London Town | Page 2

46
THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER 47
THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL 48
THE HAPPY FAMILY 49
THE CROSSING SWEEPER 50
PUNCH AND JUDY 51
THE LOWTHER ARCADE 52, 53
THE DUSTMAN IS COMING 54, 55
GOOD BYE
The Tower of London
Among the sights of London Town?Which little visitors wish to view,?The Tower stands first, and its great renown?Has, you will notice, attracted Prue.
At a well-known spot, to Miss Prue's surprise,?Some fine old ravens are strutting about.?If upon the picture a glance you cast,?You will know the ravens next time, no doubt.
The red-coated guard who's watching here?Is called a Beefeater--fancy that!?And Prue discovers, as she draws near,?A child by his side who is round and fat.
"Father and Mother, pray come here,"?In tones so pleasant, laughs lively Prue:?"You've shown _me_ things that are odd and queer,?A Beefeater's baby I'll show _you_!"
The Tower
Prue has wandered high and wandered low?Through Norman chapel and dungeon cell;?The grand Crown Jewels that sparkle so,?And the Traitor's Gate, she has seen as well.
She has looked from the walls on the River, too,?And spent in the Armouries nearly an hour:?Ah! holiday folks like our Miss Prue?Enjoy themselves when they come to the Tower!
But the Tower was a prison, in days of old,?And few who got into it ever came out,?Though now we can visit the grim stronghold?Any day of the week, without fear or doubt.
The Omnibus
Every day along the streets of mighty London Town?Nine hundred omnibuses rumble up and down.?When you're tired of walking, call "Hi! Conductor, stop!" And he'll give you such a jolly ride, for twopence, on the top.
Sometimes by the 'bus's side small boys will run a mile, Turning round just like the wheels, and hungry all the while:-- "We've not had any breakfast,--won't you toss us down a brown?"-- That's what they call a penny in the streets of London Town.
The Penny-Ice Man
In summer when the sun is high,?And children's lips are parched and dry,?An ice is just the thing to try.?So this young man who comes, 'tis plain,?From Saffron Hill or Leather Lane,?A store of pence will quickly gain.?"A lemon ice for me," says Fred;?Cries Sue, "No, have a cream instead."?"A raspberry!" shouts Newsboy Ned.?"What fun! Although we're now in June,?It feels"--says Ned--"this afternoon,?Like eating winter with a spoon!"
COVENT GARDEN
This is Covent Garden,?What a lively scene!?Here are flowers so pretty,?There are leaves so green.?These are busy buyers,?Busy sellers those,?Selling, buying, selling,?Everything that grows.
Fruits and lovely blossoms?Hither come each day,?Fresh from _other_ gardens?Many miles away.?Cabbages potatoes,?Pears and apples too,?Grapes, and pines, and peaches,?All are here on view.
So the air is scented?With the pleasant fruits,?With the bright-hued nosegays,?And the springing roots.?For the little street-boys,?Walking up and down,?It's almost like the country?Brought to London Town.
The Penny-Toy Man
"Toys! toys! Penny Toys!?Toys for girls, and toys for boys!?Toys for dots who scarce can crawl,?Toys for youngsters stout and tall,?Toys for prince and peasant too,?Toys, my dears, for all of you!?Toys for girls and toys for boys!?Toys! toys! Penny Toys!"
That is how the toyman talks,?As through London Town he walks;?Bawling out his toyman's song,?While he slowly moves along,?On the pavement with a tray?Which is filled, from day to day,?With new toys to catch the eye?Of the youthful passer-by.
Sometimes it's a great big spider,?Like that Miss Muffet had beside her;?Sometimes it's a bat that flies,?Or a baby doll that cries;?Sometimes it's a frog that leaps,?Or a crocodile that creeps:?But whatever toy is shown,?For a penny it's your own.
The Orange Girl
Orange-girl Kitty?Here you may see.?That she is pretty?All will agree.?"Three for a penny!"?That is her cry;?No wonder many?Hasten to buy.
Orange-girl Kitty's?Mother, we're told,?Everyone pities--?So feeble and old.?Poor mother's living?Kitty obtains,?Cheerfully giving?Her all that she gains.
Orange-girl Kitty?Roams to and fro;?All through the city?She's known high and low.?When the sun's shining,?When the rain falls,?Never repining,--?"Fine fruit!" Kitty calls.
The First of May
Chimney Sweeps' Day, Blackbird is gay,?Here he is singing, you see, in the "May."?He has feathers as black as a chimney sweep's coat,?So on Chimney Sweeps' Day he must pipe a glad note.
[Illustration: Jack in the Green]
Jack-in-the-Green