Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building Part 73

TINGLE, TANGLE t.i.tMOUSE

"Come hither, little puppy-dog, I'll give you a new collar, If you will learn to read your book, And be a clever scholar."

"No! no!" replied the puppy-dog, "I've other fish to fry; For I must learn to guard your house, And bark when thieves come nigh."

With a tingle, tangle t.i.tmouse, Robin knows great A, And B, and C, and D, and E, F, G, H, I, J, K.

"Come hither, pretty c.o.c.katoo, Come and learn your letters; And you shall have a knife and fork To eat with, like your betters."

"No! no!" the c.o.c.katoo replied, "My beak will do as well; I'd rather eat my victuals thus Than go and learn to spell."

With a tingle, tangle t.i.tmouse, Robin knows great A, And B, and C, and D, and E, F, G, H, I, J, K.

"Come hither, little p.u.s.s.y-cat, If you'll your grammar study, I'll give you silver clogs to wear, Whene'er the gutter's muddy."

"No! whilst I grammar learn," says puss, "Your house will in a trice Be overrun from top to toe With flocks of rats and mice."

With a tingle, tangle t.i.tmouse, Robin knows great A, And B, and C, and D, and E, F, G, H, I, J, K.

"Come hither, then, good little boy, And learn your alphabet, And you a pair of boots and spurs, Like your papa's, shall get."

"Oh, yes! I'll learn my alphabet, And when I've learned to read, Perhaps papa will give me, too, A pretty, long-tailed steed."

With a tingle, tangle t.i.tmouse, Robin knows great A, And B, and C, and D, and E, F, G, H, I, J, K.

AN ENGLISH ALPHABET

Ale, A is for Apple, Artichoke, and Ann;

Brown Bear, B is for Black Bear, and Bran;

Chestnut, C is for Clay, c.o.ke, and Coal,

Dear, D is for Dray, d.i.c.k, Duck, and Droll,

Eve, E is for Eagle, Eel, East, and Ear;

Fan, F is for Feather, Furrow, Fox, and Fear;

Goose, G is for Gander, Green, Grub, and Gray;

Horse, H is for Hound, Hip, Haw, and Hay;

Ice, I is for Idler, Ink, If, and Ill;

James, J is for Jane, for Jack, and Jill;

Kiss, K is for Kitten, King, Kitchen, and Kite;

Lamb, L is for Lady, Lace, Luck, and Light;

Moon, M is for Mitten, Mist, Moth, and Mote;

Ned, N is for Nurse, for Nose, Nut, and Note;

Oil, O is for Order, Oat, Orange, Oak;

Pin, P is for Pan, and Pig in a Poke;

Queen, Q is for Question, Quarter, and Quack;

Reel, R is for Radish, Ruff, Reeve, and Rack;

Skate, S is for Salmon, Sprat, Saw, and School;

Tin, T is for Teapot, Tar, Torch, and Tool;

Urn, U is for Usher, Umpire, and Use;

Vegetables, V is for Varnish, and Views;

Want, W is for War, Water, and Wing;

Xenophon, X is for and Xerxes, the King;

Yam, Y is for Yacht, Yellow, and Yawl;

Zeal, Z is for Zebra, Zany--

That's all!

NONSENSE ALPHABET

BY EDWARD LEAR

A was an ant Who seldom stood still, And who made a nice house In the side of a hill.

_a_ Nice little ant!

B was a book With a binding of blue, And pictures and stories For me and for you.

_b_ Nice little book!

C was a camel; You rode on his hump; And if you fell off, You came down such a b.u.mp!

_c_ What a high camel!

D was a duck With spots on his back, Who lived in the water, And always said "Quack!"

_d_ Dear little duck!