Riley Child-Rhymes | Page 3

wilt thou be mine??Thou shalt not wash the dishes, nor yet feed the swine.--?But sit on a cushion and sew a fine seam,?And feast upon strawberries, sugar and cream._
THE FUNNY LITTLE FELLOW
[Illustration: The Funny Little Fellow--Title]
'Twas a Funny Little Fellow?Of the very purest type,?For he had a heart as mellow?As an apple over-ripe;?And the brightest little twinkle?When a funny thing occurred,?And the lightest little tinkle?Of a laugh you ever heard!
His smile was like the glitter?Of the sun in tropic lands,?And his talk a sweeter twitter?Than the swallow understands;?Hear him sing--and tell a story--?Snap a joke--ignite a pun,--?'Twas a capture--rapture--glory,?And explosion--all in one!
Though he hadn't any money--?That condiment which tends?To make a fellow "honey"?For the palate of his friends;--?Sweet simples he compounded--?Sovereign antidotes for sin?Or taint,--a faith unbounded?That his friends were genuine.
He wasn't honored, may be--?For his songs of praise were slim,--?Yet I never knew a baby?That wouldn't crow for him;?I never knew a mother?But urged a kindly claim?Upon him as a brother,?At the mention of his name.
[Illustration: Never knew a baby that wouldn't crow for him]
The sick have ceased their sighing?And have even found the grace?Of a smile when they were dying?As they looked upon his face;?And I've seen his eyes of laughter?Melt in tears that only ran?As though, swift dancing after,?Came the Funny Little Man.
He laughed away the sorrow,?And he laughed away the gloom?We are all so prone to borrow?From the darkness of the tomb;?And he laughed across the ocean?Of a happy life, and passed,?With a laugh of glad emotion,?Into Paradise at last.
And I think the Angels knew him,?And had gathered to await?His coming, and run to him?Through the widely-opened Gate--?With their faces gleaming sunny?For his laughter-loving sake,?And thinking, "What a funny?Little Angel he will make!"
THE HAPPY LITTLE CRIPPLE
[Illustration: The Happy Little Cripple--Title]
I'm thist a little cripple boy, an' never goin' to grow?An' get a great big man at all!--'cause Aunty told me so.?When I was thist a baby onc't, I falled out of the bed?An' got "The Curv'ture of the Spine"--'at's what the Doctor said. I never had no Mother nen--fer my Pa runned away?An' dassn't come back here no more--'cause he was drunk one day An' stobbed a man in thish-ere town, an' couldn't pay his fine! An' nen my Ma she died--an' I got "Curv'ture of the Spine!"
[Illustration: An' I peck on the winder]
I'm nine years old! An' you can't guess how much I weigh, I bet!-- Last birthday I weighed thirty-three!--An' I weigh thirty yet! I'm awful little fer my size--I'm purt' nigh littler 'nan?Some babies is!--an' neighbers all calls me "The Little Man!" An' Doc one time he laughed an' said: "I 'spect, first thing you know, You'll have a little spike-tail coat an' travel with a show!" An' nen I laughed--till I looked round an' Aunty was a-cryin'-- Sometimes she acts like that, 'cause I got "Curv'ture of the Spine."
I set--while Aunty's washin'--on my little long-leg stool,?An' watch the little boys an' girls a-skippin' by to school; An' I peck on the winder, an' holler out an' say:?"Who wants to fight The Little Man 'at dares you all today?" An', nen the boys climbs on the fence, an' little girls peeks through, An' they all says: "Cause you're so big, you think we're 'feared o' you!" An' nen they yell, an' shake their fist at me, like I shake mine-- They're thist in fun, you know, 'cause I got "Curv'ture of the Spine!"
At evening, when the ironin's done, an' Aunty's fixed the fire, An' filled an' lit the lamp, an' trimmed the wick an' turned it higher, An' fetched the wood all in fer night, an' locked the kitchen door, An' stuffed the ole crack where the wind blows in up through the floor-- She sets the kittle on the coals, an' biles an' makes the tea, An' fries the liver an' the mush, an' cooks a egg fer me;?An' sometimes--when I cough so hard--her elderberry wine?Don't go so bad fer little boys with "Curv'ture of the Spine!"
[Illustration: An' cooks a' egg fer me]
But Aunty's all so childish-like on my account, you see,?I'm 'most afeard she'll be took down--an' 'at's what bothers me!-- 'Cause ef my good old Aunty ever would git sick an' die,?I don't know what she'd do in heaven--till _I_ come, by an' by:-- Fer she's so ust to all my ways, an' ever'thing, you know,?An' no one there like me, to nuss an' worry over so!--?'Cause all the little childerns there's so straight an' strong an' fine, They's nary angel 'bout the place with "Curv'ture of the Spine!"
[Illustration: The Happy Little Cripple--Tailpiece]
THE RIDER OF THE KNEE
Knightly Rider of the Knee?Of Proud-prancing Unclery!?Gaily mount, and wave the sign?Of that mastery of thine.
Pat thy steed and turn him free,?Knightly Rider of the Knee!?Sit thy charger as a throne--?Lash him with thy