Chapter 2

"Ah!" cried the girl crossly, "I wonder what is in this pail. Mamma has promised me a pretty red sash if I do but carry it safely to Grandfather Goodfield, who lives under the hill by the great dark forest yonder, but oh! it has grown so heavy and my feet have grown so tired. I must go quickly and I must not even peep inside. Just listen! such a funny noise." Alice held the pail close to the great wolf's ear,--"Buzz z z z z z z z" came a muffled sound. "Oh, I wonder what can be inside!" she said.

"Do not wonder, little maid," said the great wolf, "but hurry thy little feet as thy mother hath bidden thee, else the sun will be in his bed ere thy journey be ended, and thy little bed will be empty and thy mother's heart will be heavy with watching."

So Alice hastened on. Soon again her feet were lagging and once more her eyes turned curiously upon the pail she carried and again she said, "Oh, I wonder, I wonder, I wonder." "Why do you wonder, little maid?" said a sweet soft voice. On looking up, Alice saw close beside her, not her friend the gaunt gray wolf, but a little child like herself. The boy placed his hand softly upon her arm; and with his great dark eyes looking straight into her own he said, "Why do you wonder, Alice?"

"Ah!" cried the girl crossly, "I wonder what is in this pail. Mamma has promised me a pretty red sash if I do but carry it safely to Grandfather Goodfield, who lives under the hill by the great dark forest yonder, but oh! it has grown so heavy and my feet have grown so tired. I must go quickly and I must not even peep inside. Just listen! such a funny noise." Alice held the pail close to the boy's ear,--"Buzz-z z z z z z z" came a muffled sound. "Oh, I wonder what can be inside!" she said.

"Do not wonder but let us look and see," said the boy. "No! no!" cried Alice. "My mother has forbidden it." "She will never know," said the boy. "Only one little peep. Surely it can do no harm. See, I will raise the cover for you." "No! no!" said Alice and, tightly clasping the pail, she started again upon her journey.

"You are so tired," called the boy running after, "do but stop and rest awhile. See, your feet are really bleeding from the sharp stones you have traveled over. Look, what a soft green bank yonder under the shade of that great tree. Do but sit down upon it for a moment. You will be able to go on all the faster after a quiet rest, then I will go with you."

Now Alice was really very tired indeed; and the bank with its cool shade looked so tempting that at last she seated herself upon it, letting her feet sink deep into its mossy side. She clasped the precious pail tightly in her hands, but the noise inside grew louder, and now it had an angry sound. "Oh, I wonder what it can be!" said Alice.

"Do let me take the pail for a moment," said the boy drawing it gently from her hand. "Now I will peep inside. What harm can it do? See, I will lift the cover ever so gently." He put his eye to the crack, when suddenly the cover slipped from his hand and rolled away upon the bank. A great swarm of angry, buzzing creatures flew into his face. He struck at them with his hands, but it was of no use. They stung and stung him. "Alice! Alice!" he cried, "oh, I am stung! I am stung!" The girl sprang quickly to help him but the angry bees flew at her also and stung her tender hands and face until she cried out with the pain. "Oh, what have we done! What have we done!" and, snatching the cover, Alice tried to place it upon the pail again--but too late, for not a single bee was left inside. For a little time the air was filled with angry buzzing, but soon the bees flew far away into the wood and Alice and her friend were left alone.

Smarting with pain the girl turned toward her home. Her little feet moved wearily, and the empty pail hung loosely on her arm. That night she cried herself to sleep in mother's arms, but the pretty red sash was never worn by Alice, except sometimes in her dreams.

THE LOST COMB.

One day while Lesa was picking flowers in the wood the beautiful golden comb that she always wore fell out of her hair and was lost. She searched and she searched, but she could not find it. At last she began to cry, and she cried and she cried.

Just then along came Rollicking Robin.

"Oh, do help me, Rollicking Robin!" sobbed Lesa. "I have lost my comb, my golden comb. What shall I do? My mother will fret, my father will scold, my little sister will cry, and some harm will surely come to me if I do not find it."

"Cheer up, cheer up, cheer up! I'll go seek it." sang Rollicking Robin, "I will find your golden comb, have no fear."

So he looked and he looked and he looked, but no comb could he find.

Just then along came Busy Bee.

"Oh, do help me, Busy Bee!" sobbed Lesa. "I have lost my comb, my golden comb. What shall I do? My mother will fret, my father will scold, my little sister will cry, and some harm will surely come to me if I do not find it."

"Buzz, buzz, buzz! I'll go seek it," hummed Busy Bee. "I will find your golden comb, have no fear."

So she looked and she looked and she looked, but no comb could she find.

Just then along came Fleet-footed Field Mouse.

"Oh, do help me, Fleet-footed Field Mouse!" sobbed Lesa. "I have lost my comb, my golden comb. What shall I do? My mother will fret, my father will scold, my little sister will cry, and some harm will surely come to me if I do not find it."

"Eep, eep, eep! I'll go seek it," squeaked Fleet-footed Field Mouse. "I will find your golden comb, have no fear."

So he looked and he looked and he looked, but no comb could he find.

Just then along came Chirping Cricket.

"Oh, do help me, Chirping Cricket!" sobbed Lesa. "I have lost my comb, my golden comb. What shall I do? My mother will fret, my father will scold, my little sister will cry, and some harm will surely come to me if I do not find it."

"Chirp, chirp, chirp! I'll go seek it," piped Chirping Cricket. "I will find your golden comb, have no fear."

So he looked and he looked and he looked, but no comb could he find.

Just then along came Gliding Brown Snake.

"Oh, do help me, Gliding Brown Snake!" sobbed Lesa. "I have lost my comb, my golden comb. What shall I do? My mother will fret, my father will scold, my little sister will cry, and some harm will surely come to me if I do not find it."

"Sssssssss! I'll go seek it," hissed Gliding Brown Snake. "I will find your golden comb, have no fear."

So he looked and he looked and he looked, but no comb could he find.

Just then along came Cunning Black Ant.

"Oh, do help me, Cunning Black Ant!" sobbed Lesa. "I have lost my comb, my golden comb. What shall I do? My mother will fret, my father will scold, my little sister will cry, and some harm will surely come to me if I do not find it."

"I'll go seek it," said Cunning Black Ant. "I will find your golden comb, have no fear."

So she looked and she looked and she looked, but no comb could she find.

Just then along came Flitting Butterfly.

"Oh, do help me, Flitting Butterfly!" sobbed Lesa. "I have lost my comb, my golden comb. What shall I do? My mother will fret, my father will scold, my little sister will cry, and some harm will surely come to me if I do not find it."

"I'll go seek it," said Flitting Butterfly. "I will find your golden comb, have no fear."

So she looked and she looked and she looked, but no comb could she find.

Just then along came Wrinkled Brown Toad.

"Oo-o-o-o! You ugly thing! Out of my sight!" cried Lesa. "I have trouble enough without you! I have lost my comb, my golden comb! No one can find it! Oh, what shall I do?"

"I'll go seek it," croaked Wrinkled Brown Toad. "I will find your golden comb, have no fear."

"You find my comb!" cried Lesa. "If Rollicking Robin and Busy Bee and Fleet-footed Field Mouse and Chirping Cricket and Gliding Brown Snake and Cunning Black Ant and Flitting Butterfly cannot help me, how can such a stupid, ugly, hobbling thing as you find my golden comb? Be off! Get out of my sight!"

Poor Wrinkled Brown Toad hopped away and Lesa was left alone. "Oh, what shall I do? What shall I do?" she cried. "Oh, my comb, my golden comb! Some harm will surely come to me if I do not find it!" And, throwing herself upon the ground, Lesa sobbed as if her heart would break.

For a long time this forlorn little girl lay with her face buried in the moss and leaves. Suddenly she heard a strange noise behind her. She sprang to her feet and, turning, saw coming toward her with great flying leaps--whom do you suppose? Yes, it was Wrinkled Brown Toad again. And what do you suppose he held in his ugly jaws? Yes, it was Lesa's golden comb.

"Oh, there it is! There it is! Oh, I'm so glad, so glad!" cried Lesa. "Oh, thank you! Thank you! Where did you find it? I'm sorry I was cross! I'm sorry I called you stupid and ugly and hobbling! You have bright eyes. I did not notice them before. Yes, they are really beautiful, all golden like my comb."

And Lesa bent and stroked Wrinkled Brown Toad on his ugly head; and, ever after that, they were friends.

BILLY BOBTAIL.

Once upon a time a little boy named Billy Bobtail went to seek his fortune; and on the road he met a bull.

"Moo, moo, moo!" said the bull. "Where are you going, Billy Bobtail?"

"Oh, I'm going to seek my fortune!" said Billy Bobtail.

"May I go, too?" said the bull.

"No," said Billy Bobtail.

"Yes, I will," said the bull.

"Well, then, come along," said Billy Bobtail.

So the bull followed on after Billy Bobtail.

They went along a little way farther, and met a goat.

"Baa, baa, baa!" said the goat. "Where are you going, Billy Bobtail?"

"Oh, I'm going to seek my fortune!" said Billy Bobtail.

"May I go, too?" said the goat.

"No," said Billy Bobtail.

"Yes, I will," said the goat.

"Well, then, come along," said Billy Bobtail.

So the goat followed on after Billy Bobtail.

They went along a little way farther and met a sheep.

"Maa, maa, maa!" said the sheep. "Where are you going, Billy Bobtail?"

"Oh, I'm going to seek my fortune!" said Billy Bobtail.

"May I go, too?" said the sheep.

"No," said Billy Bobtail.

"Yes, I will," said the sheep.

"Well, then, come along," said Billy Bobtail.

So the sheep followed on after Billy Bobtail.

They went along a little way farther and met a pig.

"Wee, wee, wee!" said the pig. "Where are you going, Billy Bobtail?"

"Oh, I'm going to seek my fortune!" said Billy Bobtail.

"May I go, too?" said the pig.

"No," said Billy Bobtail.

"Yes, I will," said the pig.

"Well, then, come along," said Billy Bobtail.

So the pig followed on after Billy Bobtail.

They went along a little way farther and met a dog.

"Bow, wow, wow!" said the dog. "Where are you going, Billy Bobtail?"

"Oh, I'm going to seek my fortune!" said Billy Bobtail.

"May I go, too?" said the dog.

"No," said Billy Bobtail.

"Yes, I will," said the dog.

"Well, then, come along," said Billy Bobtail.

So the dog followed on after Billy Bobtail.

They went along a little way farther and met a cat.

"Meow, meow, meow!" said the cat. "Where are you going, Billy Bobtail?"

"Oh, I'm going to seek my fortune!" said Billy Bobtail.

"May I go, too?" said the cat.

"No," said Billy Bobtail.

"Yes, I will," said the cat.

"Well, then, come along," said Billy Bobtail.

So the cat followed on after Billy Bobtail.

They went along a little way farther and met a turkey.

"Gobble, gobble, gobble!" said the turkey. "Where are you going, Billy Bobtail?"

"Oh, I'm going to seek my fortune!" said Billy Bobtail.

"May I go, too?" said the turkey.

"No," said Billy Bobtail.

"Yes, I will," said the turkey.

"Well, then, come along," said Billy Bobtail.

So the turkey followed on after Billy Bobtail.

They went along a little way farther and met a rooster.

"Cock-a-doodle-doo!" said the rooster. "Where are you going, Billy Bobtail?"

"Oh, I'm going to seek my fortune!" said Billy Bobtail.

"May I go, too?" said the rooster.

"No," said Billy Bobtail.

"Yes, I will," said the rooster.

"Well, then, come along," said Billy Bobtail.

So the rooster followed on after Billy Bobtail.

They went along a little way farther and met a hen.

"Cut-cut-cut-cut-ka-dat-cut!" said the hen. "Where are you going, Billy Bobtail?"

"Oh, I'm going to seek my fortune!" said Billy Bobtail.

"May I go, too?" said the hen.

"No," said Billy Bobtail.

"Yes, I will," said the hen.

"Well, then, come along," said Billy Bobtail.

So the hen followed on after Billy Bobtail. And there they were,--first Billy Bobtail and then the bull and then the goat and then the sheep and then the pig and then the dog and then the cat and then the turkey and then the rooster and then the hen,--all following on after Billy Bobtail. On and on they walked. All day long they traveled; and, just as it began to grow dark, they came to a deep, deep wood. It looked so dark that Billy Bobtail almost felt afraid. "Never mind!" said he, "if anything tries to hurt us, I can whistle and throw stones."

"And I can bellow and hook," said the bull.

"And I can butt and bleat," said the goat.

"And I can butt and bleat," said the sheep.

"And I can squeal and bite," said the pig.

"And I can bark and bite," said the dog.

"And I can mew and scratch," said the cat.

"And I can gobble," said the turkey.

"And I can crow," said the rooster.

"And I can cackle," said the hen.

"Very well," said Billy Bobtail; "I think we shall be quite safe."

So on they went through the wood; but suddenly they heard a crashing and trampling in the underbrush and then a savage growl, as of some great wild creature about to rush upon them.

Billy Bobtail began to whistle and throw stones.

The bull began to bellow.

The goat began to bleat.

The sheep began to bleat.

The pig began to squeal.

The dog began to bark.

The cat began to mew.

The turkey began to gobble.

The rooster began to crow.

The hen began to cackle.

And they all made such a noise that the creature, whoever he was, was so frightened that he ran away as fast as his legs could carry him, never even once stopping to look back.

Soon Billy Bobtail and his friends came to a clearing--a place in the wood where the trees had all been cut away. Right in the middle of this clearing stood a little house.

"What a fine place for us to stay in all night," said Billy Bobtail, for it was now almost dark.

"But suppose the people are not friendly?" said the bull, thinking of the savage creature that they had just frightened away.

"I will go and peep in at the window and find out," said the cat. "I can walk softly on my four cushions, and with my green eyes I can see in the dark."

So the cat crept to the window of the little house, and peeped in. Soon she came back and said, "There is no one at home, and it does not look as if anyone had lived here for a long, long time."

When Billy Bobtail and his friends went inside the little house they found it very comfortable.

"Hurrah! I shall sleep in the bed," said Billy Bobtail.

"Bow, wow, wow! I shall sleep under the bed," said the dog, "and guard my master."

"Wee, wee!" said the pig, "I shall sleep in the oven where it is nice and warm."

"Gobble, gobble, gobble!" "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" "Cut-cut-cut-cut-ka-dat-cut!" cried the turkey, the rooster, and the hen all together, "we shall roost high up on the mantelshelf."

"Baa!" said the goat, "I shall sleep on the front doorstone and keep guard."

"Maa, maa! I shall sleep just inside the front door and help to keep guard," said the sheep.

"Moo, moo, moo!" called the bull, "the wood shed is the place for me."

"Meow, meow, meow!" cried the cat, "I do not care about sleeping in the night. I shall keep watch that no harm comes nigh."

They had a good night's rest. When morning came and Billy Bobtail saw what a cozy house it was and that there was a fine garden too, he said, "This is my fortune. I'm not going any farther to seek it!"

So Billy Bobtail and his friends lived safely in the little house in the clearing for many years, and were very, very happy.

KID WOULD NOT GO.

One day as I was going across London Bridge I found a penny and bought a kid. Kid would not go.

"See, by the moonlight, it is almost midnight. Time kid and I were home an hour and a half ago."

I went along a little farther and met a staff.

"Staff, staff, beat kid! Kid will not go. See, by the moonlight, it is almost midnight. Time kid and I were home an hour and a half ago."

But the staff would not.

I went along a little way farther and met a hatchet.

"Hatchet, hatchet, hack staff! Staff will not beat kid. Kid will not go. See, by the moonlight, it is almost midnight. Time kid and I were home an hour and a half ago."

But the hatchet would not.

I went along a little way farther and met some fire.

"Fire, fire, burn hatchet! Hatchet will not hack staff. Staff will not beat kid. Kid will not go. See, by the moonlight, it is almost midnight. Time kid and I were home an hour and a half ago."

But the fire would not.

I went along a little way farther and met some water.

"Water, water, quench fire! Fire will not burn hatchet. Hatchet will not hack staff. Staff will not beat kid. Kid will not go. See, by the moonlight, it is almost midnight. Time kid and I were home an hour and a half ago."

But the water would not.

I went along a little way farther and met an ox.

"Ox, ox, drink water! Water will not quench fire. Fire will not burn hatchet. Hatchet will not hack staff. Staff will not beat kid. Kid will not go. See, by the moonlight, it is almost midnight. Time kid and I were home an hour and a half ago."

But the ox would not.

I went along a little way farther and met a rope.

"Rope, rope, hang ox! Ox will not drink water. Water will not quench fire. Fire will not burn hatchet. Hatchet will not hack staff. Staff will not beat kid. Kid will not go. See, by the moonlight, it is almost midnight. Time kid and I were home an hour and a half ago."

But the rope would not.

I went along a little way farther and met some grease.

"Grease, grease, grease rope! Rope will not hang ox. Ox will not drink water. Water will not quench fire. Fire will not burn hatchet. Hatchet will not hack staff. Staff will not beat kid. Kid will not go. See, by the moonlight, it is almost midnight, Time kid and I were home an hour and a half ago."

But the grease would not.

I went along a little way farther and met a rat.

"Rat, rat, gnaw grease! Grease will not grease rope. Rope will not hang ox. Ox will not drink water. Water will not quench fire. Fire will not burn hatchet. Hatchet will not hack staff. Staff will not beat kid. Kid will not go. See, by the moonlight, it is almost midnight. Time kid and I were home an hour and a half ago."

But the rat would not.

I went along a little way farther and met a cat.

"Cat, cat, catch rat! Rat will not gnaw grease. Grease will not grease rope. Rope will not hang ox. Ox will not drink water. Water will not quench fire. Fire will not burn hatchet. Hatchet will not hack staff. Staff will not beat kid. Kid will not go. See, by the moonlight, it is almost midnight. Time kid and I were home an hour and a half ago."

But the cat would not.

I went along a little way farther and met a dog.

"Dog, dog, bite cat! Cat will not catch rat. Rat will not gnaw grease. Grease will not grease rope. Rope will not hang ox. Ox will not drink water. Water will not quench fire. Fire will not burn hatchet. Hatchet will not hack staff. Staff will not beat kid. Kid will not go. See, by the moonlight, it is almost midnight. Time kid and I were home an hour and a half ago."

The dog began to bite the cat. The cat began to catch the rat. The rat began to gnaw the grease. The grease began to grease the rope. The rope began to hang the ox. The ox began to drink the water. The water began to quench the fire. The fire began to burn the hatchet. The hatchet began to hack the staff. The staff began to beat the kid. The kid began to go. "See, by the moonlight, it is almost midnight. Kid and I got home an hour and a half ago."

FOX LOX.

Once upon a time hungry Fox Lox was prowling about under a great tree on the hillside, when a chestnut burr fell thump upon his head. "Ah!" said cunning Fox Lox, "by this I will get a fine dinner." Just then along came Chicker Ricker.

"Oh, run down hill with me where you will be quite safe, Chicker Ricker," cried Fox Lox, "for the sky is surely tumbling down!"

"Who told you, Fox Lox?"

"Oh, I heard it and I felt it and it came thump upon my crown!"

"Then I will run down hill with you," cried Chicker Ricker.

So they ran and they ran and they ran. Soon they met Hen Ren.

"The sky is tumbling down, Hen Ren!" cried Chicker Ricker.

"Who told you, Chicker Ricker?"

"Oh, Fox Lox!"

"Who told you, Fox Lox?"

"Oh, I heard it and I felt it and it came thump upon my crown! Run down hill with me where you will be quite safe," said Fox Lox.

"That I will!" cried Hen Ren.

So they ran and they ran and they ran. Soon they met Cock Lock.

"The sky is tumbling down, Cock Lock!" cried Hen Ren.

"Who told you, Hen Ren?"

"Oh, Chicker Ricker!"

"Who told you, Chicker Ricker?"

"Oh, Fox Lox!"

"Who told you, Fox Lox?"

"Oh, I heard it and I felt it and it came thump upon my crown! Run down hill with me where you will be quite safe," said Fox Lox.

"That I will!" cried Cock Lock.

So they ran and they ran and they ran. Soon they met Duck Luck.

"The sky is tumbling down, Duck Luck!" cried Cock Lock.

"Who told you, Cock Lock?"

"Oh, Hen Ren!"

"Who told you, Hen Ren?"

"Oh, Chicker Ricker!"

"Who told you, Chicker Ricker?"

"Oh, Fox Lox!"

"Who told you, Fox Lox?"

"Oh, I heard it and I felt it and it came thump upon my crown! Run down hill with me where you will be quite safe," said Fox Lox.

"That I will!" cried Duck Luck.

So they ran and they ran and they ran. Soon they met Drake Lake.

"The sky is tumbling down, Drake Lake!" cried Duck Luck.

"Who told you, Duck Luck?"

"Oh, Cock Lock!"

"Who told you, Cock Lock?"

"Oh, Hen Ren!"

"Who told you, Hen Ren?"

"Oh, Chicker Ricker!"

"Who told you, Chicker Ricker?"

"Oh, Fox Lox!"

"Who told you, Fox Lox?"

"Oh, I heard it and I felt it and it came thump upon my crown! Run down hill with me where you will be quite safe," said Fox Lox.

"That I will!" cried Drake Lake.

So they ran and they ran and they ran. Soon they met Goose Loose.

"The sky is tumbling down, Goose Loose!" cried Drake Lake.

"Who told you, Drake Lake?"

"Oh, Duck Luck!"

"Who told you, Duck Luck?"

"Oh, Cock Lock!"

"Who told you, Cock Lock?"

"Oh, Hen Ren!"

"Who told you, Hen Ren?"

"Oh, Chicker Ricker!"

"Who told you, Chicker Ricker?"

"Oh, Fox Lox!"

"Who told you, Fox Lox?"

"Oh, I heard it and I felt it and it came thump upon my crown! Run down hill with me where you will be quite safe," said Fox Lox.

"That I will!" cried Goose Loose.

So they ran and they ran and they ran. Soon they met Gander Lander.

"The sky is tumbling down, Gander Lander!" cried Goose Loose.

"Who told you, Goose Loose?"

"Oh, Drake Lake!"

"Who told you, Drake Lake?"

"Oh, Duck Luck!"

"Who told you, Duck Luck?"

"Oh, Cock Lock!"

"Who told you, Cock Lock?"

"Oh, Hen Ren!"

"Who told you, Hen Ren?"

"Oh, Chicker Ricker!"

"Who told you, Chicker Ricker?"

"Oh, Fox Lox!"

"Who told you, Fox Lox?"

"Oh, I heard it and I felt it and it came thump upon my crown! Run down hill with me where you will be quite safe," said Fox Lox.

"That I will!" cried Gander Lander.

So they ran and they ran and they ran. Soon they met Turk Lurk.

"The sky is tumbling down, Turk Lurk!" cried Gander Lander.

"Who told you, Gander Lander?"

"Oh, Goose Loose!"

"Who told you, Goose Loose?"

"Oh, Drake Lake!"