Part 4

“Here’s a nickel,” said a woman to her little boy. “Take it to the hand-organ man.”

The boy took the nickel to the organ-grinder.

He played another piece.

When this was played, Bobby said, “Please play another. I’ll bring you a penny.”

Bobby and Betty ran to the house and Mother gave each of them a penny.

Bobby gave his penny to the hand-organ man, and the man started to go.

“Play another piece,” said Betty. “I’ll give you a penny.”

Again the organ-grinder played.

Betty gave him a penny.

The organ-grinder went farther down the street.

All the children followed.

When they came to the end of the block, all but Bobby and Betty turned back.

Bobby and Betty stood still.

“It’s time to go back,” said Bobby.

“Let’s go a little farther,” said Betty. “Mother won’t care.”

The organ-grinder started a lively tune.

Bobby and Betty forgot to go back home.

They followed the organ-grinder.

On they went from house to house after the organ-grinder.

Sometimes they skipped and danced when the organ man played.

“This is fun,” said Bobby.

“It’s just like being grown up,” said Betty.

So Bobby and Betty had a fine time as long as the organ man played his tunes.

When he stopped playing, they began to feel tired.

“Let’s go home,” said Betty.

So Bobby and Betty turned back, but they did not know the way home.

_For study and play_:

I knock at the knocker, I ring the little bell, Please give me a penny For singing this so well.

Driddlety-drum, driddlety-drum, There you see the drummers are come. Some are here and some are there, And some are gone to the county fair.

A buckskin fiddle and a shoestring bow Make the very best music you know.

Fiddle-de-dee, fiddle-de-dee, The fly shall marry the bumble bee.

TOM, TOM, THE PIPER’S SON

Tom, Tom, the piper’s son, He learned to play when he was young, But all the tune that he could play, Was “Over the hills and far away.”

Now Tom with his pipe did make such a noise, That he surely pleased both the girls and the boys, And they all stopped still, for to hear him play, “Over the hills and far away.”

Tom with his pipe did play with such skill That those who heard him could never keep still; Whenever they heard him, they’d all begin to dance, Even pigs on their hind legs would after him prance.

WHY MOTHER ’PHONED TO THE POLICEMAN

At first Mother did not miss Bobby and Betty.

But after a while she wondered where they were.

She went to the door and called, “Bob-by!”

There was no answer.

Then she called, “Bet-ty!”

Still there was no answer.

Then Mother guessed what had happened.

She went to the telephone and ’phoned to the policeman.

She told him Bobby and Betty were lost.

She asked him to help find them.

“How old are your children?” asked the policeman.

“Six years old,” said Mother.

“Don’t worry, Madam,” he said. “I’ll bring the children to you.”

While the policeman was hunting for Bobby and Betty, they were going on and on.

“I’m tired,” said Betty. “I want to go home.”

“Cheer up,” said Bobby. “Don’t cry, Betty, please. We’ll find Mother’s house, by-and-by.”

“Do you know the way home?” asked Betty.

“I think so,” said Bobby.

But even brave Bobby soon said, “I don’t know the way.”

Just then the policeman met the children.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“We are going home,” answered Bobby. “But we can’t find the way.”

“Come with me,” said the policeman. “I’ll show you the way.”

_For study and play_:

I like to dance along the street And up and down the stairs, Around the stove and in the grove And in and out the chairs.

—SELECTED

The policeman on the corner Wears a coat of blue. He blows a great big whistle Which says, “Too-too-too!”

—FIRST GRADE, Riverside, Illinois

_Riddle_:

My sides are firmly laced about, Yet nothing is within. You’ll think my head is strange indeed, Being nothing else but skin.

_A drum_

THE POLICEMAN TAKES BOBBY AND BETTY HOME

Bobby and Betty were a long way from home. But the policeman knew the way.

“I’m glad we found you,” said Bobby. “I’m glad you know the way.”

“That’s funny,” said Betty. “We lost the way and we found you. And you know the way.”

“Will you show us where Mother’s house is?” asked Bobby.

“To be sure, I will,” answered the policeman. “That is part of my business.”

“Do you do anything else?” asked Bobby.

“Oh, yes,” answered the policeman. “I walk up and down the streets and take care of the people.”

“Are you their father?” asked Betty. “Are you the father of all the people on the streets?”

“Hardly that,” answered the policeman.

“I know what you are,” said Bobby. “You are a big brother. You are a big brother to all of the people on the streets.”

“Now you have hit it, my little man,” answered the big policeman. “I try to be a big brother to the people along the streets.”

By this time it was almost dark, but Bobby and Betty were now nearly home.

“Do you know this street?” asked the policeman.

“Oh, yes,” cried Bobby. “We live just around the corner.”

Bobby and Betty almost ran the last few steps of the way.

They were soon at the door.

They could not wait for the policeman to ring the bell.

They opened the door and ran straight to Mother.

They threw their arms around her.

“O Bobby! O Betty!” cried Mother. “I am so glad to see you.”

Mother thanked the policeman for bringing the children home.

“You are very welcome,” said the policeman.

“Did you thank the policeman?” asked Mother.

“Thank you, thank you,” said Bobby and Betty.

“I hope we shall find you again,” said Bobby.

“I am glad you are everybody’s big brother,” said Betty.

“Thank you,” said the policeman. “But remember, your big brother thinks you had better play nearer home.”

_For study and play_:

I like to see the policeman, Who is sometimes called the cop, When he sees the speeding autos And he makes the traffic stop.

—JEAN WOLD, JOHN JOHNSON, AND FREDERICK VICKERY, Second Grade, Hinsdale, Illinois

John O’Gradgen was a wild man. He whipped his children now and then. When he whipped them, he made them dance Out of Ireland into France.

MOTHER TALKS WITH BOBBY AND BETTY

“Tell me all about it,” said Mother.

Bobby and Betty told Mother they followed the organ-grinder. They told her they skipped and danced to the music the organ man played.

They told her they started home when the organ man stopped playing.

They told her the big policeman came and asked them where they were going.

“Were you afraid of the policeman?” asked Mother.

“I was at first,” said Betty. “But, Mother, he is a big brother. I’m not afraid of him now.”

“This policeman is a kind man,” said Mother. “I wish all policemen were like him.”

“Aren’t they all big brothers?” asked Bobby.

“That is what they should be,” answered Mother. “But not all policemen are big brothers.”

“I am glad we found the big-brother kind,” said Betty.

“So am I,” said Mother. “But tell me, children, why did you follow the organ-grinder beyond the end of this block?”

“He played beautiful music,” said Betty. “The music pulled us along, Mother.”

“I know,” answered Mother. “I know how music pulls you along. But my little ones must not let music pull them away from home.”

“Next time it pulls, I’ll pull the other way,” said Bobby.

“Bobby did pull a little,” said Betty. “Next time I’ll help him and we’ll come back to you.”

“That is right. Listen to the music when the organ-grinder is in this block,” said Mother. “When he goes to the next block, it is time to pull away from the music and come home to Mother.”

“I’m glad we are home now,” said Bobby.

“I wish you had been here this afternoon,” said Mother. “You can’t guess what you missed!”

“What was it, Mother?” asked Betty.

“Mrs. White came over with some ice cream,” said Mother. “She had more than she needed. She wanted you to have some.”

“Did you save it for us?” asked Bobby.

“I wanted to save it,” answered Mother.

“Did you save the ice cream, Mother?” asked Betty.

“I had no way to keep it, children. So I called in John and Josie, and they ate the ice cream.”

“Oh, fudge!” said Bobby. “I wish we had come home.”

“So do I,” said Betty. “I wish we had turned back when John and Josie did.”

“If we had turned back, we should have had the ice cream,” added Bobby.

_For study and play_:

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Dare to say no.

If wisdom’s ways you wisely seek, Five things observe with care: Of whom you speak, to whom you speak, And how, and when, and where.

Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever.

THE NEWSBOY

Every morning the newsboy comes with a newspaper.

He leaves it on the back porch.

Sometimes Bobby brings it in to Father.

Sometimes Betty brings it to him.

Father likes to read the paper before he goes to his work.

One morning Father said to Bobby, “Bring in the paper.”

“It hasn’t come, Daddy,” answered Bobby.

“The newsboy is late this morning,” said Father.

“He is coming now,” said Betty. “I see him.”

Bobby went out on the back porch.

The newsboy tossed a paper on the porch and ran to the next house.

Bobby took the paper to Father.

“Thank you, Bobby,” said Father.

“I want to be a newsboy,” said Bobby. “Mother, may I be a newsboy?”

“What is that you are saying?” asked Father.

“I want to be a newsboy, Father,” said Bobby.

“Betty, what do you think of that?” asked Father.

“I think Bobby is too little,” said Betty. “When Bobby is bigger he can be a newsboy.”

_For study and play_:

Papers, papers! right this way! Come and buy one every day!

—SECOND GRADE, Riverside, Illinois

What’s the news of the day, Good neighbor, I pray? They say the balloon Has gone up to the moon.

The newsboy comes each morning, When I’m out at play, Throws the paper on the porch, And then he runs away.

—MARY MACMILLAN and WILLIAM FELDMAN, Second Grade, Hinsdale, Illinois

_Riddles_:

What is it that is black and white and red (read) all over?

_A newspaper_

Why is a cherry like a book?

_Because it is red (read)_

THE POSTMAN

Every day the postman comes with mail in his mail bag.

He takes mail out of the mail bag and puts it in the letter box.

He rings the bell and then goes on to the next house.

When Bobby and Betty are at the front door, the postman hands them their mail.

When it is in the letter box, Mother lets them take the key.

They unlock the box and take out the mail.

Then one of them locks the box and the other one takes the mail in to Mother.

One day Bobby asked, “Where does the postman get the mail?”

“At the post office,” said Mother. “The postmaster has men to sort the mail and take it to the people.”

“Does the postmaster pay our postman?” asked Bobby.

“No, dear,” answered Mother. “Uncle Sam pays our postman.”

“Does Uncle Sam pay the postmaster?” asked Bobby.

“Yes, Bobby,” answered Mother. “Uncle Sam pays all the men who take care of the mail.”

“Where does Uncle Sam get his money?” asked Bobby.

“This is one way he gets money for the work,” answered Mother. “Uncle Sam sells postage stamps. Every time we buy a stamp we help Uncle Sam pay for carrying the mail.”

“I didn’t know that before,” said Betty.

“I didn’t know it,” said Bobby.

“Some day I’ll buy a postage stamp. I’ll send a letter and help Uncle Sam. I’ll help him pay his men who take care of the mail.”

_For study and play_:

“Good morning, Mister Postman, Your bag is full I see; I’m looking for a letter, Have you anything for me?”

“Good-morning, here’s a letter, And here’s a paper, too; I’ve others for your neighbors, But nothing else for you.”

—SELECTED

My pot’s boiling, My hen’s laying. My cat went to bed With a nightcap on her head. It’s not you; it’s not you; But it’s you, you, you!

_A rime to be used with the game Drop the Handkerchief_:

I sent a letter to my love, And on the way I dropped it, On the way I dropped it. I dree, dree, dropped it, I, I, I, lost it. A little boy picked it up, And put it in his pocket.

HOW BOBBY AND BETTY EARNED MONEY

Bobby and Betty wanted to earn money.

They wanted to buy roller skates.

So Mother said, “Save the old newspapers. You may sell them to the junkman.”

Bobby and Betty saved the old newspapers.

They made neat bundles.

When they had three big bundles, Mother said, “Now, children, you may sell them.”

That very day Bobby and Betty heard the junkman calling.

“He’s coming,” cried Bobby. “The junkman is coming.”

Bobby and Betty ran to the back gate.

The junkman was driving nearer and nearer, calling, “Pa-pers! pa-pers! Any old pa-pers to sell?”

“Yes!” shouted Bobby. “We have some old papers to sell.”

“Whoa! whoa!” called the junkman to his horses.

The horses stopped at the back gate.

The junkman jumped down from his wagon.

“This way,” said Bobby.

Bobby and Betty led the way to the back door.

“Here are the bundles,” said Bobby.

The junkman had his scales in his hand.

“Thirty pounds,” said he when he weighed the first bundle of papers.

“Forty pounds,” said the junkman when he weighed the second bundle of papers.

He then weighed the third bundle. “Thirty pounds,” he said. “One hundred pounds. I will give you twenty-five cents.”

Bobby reached out his hand for the money.

“Have you any bottles?” asked the junkman.

“Yes,” answered Betty. “Here are twelve bottles.”

“Three cents,” said the junkman, and he handed the money to Betty.

“Anything else?” asked the junkman.

“That is all,” said Betty.

The junkman picked up his load and took it out to the wagon.

“Gid-ap!” said the junkman to his horses.

The horses started.

And again the junkman called out, “Papers! pa-pers! Any old pa-pers to sell?”

When the junkman had gone, Betty said, “How much money do you have, Bobby?”

“Twenty-five cents,” answered Bobby. “How much do you have?”

“Three cents,” answered Betty. “Give me some of yours.”

Bobby looked puzzled. He knew that part of the money was Betty’s. But he did not know what to do with the twenty-five cent piece he had.

“Let me help you,” said Mother. “I’ll change the quarter. Then you and Betty can divide your money.”

So Mother gave Bobby two dimes and five pennies for his quarter.

Then Bobby and Betty worked and worked.

At last they saw how to divide it.

_For study and play_:

Penny and penny Laid up will be many.

Who spends more than he should Shall not have to spend when he would.

_Riddle_:

Runs all the day and comes home with its tongue out at night.

_A wagon_

WHAT BOBBY AND BETTY SOLD TO THE OLD-CLOTHES MAN

“See, Mother,” said Bobby. “I have fourteen cents.”

“I have fourteen cents, Mother. See!” said Betty.

“That is a nice start,” said Mother. “Put the money in your savings banks. Then it will not get lost.”

“I want to earn more money,” said Betty.

“What can we do?” asked Bobby.

“I will tell you what to do,” said Mother. “Father has some old clothes he doesn’t want to keep. You may sell them to the old-clothes man.”

“Good!” cried Betty.

“Hurrah!” cried Bobby.

That very day the old-clothes man came down the street.

“Any old clothes to sell? Any old clothes to sell?” called the old-clothes man.

“Yes, yes,” cried Bobby and Betty.

The old-clothes man came to the back door.

“You may sell the suit,” said Mother to Betty.

“Bobby, you may sell Father’s old shoes.”

“Any men’s clothes?” asked the old-clothes man.

“Yes,” answered Betty. “How much will you give for this suit?”

“Two dollars,” said the old-clothes man.

Betty looked at Mother.

“That is not enough,” said Betty.

“Two dollars and a half,” said the man.

Again Betty looked at Mother, and again Mother shook her head.

“Three dollars,” said the old-clothes man.

This time Mother nodded her head to Betty, and Betty said, “You may have it.”

Then the old-clothes man gave Betty three dollars and asked, “Any men’s shoes to sell?”

“Yes,” answered Bobby. “Here is a pair.”

The old-clothes man looked at the shoes. “Fifty cents,” he said.

Bobby looked at Mother, then said to the man, “That is not enough.”

“A dollar,” said the man.

“Take them,” said Bobby after he had looked up at Mother.

The old-clothes man gave Bobby a dollar for Father’s old shoes.

“Anything else?” asked the old-clothes man.

“Yes,” answered Betty. “Here is a pair of ladies’ shoes.”

The old-clothes man looked at the shoes and said, “Too small. Can’t use them.”

“That is all we have to sell,” said Betty.

The old-clothes man picked up the old clothing and said, “Good day, good day.”

“Good day,” said Mother and the children. And the old-clothes man went away.

As soon as he had gone, Bobby said, “I have a dollar. Betty how much do you have?”

“Three dollars,” answered Betty.

“Give me a dollar,” said Bobby. “Then we’ll each have two dollars.”

Betty looked puzzled. Then she said, “Yes, that is right. Here is a dollar. Now you have two dollars and I have two dollars.”

“Mother, don’t we have enough to buy roller skates?” asked Bobby.

“I think you have,” answered Mother. “How much do you have in all?”

“I have two dollars and fourteen cents,” said Betty.

“That is just what I have,” said Bobby.

“I think we can get good skates for that price,” said Mother. “We will go to the hardware store this afternoon. You may buy roller skates.”

If I’d as much money as I could tell, I never would cry, “Old clothes to sell! Old clothes to sell! Old clothes to sell!” I never would cry, “Old clothes to sell!”

Old chairs to mend! Old chairs to mend! If I had as much money as I could spend, I never would cry, “Old chairs to mend! Old chairs to mend! Old chairs to mend!” I never would cry, “Old chairs to mend!”

_For study and play_:

Have you ever been in a hardware store?

What do you have in your kitchen that was bought in a hardware store?

AT THE HARDWARE STORE

“Is it time to go?” asked Bobby.

“Not quite,” answered Mother. “Is it hard to wait?”

“Yes,” answered Bobby. “I can hardly wait. I want to go to the hardware store and buy roller skates.”

Soon Mother and the children were on the way.

When they came to the hardware store, they looked at the things in the window.

“See!” cried Bobby. “See those roller skates! That’s the kind I want.”

“That’s the kind John and Josie have,” said Betty. “I like that kind.”

When they went in, the hardware man said, “What can I do for you today?”

“The children want to buy something,” answered Mother.

“What can I show you, little boy?” asked the man. “What can I show you, little girl?”

“Roller skates, please,” said Betty.

“I want to buy roller skates,” said Bobby.

“How do you like this skate?” asked the man.

Bobby shook his head.

“How do you like it, little girl?”

Betty shook her head.

While the hardware man was looking for others, Mother asked, “What is the matter, Bobby? What kind do you want?”

“I want the kind where you get two skates,” said Bobby.

“I want that kind,” said Betty.

Mother bent down and whispered to Bobby and Betty. You can guess what she said.

When the hardware man came back to them, Bobby asked, “What does a pair like this skate cost?”

“Two dollars,” said the man.

“I’ll take a pair,” said Bobby.

“I’ll take a pair just like Bobby’s,” said Betty.

“Here is the money,” said Bobby.

“Here is the money for mine,” said Betty.

“Thank you, thank you,” said the hardware man.

While he was wrapping up the skates, Bobby said, “I have fourteen cents left.”

“So have I,” said Betty.

“Why not put the money you have left in your savings bank?” asked Mother.

“That’s just what I’ll do,” said Bobby.

“That’s just what I’ll do,” said Betty. “I’ll keep my money in the savings bank until I have enough for a bicycle!”

Bobby and Betty had many a good time with their roller skates.

Some other time you may like to learn what they did the next summer.

_For study and play_:

Hey ding-a-ding, What shall I sing? How many holes in a skimmer? Four and twenty, I’m feeling quite empty; Pray, Mama, give us some dinner.

_Riddle_:

Round as a well, deep as a bowl, Long handle, little hole.

_A frying pan_

SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS

It may be that supervisors and teachers of primary grades have been looking for a book dealing with the occupations in the neighborhood of a city child. The author of this book looked for such a book years ago and found it not. So for years materials have been accumulated for the preparation of this reader. It is hoped that all who use it will enjoy it and gain something of value from it. If the activities recommended in the following pages are introduced, the work is bound to prove a joy to teachers as well as to their pupils.

_For study and play._ Each story is followed by related rimes, riddles, and games which may be used in different ways even by children of the same class. For instance, one child may be able to read and memorize a rime which another child finds difficulty in reading. The latter, however, can read parts of the rime and find familiar words and phrases, and when he hears the rime repeated in class the jingle of the words is likely to stay with him and aid him in his second attempt.

These old rimes and jingles are a part of the child’s social heritage. They have come down through the centuries. It is right that every child should become familiar with them and enjoy their humor and rhythm. Nearly all of them are full of action. Let children use them in dramatic play; let them make drawings to illustrate points where they discover a mental picture.

The riddles may be learned. The answers are given, for children of the first grade rarely guess riddles. They love them, however, and delight in repeating them for others to guess.

_Original poems by children._ In preparing the lessons it was not difficult to find rimes and jingles of the old trades and tradesmen, but nothing could be found in folklore on the newer occupations such as those of the iceman, laundryman, grocer, garbage man, policeman, and newsboy. It did not seem well to present these occupations without some appropriate rime, so an appeal was made to children of primary grades to assist the author by making rimes. Among those sent in by their teachers six were selected, credit being given in each case to the grade and school. Although the teachers are not named, they are not forgotten.

The children who use this book can make verses and should be encouraged to do so. Such compositions foster the creative impulse found in every child in the pre-school period, but too often atrophied through disuse on account of conditions and methods not yet altogether out of date in our educational system. Attention is called to the verses on the iceman by a third grade in Hinsdale, Illinois, as being an example of the excellent results which come from group work. Undoubtedly no one of the children could have composed such verses by himself. But under the impulse of a strong emotion and through united effort they produced verses we all may enjoy. Children of the first grade cannot be expected to produce verses to equal these, yet it may not be impossible for them to do so; at any rate, we all know that the youngest children sometimes produce rare literary gems.