Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building Part 11

How old is she, Billy Boy, Billy Boy, How old is she, charming Billy?

"She is three times six, four times seven, Twenty-eight and eleven-- She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother."

THREE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM

Three wise men of Gotham Went to sea in a bowl, And if the bowl had been stronger My song had been longer.

LITTLE TOMMY TUCKER

"Little Tommy Tucker, Sing for your supper."

"What shall I sing?"

"White bread and b.u.t.ter."

"How shall I cut it Without any knife?

How shall I marry Without any wife?"

p.u.s.s.y AND THE MICE

Nine little mice sat down to spin; p.u.s.s.y pa.s.sed by, and she peeped in.

"What are you at, my little men?"

"Making coats for gentlemen."

"Shall I come in and bite off your threads?"

"No, no, Miss p.u.s.s.y, you'll snip off our heads."

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY

When I was a little boy, I lived by myself, And all the bread and cheese I got I put upon a shelf; The rats and the mice, they made such a strife, I was forced to go to London to buy me a wife.

The streets were so broad, and the lanes were so narrow, I was forced to bring my wife home in a wheelbarrow; The wheelbarrow broke, and my wife had a fall, And down came the wheelbarrow, wife, and all.

CHINESE MOTHER-GOOSE RHYMES

BY PROF ISAAC TAYLOR HEADLAND

LITTLE FAT BOY

What a bonny little fellow is this fat boy of mine!

He makes people die of joy!

What a fine little fellow is this fat boy of mine!

Now whose is this loving little boy?

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE LITTLE FAT BOY.]

Do you want to buy a beauty?

Do you want to buy a beauty?

If you buy him he will watch your house, And do it as his duty.

And no matter as to servants, You may have them or may not, But you'll never need to lock your door, Or give your house a thought.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A FINGER TEST.]

A FINGER TEST

You strike three times on the top, you see, And strike three times on the bottom for me, Then top and bottom you strike very fast, And open a door in the middle at last.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "OUR BABY," IN CHINESE CHARACTERS.]

OUR BABY

Mrs. Chang, Mrs. Lee, Mama has a small babee; Stands up firm, Sits up straight, Won't eat milk, But lives on cake.

[Ill.u.s.tration: OUR BABY.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE LITTLE GOLDEN SISTER.]

THE LITTLE GOLDEN SISTER

My little golden sister Rides a golden horse slow, And we'll use a golden whip If the horse doesn't go.

A little gold fish In a gold bowl we see, And a gold-colored bird On a gold-blossomed tree.

A gold-plated G.o.d In a gold temple stands, With a gold-plated baby In his gold-plated hands.

TEN FINGERS

(_A Chinese finger-play_)

Three horses are drinking, Three horses are feeding, The two men are fighting, The old woman pleading, The baby is crying, But no one is heeding.

[Ill.u.s.tration: TEN FINGERS.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: "TEN FINGERS," IN CHINESE CHARACTERS.]

A RIDDLE

A plum blossom foot, And a pudding face sweet; He's taller when he's sitting Than when standing on his feet.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A RIDDLE.]

THE FIVE FINGERS