Nonsense Books Part 32

V.

Lady Jingly answered sadly, And her tears began to flow,-- "Your proposal comes too late, Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-B!

I would be your wife most gladly!"

(Here she twirled her fingers madly,) "But in England I've a mate!

Yes! you've asked me far too late, For in England I've a mate, Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-B!

Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-B!

VI.

"Mr. Jones (his name is Handel,-- Handel Jones, Esquire, & Co.) Dorking fowls delights to send, Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-B!

Keep, oh, keep your chairs and candle, And your jug without a handle,-- I can merely be your friend!

Should my Jones more Dorkings send, I will give you three, my friend!

Mr. Yonghy-Bongy-B!

Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-B!

VII.

"Though you've such a tiny body, And your head so large doth grow,-- Though your hat may blow away, Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-B!

Though you're such a Hoddy Doddy, Yet I wish that I could modi- fy the words I needs must say!

Will you please to go away?

That is all I have to say, Mr. Yongby-Bonghy-B!

Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-B!"

VIII.

Down the slippery slopes of Myrtle, Where the early pumpkins blow, To the calm and silent sea Fled the Yonghy-Bonghy-B.

There, beyond the Bay of Gurtle, Lay a large and lively Turtle.

"You're the Cove," he said, "for me; On your back beyond the sea, Turtle, you shall carry me!"

Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-B, Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-B.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

IX.

Through the silent-roaring ocean Did the Turtle swiftly go; Holding fast upon his sh.e.l.l Rode the Yonghy-Bonghy-B.

With a sad primaeval motion Towards the sunset isles of Boshen Still the Turtle bore him well.

Holding fast upon his sh.e.l.l, "Lady Jingly Jones, farewell!"

Sang the Yonghy-Bonghy-B, Sang the Yonghy-Bonghy-B.

X.

From the Coast of Coromandel Did that Lady never go; On that heap of stones she mourns For the Yonghy-Bonghy-B.

On that Coast of Coromandel, In his jug without a handle Still she weeps, and daily moans; On that little heap of stones To her Dorking Hens she moans, For the Yonghy-Bonghy-B, For the Yonghy-Bonghy-B.

THE POBBLE WHO HAS NO TOES.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

I.

The Pobble who has no toes Had once as many as we; When they said, "Some day you may lose them all;"

He replied, "Fish fiddle de-dee!"

And his Aunt Jobiska made him drink Lavender water tinged with pink; For she said, "The World in general knows There's nothing so good for a Pobble's toes!"

II.

The Pobble who has no toes, Swam across the Bristol Channel; But before he set out he wrapped his nose In a piece of scarlet flannel.

For his Aunt Jobiska said, "No harm Can come to his toes if his nose is warm; And it's perfectly known that a Pobble's toes Are safe--provided he minds his nose."

III.

The Pobble swam fast and well, And when boats or ships came near him, He tinkledy-binkledy-winkled a bell So that all the world could hear him.

And all the Sailors and Admirals cried, When they saw him nearing the further side,-- "He has gone to fish, for his Aunt Jobiska's Runcible Cat with crimson whiskers!"

IV.

But before he touched the sh.o.r.e,-- The sh.o.r.e of the Bristol Channel, A sea-green Porpoise carried away His wrapper of scarlet flannel.

And when he came to observe his feet, Formerly garnished with toes so neat, His face at once became forlorn On perceiving that all his toes were gone!

V.

And n.o.body ever knew, From that dark day to the present, Whoso had taken the Pobble's toes, In a manner so far from pleasant.

Whether the shrimps or crawfish gray, Or crafty Mermaids stole them away, n.o.body knew; and n.o.body knows How the Pobble was robbed of his twice five toes!

VI.

The Pobble who has no toes Was placed in a friendly Bark, And they rowed him back, and carried him up To his Aunt Jobiska's Park.

And she made him a feast, at his earnest wish, Of eggs and b.u.t.tercups fried with fish; And she said, "It's a fact the whole world knows, That Pobbles are happier without their toes."

THE NEW VESTMENTS.

There lived an old man in the Kingdom of Tess, Who invented a purely original dress; And when it was perfectly made and complete, He opened the door and walked into the street.