Verse and Prose for Beginners in Reading Part 2

T was a tortoise, All yellow and black: He walked slowly away, And he never came back.

Torty never came back!

U was an urn All polished and bright, And full of hot water At noon and at night.

Useful old urn!

V was a veil With a border upon it, And a ribbon to tie it All round a pink bonnet.

Pretty green veil!

W was a watch, Where, in letters of gold, The hour of the day You might always behold.

Beautiful watch!

Y was a yew, Which flourished and grew By a quiet abode Near the side of a road.

Dark little yew!

Z was a zebra, All striped white and black; And if he were tame, You might ride on his back.

Pretty striped zebra!

THE EGG IN THE NEST.

There was a tree stood in the ground, The prettiest tree you ever did see; The tree in the wood, and the wood in the ground, And the green gra.s.s growing all around.

And on this tree there was a limb, The prettiest limb you ever did see; The limb on the tree, and the tree in the wood, The tree in the wood, and the wood in the ground, And the green gra.s.s growing all around.

And on this limb there was a bough, The prettiest bough you ever did see; The bough on the limb, and the limb on the tree, The limb on the tree, and the tree in the wood, The tree in the wood, and the wood in the ground, And the green gra.s.s growing all around.

Now on this bough there was a nest, And in this nest there were some eggs, The prettiest eggs you ever did see; Eggs in the nest, and the nest on the bough, The bough on the limb, and the limb on the tree, The limb on the tree, and the tree in the wood, The tree in the wood, and the wood in the ground, And the green gra.s.s growing all around, And the green gra.s.s growing all around.

Hey! diddle, diddle, The cat and the fiddle, The cow jumped over the moon; The little dog laughed To see such sport, And the dish ran away with the spoon.

p.u.s.s.y sits beside the fire, How can she be fair?

In comes the little dog, "p.u.s.s.y, are you there?

So, so, dear Mistress p.u.s.s.y, Pray tell me how do you do?"

"Thank you, thank you, little dog, I'm very well just now."

Ding dong bell, The cat's in the well!

Who put her in?-- Little Johnny Green.

Who pulled her out?-- Big Johnny Stout.

What a naughty boy was that To drown poor p.u.s.s.y cat, Who never did him any harm, But killed the mice in his father's barn!

DAISIES.

At evening when I go to bed I see the stars shine overhead; They are the little daisies white That dot the meadow of the Night.

And often while I'm dreaming so, Across the sky the Moon will go; It is a lady, sweet and fair, Who comes to gather daisies there.

For, when at morning I arise, There's not a star left in the skies; She's picked them all and dropped them down Into the meadows of the town.

SPINNING TOP.

When I spin round without a stop And keep my balance like the top, I find that soon the floor will swim Before my eyes; and then, like him, I lie all dizzy on the floor Until I feel like spinning more.

PROVERBS AND POPULAR SAYINGS.

Every dog has its day.

Every horse thinks his own pack heaviest.

Every little helps.

Every man for himself, and G.o.d for us all.

Faint heart never won fair lady.

Fair words b.u.t.ter no parsnips.

Fine feathers make fine birds.

Follow the river and you will get to the sea.

Fools build houses, and wise men live in them.

For every evil under the sun, there is a remedy, or there is none; If there be one, try and find It; if there be none, never mind it.

For want of a nail the shoe is lost; for want of a shoe the horse is lost; for want of a horse the rider is lost.

Bobby Shafto's gone to sea, With silver buckles at his knee; He'll come back and marry me,-- Pretty Bobby Shafto!

Bobby Shafto's fat and fair, Combing out his yellow hair, He's my love for evermore,-- Pretty Bobby Shafto!

Every lady in this land Has twenty nails upon each hand Five and twenty on hands and feet.

All this is true without deceit.

Great A, little a, Bouncing B!

The cat's in the cupboard, And she can't see.

Hark, hark, The dogs do bark, The beggars are coming to town; Some in rags, Some in jags, And some in velvet gowns.