi.

KITTY, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

Katino, katino, kien vi iris?
Sciigon pri tio mi certe deziras.
"Mi iris Londonon
(Ĉar mi havis monon)
Kaj vidis feinon,
La bonan reĝinon."

"Kaj tie, katino, kion vi faris,
Dum apud la trono fiere vi staris?"
"Mi havis plezuron timigi museton,
Kiu forkuris sub la seĝeton."

ROCK-A-BYE, BABY

Ho dormu nun, dormu, infano mia,
En la supro de alta arbo via;
Kiam blovos dolca vento suda,
Tiam lulos via lulilo kruda;
Kiam blovos norda ventego terura,
Tiam falos vi de l' arb-lito velura.

JACK SPRATT

"Sole la grason donu al mi,"
Jako Spratt petegis al ni,
"Ĉar mia edzino ne kuiros ĝin,
Kvankam humile mi petas ŝin."

SIMPLE SIMON

Malsaĝa Simono iris foiron,
Kaj je la foiro renkontis la viron,
Kiu al knaboj vendis pasteĉojn
Ankaŭ aliajn bonajn aĉetojn.

Malsaĝa Simono ne havis "Bon-senson"
Ankaŭ ne havis unu "Bon-pencon"
Sed al la viro tre brave li diris,
"Bonvolu, pasteĉon mi multe deziras."

La viro respondis ĝentile al li.
"Unue, vi montru la pencon al mi."

MOTHER HUBBARD

Maljuna Patrino Hubbard', laŭ bona singardo,
Enmetis en ŝrankon pecon da lardo,
Por doni al sia tre bona hundido,
Kaj ankaŭ al sia tre bela katido.

Sed tre malfeliĉe por tiuj dorlotitoj
Estis en ŝranko musoj ne timigitaj;
Kaj ĉar la ŝrank-pordo ne havis fortecon,
La malbonaj musoj formanĝis la lardpecon.

LITTLE BOY BLUE

Ho veku, ho veku, Bluvesta Knabeto,
Ho venu, ho venu kun via korneto:
En nia herbejo jen estas bovinoj,
Kaj en la grenejo estas ŝafinoj.
Veku, ho veku, dormema knabeto,
Kaj blovu tre laŭte per via korneto.

MULTIPLICATION IS VEXATION

Malbona estas MULTOBLIGADO,
Ĝi estas ĉagrenigo;
Simile malbona
Estas DIVIDADO
Kaj PRAKTIKO faras min
Frenezul' sen sentoj kvin.

PETER PUMPKIN EATER

Petro, Petro, Manĝanto de kukurbo,
Edzinon havis, sed en sia urbo
Por edzino ne havis domon,
Nek la buterpanon, nek eĉ pomon.

Tiam de la bela Esperanto
Petro ekfarigis ameganto;
Tiam Kukurb-Petro havis domon,
Ankaŭ buterpanon, kaj eĉ pomon.

DOCTOR FOSTER

Sinjorino Cikonio
Kiu loĝis en tilio
Unufoje tre deziris
Ke iu kium ŝi admiris
(La senhara Doktor' Foster')
Venu helpi ŝin ĉe Gloucester.
Porti sakon da infanoj,
Por du bonaj samurbanoj;
Sed malĝoje, Doktor' Foster'
Ne povis veni eĉ al Gloucester'
Ĉar la koto plutis lin,
Kiel diris saĝa virin'.

JACK BE NIMBLE

Estu lerta, Jako mia,
Kaj agema, knabo mia,
Kandelingon ho transsaltu,
Nun do! Nun do! Ne, ne haltu!

SING JOYFULLY ON YOUR WAY

Skuiru ĝojege malglatajn vojegojn,
Transsaltu ĝojege la altajn montegojn,
Ĉar estas neniam lacega la koro
En kiu ekzistas multe da ĝojo.
La gajkoraj viroj estas karuloj,
Sed malĝojaj viroj estas teduloj.

PUSSEY IN THE WELL

"_DINGA-dongo-duto!_"
Katido en la puto!
Kiu enmetis ŝin?
Malgrando Tomaso Green.

Kiu eltiris ŝin?
Bonvole sciigu nin.
Tomaso "Trout" estis li;
"Bona knabo" diris ni.

PEAS PUDDING HOT

Pizpudingo varma,
Aŭ malvarma ĝi,
Aŭ eĉ de naŭ tagoj
En poto tiu ĉi.

Kelkaj varma ŝatas ĝin,
Malvarma kelkaj volas ĝin;
"En la poto," iuj diras
Ke ĝin ili ja deziras.

TOM THE PIPER'S SON

Tomaso la filo de Kantosakisto,
Ho certe le estis tre granda rabisto.
Ĉar li unufoje la porkon deziris
Li ŝtelis la porkon kaj tiam foriris.
La malĝoja pork' tuj estis manĝata
Kaj tiam Tomaso li estis batata,
De lia kolera sed tre bona patro.
Kaj tiam ekkriis Tomas' laŭ la strato.

LITTLE MARY WITH HER CANARY

Tiu ĉi kanarieto
Apartenas al Manjeto;
Bona kiel eĉ knabeto,
Kun la nomo "Birdeto,"
Kaj li kantas dolĉan kanton
Ĉar li havas bonan sanon.
Tial juna bela Manjo
Amon havas por "Birdeto."

MARY, QUITE CONTRARY

Via ĝardeno, kiel kreskas ĝi?
Kontraŭema Mario, diru al ni!

Kun arĝentaj sonoriloj,
Kaj kun konkoj por bariloj
Kaj la kokeloj de belaj konketoj.
En rekta linio, ankaŭ fraŭlinoj
Tiel belegaj kiel feinoj.

BUTCHER, BAKER, CANDLE-STICK MAKER

"_RUBO-dubo-dubo!_"
Viroj tri en kuvo.
Mi petas nun' de vi
Nomojn de la tri.

Jen estas la buĉisto,
Kune kun la panbakisto,
Ankaŭ tiu kandelisto
Kiu estas ja rabisto.

Emfaze diru al la tri,
"Iru, iru for de ni!"

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY

Pluvo, foriru de tie ĉi,
Krias Johaneto nun de vi:
Je Aprila tago, tiam al ni
Venu, bona pluvo, tien ĉi.

SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE

Kantu kanton de sespenco
Kaj pri peco de sensenco;
De sekalo en saketoj,
Kaj bakado de merletoj;
En la reĝaj pudingetoj
Ili kantas ĉe festetoj.

THE OLD WOMAN IN A SHOE

Jam de longe loĝis en ŝuego
Tre maljuna grasa virinego,
Kiu havis multajn infanetojn
Dek knabinojn kaj knabetojn.
Certe la geinfanetoj
Estas ofte turmentetoj.

Ĉiunokte al la geinfana grupo
Estis donata la senpana supo;
Tiam forte batis ŝi la infanetojn
Ĝis kuris ili en siajn litetojn.

THE LITTLE BOY AND THE LITTLE SPARROW

Unufoje pasereto
Sidis bele sur branĉeto:
Venis tre malbona knabo,
Kun pafarko kaj la sago,
Dins li--"Vin pafos mi;
Pasteĉ' nun fariĝos vi!
Pasereto, tie ĉi."
"Per knabeto mortos mi,
Se mi restus sur la branĉo
Apud tre malbona knabo."
Tial for de la branĉeto
Li forflugis de knabeto.

SNAIL, SNAIL, COME OUT OF YOUR HOLE

Limako, ho limako mia,
Elvenu do el truo via!
Se vi ne obeis min
Tiam mi ja batos vin.

PATTI CAKE

Ho Sinjoro Panbakisto, mi petegas vin,
Faru bonan kuketon nun por mi!
Frapetu kaj piku, kaj marku ĝin per I,
Kaj enmetu ĝin en fornon por Petro kaj mi.

THREE BLIND MICE

Tri blindaj musoj!
Tri blindaj musoj!
Per dek-du kruroj,
Per dek-du kruroj,
Kuris post virino
Kiu estis edzino
De la bona farmmastro
Aprobita de l' pastro.
Tiam ŝia filo
Per granda tranĉilo
Mallongigis la vostojn
Kaj ricevis ties kostojn.

OLD KING COLE

Maljuna Reĝo-KOL,
De Reĝlando Ĝojo,
Animon gajan ja posedas,
Almenaŭ tiel ni mem kredas.

Pipo kaj pelvo da vin'
Ĉiam multe plaĉas lin,
Ankaŭ la belaj sonoj
De la tri violonoj--
_Tui, diddel, diddel, di!_
Dins la violonoj tri.

MY SON JOHN

_Didel, pudingeto_
Iris en liton, ŝtrumpojn portante,
Sur la piedoj unu ŝuon havante,
_Didel, pudingeto_, mia filo Johan'.

DICKORY DOCK

_Dikeri, dikeri_
Supren flugis la porketo.
Tiam vir' en aerŝipo
Flugis post la pork' kun vipo;
Kaptis voston de porkido,
Jen por ni tre gaja rido!

BARBER, BARBER, SHAVE A PIG

Ho, barbiro, razu vi,
Tiun porkon nun por mi,
Ĉar tre multe mi deziras
Antaŭ ol la pork' foriras,
Havi nigrajn harojn liajn,
Dankojn vi ricevos miajn:
Kaj pinĉprenon donos mi
De la flartabak' al vi;
Perukon por la senharulo
Faru vi, ho bonegulo.

JACK AND JILL

Grimpante sur monteton Jako kaj Jilo,
Portante la akvon en akvoĉerpilo;
Havis renverson Jakoto kaj Jilo,
Kune kun la akvo en akvoĉerpilo;
Kaj tre granda ŝtono rompis la verton
De juna, Jako, kiu timis tiun sperton.

OLD MOTHER GOOSE

Sinjorino Anserino,
Ho vi estas papagino!
Ĉu la plumojn havas vi,
Por donaci nun al mi?

Jes mi havas, knabineto,
Plumojn por flugilplumeto,
Kaj por via fratineto
Plumojn por l'ark-pafileto.

LITTLE TOM TUCKER

Tomaseto florojn kantis?
Por akiri manĝon;
Ĉu li florojn plantis?
Ĉu li portis franĝon?

Kion vere manĝos li?
Tion ja demandas ni.
Eble bonan buterpanon
Ankaŭ dolĉgustan bananon.

HARK! HARK! THE DOGS DO BARK

Ho aŭskultu geknabetoj
Je bojado de hundetoj!
Almozuloj kun kuraĝo
Venas nun al la vilaĝo;
Kelkaj en la ĉifonetoj
Aliaj en velurrobetoj
Jen la kaŭzo de bojado,
La maldolĉa hund-kantado.

JACK SPRATT

Jako Spratt' porketon havis,
Grandegecon ĝi ne havis;
Ne grasa estas ĝi
Kaj Jako diris li
"Mezampleksa porketo
Vi estas ja grunteto!"

TAFFY WAS A THIEF

"Taffy" estis Kimro kaj granda rabisto,
Eble li deziris esti la buĉisto,
Ĉar se mi ne restus ĉiufoje ĉe mi
Tre kviete venus fripono tiu ĉi;
Li forŝtelis pecon de l' ostinternaĵo;
Kaj malgrandan pecon de bona bovaĵo.

Tiam iris mi al ties eta domo:
Dormis en la lito la kanajla homo.
Kaj mi multe batis lin sur la kapo lia,
Per armilo bona, bovost' en mano mia.

CURLY LOCKS

Ho Bukloharuleto,
Mia dolĉa knabineto,
Estu mia edzineto;
Kaj nenia ĉagrenajo
Venos por turmenti vin
Se vi nur akceptos min.

Tiam vi ne pladojn lavos
Nek aliajn taskojn havos,
Sur kuseno mola sidos
Sole min vi ĉiam vidos,
Kaj vi manĝos fragoberojn
Kaj la kremon kaj sukeron.

HOT CROSS BUNS

Vasmegaj krucaj bulketoj,
Unu por nur du pencetoj,
Donu ilin al la filoj,
Se ne manĝos la filinoj.

FIVE LITTLE PIGS

Unu porketo, vendejon iris li,
La dua porket' restas hejme ĉe si,
Tria ja havis bonan rostbefon,
Kvara porko havis, ho nenion;
Sed la malbona infaneto,
Kiu estas grasa porketo,
Ciutage krias li,
"_Pi-vi, pi-vi, pi-vi, pi-vi-vi!_"

HUMPTY DUMPTY

Humpto-Dumpto sur la muro sidis,
Sed Humpto-Dumpto sendube ne vidis
Ke la muro havis nenian forton
Ĝis post li enfalis en la ŝtonan korton.
Mi malĝoje diras ĝin:
Neniu povis levi lin,
Neniu el la grandaj reĝoj
Nek la multaj longaj preĝoj.

TO MARKET

Vendejon, vendejon, iru vi,
Kaj aĉetu, kaj aĉetu, ho por mi!
Grasan porketon, grasan porketon
Ho alportu en dometon!

Vendejon, vendejon iru vi,
Kaj aĉetu, kaj aĉetu, ho por mi!
Grasan porkegon, grasan porkegon,
Ho alportu en domegon!

OH, PRETTY LITTLE GIRL, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

Ho bela knabineto, kien iras vi?
"Mi iras al ĝardeno kaj laboros mi
Tranĉante belajn rozojn por reĝino kara
Kiu estas dolĉa, ankaŭ tre bonfara.
Grandan kiel ŝuo diamanton donos ŝi.
Tiam mi salutos ŝin, dirante 'dank' al vi'."

THE MAN IN THE MOON

La Viro en la Luno, malsupren falis li,
Kaj la vojon al Norwich' demandis li de mi.
Mi plezure lin direktis trans la belan sudon
Kaj la Viro de la Luno tie brulis sian buŝon,
Kun apetit' manĝante de la bona avensupo,
Kiu estas la manĝeto tre malvarma por la pupo.

MARJORY DAW

Kun Margarito Daŭ
Sur la balancilo,
Mi sidas babilante,--
Kiel bela veturilo!

WHO IS MOTHER GOOSE?

Patrino Anserino
Ŝi estas la diino
De la geknabetoj
Kaj la infanetoj

MARY HAD A LAMB SONG

Manjo kun la bela saf', bela saf', bela saf'
Manjo kun la bela ŝaf' mi tre amas vin.

Ĉu vi amas, amas min? amas min? amas min?
Ĉu vi vere amas min, mia belulin'?

MY BLACK HEN

_Hiketi, Piketi_, nigra kokino
Ovojn demetis por la fraŭlino.
Kaj ĉiutage la riĉa Sinjoro
Volas aĉeti per multe da oro.

GREAT A, LITTLE A

Granda kaj malgranda A,
Kaj saltanta Bo:
El la ŝrank' mi volas ke
Iru katino.

MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB

Ŝafidineton havis Mario,
La kapridineton Mario,
Kaj ĉie kaj ĉiam kiam ŝi foriris
La ŝafidineto tre multe deziris
Veni kun ŝi al la eta lernejo;
Ankaŭ kun ŝi al la bona preĝejo.

PRETTY LITTLE MAID WITH PRETTY LITTLE BONNET

La bela ĉapeleto
De la knabineto
Tre malsaĝa faris sin
Ĉar ŝi sole ŝatis ĝin.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE

Unu, du, kun la tri, kvar, kvin,
La kaptita fiŝo mordis min.
Kaŭze de tio liberigis ĝin
Mi pro tim' ke ĝi elmordos min.

THE LITTLE GIRL WITH THE LITTLE CURL

Estis knabineto, kiu portis belan bukleton,
Ankaŭ belan falbaleton kaj veluran kapoteton.
Kiam ajn ŝi estas bona, bonega estas ŝi;
Sed tre ofte malbonega estas ŝi al ni.

A GERMAN JINGLETTE

Dieser Hund ist ja so klein
Er sollt virklich grosser sein
Aber er sagt; "Nein! nein! nein!"

THE GLORIOUS O

How plain the sound of common tea,
And plainer still LE THE,
But TEO, lovely TEO
All linguists love to say!

How common sounds--cup coffee.
Le café floats in air
With Kafo, Bona Kafo
No drink can quite compare.

How vulgar the word butter
Le beurre is just as bad,
But the good word butero
Will always make us glad.

We Esperantists modest are,
But this one thing we know:
That all earth's wisest children
Adore our letter O.

ADAM'S FUNNY BONE

When Solomon Eusebius Josephus Alfred Jones
Was asked to give a lecture on the origin of bones
He solemnly declared to all the story was not true
That Eve was made from Adam's rib, since he, the learned, knew
That woman, who is all the cause of trouble on the earth
Yet rules the world and all mankind lo, from her very birth,
Was made by the Creator great from Adam's funny bone,
And that is why she giggles so when men are wont to groan.

QUEEN OF FLOWERHOOD

Ah, rose, sweet rose, majestic flower,
To rule as queen thou hast the power.
Within the realms of Flowerhood
In gardens, fields and in the wood.
Your sweetest perfume, Mother Earth,
For your first gift gave at your birth.
Your velvet touch she gave to you,
Your graceful form and varied hue.

But for thy beauty thou dost pay
By bringing joy on life's pathway.
You cheer the sick, console the sad
And make us mortals all feel glad.

NORTH POLE JINGLE

[_To the Tune of "London Bridge Is Falling Down."_]

To the North Pole we will go, we will go, we will go,
On a dog sledge o'er the snow, over the white snow.

There we'll see an Esquimau, Esquimau, Esquimau,
Sitting in his house of snow, in his house of snow.

And maybe a big polar bear, polar bear, polar bear,
With huge claws and long white hair, huge claws and white hair.

Walrus, reindeer, seal live there, seal live there, seal live there,
They think their land is wondrous fair, oh, so wondrous fair.

AN EATABLE ALPHABET

A for APPLE BUTTER stands,
B for BEANS known in all lands,
C for CHOW-CHOW, oh, how good!
D for DILL has ever stood,
E for EUCHRED PICKLES fine,
F for FIGS for which we pine,
G for GHERKINS to our taste,
H HORSERADISH none would waste,
I for INDIA RELISH sweet,
J for JELLIES none can beat,
K for KETCHUP for gods fit,
L for LADIES who make it.
M for MINCEMEAT that doth please,
N for NEW VARIETIES,
O for ONIONS that won't spoil,
P for PUREST OLIVE OIL.
Q QUEEN OLIVES we adore,
R for RELISH we cry more,
S for SOUP and SAUERKRAUT,
T TOMATO SAUCE we shout!
U for ALL WHO LOVE TO EAT
HEINZ DISHES NON COMPETE.
V for VINEGAR, the boss,
W WORCESTERSHIRE'S great sauce.
All the letters used you see
Except L, N, U, X, Y, Z.
And soon these letters Heinz will seize
To use for NEW VARIETIES.
The FIFTY-SEVENS' home will then
Give place to GREAT ONE HUNDRED TEN.

AT EASTER

As Easter breathes hope for a joyous to-morrow
E'en out of the depths of despair,
So may this day banish from you every sorrow
And make you feel free as the air.

While hearing grand anthems that swell to the sky,
And breathing sweet lilies' perfume,
May you feel assured that your soul will not die
As life does not end in the tomb.

THE GIRLS' ALPHABET

A for Adaline, so neat,
B for Bess, so clean and neat
C for Clara, always gay,
D for Doris, full of play.
E for Edith, with blue eyes
F for Flora, very wise.
G for Gertrude, called the good,
H for Helen, ever stood.
I for Ida, laughing maid,
J for Jenny, staunch and staid.
K for Kate, with golden locks,
L for Lucy, who wears socks.
M for Margaret, so straight,
N for Nell, who's never late.
O for Olive, always clean,
P for Polly, full of spleen.
Q for Queenie, who rules all,
R for Rhoda, straight and tall.
S for Sally, naughty girl,
T for Thelma, mother's pearl.
U for Ursula, the fair,
V for Vida, with black hair.
W for Winnie stands,
X for Xenia, of far lands.
Y for Yoda, funny name,
Z for Zoe, who ends our game.

TO MY LEAP YEAR VALENTINE

Saint Bridget in the long ago
Won for all maids the right to go
Once in four years and seek a beau.

This year is leap year, as you know,
But as I've many a lovely bow
In quest of one I will not go.

But your dear image I enshrine
Within my heart, sweet valentine.
Have you a little place for mine?

I'M GLAD I'M NOT AN EXO

[_One of Doctor M. V. O'Shea's Stories Jingled._]

The framework of the body is
The bones, so teachers say;
And if we didn't have 'em
Our shape it wouldn't stay.
Besides sans bones my liver
And brains and even heart
Would get some awful hurtin's
And maybe come apart.
If my poor bones were badly burned
All brittle I would be,
Since flames will kill the animal
That was born in me;
If I were soaked in acid
No tender sapling tree
Would be one-half so limber
As just poor little me.
But, thinking it all over,
If I should choose my fate
I'd rather soak in acid
Than burn in a hot grate.

Some of my bones, the wise men say,
Are very far apart,
While others cling together
Like jelly in a tart.
That is because the bones have joints,
And joints are good to have,
They help me be a pitcher
And save me lots of salve.

When all my bones are gathered
And put in their right place
They make a so-called skeleton,
A grinnin' in his face.
But if you leave out one small bone
Or put one in not right,
It won't be any skeleton,
But a big bony fright.

The Exo critters' skeletons
Are placed on the outside,
I'm glad I'm not an EXO,
For if my Jane espied
Me lookin' like the skeleton
That's shown on teacher's chart,
I know she'd turn her nose right up
And say that we must part.

THREE CHEERS FOR TYPEWRITERS

Three cheers! the joyful children cried
When fierce and raging flames they spied
Destroying spellers, cause of woes,
And grammars, children's hated foes!

Three cheers again we hear them say,
The typewriters have come to stay,
To teach us all to read and spell
And punctuate so very well.

THE WORLD'S A MIRROR

If to the world we give our best
Of heart and soul and mind,
The world will render back to us
The best of every kind
Of thoughts and words and deeds of love
Which let us live on plains above
The sordid, ugly roads of life
Befouled with mud of hate and strife.

For life is but a mirror bright
Which smiles when we would smile
And tells us with a happy face
That everything's worth while,
But if we frown she frowns at us
And stirs up such a dreadful fuss
In all our ether rays around
That JOY for us cannot be found.

If we but fill our aura round
With brightest rays of love
For every little living thing
Then we will win Peace Dove,
To safely guard us where we go
So we can never have a foe,
Since all will see our bright rays shine
As part of the Great Love Divine.

A MEMORY JOGGER FOR YOUR DESK

The wicked IMP called I FORGOT
To mortals ever woes has brought
By washing from their mental slate
Engagement dates--until too late,
These mortals waken in dismay
And we won't quote the things they say.

But if you'll keep ME ever near,
Bad "I FORGOT" cannot appear
For I will help you to remember
From January through December
Every promise, every date,
So "I FORGOT" can't make you late.

WILMINGTON'S SANTA CLAUS

In far away Alaska
By all it is believed
That Santa is a big white bear
From whom gifts are received.

And Wilmington's wee kiddies
Begin to think the same,
That a good BEAR is Santa--
At least that's Santa's name.

For when they need a playground,
A school, or book, or toy,
'Tis SAMUEL BEAR who grants each wish
And makes kids dance for joy.

So let all of us children
Invoke the powers above
To grant him long life, health and wealth,
And gratitude and love.

WILMINGTON'S GOOD FAIRY

There's a Santy in good Wilmington,
And a good fairy too,
Who brings all comforts to the poor
And proves a friend so true
To all the poor and needy,
Both the big and small.
He's always willing, ready
To help them one and all--
With kind words and with money,
With deeds of love and smiles
He helps men on Life's journey
To cross old Trouble's stiles.
And to this real live Fairy
The noble knight JAMES SPRUNT
Living in old Wilmington
On the street called Front
I dedicate this little song
And wish him every joy
In the melting pot of life
Without dread Woe's alloy.

MOTHER WOTSAT, OF WANAMAKERLAND

Of MOTHER WOTSAT you've heard tell
And if you've met this lovely belle,
You know she is not an old dame
Wrinkled, humpbacked, sadly lame.

Ah, no, she is a fine young maid
Who puts her sisters in the shade
With sparkling eyes and sylph-like form,
No wonder for her heart men storm.

But best of all, she has the art
To win each naughty kiddie's heart
By telling tales in rhyme and prose
Such tales as only WOTSAT knows.

And she is, oh, so very wise;
She answers kids of every size
When they call out, "Wotsat, and why?"
She never passes questions by.

For she knows well just how to find
Answers for each thirsty mind,
And BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE FAIRY WELL
Is at her hand, great truths to tell.

TITANIA'S TOYLAND

Of fairies I've heard since the day of my birth,
Toystore makers, and givers of mirth;
But ne'er have I gazed on a real fairy-land
Till I came to Sterns' store--Titania's stand.

And there, as I entered, there burst on my view
A wonderful, marvelous, gigantic zoo
With camels and horses and elephants big,
Monkeys and donkeys, and even a pig,
Lions and tigers and great woolly bears
Looking as real as if in their lairs.

There were dolls of all nations and dolls of each size,
With black, brown and hazel, and even gray eyes.
There were balls big and little, wonderful toys
To please all the children, both good girls and boys;
For within Sterns' fairy-land we can all find
Titania's toys--of just every kind.

THE FAIRY CENTAPHRASE

If you would learn to speak good French
Without each awful rule
That all the would-be Frencheys use
When they attend French school,
Then seek the FAIRY CENTAPHRASE
He'll teach you how to say
Just everything you want to know
And in the proper way.

Through his delightful training box
Almost within a week
The best of French expressions
You will learn to speak
And ask for all the goodies
On menu cards we see
With just the proper accent
For breakfast, dinner, tea.

Through CENTAPHRASE, great system,
You may make your own
The ever dreaded idioms
To a Frenchman known,
By carrying in your pocket
Within a small neat case
A few for your digestion
As you go any place.

THE CHILDREN'S PRAYER

GODDESS PEACE, most gracious,
Give heed unto the prayer
Of all the little children
Who cry from everywhere,
And beg that you come quickly
To banish hateful WAR,
Whose bloody deeds barbaric
The children all abhor!

Oh, gladly we'll work with you
By loving one and all
Dear children of all races,
Of nations great and small.
And we all hope to bring on earth
Your messenger, PEACE-DOVE,
Through throwing out our ether rays
OF UNIVERSAL LOVE.

AN ODE TO A FAITHFUL DOG DUBBED PICKLES

[_Best Friend of Mr. Thomas Shipp, Washington, D. C._]

Not half so cute is any maid
As PICKLES.
He puts us all deep in the shade,
Does PICKLES.
For though he boasts of years not four
To canine heights he well can soar
On wings he's found in Knowledge-Store,
Wise PICKLES.

He always has a wagging tail,
KIND PICKLES.
His Master Shipp he'll never fail,
Staunch PICKLES.
And that is why all folks who meet
This clever dog in home or street
Declare there is no one so sweet
AS PICKLES.

PEACE FORERUNNER--"LOVE MANKIND."

Little birdie, whispering here,
Tell me, does sweet peace draw near?

Little girl, I sadly fear
Peace will not bring Christmas cheer
While you mortals are so blind
To love your country, not your kind,
Peace can never dwell on earth,
Bringing comfort, joy and mirth,
Until UNIVERSAL LOVE
Paves the way for sweet Peace Dove.

Then, sweet bird, help me to bear
Your good message everywhere,
Begging friends to keep in mind
PEACE FORERUNNER--"LOVE MANKIND."

MUSIC

[_These musical jingles were written for my teacher, Miss Matilda Orr Hays, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania._]

There's music, music everywhere
On sea and land and in the air.
It sounds from all things far and near
And brings the weary rest and cheer.
'Tis in the rose and every flower;
'Tis in the storm and gentle shower;
'Tis in the waters of the brook
And every pleasant shady nook.
We hear its notes within the trees
And in the hum of busy bees.
'Tis in the song of every bird
And in the voice of woman heard.
But best of all 'tis in our hearts
And there Love's message it imparts,
For MUSIC is the tongue of Love,
The fairest gift from realms above.

ROBERT FRANZ

[_1815-1892._]

By sweet love, the angel's gift,
Was Robert Franz inspired
To write sweet songs of home and love
Of which we're never tired.

Since Schubert's time no other man
Produced sweet songs so many
And for a number of these songs
He did not get a penny.

Songs two hundred seventy-nine
This music genius wrote
But ere he died like Beethoven
He could not hear a note.

And with his right arm paralyzed
He could not even play
And Liszt for him gave concerts
To keep the wolf away.

He died in abject poverty,
From grief almost insane
But left his songs to cheer us
And drive away our pain.

NATURE'S MUSIC