Chapter 2

Co' dea', co' dea', says little Bo-peep, Co' dea', co' dea', I'll shear my sheep; Their wool so fine will make my coat, My blankets and my hose to boot.

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_THE TEA-PARTY_.

Ah! little ones, I'm sure there's not A drop of tea in your weeny pot. For water bright and milk so pure, Alone will bring you health, be sure; And health is beauty, health is cheer, Health is happiness so dear.

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_TELL IT AGAIN, MOTHER_.

"Tell it again, Mother, Tell it again,"-- No matter what story she told We children, would cry, In the days gone by. Before our years were old.

"Tell it again, Mother, Tell it again,"-- No matter how weary and worn. For we children knew naught Of the care we brought, Before our sense was born.

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"Tell it again, Mother, Tell it again,"-- And she, patient, and kind, and wise, The tale would repeat, Or the song so sweet, And 'twas ever a glad surprise.

"Tell it again, Mother, Tell it again,"-- Ah! you children, when children no more, Will go back to the days Of sweet babyhood lays, And Mother's sage sayings con o'er.

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_LITTLE JACK HORNER_.

LITTLE JACK HORNER Sat in the corner, Eating a morsel of nice brown bread; "Have some pie, or some cake?" "Nay, not I," with a shake And a toss of his wise little head. "For this bread will make bone, And white teeth like a stone, That will neither grow soft nor decay; But rich cake and rich pie Sure will break, bye and bye, My good health, and that never will pay."

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_LITTLE BOY BLUE_.

"Little Boy Blue, may I go with you now?" "Yes, down to the pasture to drive up the cow."

"Little boy blue, what then may I have?" A nice cup of milk as ever cow gave.

"Little boy blue, the milk must be set;" "Yes, for 'tis thus the nice cream we shall get."

"Little boy blue, what will we do then?" "We'll skim it and dash it, with 'churn, butter, churn.'"

"Little boy blue, what else can we make?" "O, cheese, tempting cheese, and the dainty cheese cake."

"Little boy blue, is there anything more?" "O, yes, puddings, custards and dainties, a store."

"Little boy blue, shall we eat of all these?" "Simple food is far better for us, if you please."

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_MISS VELVET-PAWS_.

Little Miss Velvet-paws, Raveling out her yarn, Catches mice, in a trice, In everybody's barn.

Look out for velvet paws, Do not trust them far, For velvet paws cover claws That will leave a scar.

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_POLLY HOPKINS_.

Now little Polly Hopkins Must surely know great A, And B, and C, and D, and E, F, G, H, I, J, K; And L, and M, and N, and O, And P, and Q, R, S, And T, U, V, and W, X, And Y, & Z, I guess.

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_A, B, C_.

A Stands for Alligator,

B Stands for Ball,

C Stands for Cat in a cream-pot,

D Stands for Doll.

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E Stands for East, or Ellen.

F Stands for Fay,

G Stands for Goat, a Pen in,

H Stands for Hay,

I Stands for Indigestion,

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J Stands for Jar,

K Stands for King, or Keepsake,

L Stands for La,

M Stands for Man, or Thousand,

N Stands for Nail,

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O Stands for Oaken bucket,

P Stands for Pail,

Q Stands for Queen, or Question.

R Stands for Rose,

S Stands for Christmas Stocking,

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T Stands for Toes,

U Stands for Urn, or Ulster,

V Stands for Vane,

W Stands for West, or Winter.

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X Stands for Ten.

Y Stands for Yoke, (with Oxen).

Z Stands for Zero.

& when you've learned your LETTERS, You'll be a Hero.

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C-A-T spells CAT, That brought the kittens here;

D-O-G spells DOG, That does, the puppies, rear.

C-O-W, Cow, The mother of the calf;

O-X spells the Ox, That's bigger, yes, by half.

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B-O-Y spells BOY, That's little brother Lou;

G-I-R-L, GIRL, And that is sister Sue.

B-I-R-D, BIRD, Just hear canary sing;

G-O-L-D, GOLD, That makes a handsome ring

B-O-O-K, BOOK, In which we learn to read;

C-O-O-K, COOK, Supplies the food we need.

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S-E-E-D, SEED, From which we raise the plant;

S-I-N-G, SING, Just hear the children chant.

B-A, BA, B-Y, BY, And that spells BABY, love;

L-A, LA, D-Y, DY, And that spells LADY, dove.

M-A, MA, R-Y, RY, And that spells MARY, child,

E-D, ED, D-Y, DY, That's EDDY, sweet and mild.

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_THE KITTEN_.

ONE, two, (1, 2,) Here's a kitten for you;

THREE, four, (3, 4,) She will open the door,

FIVE, six, (5, 6,) And your cream she will mix,--

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SEVEN, eight, (7, 8,) If you are too late,

NINE, ten, (9, 10,) To cover the pan;

ELEVEN, twelve, (11, 12,) And then you must delve,--

THIRTEEN, fourteen, (13, 14,) To cover her sporting;

FIFTEEN, Sixteen, (15, 16,) But while you are fixing,---

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SEVENTEEN, eighteen, (17, 18,) Remember I'm waiting,

NINETEEN, twenty, (19, 20,) For butter a plenty.

* * * * *

To those who serve you, children, all, Be gentle and polite,-- For thus are gentle-women known, Or gentle-men, at sight.

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_DOLLY DIMPLE_.

DOLLY DIMPLE, just for fun, Stands to show us she is ONE.

Dolly and her sister Sue Show that ONE and ONE make Two.

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Dolly, Sue, and Nanny Lee, Show that ONE with TWO make THREE.

Doll, Sue, Nan, and little Noah, Show that ONE with THREE make FOUR

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Doll, Sue, Nan, Noah, and Ben Brive Show that ONE with FOUR make FIVE.

Now all these with Jenny Hicks Show that ONE with FIVE make SIX.

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One more, Ned, a baby, even, Shows that ONE with SIX make SEVEN.

With these girls and boys, put Kate, And the ONE with SEVEN make EIGHT.

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All these eight, with Adaline Show that ONE with EIGHT make NINE.

Now with these put Dick, and then You'll see that ONE with NINE make TEN.

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_IF YOU PLEASE_.

I hope my children never will Say, "Give me" this or that,-- But, "If you please," I'd like a bun, Or, "Thank you" for a pat.

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_THE POOR LITTLE CHICK-A-DEES_.

TEN little chick-a-dees clinging to a vine,-- A speckled snake charmed _one_, then there were but NINE.

NINE little chick-a-dees,--one without a mate,-- A Sparrow-hawk caught _one_, then there were but EIGHT.

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EIGHT little chick-a dees, by a 'possum driven,-- He caught _one_ and slaughtered it, then there were but SEVEN.

SEVEN little chick-a-dees hopping round the ricks,-- A Weasel came and captured _one_, then there were but six.

SIX little chick-a-dees watching Rover dive,-- He sprang ashore and seized _one_, then there were but FIVE.

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FIVE little chick-a-dees pecking at the door, Kitty-cat caught _one_, then there were but FOUR.

FOUR little chick-a-dees full of birdy glee, _One_ was tangled in a net, then there were but THREE.

THREE little chick-a-dees dabbling in the dew, A stone fell and crushed _one_, then there were but TWO.

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TWO little chick-a-dees peeping just for fun, A hungry Kite caught _one_, then there was but ONE.

ONE little chick-a-dee, mourning all alone, Flew away to find a mate, and then there was NONE,

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_HEIGH-HO, DAISIES AND BUTTER-CUPS_.

HEIGH-HO, daisies and butter-cups Grow in the meadows for children to gather; But cattle will shun them, And farmers will burn them, Because in their fields they are only a bother.

Heigh-ho, red-top and clover-bloom, Filling the air with their sweetness and beauty, Will yield without measure, Their wealth of rich treasure, Rewarding the farmer for doing his duty.

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_THE PONY_.

Once 2 is 2, Here's a pony for you;

Two 2s are 4, But be careful the more,--

THREE 2s are 6, For perhaps pony kicks;

FOUR 2s are 8, And if so we must wait,

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FIVE 2s are 10, Till he's trained by the men;--

Six 2s are 12, Before trusting ourselves,

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SEVEN 2s are 14, To ride him out sporting;

EIGHT 2s are 16, But we can be fixing

NINE 2s are 18, His food while we're waiting;

TEN 2s are 20, Oh, yes, give him plenty,--

ELEVEN 2s are 22, For then he will be gentle to--

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TWELVE 2s are 24, Us who feed and pet him more.

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_BABY'S RECKONING_.

One little head, Ah! but what does it hold? No matter,--it's worth its whole weight in pure gold.

Two big brown eyes, soft with Heaven's own dew; No diamonds so precious, so sparkling, so true.

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Three cunning dimples, one deep in her chin, And one in each cheek--Ah! they're just twin and twin.

Four little fingers to clutch mamma's hair, But sweeter than honeycomb, even when there.

Five, we may call it, with little Tom Thumb, And that fist in her mouth is as sweet as a plum.

Six wonderful pearls her bright coral lips hide, And the Kohinoor's nothing these pure pearls beside.

Seven brown wavelets are ever in motion, And silken floss to them is naught, to our notion.

Eight little giggles run over with glee-- And more if you call them, so merry is she.

Nine songs, (they're Greek tho' to all but mamma), Make us think she is destined, an Opera Star.

Ten toddling steps, but to us full of grace, For our babe in our hearts ever holds the first place.

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_TWO LITTLE PINK SHOES_.

Two little pink shoes standing by the head Of our Nanny sleeping in the trundle-bed;

On the little table, waiting for the morn, Two little pink shoes, our Nanny to adorn.

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Two little bright eyes, peeping open wide, Spied the little table, and the pink shoes spied.

Two little fat hands climbing up to catch; Two little fat feet following to match.

Two little fat arms hug them to her breast; Two little fat legs run to show the rest.

Never more a treasure can our Nancy choose, That will give such pleasure as these two pink shoes.

* * * * *

In your work or your play, When you read, talk, or write, Sit always, my child, With your back to the light,

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_BABY PEARL_.

Now listen while I tell you, child, That I am quite a grown-up girl, For I can read, and spell my name, While you,--why, you're just Baby Pearl.

I help mamma to "house-keep," too, Although she says I make a whirl! But I can wipe the forks and spoons, While you, Ah, you're just Baby Pearl.

And then I dress myself, you see, And comb my hair when not in curl, And I can make my dolly's clothes, While you, you're only Baby Pearl.

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Tis true, mamma says I must be "A very pattern little girl," Just all for you, and I shall try Because, because, you're Baby Pearl.

* * * * *

_MY VALENTINE_.

Dearest little lover mine, Sweetest, pertest valentine; "Desht I'm two years old," he says,-- Blessings on his pretty ways,-- "'Tan't I be your valentine?" Yes forever, lover mine, Shalt thou be my valentine.

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_FEE-FI-FO-FUM_.

FEE-FI-FO-FUM, From the Spruce-tree comes the gum; From the Pine the turpentine, Tar and pitch, And timber which Is very choice and fine.

Fee-fi-fo-fum, How from Spruce-tree comes the gum? Soft enough;--the sticky stuff, From seam and cleft, Both right and left, Flows out, and hardens, rough.

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Fay-fi-fo-fee, Nut-galls grow on the Oak-tree; By tiny worms the nut-gall forms, Like little ball; And from Nut-gall The Gallic Acid comes.

Fee-fi-fo-fade, From Nut-galls, too, the Tannin's made; While Acorns grow in group or row;-- And Live-oak long, Makes ship-knees, strong, That round the world may go.

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Fee-fi-fo-fap, We tap the Maples, and the sap We find as sweet as sugar-beet, Then boiling hard, Our sure reward, The maple-sugar treat.

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Fay-fi-fo-fee, See the graceful White-Birch tree, With bark so light, so tough and tight That Indians wrought Canoes we're taught, And paddled out of sight.

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Fee-fi-fo-fap, Hark and hear the Hemlock snap;-- Little spine so full of wind, Heated, hops, And jumping, pops, And makes the bright eyes shine.

Fee-fi-fo-fur, See the curious chestnut-burr; Green and round, then turning brown. Frost opens wide Each prickly side, And out the chestnuts bound.

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Fee-fi-fo-fay, Now the farmer makes his hay; Grasses grow, which workmen mow,-- Toss every-wise, Till sunshine dries, Then into stacks, they stow.

Fay-fee-fi-fo, See the farmer wield his hoe, Lettuce, greens, then corn and beans, With pumpkin-vines Along the lines, Where many a weed o'er-leans.

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Fee-fi-fo-fog, See the wriggling pollywog,*-- With funny tail; but without fail This pollywog Will grow a frog, And lose his wiggle-tail.

[Footnote: Pollywog--Common name for poll wig, or tadpole.]

Fee-fi-fo-faint, Colors, seven, the Rainbow paint; Violet bright is first in sight-- Then indigo, Blue, green, yellow, Orange and Red,--the seven, WHITE.

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Fay-fee-fi-fo, Now you ask, "What makes Rainbow?" It is the sun, my darling one, Shines through the rain, O'er hill and plain, But see, the beauty's flown.

Fay-fi-fo-fear, Don't you understand it, dear? Raindrops fall, Sun shines through all, Reflects beyond, This beauteous wand Which we the Rainbow call.

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_THE OXEN_.

The oxen are such clever beasts, They'll drag the plough all day; They're very strong and tug along Great loads of wood or hay.

They feed on grass, when green or dry; Their flesh is beef, for food; Their lungs are "lights," their stomach, "tripe," Their skin for leather's good.

Their hair men use in mortar, too, Lime, water, sand and hair, They nicely mix and smoothly fix, For plastering, so fair.

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For making soap their bones are used; Their horns for combs we group; Their feet are boiled for "neat's-foot-oil," Their tails for ox-tail soup.

Their heart-case forms a money-bag; Their tallow, candles, white; Their intestine, gold-beater's skin, With which gold-leaf we smite.

Thus every part is useful made; The same is true of cows,-- Except their ilk gives luscious milk Instead of dragging ploughs.

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Oxen and cows are "cattle" called; They go in "herds," when wild; But when they're tame, by other name,-- A "drove," _en masse_, they're styled.

Their little ones are "calves,"--and cows' Rich milk produces cream, Which butter makes, and nice cheese-cakes, With curd, whey, and caseine.

And now 'tis funny, but 'tis true, Some children young and mazy, Have thought their eyes were used some-wise, To make the ox-eyed daisy!

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This cannot be, yet creatures' bones Placed round trees, plants and bowers, Will serve to feed just what they need, To grow fine fruits and flowers.

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_THE BROKEN PITCHER_.

"Sweet, my love, I'm sorry That you did not tell, When you broke the pitcher Coming from the well."

"Oh, I thought you'd whip me, Just as Betty did; Then when she would ask me, I would tell a fib."

"Sweet, my child, I never Punish any one For an accidental Thing that may be done.

"Tell me always, darling, Everything you do; This will help to make you Thoughtful, brave and true."

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_THE ELEPHANTS_.

THE ivory for our combs, From elephants' tusks is made; The handles, too for many a knife, And for paper-knives the blade.

The elephant knows a friend,-- And well remembers, too, A kindly act, but ne'er forgets The teasing of a foe.

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_THE WIND_.

"What is the wind, Mamma?" "Tis air in motion, child;" "Why can I never see the wind That blows so fierce and wild?"

"Because the Gases, dear, Of which the air is made, Are quite transparent, that is, we See through, but see no shade."

"And what are Gases, Ma?" "Fluids, which, if we squeeze In space too small, will burst with force;"-- "And what are _fluids_, please?"

"Fluids are what will flow, And gases are so light That when we give them room enough, They rush with eager flight."

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"What gases, dear Mamma, Make up the air or wind?" "'Tis Oxygen and Nitrogen That chiefly there we find; And when the air is full Of Oxygen we're gay, But when there is not quite enough, We're dull, or faint away."

_THE FOG_.

"What is the fog, Mamma?" "Sometimes the air is light And cannot bear up all the mists, And then 'tis foggy, quite;

But when air heavier grows, The fog is borne above, And floated off, the cloudy stuff,-- Just see it, graceful, move."

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THE RAIN.

"What makes the rain, Mamma?" "The mists and vapors rise From land and stream and rolling sea, Up toward the distant skies; And there they form the clouds, Which, when they're watery, dear, Pour all the water down to earth, And rain afar or near."

_THE SNOW_.

"What makes the Snow, Mamma?" "When very cold above, The mists are frozen high in air, And fall as snow, my love."

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"And Hail?" "Tis formed the same; Cold streams of air have come And frozen all the water-drops, And thus the hail-stones form.

"Now do not question more, Dear child, but run and play, I'll tell you of the Water, Fire, And Light, another day." "Oh yes, and dear Mamma, Of Thunder, Lightning, too, For I shall want to know it all, So tell me, Mamma, do."

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_TRUTH_.

Do not let "Mother Truth" find a falsehood all over,-- Amongst all her children, no, never a lie; Stand for Truth, ye wee babies, for Truth, ye who're older, For Truth while you live, and for Truth till you die.

All ye myriads of children this little book talks to, Form now in each household a band for the Truth, Do not let even a "white lie," and still less a "whopper," Find a place in your hearts, nor your heads, nor your mouth.

You know God is Truth;--and as you are His children, You want to be like Him as near as you can; Speak the Truth, live the Truth, be the Truth with Him, And Heaven will have come, as Christ taught in his plan.

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_HI-DIDDLE, HO-DIDDLE_.

HI-DIDDLE, HO-DIDDLE, Pop-diddle-dee, This Earth of ours, on which we live, Is round as it can be. Pray, then, what is a Mountain, valley, hill? They are but like little warts, And pores, on orange-peel.

Hi-diddle, ho-diddle, Pop-diddle-dee,-- Our Earth is swinging in the air, As you can plainly see;-- {113} Pray, then, what keeps it Hanging up in space? The Sun, my child, attracts the Earth And holds it in its place.

Hi-diddle, ho-diddle, Pop-diddle-dee, A lovely Moon is shining for This Earth of ours, you see,-- Held in its cradle Ever since its birth, Because our globe attracted it, As the Sun attracts the Earth.

Hi-diddle, ho-diddle, Pop-diddle-dee, What I mean by globe, child, You're wondering now, I see. {114} A globe or a ball, dear, Is what is round and true, And that is why I'm calling it, This Earth, a globe, to you.

Hi-diddle, ho-diddle, Pop-diddle-dee, Instead of globe I might have said A _sphere_ for you and me; For all the same, in truth, Are sphere and globe and ball, And _hemi_'s half so half this Earth, A _hemisphere_, we call.

Hi-diddle, ho-diddle, Pop-diddle-dee, 'T was once supposed the Earth stood still, While Sun went round it, free;-- But now we've learned it well, That 't is the Earth doth turn Upon its Axis, as it's called; And also round the Sun.

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Hi-diddle, ho-diddle, Pop-diddle-dee, Our Earth in turning round, How long may she be? She turns on her axis In a day, and a night, But to go around the Sun Takes a year for the flight.

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_WHAT IS THE AXIS?_

Now you ask, "What is the Axis?" With an apple I will show; Place your thumb upon the stem-place, And your finger at the blow;-- Now we'll just suppose the apple Has a stem that passes through, And this stem would be the Axis; Now we'll whirl the apple, true,

Holding fast 'twixt thumb and finger,-- That's the way the Earth goes round On its Axis, as we call it, Though no real stem is found. {117} And the two ends of the Axis Have been called the Poles, my dear; Yes, the North Pole and the South Pole, Where 'tis very cold and drear.

Now we'll hold a bigger apple At a distance, for the Sun; Tip the smaller one a little, And then slowly wheel it round All around the larger apple, And it represents the Earth Circling round the Sun that holds it, Ceaseless, in its yearly path.

Wondrous is the strong attraction Of the Sun which holds in place All the Planets in their turnings, All the Stars that see his face; But more wondrous far the power That created Sun and us, And that gave a form and being, To this mighty Universe.

"The Universe!" now you exclaim: "By the Universe, what do you mean?" {118} 'Tis the Sun and the Planets, and every thing known, That we call by this Universe name.

Now the "Planets," you ask, "What are Planets?" They're globes, Some larger, some smaller than Earth,-- Which are swinging in space, And are all held in place, By the God-power that first gave them birth.

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_HEAT AND COLD_.

Our earth has a _North Pole_, Where 'tis very cold; It also has a _South Pole_, That's just the same, we're told. But half-way between, And all the way around, We call it the _Equator_, And heat doth there abound. For there the sun shines always, Though it goes north or south Some twenty-three degrees or more, And sometimes causes drouth. The sun goes north, we call it. But 'tis the earth instead, That tips, and makes it seem the sun Comes higher overhead. And when the sun is northward 'Tis summer here, you see; And when it's to the southward 'Tis there in same degree.

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_HARLEY'S DREAM_.

I know a little brown-eyed boy, His name is Harley Hart; And with a naughty boy or girl, Our Harley has no part.

He cons his lessons o'er and o'er, And once he fell asleep, With finger marking A, B, C, As 'twere the place to keep.

And then he dreamed a funny dream-- The page jumps up to dance, The letters laugh, and by and by, Like imps they leap and prance.

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Now Harley oft had wondered whence The letters first had come; And I'm afraid he sometimes wished They all had staid at home,

Instead of teasing him with quirks, And bothering him with names That seemed to help him hardly more In learning words than games.

One little imp squeaked: "I am _A;_ You could not be a man Without me." Then another cried: "I am E" and quickly ran,

Exclaiming: "And without us both You could not have a h_e_ad." Another says: "You'd have no l_i_mbs If _I_ were lost or dead."

Then _O_, "You'd have no n_o_se nor t_o_es, If it were not for me;" "And what is more, were I not here," Says _U_, "yo_u_ could not be."

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And thus they each and all lay claim To parcel and to part Of what he was, or what should do With hand, or head, or heart.

They hung a ladder 'gainst the tree, And clambered up and down; They played a thousand pranks as wild As any gipsey clown.

They whispered that they came from Rome, And that, if rightly placed, They'd serve our Harley with a feast A king would joy to taste.

So when he woke and knew they were The little mystic keys That open Learning's gates so wide, He loved his A, B, C's.

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_OUR LANGUAGE KEY_.

A E I O U Y

We are small, and we are few, But we're wondrous mighty, too,-- For no word can language wear, Save in it we hold a share. One of us in May is met,-- One is caught in every net; One is in the clambering vine, One, in Moon, must ever shine; One's in you,--and all so shy, The last is hiding in your eye.

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THE SPEECH FAMILY.