On the Tree Top Part 8

And I see by the moonlight 'Tis almost midnight, And time kid and I were home Half an hour ago!"

But the fire only smoked, So she turned and begged the water:-- "Pray water quench fire, fire won't burn stick, Stick won't beat dog, dog won't bite kid, Kid won't go!

I see by the moonlight 'Tis already midnight, And time kid and I were home An hour and a half ago!"

"Ha, ha!" the water gurgled, So to the ox appealing:-- "Pray ox drink water, water won't quench fire, Fire won't burn stick, stick won't beat dog, Dog won't bite kid, Kid won't go!

And I see by the moonlight 'Tis already midnight, And time kid and I were home An hour and a half ago!"

But the ox bellowed "no!"

So she shouted to the butcher:-- "Pray butcher kill ox, ox won't drink water, Water won't quench fire, fire won't burn stick, Stick won't beat dog, dog won't bite kid, Kid won't go!

I see by the moonlight 'Tis getting past midnight, And time kid and I were home An hour and a half ago!"

But the butcher only laughed at her, And to the rope she hurried:-- "Pray rope hang butcher, butcher won't kill ox, Ox won't drink water, water won't quench fire, Fire won't burn stick, stick won't beat dog, Dog won't bite kid, Kid won't go!

And I see by the moonlight 'Tis getting past midnight, And time kid and I were home An hour and a half ago."

The rope swayed round for "nay!"

So to the rat she beckoned:-- "Pray rat gnaw rope, rope won't hang butcher, Butcher won't kill ox, ox won't drink water, Water won't quench fire, fire won't burn stick, Stick won't beat dog, dog won't bite kid, Kid won't go!

And I see by the moonlight 'Tis long past midnight, And time kid and I were home A couple of hours ago!"

A scornful squeak was all he deigned, And so she called the kitten:-- "Pray cat eat rat, rat won't gnaw rope, Rope won't hang butcher, butcher won't kill ox, Ox won't drink water, water won't quench fire, Fire won't burn stick, stick won't beat dog, Dog won't bite kid, Kid won't go!

And I see by the moonlight 'Tis long past midnight, And time kid and I were home Hours and hours ago!"

Now p.u.s.s.y loved a rat, So she seized him in a minute: And the cat began to eat the rat, The rat began to gnaw the rope, The rope began to hang the butcher, The butcher began to kill the ox, The ox began to drink the water, The water began to quench the fire, The fire began to burn the stick, The stick began to beat the dog, The dog began to bite the kid, And the kid began to go!

And home through the moonlight, Long after midnight, The little dame and little kid Went trudging--oh, _so_ slow!

[Color Plate:]

The little Boy in the Barn, Lay down on some hay.

The Owl came out, And flew about, And the little Boy ran away.

FOOLISH BOBOLINK.

By Mrs. Clara Doty Bates.

What a silly bobolink, Down in the meadow gra.s.ses!

What can the noisy fellow think, When, to everyone who pa.s.ses, He calls out cheerily, "Here, here is my nest! See! see!"

He could hide the summer through In the thick, sweet-smelling clover, Nor could anyone from dawn to dew, His little house discover, Did he not make so free With the secret--"Here! see! see!"

Little Ted has ears and eyes, And how can he keep from knowing Just where the cosy treasure lies, When bobolink, coming, going, Shouts, plain as plain can be, "Here, here is a nest! See! see!"

And Teddy would like to creep Tip-toe across the meadow, And for just one minute stoop and peep Under the clover shadow.

He would do no harm--not he!

But would only see, see, see!

And what would he find below The sheltering gra.s.s, you wonder?

Why, a nest, of course, and an egg or so, A mother's dark wings under.

But bobolink--he would flee In a fright--"A boy! see! see!"

So Teddy, whose heart is kind, Though he longs to venture near him, Sighs to himself, "Ah, never mind!"

And listens, glad to hear him Shouting, in tireless glee, "Here, here is my nest! See! see!"

[Color Plate:]

Green gravel, Green gravel, The gra.s.s is so green, The fairest young maiden, that ever was seen, Oh Mary, oh Mary, your true love is dead.

He's sent you a green bough To tie round your head.

ALADDIN

Versified by Clara Doty Bates

I see a little group about my chair, Lovers of stories all!

First, Saxon Edith, of the corn-silk hair, Growing so strong and tall!

Then little brother, on whose st.u.r.dy face Soft baby dimples fly, As fear or pleasure give each other place When wonders multiply;

Then Gold-locks--summers nine their goldenest Have showered on her head, And tinted it, of all the colors best, Warm robin-red breast red;

Then, close at hand, on lowly haunches set, With p.r.i.c.ked up, ta.s.seled ear, Is Tony, little cleared-eyed spaniel pet, Waiting, like them, to hear.

I say I have no story--all are told!

Not to be daunted thus, They only crowd more confident and bold, And laugh, incredulous.

And so, remembering how, once on a time, I, too, loved such delights, I choose this one and put it into rhyme, From the "Arabian Nights."

A poor little lad was Aladdin!

His mother was wretchedly poor; A widow, who scarce ever had in Her cupboard enough of a store To frighten the wolf from the door.

No doubt he was quite a fine fellow For the country he lived in--but, ah!

His skin was a dull, dusky yellow, And his hair was as long as 'twould grow.

('Tis the fashion in China, you know.)

But however he looked, or however He fared, a strange fortune was his.

None of you, dears, though fair-faced and clever, Can have anything like to this, So grand and so marvelous it is!