Part 1

THE GINGERBREAD BOY

LIBRARY OF “JUST RIGHT BOOKS”

The Tiddly Winks Open Air Stories Surprise Stories Gingerbread Boy The Party Twins Doll Land Stories The Treasure Twins Tale of Curly Tail Washington’s Boyhood Reading Time Stories Comical Circus Stories Knowledge Primer Games Real Out-of-Door Stories Jolly Polly and Curly Tail Fifty Funny Animal Tales The Flower and Berry Babies In and Out-Door Playgames A Child’s Garden of Verses Busy Fingers Drawing Primer Happy Manikin in Manners Town The Vegetable and Fruit Children The Dinner That Was Always There Six Tiddly Winks and the A to Zees

Published by ALBERT WHITMAN & CO. Chicago, U. S. A.

THE GINGERBREAD BOY AND JOYFUL JINGLE PLAY STORIES

BY

LAURA ROUNTREE SMITH AUTHOR OF HAPPY MANIKIN, JOLLY POLLY, TIDDLY WINKS, ETC.

ILLUSTRATED BY MILDRED LYON

“A JUST RIGHT BOOK” PUBLISHED BY ALBERT WHITMAN COMPANY CHICAGO

THE GINGERBREAD BOY

Copyright, 1923, by Albert Whitman & Co.

Chicago, U. S. A. _Fourth Printing 1930_

“A JUST RIGHT BOOK” MADE IN THE U. S. A.

CONTENTS

The Gingerbread Boy Page 9

The Easter Bunny „ 19

Old Woman Work-Away „ 28

Bobby Bright Eyes’ Birthday Party „ 41

The Happy Hare „ 49

The Road to Sleepy-Town „ 57

Old Mother Bear’s Christmas Stocking „ 67

Old Mother Bear’s Happy New Year „ 80

Little Tommy Tittlemouse „ 87

The Mad March Hare „ 97

Danny-Do-Little „ 108

Jack and Jill’s Toothpick Circus „ 119

PREFACE

The first three stories contained in the book found great favor with the reading public, having been published in the Woman’s Home Companion.

All the stories are wholesome and have good influence upon the little readers. In Danny Do-Little, work is made delightful through play. In Old Mother Bear’s Christmas Stocking, the selfishness of the animals is dwelt upon, but also their kindness of heart, and the saying brought out that, “One good turn deserves another.” The little Birthday story will be interesting to read at school and children’s parties, for who among the little ones does not occasionally have a birthday?

Catchy little jingles run throughout the stories. An enthusiastic parent in Massachusetts said: “My children are very much pleased with Laura Rountree Smith’s Jingle Books, and must have a story before bed-time each night. I think her books mighty clever.”

The book contains stories which can easily be read by the children themselves.

Little Fairy Help-You-Out Does not come when children pout; You will see her by and by, If to do your best you try.

THE GINGERBREAD BOY AND OTHER JINGLE PLAY STORIES

The Gingerbread Boy

Polly and Peter had to stay home one Saturday when mother was ill.

Mother said, “Polly, take my place in the kitchen, please, and, Peter, you must amuse the baby.”

Polly went down stairs, put on her little all-over apron, and sat down on the kitchen stool.

She sighed: “Oh dear, something always happens on a sunny Saturday—when I want to play! We have to miss the school picnic to-day; but I will smile, and smile, and something nice will surely happen.”

With that, the dimples began to play hide and seek upon her face, and she heard an airy, fairy voice calling:

“Little Fairy Help-You-Out, Blithe and gay beyond a doubt, I’ll introduce you with much joy, To the dear little, queer little Gingerbread Boy!”

“Who are you?” cried Polly.

She looked high and low, but no one was to be seen.

Polly smiled again, and said: “I have a new apron that I was going to wear to the picnic.”

“The better to cook with my dear,” said a sugary voice.

Polly looked about, but could not see the Gingerbread Boy, though she felt sure he had spoken.

Polly said: “I will make some gingerbread cookies, and see what comes of it.”

As Polly mixed the cookies a sugary voice cried:

“More sugar, more spice, Make everything nice.”

_Then the most wonderful thing happened!_

The little rolling-pin that Polly was using turned to gold; and how it did roll out those gingerbread cookies! Then the cutter turned to gold, and cut them out into queer shapes and sizes.

The currants jumped upon the cookies making funny faces upon them.

They leaped into the pans, and all Polly had to do was to set them into the oven to bake.

She was so happy, she swept the kitchen and washed the dishes, and would have forgotten the cookies, I am sure, if she had not heard a voice calling:

“Try to think what you’re about, Better take the cookies out; Someone’s tapping at the door Of the oven, as before!”

Sure enough, Polly heard a rapping, tapping, and when she opened the oven door she heard the cookies call in a happy chorus:

“We’re brown and pretty as any toy, Hurrah, hurrah for the Gingerbread Boy!”

As Polly took the cookies out of the pan, she saw one was shaped like a regular boy, and before she could say a word, out he jumped and sat down on the ice box, fanning himself with a geranium leaf.

Polly said, “I must go and call Peter. I must introduce him to the Gingerbread Boy!”

Peter had been thinking about the picnic, but he tried to amuse the baby by playing ball, and at this very minute in came Polly to tell about the Gingerbread Boy.

To their surprise the Gingerbread Boy said,

“If you will eat my hands and feet You’ll find you’ve something very sweet.”

“Oh, oh,” cried the children, “It would not be polite to eat you!” But all this time they crept nearer and nearer.

The Gingerbread Boy said:

“Come, nibble my fingers; come nibble my toes! I can run—that’s the way the Fairy Tale goes!”

Peter nibbled the toes and Polly nibbled the fingers, while the baby stood by and clapped his hands with delight.

The Gingerbread Boy said;

“Molasses is used to sweeten, sweeten, I was made to be eaten, eaten!”

The children nibbled away until only the Gingerbread Boy’s voice was left, but he sang gaily:

“To be happy and good I try, Dear boys and girls, good bye, good bye.”

So he was _all gone_!

All this time the gingerbread cookies looked out of their large currant eyes, and Fairy Help-You-Out came into the kitchen and whispered into Polly’s ear and Peter’s ear and the baby’s ear something about a picnic.

The children clapped their hands with delight as three little baskets sailed down on the kitchen floor.

Each basket was full of good things to eat, and the baby’s basket had a bottle of milk in it, of course!

They were having the finest kind of a picnic right at home, in their own kitchen, when a voice called:

“I would like to come—I don’t wish to annoy, Have you any room for the Gingerbread Boy?”

The children rubbed their eyes to see if they were awake, and the Gingerbread Boy jumped in the window and sat on the ice box, fanning himself with a nasturtium leaf.

He laughed until his sides shook, saying:

“Don’t wake your mother, don’t make a noise, The woods are full of Gingerbread Boys.”

Fairy Help-You-Out faded away, because she was no longer needed. For all I know, the Gingerbread Boy is with the children yet.

The Easter Bunny

Mother Tiny-Tail sat in her little red plush rocking chair rocking to and fro singing:

“Alas! alack! I am old and gray, And have no eggs for Easter Day.”

Just then a Funny Bunny came by with a hop, and a skip, and a bound and said, “Oh, Mother Tiny-Tail, no eggs for Easter, no eggs for the Tiny-Tails? That will never do!” So saying, he borrowed Mother Tiny-Tail’s market basket, and went hippety-hop to the Little Brown Hen who lives in the lane, saying:

“Please give me eggs now that I ask it, Enough to fill my market basket.”

The Little Brown Hen said:

“If you will bring me an ear of corn, I’ll fill your basket by Easter morn.”

Then Funny Bunny went with a hop, and a skip, and a jump to the little old Farmer who lived in the field and said:

“Please give me corn, now that I ask it, Enough to fill my market basket.”

The Farmer replied:

“Bring me a sack of meal all ground, I will fill your basket safe and sound.”

Funny Bunny went with a pitter, patter, pitter, patter, until he came to the Miller, and said:

“Please give me a meal-bag, since I ask it, Enough to fill my market basket.”

The Miller laughed until his old fat sides shook and answered:

“Your request sounds rather funny, I will give you meal for money.”

Then Funny Bunny sat down on a stone to think.

How was he going to get some money?

It was getting dark, and the Little Hill Men came out one by one, digging for fairy gold.

When Funny Bunny saw them he cried:

“Please give me money, since I ask it, Enough to fill my market basket.”

Now, the Little Hill Men did not want to give something for nothing, so they shouted:

“With a hop, skip, bound, measure our hill And your empty basket we soon will fill.”

Of course, the Little Hill Men never dreamed that he would do it, so they went on digging for fairy gold.

Funny Bunny was in real earnest, for he thought of Mother Tiny-Tail rocking sadly to and fro in her red plush rocking chair, so

From the daisies to the apple tree, Skippety-hoppety-skip went he.

My! how fast his legs could carry him!

He came back singing:

“Your hill’s as long, your hill’s as wide As anyone would care to ride!”

The Little Hill Men were so surprised he had answered their question that they all stopped digging and crowded around Funny Bunny. “Click, click, click,” they dropped gold into his market basket.

Then he ran with a hop, skip and jump to the Miller and bought a bag of meal. He took the meal to the Farmer and bought the corn. Then he took the corn to the Little Brown Hen, who lived in the lane, and she counted out one dozen, two dozen, three dozen, four dozen, five dozen beautiful white eggs. They filled the market basket Funny Bunny was carrying.

When he got home he set the market basket down in front of Mother Tiny Tail, saying:

“I’m Funny Bunny, I cannot stay, But I wish you a happy Easter Day.”

Mother Tiny-Tail stopped rocking to and fro; but before she could say, “Thank you,” Funny Bunny was hippety-hoppety, off and away.

Mother Tiny-Tail painted the Easter eggs and hid them everywhere.

On Easter morning, all the Tiny-Tails cried, “Oh” and “Ah,” for they found the Easter Eggs in their shoes, in their oatmeal bowls, and in the most unexpected places.

Just at that very minute Funny Bunny peeped in the window and cried, as he held up a wonderful sugary egg:

“Kindness comes back now and then, See my Easter egg, from The Little Hill Men!”

Funny Bunny was always so kind to the Little Tiny-Tails that the Hill Men remembered him.

Then, with a twinkle of nose, and a dancing of toes, Funny Bunny went hippety-hoppety, off and away, singing:

“I really would not think it funny, If you should call me an Easter Bunny.”

Old Woman Work-Away

Old Woman Work-Away was always spinning. In the fall of the year she began to think about Thanksgiving, singing:

“Spinning, spinning, round and round, Goes the wheel with pleasant sound, Hurry, hurry, come spin ahead, And buy for me cranberries red!”

Just as she was thinking about her Thanksgiving dinner, “Rap, a, tap,” sounded on the door, and in came Tinkle Bell, the fairy elf. The little bell on his cap went “Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,” and he said:

“How do you sell your spinning to-day? I am Tinkle Bell; I will take it away.”

The Old Woman replied:

“I’ll sell it for some fairy gold, You’ve plenty of that, so I am told.”

Tinkle Bell took off his cap and shook it.

Out came a pile of fairy gold. He went off with the woven cloth and the little bell on his cap tinkled all the way.

The Old Woman was thinking now she had money enough to buy cranberries for Thanksgiving dinner, when “Rap, a, tap” was heard on the door, and in came Tiny-Tail, the rabbit, shivering with cold. He sang:

“My name is Little Tiny-Tail, I need a new coat without fail.”

The Old Woman made him warm his paws by the fire. She could see he needed a new fur coat for winter sure enough. By and by she counted out all her fairy gold, and sent him home with a bag full so he could buy a winter coat.

The Old Woman went back to her spinning wheel singing:

“Spinning, spinning round and round, Goes the wheel with pleasant sound: Hurry, hurry, come fill my pot With a nice plum pudding hot!”

She soon had a pretty mat woven, and in came Tinkle Bell and paid her as before. She felt sure she would have plum pudding for Thanksgiving dinner, when, “Rap, a, tap,” sounded on the door, and Bushy-Tail, the old squirrel, came limping in. He said:

“If winter clothing I could choose, I’d buy two pairs of over shoes.”

The Old Woman knew as well as you or I that overshoes cost money, but she loved all the animals in the woods so she let Bushy-Tail help himself to her fairy gold, and he went off to buy overshoes.

The Old Woman began to spin as before, singing:

“Spinning, spinning, round and round, Goes the wheel with pleasant sound; Hurry, hurry and don’t mistake Spin enough to buy a cake.”

When she had a pretty mat made Tinkle Bell came and bought it as before, and she said, “Now, I have my cake for Thanksgiving dinner.”

“Rap, a, tap,” sounded on the door and in walked Hug-Me-Tight, the bear, saying, as he brushed the snow from his fur and whiskers:

“Before I curl up for my nap, I need a brand new warm night-cap.”

The Old Woman knew he wanted to sleep all winter and she thought how cold his ears would get, so she let him have money for a brand new night-cap.

The Old Woman began to spin so hard that her spinning wheel went “Whir, whir, whir!” She had given away all her fairy gold, and Thanksgiving was coming nearer and nearer and she sang:

“Spinning, spinning, round and round, Goes the wheel with pleasant sound, Hurry, hurry, come weave a mat, And buy for me a turkey fat!”

Tinkle Bell came and bought the mat and left a pile of gold as before. The Old Woman thought if she had no more visitors she could buy a fat turkey.

“Rap, a, tap,” sounded and in came Foxy-Loxy, the friendly Fox saying:

“Spectacles, without a rim, I need—my eyes are growing dim.”

Now, the Old Woman did not want to give away all her fairy gold; but her own eyes were growing dim and she had to wear spectacles, so she felt sorry for Foxy-Loxy and let him count out her gold, and take it all away.

The Old Woman set the spinning wheel in the corner. She was tired spinning. Her head went nid, nid, nodding and she fell asleep.

At this very minute Tiny-Tail, Bushy-Tail, Hug-Me-Tight, and Foxy-Loxy met Tinkle Bell in the woods, and they showed their new possessions.

They all shouted, “We are so thankful!”

Tinkle Bell rang the tiny bell on his cap to bring them to order, saying:

“Old Woman Work-Away, Will have no dinner Thanksgiving Day, Unless her good deeds you recall, And fill her basket now, this fall.”

Those comical little animals jumped up and down and Tiny-Tail said:

“I’ve cabbages, so fresh and nice, I’ll take them to her in a trice.”

Bushy-Tail said:

“A bag of nuts I’ve stored away, They’ll help her on Thanksgiving Day.”

Hug-Me-Tight said:

“Though to-day I have no money I’ll give to her a pot of honey.”

Foxy-Loxy said:

“There are turkeys in my den, For four and twenty gentlemen.”

At that, they all laughed for they knew he meant to send the Old Woman a fine, fat turkey.

Tinkle Bell said:

“Other things for Thanksgiving Day I’ll put in the basket without delay.”

He bought cranberries, cake and plum pudding.

Old Woman Work-Away heard a “Rap, a, tap” on the door by and by, and as she was still half asleep, she was slow to open the door. When she got there, she found a basket full of good things.

She might never have known where it came from, if she had not found a tiny card on which was written:

“From your woodland folks so merry and gay, We wish you a happy Thanksgiving Day.”

She looked about to see who was hiding in the bushes.

She could see no one, but she heard a tiny bell ring, “Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle.”

Bobby Bright Eyes’ Birthday Party

Once upon a time Bobby Bright Eyes was sitting on the door step crying, when an airy, fairy voice sang:

“I’m the Birthday Fairy flitting by, Bobby Bright Eyes, why do you cry?”

Bobby was so surprised he looked around to see where the voice came from, but the Fairy was well hidden as she sang again:

“I have secrets more than I ever told, Little Boy, Little Boy, are you five years old?”

Bobby Bright Eyes dropped into verse too, in his excitement and said:

“Sing it once more, sing it once more, As yet I am only quarter past four!”

Then the fairy sailed away.

Some time after, Bobby Bright Eyes sat on the door step looking very sad for soon he would be five years old, and he was thinking that he had never had a Birthday Party in his life.

At this very minute a ringing, singing voice cried out:

“I have secrets as well as fairy gold, Little Boy, Little Boy are you five years old?”

Bobby Bright Eyes replied:

“Sing it once more, sing it once more, As yet I am only half past four!”

So time went on, and one day the Fairy danced in a tree overhead in plain sight, singing:

“I love you so much I am growing bold, Little Boy, Little Boy are you five years old?”

Bobby Bright Eyes answered:

“I am glad to know you are still alive, To-day I am really quarter of five!”

The Birthday Fairy knew then that Bobby Bright Eyes was nearly five years old, so she kissed him on both cheeks and followed him about all day singing:

“Your tasks all wait, so run on after I’ll follow you with mirth and laughter.”

Bobby had such bright eyes he was always seeing something to be done, without being told. So he ran on out to the barn and gave Pussy Whiskers, the Cat, a drink of milk.

The Birthday Fairy whispered in her ear, Something not meant for us to hear!

Then Bobby ran on to the neighbor who baked beautiful birthday cakes and carried a letter for her to the Post Office, and,

The Fairy whispered to her a minute or so Something she did not want us to know!

Then Bobby ran errands for the big fat grocer, and,

The Birthday Fairy was very wise, She whispered to the grocer with twinkling eyes!

Then Bobby shared an apple with the boy next door, and,

The Birthday Fairy whispered that day Something to him ’ere she ran away.

Then Bobby helped a Limpy-Lame Old Man across the street and,

The Birthday Fairy whispered, “Old Man, I hope you will approve my plan.”

Now every hour Bobby Bright Eyes grew nearer and nearer five years old, and the Birthday Fairy at last said,

“I have more secrets than I can hold, Little Boy, Little Boy are you five years old?”

At last Bobby replied, clapping his hands:

“Oh, Birthday Fairy will you stay? For I am five years old to-day.”

Then the Birthday Fairy danced right down beside him replying:

“I’ll stay if you give invitation hearty To your five year old Birthday Party.”

And before Bobby had time to say he was too poor to have a Birthday Party, pitter-patter, pitter-patter came Pussy Whiskers, carrying a small black kitten in her mouth for a Birthday present. She purred softly:

“I have been told you are five years old So, I brought you a kitten from my fold.”

Bobby Bright Eyes was happy you may be sure.

Then, the neighbor who baked beautiful birthday cakes came saying:

“I have been told you are five years old, Here’s a Birthday cake like some I’ve sold.”

It was a wonderful cake with pink and white icing upon it.

Then the big fat grocer came puffing along and cried:

“I have been told you are five years old, Here are candles that glitter much like gold.”

Sure enough, he had five candles to put on the Birthday cake and when they were lighted they glittered like gold.

Then the little boy from next door ran over and threw a bouncing ball to Bobby Bright Eyes, saying:

“I have been told you are five years old, Here is a ball to bounce or hold.”

Just as they were beginning to play ball the Limpy-Lame Old Man came, saying:

“I have been told you are five years old, To present some candy I now make bold.”