Chapter 32

"What's that, old Grumphy?" said a pig, Whose snout peeped through the door; "There's something moving in the straw I never saw before."

"I wish you'd mind your own affairs," Said she, and stepp'd between The young pigs and the pig-sty door, Not wishing to be seen.

"I hope you slept well," said the pig, "The wind was very high; You are most comfortably lodged-- A most con-ve-ni-ent sty."

"I thought I told you once before To mind your own affairs," Said she, and bristling up her back, She bit the lean pig's ears.

"Squeak," said the bitten pig, "sque-e-ak, Old Grumphy's biting hard;" And all the lean pigs scamp-ed'd up From all sides of the yard.

They grumbled and they grunted loud, The squeak'd in every key; At last another pig peep'd through, To see what he could see.

Dame Grumph was standing by her pigs, And looking very proud, And all the little piggy-wigs Were squeaking very loud.

"These lovely creatures," said old Grumph, "These lovely pigs are mine; There're fat and pink like human babes, Most pro-mi-sing young swine."

"Indeed," ex-claim'd the peeping pig, "I never should have thought, They were so very promising." Old Grumphy gave a snort.

"They're of a most dis-tin-guished race; My mother and her brother Were both im-por-ted from Pekin,-- My pigs are like my mother.

"They never shall as-so-ci-ate With long-legged pigs like you." Said she, ad-dress-ing the lean pig, Whose snout was peeping through.

"Begging your pardon, ma'am I really think," said he, "The dif-fer-ence is not so great As it appears to be.

"If you and I were bacon, ma'am The dif-fer-ence between An Irish and a Chinese pig Would hardly then be seen.

"Give me your comfortable sty, And some of your nice food, Our little fa-mi-lies might prove In-dif-fer-ent-ly good."

Aunt Effie's Rhymes

[Page 177--Piggy Land]

The Old Woman and Her Pig

Once an old woman was sweeping her house, and found a crooked sixpence, and went to market to buy a pig. As she was coming home she came to a stile, and the pig would not get over it: so she went a little farther and met a dog, and said to the dog:--

"Dog, dog, bite pig; Piggy won't get over the stile, And I shan't get home to-night." But the dog would not.

She went a little farther and met a stick, and said:

"Stick, stick, beat dog; dog won't bite pig, Piggy won't get over the stile, And I shan't get home to-night." But the stick would not.

She went a little farther and met a fire, and said:

"Fire, fire, burn stick; stick won't beat dog, Dog won't bite pig, Piggy won't get over the stile, And I shan't get home to-night." But the fire would not.

She went a little farther and met some water, and said:

"Water, water, quench fire, Fire won't burn stick, Stick won't beat dog, dog won't bite pig, Piggy won't get over the stile, And I shan't get home to-night." But the water would not.

She went a little farther and met an ox, and said:

"Ox, ox, drink water, Water won't quench fire, fire won't burn stick, Stick won't beat dog, dog won't bite pig, Piggy won't get over the stile, And I shan't get home to-night." But the ox would not.

She went a little farther and met a butcher, and said:

"Butcher, 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 pig, Piggy won't get over the stile, And I shan't get home to-night." But the butcher would not.

She went a little farther and met a rope, and said:

"Rope, 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 pig, Piggy won't get over the stile, And I shan't get home to-night." But the butcher would not.

She went a little farther and met a rat, and said:

"Rat, 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 pig, Piggy won't get over the stile, And I shan't get home to-night." But the rat would not.

She went a little farther and met a cat, and said:

"Cat, cat, kill 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 pig, Piggy won't get over the stile, And I shan't get home to-night."

But the cat said to her, "If you will go to yonder cow, and fetch me a saucer of milk, I will kill the rat." So away went the old woman to the cow, and said:

"Cow, cow, give me some milk, cat won't kill 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 pig, Piggy won't get over the stile, And I shan't get home to-night."

But the cow said to her, "If you will go to yonder haymakers and fetch me a wisp of hay, I'll give you the milk."

So away the old woman went to the haymakers and said:

"Haymakers, give me a wisp of hay; Cow won't give me milk, cat won't kill 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 pig, Piggy won't get over the stile, And I shan't get home to-night."

But the haymakers said to her, "If you will go and fetch us a bucket of water, we'll give you the hay." So away the old woman went; but she found the bucket was full of holes. So she covered the bottom with pebbles, and then filled the bucket with water, and away she went back with it to the haymakers; and they gave her a wisp of hay.

As soon as the cow had eaten the hay, she gave the old woman the milk; and away she went with it in a saucer to the cat. As soon as the cat had drank the milk, the cat began to kill 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 to pig, the pig in a great fright jumped over the stile, and so the old woman got home that night in time to boil some apple dumplings for her husband's supper.

The Flying Pig

Dickery, dickery dare, The pig flew up in the air, But Patrick Brown soon brought him down, Dickery, dickery, dare.

The Story of the Three Little Pigs

Once there was an old pig, who had three little pigs, and sent them out to seek their fortune. The first one went and built a house with straw, and soon after a wolf came and knocked at the door and said, "Little pig, let me come in." But the little pig said, "No, no by the hair of my chin." The wolf then said, "I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in." So he huffed, and he puffed, and blew the house in, and ate up the little pig.

The next little pig built a house with sticks, and the old wolf came along and called out, "Little pig, let me come in." And the little pig answered, "No, no, by the hair of my chin." "Then," says the wolf, "I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in." So he huffed and he puffed, and blew the house down, and ate up the little pig also.

The third little pig built a house with bricks. Just after along came the old wolf, and said, "Little pig, let me come in." The little pig said, "No, no, by the hair of my chin." "Then I'll huff and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house down." Well, he huffed and he puffed, and he huffed and he puffed, and he puffed and he huffed; but he could not get the house down.

When he found he could not, with all his huffing and puffing, blow the house down, he said "Little pig, I know where there is a nice field of turnips." "Where?" said the little pig. "Oh, in Mr. Smith's home field, and if you will be ready to-morrow morning I will call for you, and we will go together, and get some for dinner."

"Very well," said the little pig, "I will be ready. What time do you mean to go?" "Oh, at six o'clock." Well, the little pig got up at five, and got the turnips before the wolf came, which he did about six, and said, "Little pig, are you ready?" The little pig said, "Ready; I've been and come back again and got a nice potful for dinner."

The wolf felt very angry at this, but thought that he would be up to the little pig somehow or other, so he said, "Little pig, I know where there is a nice apple tree." "Where?" said the little pig. "Down at Merry Garden," replied the wolf, "and if you will not deceive me I will come for you at five o'clock to-morrow, and we will go together and get some apples."

Well, the pig bustled up the next morning at four o'clock, and went off for the apples, hoping to get back before the wolf came; but he had further to go, and had to climb the tree, so that just as he was coming down from it he saw the wolf coming, which, as you may suppose, frightened him very much. When the wolf came up he said, "Little pig, what; are you here before me? Are they nice apples?"

"Yes, very," said the little pig, "I will throw you down one." And he threw it so far that, while the wolf was gone to pick it up, the little pig jumped down and ran home. The next day the wolf came again, and said "Little pig, there is a fair at Shanklin this afternoon, will you go?" Oh, yes," said the pig, "I will go: what time shall you be ready?" "At three," said the wolf.

So the little pig went off before the time as usual, got to the fair, and bought a butter-churn, which he was going home with, when he saw the wolf coming. Then he could not tell what to do. So he got into the churn to hide, and by doing so turned it around, and it rolled down the hill with the pig in it, which frightened the wolf so much that he ran home without going to the fair. He went to the little pig's house and told him how frightened he had been by a great round thing which came down the hill past him.

Then the little pig said "Ha! I frightened you, then. I had been to the fair and bought a butter-churn, and when I saw you I got into it and rolled down the hill." Then the wolf was very angry indeed, and declared he would eat up the little pig, and that he would get down the chimney after him.

When the little pig saw what he was about, he hung onto the pot full of water, and made up a blazing fire, and just as the wolf was coming down, took off the cover, and in fell the wolf; so the little pig put on the cover again in an instant, boiled him up, and ate him for supper, and lived happy ever afterwards.

[Page 178--Rabbit Land]

The Wild Rabbits

Among the sand-hills, Near by the sea, Wild young rabbits Were seen by me.

They live in burrows With winding-ways, And there they shelter On rainy days.

The mother rabbits Make cosy nests, With hairy linings From their breasts.

The tender young ones Are nursed and fed, And safely hidden In this warm bed.

And when they are older, They all come out Upon the sand-hills And frisk about.

They play and nibble The long, dry grass, But scamper away Whenever you pass.

Disobedient Bunny

A pert little rabbit, Once lived in a hole, And just did whatever he pleased; His ways were so funny, His antics so droll, That his parents were terribly teased.

"Now, dear," said his mother, "You'd best stay at home, And try to be patient and good." But No! he was fully Determined to roam Through the green and beautiful wood.

So what did he do? On a fine summer day, When mother was not to be seen, He took to his heels, And scampered away Right over the meadow so green.

He shook his long ears, And he whisked up his tail, His eyes dancing with glee, As onward he ran Through a beautiful vale, And oh! how delighted was he!

'Twas not very long Till he found a haystack, Where of course there was shelter and food. Said he to himself, "Now, I'll never go back To my stupid old home in the wood.

"I'll dig myself a nice den For myself in the hay; How warm it will be and how nice! Why in my old burrow Full many a day I've often felt colder than ice!"

So bunny soon dug him A nice little hole, And made it as round as an O; And really he looked So exceedingly droll, You'd have laughed had you seen him, I know.

But evening drew on, It was lonely and dark, So Bunny lay down in his den; Said he to himself, "I'll get up with the lark, And won't I be ravenous then!

"For really this hay, Though it does for a nest, Is somewhat too dry for my food; At home there is clover, The thing I love best, And lettuce and carrots so good.

"I wish I had some At this moment! but then I'm out on my travels just now, And I greatly prefer To reside in this den, Than at home where there's often a row!

"Ah, well! I feel sleepy, I'd best go to bed-- But what is that noise that I hear? There seems to be someone Right over my head, I hope that no wild beasts are near!"

Meanwhile an old fox With a great bushy tail Was prowling about and around, But poor little Bunny Was hidden so well That never a bit was he found!

When morning had come, And the fox disappeared, Then Bunny came forth to the light, Said he to himself, "It was just as I feared, A fox has been here through the night.

"I think I had better Go scampering home To the dear little home in the wood, And never, oh never Again will I roam, Or leave my dear mother so good."

Away then he ran, Without once looking back, Till he saw the dear home he loved best. And mother came hopping Along the hard track To welcome him home to the nest.

And, oh! such a breakfast Before him there lay, Such clover and grass from the wood; And always I've heard, From that terrible day, That Bunny is patient and good.

B. R. McKean

The Pet Rabbit

I have a little Bunny With his coat as soft as down, And nearly all of him is white Except one bit of brown. The first thing in the morning, When I get out of bed, I wonder if my bunny's still Safe in his shed.

And then the next thing that I do, I daresay you have guessed; It's at once to go and see him, When I am washed and dressed. And every day I see him, I like him more and more, And each day he is bigger Than he was the day before.

I feed him in the morning With bran and bits of bread. And every night I take some straw To make his little bed. What with carrots in the morning And turnip-tops for tea, If a bunny can be happy, I'm sure he ought to be.

Then when it's nearly bed-time I go down to his shed, And say "Good-night, you bunny!" Before I go to bed, I think there's only one thing That would make me happy quite, If I could take my bunny dear With me to bed at night.

Robert Mack

[Page 179--Hare Land]

The Little Hare

Beyond the palings of the park A Hare had made her form, Beneath a drooping fern, that made A shelter snug and warm.

She slept until the daylight came, And all thinks were awake, And then the Hare, with noiseless steps, Crept softly from the brake.

She stroked her whiskers with her paws, Looked timidly around With open eyes and ears erect That caught the smallest sound.

The Field-Mouse rustled in the grass, The Squirrel in the trees, But Puss was not at all afraid Of common sounds like these.

She frisked and gambolled with delight, And cropped a leaf or two Of clover and of tender grass, That glistened in the dew.

What was it, then, that made her start, And run away so fast? She heard the distant sound of hounds, She heard the huntsman's blast.

Tally-ho!-hoy tally-ho! The hounds are in full cry; Ehew! ehew--in scarlet coats The men are sweeping by.

So off she set with a spring and a bound, Over the meadows and open ground, Faster than hunter and faster than hound And on--and on--till she lost the sound, And away went the little Hare.

Aunt Effie

Peter and the Hare

Thoughtless little Peter, With his little gun, Went out by the woodside For a little fun; Saw a happy little hare, Who on clover fed-- With his little gun took aim And shot him in the head.

Thoughtful little Peter, Sad for what he'd done, Sat down on a stump, and there By it laid his gun; Wished that he could bring to life That little hare so still; "Never more," said he, "will I A harmless creature kill."

Epitaph on a Hare

Here lies whom hound did ne'er pursue, Nor swifter greyhound follow, Whose foot ne'er tainted morning dew Nor ear heard huntsman's halloo.

Old Tiney, surliest of his kind, Who, nursed with tender care, And to domestic bounds confined, Was still a wild Jack-hare.

Though duly from my hand he took His pittance every night, He did it with a jealous look, And when he could he would bite.

On twigs of hawthorn he regaled, On pippin's russet peel; And when his juicy salads fail'd, Sliced carrot pleased him well.

A Turkey carpet was his lawn, Whereon he loved to bound, To skip and gambol like a fawn, And swing himself around.

His frisking was at evening hours For then he'd lost his fear! But most before approaching showers, Or when a storm drew near.

Eight years and five round-rolling moons He thus saw steal away, Dozing out all his idle noons And every night at play.

I kept him for his humour's sake, For he would oft beguile My heart of thoughts that made it ache, And force me to a smile.

But now, beneath this walnut shade, He finds his long last home, And waits, in snug concealment laid Till gentler puss shall come.

He, still more aged, feels the shocks From which no care can save; And partner once of Tiney's box, Must soon partake his grave.

William Cowper

Punch's Appeal for the Hunted Hare

All on the bare and bleak hillside, One night this merry Christmastide, A shivering hunted hare did hide; Poor Pussy!

Though we had hunted puss all day, The wind had blown her scent away, And balked the dogs, so there she lay, Poor Pussy!

There to the earth she humbly crept, There brooding o'er her lot she wept, There, on her empty stomach she slept. Poor Pussy!

And there, while frozen fell the dew, She dreamt an ugly dream or two, As starved, wet folk are apt to do, Did Pussy!

Loud hungry hounds of subtle ken, And thundering steeds, and hard-eyed men, Are fast on Pussy's trail again, Poor Pussy!

Onwards she strains, on, as they tear Foremost amongst the foremost there, Are ruthless women's faces fair; Poor Pussy!

One moment's check, to left, to right, In vain she spends her little might, Some yokel's eyes have marked her flight, Poor Pussy!

What use her fine small wits to rack! Closer, and faster on her track Hurries the hydra-headed pack, Lost Pussy!

"For pity's sake, kind huntsman, stop! Call off the dogs before I drop, And kill me with your heavy crop." Shrieks Pussy!

With shuddering start and stifled scream, She wakes!--She finds it all a dream; How kind the cold, cold earth doth seem To Pussy!

[Page 180--Rat Land]

The Pied Piper of Hamelin --or-- The Vanished Children

Hamelin Town's in Brunswick By famous Hanover city; The river Weser, deep and wide, Washes its wall on the southern side. A pleasanter spot you never spied; But, when begins my ditty, Almost five hundred years ago, To see the townsfolk suffer so From vermin was a pity.

Rats! They fought the dogs and killed the cats, And bit the babies in the cradles, And ate the cheeses out of the vats, And licked the soup from the cook's own ladles, Split open the kegs of salted sprats, Made nests inside men's Sunday hats, And even spoiled the women's chats, By drowning their speaking, With shrieking and squeaking In fifty different sharps and flats.

At last the people in a body To the Town Hall came flocking: "'Tis clear," cried they, "our Mayor's a noddy; And as for our Corporation--shocking To think we buy gowns lined with ermine For dolts that can't or won't determine What's best to rid us of our vermin!

The mayor and Town Councillors were greatly perplexed what to do, when there entered a strange-looking piper, and offered to charm away all the rats for a thousand guilders. The council joyfully agreed to this, and at once:--

Into the street the Piper swept, Smiling first a little smile, As if he knew what magic slept In his quiet pipe the while: Then, like a musical adept, To blow the pipe his lips he wrinkled, And green and blue his sharp eyes twinkled Like a candle flame where salt is sprinkled; And ere three shrill notes the pipe uttered, You heard as if an army muttered; And the muttering grew to a grumbling; And out of the houses the rats came tumbling.

Great rats, small rats, lean rats, brawny rats, Brown rats, black rats, grey rats, tawny rats, Grave old plodders, gay young friskers, Fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins, Cocking tails and pricking whiskers, Families by tens and dozens, Brothers, sisters, husbands wives-- Followed the Piper for their lives. From street to street he piped advancing, Until they came to river Weser Wherein all plunged and perished --Save one.

You should have heard the Hamelin people Ringing the bells till they rocked the steeple. "Go," cried the Mayor, "and get long poles! Poke out the nests and block up the holes! Consult with carpenters and builders, And leave in our town not even a trace Of the rats!"--when suddenly up the face Of the Piper perked in the market-place, With a "First, if you please, my thousand guilders!"

The mayor and Councillors abused the Piper, refused to pay him the thousand guilders, and offered him fifty and a drink, he refused to take less than they had offered, and said: