Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories Part 22

r Naughty fat rabbit!

S was the sugar-tongs, Nippity-nee, To take up the sugar To put in our tea.

s Nippity-nee!

T was a tortoise, All yellow and black: He walked slowly away, And he never came back.

t Torty never came back!

U was an urn All polished and bright, And full of hot water At noon and at night.

u Useful old urn!

V was a villa Which stood on a hill, By the side of a river, And close to a mill.

v Nice little villa!

W was a whale With a very long tail, Whose movements were frantic Across the Atlantic.

w Monstrous old whale!

X was King Xerxes, Who, more than all Turks is, Renowned for his fas.h.i.+on Of fury and pa.s.sion.

x Angry old Xerxes!

Y was a yew, Which flourished and grew By a quiet abode Near the side of a road.

y Dark little yew!

Z was some zinc, So s.h.i.+ny and bright, Which caused you to wink In the sun's merry light.

z Beautiful zinc!

EDWARD LEAR

THE TABLE AND THE CHAIR

I

Said the Table to the Chair, "You can hardly be aware How I suffer from the heat And from chilblains on my feet.

If we took a little walk, We might have a little talk; Pray let us take the air,"

Said the Table to the Chair.

II

Said the Chair unto the Table, "Now, you _know_ we are not able: How foolishly you talk, When you know we _cannot_ walk!"

Said the Table with a sigh, "It can do no harm to try.

I've as many legs as you: Why can't we walk on two?"

III

So they both went slowly down, And walked about the town With a cheerful b.u.mpy sound As they toddled round and round; And everybody cried, As they hastened to their side, "See! the Table and the Chair Have come out to take the air!"

IV

But in going down an alley, To a castle in a valley, They completely lost their way, And wandered all the day; Till, to see them safely back, They paid a Ducky-quack, And a Beetle, and a Mouse, Who took them to their house.

V

Then they whispered to each other, "O delightful little brother, What a lovely walk we've taken!

Let us dine on beans and bacon."

So the Ducky and the leetle Browny-Mousy and the Beetle Dined, and danced upon their heads Till they toddled to their beds.

EDWARD LEAR

PRECOCIOUS PIGGY

Where are you going to, you little pig?

"I'm leaving my Mother, I'm growing so big!"

So big, young pig, So young, so big!

What, leaving your Mother, you foolish young pig?

Where are you going to, you little pig?

"I've got a new spade, and I'm going to dig!"

To dig, little pig!

A little pig dig!

Well, I never saw a pig with a spade that could dig!

Where are you going to, you little pig?

"Why, I'm going to have a nice ride in a gig!"

In a gig, little pig!

What, a pig in a gig!

Well, I never yet saw a pig ride in a gig!

Where are you going to, you little pig?

"Well, I'm going to the Queen's Head to have a nice swig!"

A swig, little pig!

A pig have a swig!

What, a pig at the Queen's Head having a swig!

Where are you going to, you little pig?

"Why, I'm going to the Ball to dance a fine jig!"