R was a rabbit, Who had a bad habit Of eating the flowers In gardens and bowers.
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 fashion 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 shiny 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.
_Feeding the Fairies_
Fairies, fairies, come and be fed, Come and be fed like hens and c.o.c.ks; Hither and thither with delicate tread, Flutter around me in fairy flocks.
Come, little fairies, from far and near; Come, little fairies, I know you can fly; Who can be dear if _you_ are not dear?
And who is so fond of a fairy as I?
Fairies, fairies, come if you please, Nod your heads and ruffle your wings, Marching in order or standing at ease, Frolicsome fairies are dear little things!
Golden the grain and silver the rice, Pleasant the crumbs from Mama"s own bread, Currants pick"d out of the pudding are nice-- Fairies, fairies, come and be fed!
Hushaby, oh! hushaby, oh!
Hide by the door--keep very still-- I must be gentle, I must speak low, Or frighten the fairies I certainly will.
Fairies are easily frighten"d, I know; They are so small, we must pity their fears.
Hushaby, oh! hushaby, oh!
Coax them and humour them--poor little dears!
Fairies, fairies, why don"t you come?
Fairies, fairies, wherefore delay?
In a few minutes I must run home-- Cross little creatures! you know I can"t stay!
See how I scatter your beautiful food-- Good little fairies would come when I call; Fairies, fairies, _won"t_ you be good?
What is the use of my speaking at all?
"Two Friends."
_The Fairy_
Oh, who is so merry As the light-hearted fairy?
He dances and sings To the sound of his wings, With a hey, and a heigh, and a ho!
Oh, who is so merry As the light-hearted fairy?
His nectar he sips From the primrose"s lips, With a hey, and a heigh, and a ho!
Oh, who is so merry As the light-hearted fairy?
His night is the noon, And his sun is the moon, With a hey, and a heigh, and a ho!
Unknown.