Children's Literature Part 16

One day she went upstairs, while her parents, unawares, In the kitchen down below were occupied with meals, And she stood upon her head, on her little truckle-bed, And she then began hurraying with her heels.

Her mother heard the noise, and thought it was the boys, A playing at a combat in the attic, But when she climbed the stair and saw Jemima there, She took and she did whip her most emphatic!

140

The following was one of the favorite "toy-book" texts of the eighteenth century.

These little books generally had a crude woodcut and one stanza of text on a page. It can be seen how easily this story lends itself to ill.u.s.tration. Each stanza is a chapter, and the story-teller could continue as long as his inventiveness held out. In one edition there are these additional lines:

"Old Mother Hubbard sat down in a chair, And danced her dog to a delicate air; She went to the garden to buy him a pippin, When she came back the dog was a-skipping."

MOTHER HUBBARD AND HER DOG

Old Mother Hubbard Went to the cupboard, To get her poor dog a bone; But when she came there, The cupboard was bare, And so the poor dog had none.

She went to the baker's To buy him some bread; But when she came back, The poor dog was dead.

She went to the joiner's To buy him a coffin; But when she came back, The poor dog was laughing.

She took a clean dish, To get him some tripe; But when she came back He was smoking his pipe.

She went to the fishmonger's To buy him some fish; And when she came back He was licking the dish.

She went to the ale-house To get him some beer; But when she came back The dog sat in a chair.

She went to the tavern For white wine and red; But when she came back The dog stood on his head.

She went to the hatter's To buy him a hat; But when she came back He was feeding the cat.

She went to the barber's To buy him a wig; But when she came back He was dancing a jig.

She went to the fruiterer's To buy him some fruit; But when she came back, He was playing the flute.

She went to the tailor's To buy him a coat; But when she came back, He was riding a goat.

She went to the cobbler's To buy him some shoes; But when she came back, He was reading the news.

She went to the seamstress To buy him some linen; But when she came back, The dog was spinning.

She went to the hosier's To buy him some hose; But when she came back, He was dressed in his clothes.

The dame made a curtsy, The dog made a bow; The dame said, "Your servant,"

The dog said, "Bow, wow."

141

This story of a bird courts.h.i.+p and marriage with its attendant feast and tragedy, all followed by the long dirge of No. 142, const.i.tutes one of the longest nursery novels.

Its opportunities for the ill.u.s.trator are very marked, and a copy ill.u.s.trated by the children themselves would be an addition to the joy of any schoolroom.

THE COURTs.h.i.+P, MERRY MARRIAGE, AND PICNIC DINNER OF c.o.c.k ROBIN AND JENNY WREN;

TO WHICH IS ADDED

THE DOLEFUL DEATH OF c.o.c.k ROBIN

It was a merry time When Jenny Wren was young, So neatly as she danced, And so sweetly as she sung, Robin Redbreast lost his heart: He was a gallant bird; He doft his hat to Jenny, And thus to her he said:--

"My dearest Jenny Wren, If you will but be mine, You shall dine on cherry pie, And drink nice currant wine.

I'll dress you like a Goldfinch, Or like a Peac.o.c.k gay; So if you'll have me, Jenny, Let us appoint the day."

Jenny blushed behind her fan, And thus declared her mind: "Then let it be to-morrow, Bob, I take your offer kind-- Cherry pie is very good!

So is currant wine!

But I will wear my brown gown, And never dress too fine."

Robin rose up early At the break of day; He flew to Jenny Wren's house, To sing a roundelay.

He met the c.o.c.k and Hen, And bid the c.o.c.k declare, This was his wedding-day With Jenny Wren, the fair.

The c.o.c.k then blew his horn, To let the neighbors know, This was Robin's wedding-day, And they might see the show.

And first came parson Rook, With his spectacles and band, And one of _Mother Hubbard's_ books He held within his hand.

Then followed him the Lark, For he could sweetly sing, And he was to be clerk At c.o.c.k Robin's wedding.

He sang of Robin's love For little Jenny Wren; And when he came unto the end, Then he began again.

Then came the bride and bridegroom; Quite plainly was she dressed, And blushed so much, her cheeks were As red as Robin's breast.

But Robin cheered her up: "My pretty Jen," said he, "We're going to be married And happy we shall be."

The Goldfinch came on next, To give away the bride; The Linnet, being bride's maid, Walked by Jenny's side; And, as she was a-walking, She said, "Upon my word, I think that your c.o.c.k Robin Is a very pretty bird."

The Bullfinch walked by Robin, And thus to him did say, "Pray, mark, friend Robin Redbreast, That Goldfinch, dressed so gay; What though her gay apparel Becomes her very well, Yet Jenny's modest dress and look Must bear away the bell."

The Blackbird and the Thrush, And charming Nightingale, Whose sweet jug sweetly echoes Through every grove and dale; The Sparrow and Tom t.i.t, And many more, were there: All came to see the wedding Of Jenny Wren, the fair.

"O then," says parson Rook, "Who gives this maid away?"

"I do," says the Goldfinch, "And her fortune I will pay: Here's a bag of grain of many sorts, And other things beside; Now happy be the bridegroom, And happy be the bride!"

"And will you have her, Robin, To be your wedded wife?"

"Yes, I will," says Robin, "And love her all my life."

"And will you have him, Jenny, Your husband now to be?"

"Yes, I will," says Jenny, "And love him heartily."

Then on her finger fair c.o.c.k Robin put the ring; "You're married now," says parson Rook, While the Lark aloud did sing: "Happy be the bridegroom, And happy be the bride!

And may not man, nor bird, nor beast, This happy pair divide."

The birds were asked to dine; Not Jenny's friends alone, But every pretty songster That had c.o.c.k Robin known.