Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

CHAPTER HEADINGS

Just So Stories

HEN the cabin port-holes are dark and green
Because of the seas outside;

WH

When the ship goes wop (with a wiggle between)

And the steward falls into the soup-tureen,

And the trunks begin to slide;

When Nursey lies on the floor in a heap,

And Mummy tells you to let her sleep,
And you aren't waked or washed or dressed,
Why, then you will know (if you haven't guessed)
You're 'Fifty North and Forty West!'

'How the Whale got his Throat.'

The Camel's hump is an ugly lump
Which well you may see at the Zoo;
But uglier yet is the hump we get
From having too little to do.

Kiddies and grown-ups too-00-00,
If we haven't enough to do-00-00,
We get the hump-

Cameelious hump

The hump that is black and blue!

We climb out of bed with a frouzly head

And a snarly-yarly voice.

CHAPTER HEADINGS

We shiver and scowl and we grunt and we growl
At our bath and our boots and our toys;

And there ought to be a corner for me (And I know there is one for you) When we get the hump

Cameelious hump

The hump that is black and blue!

The cure for this ill is not to sit still,
Or frowst with a book by the fire;
But to take a large hoe and a shovel also,
And dig till you gently perspire;

And then you will find that the sun and the wind, And the Djinn of the Garden too,

Have lifted the hump

The horrible hump

The hump that is black and blue!

I get it as well as you-00-00-
If I haven't enough to do-00-00!
We all get hump-

Cameelious hump

Kiddies and grown-ups too!

'How the Camel got his Hump.'

I am the Most Wise Baviaan, saying in most wise tones, 'Let us melt into the landscape-just us two by our lones.'

People have come-in a carriage-calling. But Mummy is there.

[ocr errors]

Yes, I can go if you take me-Nurse says she don't care.

Let's go up to the pig-styes and sit on the farmyard rails! Let's say things to the bunnies, and watch 'em skitter

their tails!

Let's-oh, anything, daddy, so long as it's you and me, And going truly exploring, and not being in till tea! Here's your boots (I've brought 'em), and here's your cap and stick,

And here's your pipe and tobacco. Oh, come along out of it-quick!

'How the Leopard got his Spots.'

I keep six honest serving-men

(They taught me all I knew);

Their names are What and Why and When

And How and Where and Who.

I send them over land and sea,
I send them east and west;
But after they have worked for me,
I give them all a rest.

I let them rest from nine till five,
For I am busy then,

As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea,

For they are hungry men.

But different folk have different views;

I know a person small

She keeps ten million serving-men,

Who get no rest at all!

She sends 'em abroad on her own affairs,
From the second she opens her eyes-
One million Hows, two million Wheres,

And seven million Whys!

'The Elephant's Child.'

CHAPTER HEADINGS

This is the mouth-filling song of the race that was run by a Boomer.

Run in a single burst-only event of its kind—

Started by Big God Nqong from Warrigaborrigarooma, Old Man Kangaroo first, Yellow-Dog Dingo behind.

Kangaroo bounded away, his back-legs working like pistons

Bounded from morning till dark, twenty-five feet at a bound.

Yellow-Dog Dingo lay like a yellow cloud in the distance

Much too busy to bark. My! but they covered the ground!

Nobody knows where they went, or followed the track that they flew in,

For that Continent hadn't been given a name.

They ran thirty degrees, from Torres Straits to the Leeuwin

(Look at the Atlas, please), then they ran back as they

came.

S'posing you could trot from Adelaide to the Pacific, For an afternoon's run-half what these gentlemen didYou would feel rather hot, but your legs would develop terrific

Yes, my importunate son, you'd be a Marvellous Kid! "The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo.'

I've never sailed the Amazon,

I've never reached Brazil;

But the 'Don' and 'Magdalena,'

They can go there when they will!

Yes, weekly from Southampton,
Great steamers, white and gold,
Go rolling down to Rio

(Roll down-roll down to Rio!)
And I'd like to roll to Rio

Some day before I'm old!

I've never seen a Jaguar,
Nor yet an Armadill-
O dilloing in his armour,
And I s'pose I never will,

Unless I go to Rio

These wonders to behold

Roll down-roll down to Rio

Roll really down to Rio!

Oh, I'd love to roll to Rio

Some day before I'm old!

'The Beginning of the Armadilloes.'

China-going P. and O.'s

Pass Pau Amma's playground close,

And his Pusat Tasek lies

Near the track of most B. I.'s.

N. Y. K. and N. D. L.

Know Pau Amma's home as well
As the Fisher of the Sea knows
'Bens,' M. M.'s, and Rubattinos.
But (and this is rather queer)
A. T. L.'s can not come here;
O. and O. and D. O. A.
Must go round another way.
Orient, Anchor, Bibby, Hall,
Never go that way at all.

« AnteriorContinuar »