A Jolly Jingle-Book | Page 7

had done my best. I had to answer, "No'm." I don't believe she leaves a little lonely doll at home!
HANNAH G. FERNALD.
A SLEEPY-HEAD TOP
My top is just the very best,?But, my! it is the laziest.?It sleeps, and sleeps, and sleeps all day,?And doesn't want to come and play.?Then, when it spins, it sleeps the more.?It stands up straight, but it will snore,?Until it is so sound asleep?It tumbles over in a heap.
SINCLAIR LEWIS.
A CHRISTMAS "TELEPHONE"
"Ullo, Mr. Santa! Ullo! Ullo! Ullo!?If must be 'most to Christmas, and I think you ought to know About the things we're needing most--of course I'd like a doll, And Jimmy wants a rocking-horse, and Charlie wants a ball.
"And all of us would like a lot of striped candy sticks?(There's just six boys and girls of us--be sure to make it six), And gum-drops; and oh, if you could, some red-and-white gibraltars! I had some once, and half was mine, and half of them was Walter's.
"But, dear old Santa, don't forget, whatever you leave out, To put in some surprises that we never thought about;?For in the whole long stocking, clear down into the toe,?The presents that are nicest are the ones you didn't know."
A LOST BABY
Baby's hidden all away!?Nobody can find her!?Where's the baby, mamma? Say,?Let's go look behind her!
Baby? No, she isn't there--?Have we lost our baby??Let's go hunting down the stair,?There we'll find her, maybe.
Papa's lost his little girl!?What will he do for kisses??What is this? A yellow curl??And please to say what this is
Inside my coat! "_I 'ant some breff!_?_It makes me almost 'oasted!_?_Next time don't smovver me to deff--_?_Let's play aden I'm losted!"_
VELOCIPEDE
I know of a staid and sober horse?That goes by a great, long name.?The little ones like this trusty steed?That always goes at a proper speed.?They call him the good Velocipede,?And he's never tired or lame.
Ah, he is the horse that gives you fun,?And he is the horse you need!?He's never balky, he eats no hay,?He's ready to either go or stay,?And never was known to run away--?This good horse Velocipede.
ANNIE WILLIS MCCULLOUGH.
A RAINY DAY PLAN
The world's wet and stormy,?The wind's in a rage.?We are shut in the house?Like poor birds in a cage.?There's a sigh in the chimney,?A roar on the wall.?Good-by to "I Spy"?And to swinging and all!?But the child that complains?Cannot better the day,?So the harder it rains,?Why, the harder we'll play!
There are tears on the window?And sighs in the trees,?But who's going to fret?Over matters like these??If the sky's got to cry,?Then it's better by half?That the longer it weeps,?Why, the louder we'll laugh!?And look! I declare,?There's the sun coming out?To see what on earth?All the fun is about!
NANCY BYRD TURNER.
THE BIRTHDAY ONES
I am the birthday baby,?And this is the birthday horse.?They gave him to me because I was three?And knew how to drive, of course.?He's trotted and walked and galloped,?And traveled the whole birthday;?He's carried a load up the hilly road,?And once he has run away.
I've fed him high in the stable,?I've watered him at the trough,?I've curried him down to a glossy brown,?And taken his harness off.?Now we are resting a little,?Because there has got to be?A long, stiff run before we're done,?For the birthday horse and me!
NANCY BYRD TURNER.
A DUTCH WISH
The little Dutch children,?With little Dutch shoes,?Go clitter-clatter?Wherever they choose.
But we must move lightly,?In slippers, at that,?And walk on our tip-toes,?And go like a cat.
But, oh, noise is lovely!?We wish very much?That we were Dutch children?With shoes that were Dutch.
[Illustration: The Dutch Wish]
A SIGN OF SPRING
The blue-bird is a-wing;
he has heard the call of spring;?And a dozen times this morning
I have heard a robin sing;?But I know a sign that's surer,
and I see the twinkling feet?Of a score of little children
at the corner of the street.
The crocus-bed's abloom;
in the shadow of my room?Glows a vase of golden jonquils
like a star amid the gloom;?But the sign that's sure and certain
is the children's merry feet?Dancing round the organ-grinder
at the corner of the street.
Song of bird or hum of bee,
there's no sign of spring for me?Like the jolly little dancers
and the frolic melody;?And my heart shall catch the rhythm
of the happy little feet?Dancing round the organ-grinder
at the corner of the street.
MY DOLLY
There's nothing so nice as dolly!?She comforts me when I'm sad,?She keeps me from getting lonely,?She smiles at me when I'm glad.?She's such a delightful playmate,?And causes me so much joy,?I wouldn't exchange her for all the toys?That people give to a boy.
ANNIE WILLIS MCCULLOUGH.
ONE MILE TO TOYLAND
"One mile, one mile to Toyland!"?Just s'pose, to your intense?Astonishment, you found this sign?Plain written on a fence.?Just one short mile to Toyland,?To happy girl and boy-land,?Where one can play the livelong day!
Now who will hurry hence??There dollies grow on bushes,?And wooden soldiers stand?With frisky rocking-horses near,?A brave and dauntless band;?And whips and tops and whistles?They grow