One Saturday opulent OllieThought he’d go for a ride on the trolley;But his pennies were few,–He only had two,–So he went and made mud-pies with Polly.

Triangular Tommy, one morning in May,Went out for a walk on the public highway.Just here I will say,‘Twas a bright sunny day,And the sky it was blue, and the grass it was green,The same sky and grass that you’ve all of you seen;And the birds in the trees sang their usual song,And Triangular Tommy went […]

A fable told by La Fontaine,Two centuries or more ago,Describes some rats who would arraignA cat, their direst foe,Who killed so many ratsAnd caused the deepest woe,This Catiline of cats. The poor rats were at their wits’ endTheir homes and families to defend;And as a last resortThey took the case to court. It seems they […]

A very grandiloquent GoatSat down to a gay table d’hote;He ate all the corks,The knives and the forks,Remarking: “On these things I dote.” Then, before his repast he began,While pausing the menu to scan,He said: “Corn, if you please,And tomatoes and pease,I’d like to have served in the can.”

A canner, exceedingly canny,One morning remarked to his granny,“A canner can canAnything that he can;But a canner can’t can a can, can he?”

‘Twas the night before the Fourth of July, the people slept serene;The fireworks were stored in the old town hall that stood on the village green.The steeple clock tolled the midnight hour, and at its final stroke,The fire in the queer old-fashioned stove lifted its voice and spoke;“The earth and air have naught to do, […]

Once there were some silly kittens,And they knitted woolly mittensTo bestow upon the freezing Hottentots.But the Hottentots refused them,Saying that they never used themUnless crocheted of red with yellow spots. So the silly little kittensTook their blue and white striped mittensTo a Bear who lived within a hollow tree;The Bear responded sadly,“I would wear your […]

A is for Alice a-dressing the Queen. B is for Borogoves, mimsy and lean. C is the Cheshire Cat, wearing a grin. D is the Duchess who had a sharp chin. E is the Eaglet who barred out long words. F, the Flamingo, the queerest of birds. G is the Gryphon, loquacious and gay. H, […]

Oh, it was a merry, gladsome day,When the April Fool met the Queen of May;She had roguish eyes and golden hair,And they were a mischief-making pair.They planned the funniest kind of a jokeOn the poor, long-suffering mortal folk;And a few mysterious words he said,His fool’s cap close to her flower-crowned head.Then he laughed till he […]

Old Santa Claus is up-to-date,And hereafter, rumors say,He’ll come with his pack of glittering toys,And visit the homes of girls and boys,In a new reindeerless sleigh.

Once there was a little boy who wouldn’t go to bed,When they hinted at the subject he would only shake his head,When they asked him his intentions, he informed them pretty straightThat he wouldn’t go to bed at all, and Nursey needn’t wait. As their arguments grew stronger, and their attitude more strict,I grieve to […]

There once was an arch ArmadilloWho built him a hut ‘neath a willow;He hadn’t a bedSo he rested his headOn a young Porcupine for a pillow.

Mamma has bought a calendar,And every single pageHas pictures on of little girls‘Most just about my age. And when she bought it yesterday,Down at the big bazaar,She said, “What lovely little girls,How true to life they are.” But I don’t think they’re true to life,And I’ll just tell you why;They never have a rumpled frockOr […]

There was an ambitious young eelWho determined to ride on a wheel;But try as he might,He couldn’t ride right,In spite of his ardor and zeal. If he sat on the saddle to rideHis tail only pedalled one side;And I’m sure you’ll admitThat an eel couldn’t sitOn a bicycle saddle astride. Or if he hung over […]

Wee Willie sat a-thinking,And he shook his curly head.Around him on the nursery floorHis treasures lay outspread. Firecrackers and torpedoes,Trumpet and flag and drum,Rockets and pinwheels and paper caps,For Fourth of July had come. “But it makes me sort o’ sorry,”Wee Willie said with a sigh,“To think of those poor little English boysWithout any Fourth […]

Mr. Hezekiah HinkleSaw a patient PeriwinkleWith a kodak, sitting idly by a rill.Feeling a desire awakenFor to have his picture taken,Mr. Hezekiah Hinkle stood stock-still. Mr. Hezekiah HinkleFelt his brow begin to wrinkle,And his pose assume a sad and solemn style;But the Periwinkle trusted,As the focus he adjusted,That his customer would kindly try to smile. […]

“I’ve a lovely new cup from Uncle John,”Said Dorothy; “only see–It has beautiful golden letters on,And they spell ‘Remember Me.’” “Oho!” laughed Fred. “Why, Dorothy dear,They put that on mugs and plates:I‘ve studied jography ‘most a year,And I know the names of the States. And when you see that anywhere,–At least, since this fuss with […]

An old astronomer there wasWho lived up in a tower,Named Ptolemy CopernicusFlammarion McGower.He said: “I can prognosticateWith estimates correct;And when the skies I contemplate,I know what to expect.When dark’ning clouds obscure my sight,I think perhaps ’twill rain;And when the stars are shining bright,I know ’tis clear again.”And then abstractedly he scannedThe heavens, hour by hour,Old […]

Betty Botta bought some butter;“But,” said she, “this butter’s bitter!If I put it in my batterIt will make my batter bitter.But a bit o’ better butterWill but make my batter better.”Then she bought a bit o’ butterBetter than the bitter butter,Made her bitter batter better.So ’twas better Betty BottaBought a bit o’ better butter.

My little maid with golden hairComes each morning for a kiss;And I know the day will be fine and fairWhen Polly looks like this. Or I know the clouds will frown and lower,The skies will be dull and gray,And perhaps there’ll be a passing shower,When Polly looks this way. But a violent storm of rain […]