Here and Now Story Book Part 15

The cla.s.sifications and most of the expressions were suggested by a child.

HOW THE ANIMALS MOVE

The lion, he has paws with claws, The horse, he walks on hooves, The worm, he lies right on the ground And wriggles when he moves!

The seal, he moves with swimming feet, The moth, has wings like a sail, The fly he clings; the bird he wings, The monkey swings by his tail!

But boys and girls With feet and hands Can walk and run And swim and stand!

THE SEA-GULL

All the material and most of the expressions are taken from a story by a six-year-old. It was put into rhythm because the children wished "the words to go like the waves."

THE SEA-GULL

Feel the waves go rocking, rocking, Feel them roll and roll and roll.

On the top there sits a sea-gull And he's rocking with the waves.

Now 'tis evening and he's weary So he's resting on the waves.

When he woke in early morning Like a flash he spied a fish.

Quick he flew and quickly diving Snapped the fish and ate him straight.

Then he screamed for he was happy.

Then he spied another fish Quick he flew and quickly diving Snapped the fish and ate him straight.

So he played while shone the suns.h.i.+ne, Catching fish and screaming hoa.r.s.e Till he was quite out of hunger, And would rest him on the waves.

Once he flapped and flapped his great wings, Soaring like an aeroplane.

Down below him lay the ocean Like a wrinkled crinkly thing, And giant steamers looked like toy ones Slowly moving on the waves.

Now the moons.h.i.+ne's making silver All the tossing, rocking waves.

And the sea-gull looks like silver And his great wings look like silver Pressing close his silver side, And his sharp beak looks like silver Tucked beneath his silver wings.

For beneath the silver moonlight See, the sea-gull's gone to sleep.

Rocking, rocking on the water, Sleeping, sleeping on the waves, Rocking--sleeping--sleeping--rocking, Fast asleep upon the waves.

THE FARMER TRIES TO SLEEP

It has seemed appropriate to let the children realize the incessant quality of farm work before that of the factory.

THE FARMER TRIES TO SLEEP

The farmer woke up in the morning And sleepy as sleepy was he, He turned in his bed and he grouchily said: "Today I will sleep! Let me be, let me be!

Today I will sleep! Let me be!"

Now Puss in the corner she heard She heard what the farmer had said, She ran to the barn and she mewed in alarm; "The farmer will sleep in his bed, in his bed!

Today he will sleep in his bed!"

Then Horse in the stable looked up, He whinneyed and shook his old head; "Shall I stand here all day without any hay?

Whey-ey-ey! Farmer, come feed me!" he said, so he said, "Whey-ey-ey! Farmer, come feed me!" he said.

But the farmer he tight closed his eyes For sleepy as sleepy was he, He turned in his bed and he angrily said: "Horse, I will sleep! Let me be, let me be!

Horse, I will sleep! Let me be!"

Down under the barn in the dirt Pig heard what the p.u.s.s.y cat mewed.

"Can he give me the sc.r.a.ps when he's taking his naps?

Wee-ee, Farmer, come give me my food, oh, my food!

Wee-ee, Farmer, come give me my food!"

But the farmer he tight closed his ears For sleepy as sleepy was he, He turned in his bed and he sulkily said: "Pig, I will sleep! Let me be, let me be!

Pig, I will sleep! Let me be!"

Now Rooster with Chickens and Hen Had been crowing since early that morn, And he crowed when he heard this terrible word: "c.o.c.k-a-doo! Farmer, give us our corn, us our corn!

c.o.c.k-a-doo! Farmer, give us our corn."

But the farmer he pulled up the covers For sleepy as sleepy was he, He turned in his bed and crossly he said: "c.o.c.k, I will sleep! Let me be, let me be!

c.o.c.k, I will sleep! Let me be!"

Cow heard in the pasture and lowed; "My cud no longer I chew, I stand by the gate and I wait and I wait, Oh, Farmer, come milk me! Moo-oo, moo-oo!

Oh, Farmer, come milk me, moo-oo!"

But the farmer got under the covers, For sleepy as sleepy was he, He turned in his bed and fiercely he said, "Cow, I will sleep! Let me be, let me be!

Cow, I will sleep! Let me be!"

Then Horse he broke from the stable, And Pig he broke from the pen, And Cow jumped the fence though she hadn't much sense, And c.o.c.k called Chickens and Hen, and Hen, He called to Chickens and Hen.

Then up to the farm house door All followed the p.u.s.s.y who knew.

Horse whinneyed, c.o.c.k crowed, Pig grunted, Cow lowed; "Get up, Farmer! Whey, c.o.c.k-a-doo, wee-wee-wee, mooo!

Whey, c.o.c.k-a-doo, wee-wee-wee, moooo!"

The farmer down under the covers, He heard and he groaned and he sighed.

He wearily rose and he put on his clothes; "They need me, I'm coming, I'm coming," he cried, "They need me, I'm coming," he cried.