Read Ebook: In My Nursery by Richards Laura Elizabeth Howe

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Ebook has 583 lines and 36299 words, and 12 pages

"To see my beauty and my grace The feathered race will flock, And all will bow them low before The mighty Easter Cock."

As thus the chicken proudly spake, And stooped to snatch the prize, His head fell off, and rolled away Before his very eyes!!!!

It rolled into the dish of corn, A sad and sombre sight, While still upon its plaster legs, His body stood upright.

And little Mary, when she came With shining "popper" bright, To pop the corn, and make the balls Which were her heart's delight,

THE BOY AND THE BROOK.

Said the boy to the brook that was rippling away, "Oh, little brook, pretty brook, will you not stay? Oh, stay with me, play with me, all the day long, And sing in my ears your sweet murmuring song." Said the brook to the boy as it hurried away, "And is't for my music you ask me to stay? I was silent until from the hillside I gushed; Should I pause for an instant, my song would be hushed."

Said the boy to the wind that was fluttering past, "Oh, little wind, pretty wind, whither so fast? Oh, stay with me, play with me, fan my hot brow, And ever breathe softly and gently as now." Said the wind to the boy as it hurried away, "And is't for my coolness you ask me to stay? 'Tis only in flying you feel my cool breath; Should I pause for an instant, that instant were death."

Said the boy to the day that was hurrying by, "Oh, little day, pretty day, why must you fly? Oh, stay with me, play with me, just as you are; Let no shadow of evening your noon-brightness mar." Said the day to the boy as it hurried away, "And is't for my brightness you ask me to stay? Know, the jewel of day would no longer seem bright, If it were not clasped round by the setting of night."

THE SHARK.

Oh! blithe and merrily sang the shark, As he sat on the house-top high: A-cleaning his boots, and smoking cheroots, With a single glass in his eye.

With Martin and Day he polished away, And a smile on his face did glow, As merry and bold the chorus he trolled Of "Gobble-em-upsky ho!"

He sang so loud, he astonished the crowd Which gathered from far and near. For they said, "Such a sound, in the country round, We never, no, never did hear."

He sang of the ships that he'd eaten like chips In the palmy days of his youth. And he added, "If you don't believe it is true, Pray examine my wisdom tooth!"

He sang of the whales who'd have given their tails For a glance of his raven eye. And the swordfish, too, who their weapons all drew, And swor'd for his sake they'd die.

And he sang about wrecks and hurricane decks And the mariner's perils and pains, Till every man's blood up on end it stood, And their hair ran cold in their veins.

But blithe as a lark the merry old shark, He sat on the sloping roof. Though he said, "It is queer that no one draws near To examine my wisdom toof!"

And he carolled away, by night and by day, Until he made every one ill. And I'll wager a crown that unless he's come down, He is probably carolling still.

THE EASTER HEN.

Oh! children, have you ever seen The little Easter Hen, Who comes to lay her pretty eggs, Then runs away again?

She only comes on Easter Day; And when that day is o'er, Till next year brings it round again, You will not see her more.

Her eggs are not like common eggs, But all of colors bright: Blue, purple, red, with spots and stripes, And scarcely one that's white.

She lays them in no special place,-- On this side, now on that. And last year, only think! she laid One right in Johnny's hat.

But naughty boys and girls get none: So, children, don't forget! And be as good as good can be-- It is not Easter yet!

PUMP AND PLANET.

With a hop, skip, and jump, We went to the pump, To fill our kettles with starch. He gave us good day In the pleasantest way, With a smile that was winning and arch.

"Oh, Pump," said I, "When you look up on high To flirt with the morning star, Does it make you sad, Oh! Pumpy, my lad, To think she's away so far?"

Said the Pump, "Oh no! For we've settled it so That but little my feelings are tried. For every clear night She slides down the moonlight, And shines in the trough at my side."

THE POSTMAN.

Hey! the little postman, And his little dog. Here he comes a-hopping Like a little frog; Bringing me a letter, Bringing me a note, In the little pocket Of his little coat.

Hey! the little postman, And his little bag, Here he comes a-trotting Like a little nag; Bringing me a paper, Bringing me a bill, From the little grocer On the little hill.

Hey! the little postman, And his little hat, Here he comes a-creeping Like a little cat. What is that he's saying? "Naught for you to-day!" Horrid little postman! I wish you'd go away!

HOPSY UPSY.

Hopsy upsy, Baby oh! Into your bath you now must go; Splash and dash, and paddle and plash, That's what you like, my Baby oh!

Where is the sponge for Baby oh? See the silvery fountains flow,-- Diamond drops so bright and clear, Falling all over my Baby dear.

Now for the soap, my Baby oh! Watch the bubbles that come and go; Rainbow isles in a sea of foam, Reflecting your smiles, they go and come.

Here is the towel for Baby oh! Cannot stay in all day, you know; Now scrub and rub, and rub and scrub, And so good-by to the beautiful tub.

Now for the shirt, my Baby oh! Soft and warm, and as white as snow. Puffy white petticoats, fluffy white gown; Why, what a great ball of thistle-down!

Last come the curls, my Baby oh! Soft as silver they fall and flow. Now toss him up and carry him down, The bonniest Baby in Boston town!

LITTLE BLACK MONKEY.

Little black Monkey sat up in a tree, Little black Monkey he grinned at me; He put out his paw for a cocoanut, And he dropped it down on my occiput.

The occiput is a part, you know, Of the head which does on my shoulders grow; And it's very unpleasant to have it hit, Especially when there's no hair on it.

I took up my gun, and I said, "Now, why, Little black Monkey, should you not die? I'll hit you soon in a vital part! It may be your head, or it may be your heart."

Little black Monkey still sat in the tree, And placidly, wickedly grinned at me. I took up my gun and I walked away, And postponed his death till another day.

JIPPY AND JIMMY.

Jippy and Jimmy were two little dogs. They went to sail on some floating logs; The logs rolled over, the dogs rolled in, And they got very wet, for their clothes were thin.

MASTER JACK'S SONG.

You may talk about your groves, Where you wander with your loves. You may talk about your moonlit waves that fall and flow. Something fairer far than these I can show you, if you please. 'Tis the charming little cupboard where the jam-pots grow.

There the golden peaches shine In their syrup clear and fine, And the raspberries are blushing with a dusky glow. And the cherry and the plum Seem to beckon you to come To the charming little cupboard where the jam-pots grow.

There the sprightly pickles stand, With the catsup close at hand, And the marmalades and jellies in a goodly row. While the quinces' ruddy fire Would an anchorite inspire To seek the little cupboard where the jam-pots grow.

Never tell me of your bowers That are full of bugs and flowers! Never tell me of your meadows where the breezes blow! But sing me, if you will, Of the house beneath the hill, And the darling little cupboard where the jam-pots grow.

MOTHER ROSEBUSH.

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