Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building Part 12

(_Another finger-play_)

A great big brother, And a little brother so, A big bell-tower, And a temple and a show, And little baby wee, wee, Always wants to go.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE FIVE FINGERS.]

LADYBUG

Ladybug, ladybug, Fly away, do; Fly to the mountain, And feed upon dew.

Feed upon dew, And sleep on a rug, And then run away Like a good little bug.

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

[Ill.u.s.tration: LADYBUG.]

THE SPIDER

Oh, my dear brother spider, With your body big and red, From the eaves you are hanging On a single little thread.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE SPIDER.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: "THE GREAT WALL," IN CHINESE CHARACTERS.]

THE GREAT WALL

The wily Emperor Tsin Chi-hw.a.n.g He built a wall both great and strong.

The steps were narrow, but the wall was stout, So it kept the troublesome Tartars out.

#MOTHER GOOSE CONTINUED# BY ANNA MARION SMITH

"p.u.s.s.y cat, p.u.s.s.y cat"

"p.u.s.s.y cat, p.u.s.s.y cat, where have you been?"

"I've been to London, to see the Queen."

"p.u.s.s.y cat, p.u.s.s.y cat, what did you there?"

"I frightened a little mouse under the chair."

"What did you say when you'd made your best bow?"

"I opened my mouth and remarked '_miaow_.'"

"What did the Queen say in answer to that?"

"She screamed a little, and then she said, 'SCAT!'"

Little Boy Blue

"Little boy Blue, come blow your horn, The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn.

Is this the way you mind your sheep,-- Under the haystack, fast asleep?"

Little boy Blue, awake, awake, And see how merry your charges make!

Through field and garden their course they steer, And the mischief they're doing,--oh dear, oh dear!

PAT-A-CAKE

"Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man Bake me a cake as quick as you can Pat it and p.r.i.c.k it, and mark it with B, And put it in the oven for baby and me."

Hurry it, hurry it, baker's man; Bring it to us as quick as you can.

I hope it has raisins by way of surprise, And little black currants that look just like eyes.

Here it comes, here it comes, baby mine.

Never was cake that was half so fine; Brown as a berry, and hot from the pan,-- Thank you, oh thank you, you good baker's man!

"Hickory, d.i.c.kory, dock.

The mouse ran up the clock, The clock struck one, The mouse ran down,-- Hickory, d.i.c.kory, dock."

Hickory, d.i.c.kory, dock, Again he tried the clock, This time,--don't frown,-- The _clock_ ran down!

Hickory, d.i.c.kory, dock.

HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON?

"HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON?

THREE SCORE MILES AND TEN CAN I GET THERE BY CANDLELIGHT?

YES, AND BACK AGAIN."

How shall I go to Babylon?

Who will tell me true?

Oh, there are trains, and there are boats, And automobiles too.

And one may ride a bicycle, Or go in a balloon; Or one may travel on his feet And get there 'most as soon.

For trains go off the track, you see, And boats go down below; And automobiles go to smash In ways that none may know.

And tires of bicycles go pop, Balloons will go and balk, So taking all in all, I think If I were you, I'd walk.

Hark! Hark!