Part 4

He said unto his victim fair: "This is a pretty place; So won't you fly to the window high Where hangs the woven lace?"

The fly flew to the window pane Where spider lace was hung; And ere he knew just what to do A web was 'round him strung.

He buzzed and hummed and fluttered there, And struggled with his might. The spider sly had caught the fly And held him very tight.

So let's not listen, like the fly, To untrue tales that are told; For we must mind we're sure to find All glittering things aren't gold.

Let's not be led to danger then By a sinful, harmful guide; But walk each day in the narrow way And shun the one that's wide.

MOTHER GOOSE'S DINNER PARTY

Old Mother Goose Rode in her caboose, And invited her friends to dine; And to each of them said, As she popped out her head: "Be sure to come at straight nine."

To Old Mother Hubbard, Who had a bare cupboard, With nothing to eat or to sup, She said: "Bring your dog Jack, So you can carry back Enough for to fill you both up."

And to little Bopeep: "You may bring all your sheep, And their tails that were hung up to dry." And to little Jack Horner, Who sat in the corner, She said: "I have made a plum pie."

And to little Boy Blue: "Bring your horn along too, And play us a rollicking tune; For the cat with the fiddle Will play us 'Hi-diddle,' While the cow jumps over the moon."

And to little Tom Tucker, Whose face wore a pucker, Because he had nothing to eat, She said: "Come to the party And eat quite hearty, Then your face will be pleas'nt and sweet."

But of little Tom Green, The boy who was mean, She said she would surely leave out; And would only invite The boy who did right, And he was that little John Trout.

To the piper's son Tom, She said: "Come along And bring us a pig if you will," Then poor simple Simon, Who met the fat pieman, She told he could eat to his fill.

And to poor Jack and Jill, Who fell down the hill, And cut such a terrible caper: "Be sure that you bring A drink from the spring, And some vinegar and brown paper."

But to bad, bad Peter, The great pumpkin eater, She said she thought 'twould be well To give his poor wife A change in her life, And let her come out of her shell.

But poor Humpty-Dumpty! He got such a bumpty, When he fell way down from the wall, That he went all to smash With a terrible crash, So she couldn't invite him at all.

Then old Mother Goose Thought 'twould be of no use To invite the king and the queen; For they lived so high On their blackbird pie, And with poor folks wouldn't be seen.

But thought 'twould be right To kindly invite The woman who lived in the shoe. So lent her caboose To be of some use In bringing the children there too.

So all the folks came To see the good dame, And they all spent a jolly good day; And said their good-byes, With tears in their eyes, When the wagons were rolling away.

OLIVE'S ADVICE

Let me tell you what to do As this world you journey through.

Give a smile to all you meet, Keep your temper nice and sweet.

Keep your faces bright and clean, Never do a trick that's mean.

Keep pure thoughts within your mind, Never say a word unkind.

When at home, or when at school Please obey each given rule.

Keep in mind your duty ever, Don't neglect it once, no, never!

Then you'll live a happy life, Free from trouble, free from strife.

THE OLD AND THE NEW

The year has past and gone at last, The parting gave us pain; But though we sigh for one gone by, 'Twill not return again.

We can't recall, not one, not all The years that we have known; They came and went and each was spent, With good and bad seeds sown.

Then let's not whine nor e'en repine For joys that might have been; But with brave heart let each take part To help his fellow-men.

We must not grieve; but still believe Time will soon brighter be; Though we've not met with greatness yet, There's hopes for you and me.

We'll let the past that's gone at last, Be lost on memory's track; We'll live no more the old year o'er, Nor ever wish it back.

The new year's come and now begun, So ring, ye merry chimes; Peal one loud strain of sweet refrain, And bring us better times.

Let's greet the year with words of cheer, And new resolves we'll make; We'll strive with might to do the right, And duty never shake.

With pages turned and wisdom learned By mishaps in life's dream; We'll turn one new for me and you, And keep it white and clean.

We'll keep it well that it may tell Our vows were not in vain; And may each one, when this year's done, Be raised to higher plane.

PA'S WAYS

My pa, he's got the funniest ways Of any man whatever I saw! He's different than ma. He never thinks same as she does; But they alus seem to git 'long some way 'Caus ma says fussin' don't pay.

But pa don't b'lieve in women votin'; En he says that ma can't, En then he says that she shan't! He says he'd be 'shamed of her; En says he'd git divorce. En pa means what he says o' course.

Pa likes to go to church sometimes; But he don't b'long to any 'Caus there's so awful many, En nobody knows which one's right. He says the preachers don't know Where the folks is goin' to go.

'Caus they's never been there-- He means the place they's preach for, What they calls the golden shore. But he says they's doin' lots o' good En he don't mind givin' 'm money. En ma says that's what's funny!

But he never minds what she says, He says woman can't mind her biz! En I guess he's right, pa is. But ma b'lieves in woman's rights; En says a woman kin talk en do, En that's what she's goin' to.

Pa says if she couldn't talk she'd die! En he wants her to live long, So lets her talk on, en on. But pa can eat more'n she can; En he likes everything she bakes Her pies, en pudins, en cakes.

En it keeps her bakin' lots it does. She says she wishes he wouldn't eat s' much Of pies, en cakes, en pudins, en such. He says her cookin's good too, En it jest gives him a appitite! Oh, my! pa eats a awful sight.

But he don't care anything 'bout fashion; He says his is all his own; En wishes folks 'uld let him 'lone! He says if folks 'uld pay ther bills They couldn't wear so much style, En go to picnics all the while.

He's gittin' older every day, pa is. En ma says he's funnier, too, En she don't know what she'll do! But she never crosses him now; 'Caus she says it never pays Fer pa--well them's pa's ways.

THE SPIDER AND THE BEE

"Will you walk into my parlor?" Said a spider to a bee, "'Tis the prettiest little parlor That ever you did see."

"No: I thank you, Mr. Spider," Said the busy, humming bee, "There's no honey in your parlor, So it's not the place for me."

KITTY BELL

I've a story that I'll tell 'Bout a puss named Kitty Bell, How she played and romped one day, In a _very shocking_ way.

And what happened to her then Just because she'd naughty been; For she wouldn't mind a word, Not a single one she heard.

So she had to go to bed With a dreadful aching head! An' she cried an awful lot, 'Caus her head was burning hot.

But I bound an' tied it up, Gave her tea in her new cup, Shook her pillow till 'twas light, Then slept kitty all the night.

In the morning when she woke Not a single word she spoke; But she mewed, "I'm hungry ma," Then she licked her little paw,

Washed her face as kittens do, Till it looked as clean as new; Soon her mama brought a mouse, That she caught back of the house.

This she gave to Kitty Bell; An' poor kitty then got well, Ate it up an' ran to play In a _very quiet_ way.

THE BIRDS' PARTY

The birds all held a party One lovely day in June; When hearts were light and cheery And voices were in tune.

They came in pairs from woodlands, From orchards, and from glen, The robin, rook, and bluebird, The swallow, cuckoo, wren,

Sweet bobolink and sparrow, The crow and pretty jay, The whip-poor-will and linnet, All came that happy day.

The meadow lark and blackbird, The tiny chickadee, The chippy bird and nightingale, All came the sights to see.

The catbird and canary, The topknot and the thrush, The oriole and turtledove, All came to join the rush.

And each one brought a basket With something good to eat; The robins brought some cherries, The crows each brought some meat.

The sparrows brought some pudding, The blackbird brought some corn, The topknot brought a June plum, The chickadee a horn.

The bluebird brought a horsefly, The meadow lark a bug, The linnet brought a cricket, The turtledove a slug.

The swallow brought a beetle, The wren a little ant, The cuckoo brought a blossom, From off a mustard plant.

The catbird brought some berries, The thrush his choice of weeds, The canary and the rest, Brought baskets full of seeds.

They gathered in the green wood, To spread their dinner fine; Then each one took his sweetheart, And went with her to dine.

The feast was soon all over, And each one with his mate Danced to the horn of chickadee, Until the hour was late.

Then all the birdies parted, And each one took to flight; But every bird was happy When he bade his love good-night.

JANUARY

With merry chimes and merry times We'll greet the new year bright; We'll turn a page that's new in age And try to keep it white.

We'll look ahead and never dread The wind in all his whirls, For winter days and winter plays Are good for boys and girls.

The wind will blow and drift the snow O'er lakes and frozen rills; But what care we? we'll happy be A-coasting down the hills!

We'll build our forts for winter sports, And make a man of snow; And then we'll skate upon the lake, And let the cold wind blow.

We like the ice and think it nice, And wish 'twould always tarry; Of all the year we hold most dear The month of January.

FEBRUARY

The jolly month of winter time Has called around once more; And Mr. Ground-hog will be out To tell us winter is not o'er.

He'll walk about in pig-ship style, And, ere the day is done, He'll freeze his nose and chill his toes And wish he hadn't come.

Then soon will come old Valentine With lots of fun to see; He'll have a face that looks like you, And one that looks like me.

And next will come a birthday Of one who once was great-- We'll dance and shout and all turn out And help to celebrate

The birth of one who never lied, And thus he lived until he died-- George Washington.

MARCH

The month of March has come again With blowing, snowing blast; The winds are piercing in their search, But come too late to last.

But as the month will onward march, The winds will warmer grow; Until 'tis seen the earth is green And vanished has the snow.

Then comes the sweetest time of all, When sap flows up the tree; When sugar-makers busy are A-making cakes for me.

For I'm the girl who likes the cakes Made from that sugar sweet-- They're better far than all the gum That's chewed upon the street.

This is the time I like so well And wish 'twere always here. Of all the months that call around I think March sweetest of the year.

APRIL

The welcome month of April, With sunshine and with showers, Sets all the buds to swelling And brings the early flowers.

And nature now has wakened From her long and wintry sleep, And dandelions are peeping In the grasses at our feet.

The bullfrog loud is calling From the pond or running stream, And the nesting birds are cooing In their early "love's young dream."

The hop-toad in the cellar Thinks he'll take a look without, And old shanghi on the fence Crows and flops his wings about.

And I am just as happy As the butterfly or bee, For the showery month of April Is a welcome month to me.

MAY

The sweetest time of all the year Is when the month of May draws near. The air is sweet with rich perfume That comes from apple-trees in bloom.

The peach-tree sheds its fragrance too, And sips alike its share of dew. The lilac blooms and shows its right To make this month a flowery sight.

The pansy lifts her welcome face From out her long-leaved hiding-place. The violet blossoms as of old And shows her color true as gold.

The brooks they ripple as they go From brink to brink, in ceaseless flow. The lark sails high on upward wing-- All Nature's glad to greet the spring.

The wild flowers blossom in the wood, And all proclaim that God is good. Of all the months I'd have to stay It is the flowery month of May.

JUNE

The month of June brings roses sweet, And daisies blooming at our feet; When Nature sings her sweetest tune, 'Tis in the balmy month of June.

And glad vacation June will bring, Then old school bells will cease to ring, But wedding bells their sweet refrain Will ring and ring out just the same.

Now lilies white upon the stream, In early morning will be seen; And cherries ripe upon the tree Are tempting to the birds and me.

So robin hops from limb to limb, And seems to think they're all for him; And gets his share, and even more, Before the cherry time is o'er.

This is the month that suits me best, And I love it better than all the rest; I'd always sing the same gay tune, If all the months were just like June.

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:

Text in italics is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.

Inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been retained from the original.