The Jumble Book Part 4

All the animals rushed in, pounced upon their prey.

"Break away!" the Copper said, "I arrest him now.

I will lock him up at once; we will show him how

"To obey the Jungle Laws. He won't sleep a wink After he has been to Court. He'll have time to think In the Jungle Jail how bad he has been to-day.

After he gets out again he won't disobey."

Over Tommy Tiger's head then he thrust his trunk; By the ear he grabbed a hold of naughty Mikey Monk.

All the jungle populace joined in the parade.

Mikey Monk was crying--he was now afraid.

"Let me go!" he cried and sobbed, "and I'll promise you Never more a naughty thing will I ever do."

But the big Policeman just kept straight ahead.

Did not even answer him; only shook his head.

At King Lion's Court at last stopped the big parade, And before the King of Beasts Mikey was arrayed.

Very stern the Lion looked at the grave complaint, Though of course he must have known Mikey was no saint.

When the Cop had finished Mikey held his breath, He was all a-tremble; almost scared to death.

All the angry animals shouted, "Do not fail To commit this Monkey to the Jungle Jail!"

"As you wish," King Lion answered with a roar.

Then they slipped the handcuffs over Mikey's paw And Policeman Elephant took poor Mike away To the Jungle Lockup, where he had to stay.

Till the Jungle Animals thought that just about Punishment enough he'd had! then they let him go; And no better monkey after this than he In the Jolly Jungle ever climbed a tree

LITTLE BOY BLUE

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Little Boy Blue, where have you gone?

The cows are eating the tall green corn.

Drive them away or Farmer Lane Will give you a beating with his cane.

MASTER SPARROW'S BREAKFAST

"Oh, my! what a snowstorm!" Little Dorothy looked out of the window at the fast falling flakes, which covered up so quietly and softly the s.h.i.+vering brown gra.s.s on the lawn and the trembling rose bushes in the garden. "How warm they'll be," said Dorothy to herself, "with their eiderdown covers."

Just then a little sparrow flew down on the walk and looked up at the window. "h.e.l.lo!" said Dorothy, "what do you want?" The little bird turned his head first to one side and then the other, as if he didn't quite hear what Dorothy was saying behind the pane of gla.s.s. "Don't you hear me?" she called out, but he turned his head, as if to say, "No!"

Dorothy pushed up the window and called out, "What do you want, birdie?"

but he flew away just across the walk to the maple tree, where he sat looking at her with his queer little eyes. Every now and then he would turn his head this way and that way, as if, so Dorothy thought, trying to hear what she was saying. But Dorothy wasn't saying anything now. She was so disappointed that her little friend had flown off and that he should be afraid of her, just because she had opened the window, that she turned to Mother, who came into the room at that moment, and said: "Mother, just look at that cute little bird; only just a minute ago he was hopping on the walk right down here, but when I opened the window to say 'How-de-doo!' he flew over to the maple tree. See him over there?"

"I think he is waiting for you to give him some crumbs for breakfast,"

Mother answered with a smile. "Run into the dining-room and ask Mary for a piece of bread and we will see if Master Sparrow won't come back again."

"Oh, goody!" cried the little girl, and in a few minutes she was back at the window with enough crumbs for an army of sparrows.

"Open the window gently," said Mother, "and throw out the crumbs, and we will see what Master Sparrow will do."

Mr. Sparrow did exactly what Mother thought, and Dorothy hoped he would do. He looked at them with his little bright eyes and turned his head first this way and then that way, and after that, to Dorothy's delight, flew over to the crumbs and ate them up as if he had a great, big, healthy appet.i.te. And when all the crumbs were gone he turned his head this way and that way (and I think he winked one of his little black eyes at Dorothy, only I'm not quite sure about this) and flew away.

"Oh, Mother!" cried Dorothy, "I think that's his way of talking--wagging his little head--something like the way Bijou wags his stubby tail!" And Mother said she thought so, too.

TRANSPLANTING THE FLOWERS

[Ill.u.s.tration]

"Oh, see that wagon full of flowers. I wish we could get some," cried Bertie to sister Phillis.

"I'll ask Mother," replied Phillis; "she said the other day that we might buy flowers for our garden."

"Good," said Bertie, "where's my bank?"

And when Phillis found hers, both children ran down the stairs and out into the street. As soon as they had bought the flowers they hurried to the yard at the back of the house where each had a little garden.

"Look, Mother," said Phillis, "Bertie has two geraniums and one lily, and I have three tulips."

"They are very pretty," said Mother; "be careful how you handle these frail little plants. By-and-by they will be stronger."

Then she helped take them out of the pots and place them carefully in the earth.

"Now you must water them. But remember never to water plants if the sun is s.h.i.+ning on them." After everything was cleaned up nice and neat, the children felt just a little bit tired, so Mother told them they might go over to the drug store and get an ice cream soda, at which Bertie and Phillis both gave Mother a great big kiss.

LITTLE SIR CAT

Little Sir Cat Helps Piggie

The next morning as Mrs. Oriole was singing her pretty song, all of a sudden, a big tramp cat ran up the tree. And he would have caught Mrs.

Oriole right then and there if Little Sir Cat hadn't shouted: "Don't touch that little bird!" And would you believe it? That tramp cat said, "I won't!" and began to purr:

"_Last Sat.u.r.day night a week ago I went to the city to see a fine show.

And Sunday morning, just for a lark, I chased a gray squirrel all over the Park!_"

and then he grinned like a cousin of his from Ches.h.i.+re, and climbed down the tree.