Every Girl's Library Part 27

Now when they got as far as the Equator They'd nothing left but one split pea.

Says gorging Jack to guzzling Jimmy, "I am extremely hungaree."

To gorging Jack says guzzling Jimmy, "We've nothing left, us must eat we."

Says gorging Jack to guzzling Jimmy, "With one another we shouldn't agree!

There's little Bill, he's young and tender, We're old and tough, so let's eat he.

"Oh! Billy, we're going to kill and eat you, So undo the b.u.t.ton of your chemie."

When Bill received this information He used his pocket handkerchie.

"First let me say my catechism, Which my poor mammy taught to me."

"Make haste, make haste," says guzzling Jimmy, While Jack pulled out his snickersnee.

So Billy went up to the main-top gallant mast, And down he fell on his bended knee.

He scarce had come to the twelfth commandment When up he jumps. "There's land I see:

"Jerusalem and Madagascar, And North and South Amerikee: There's the British flag a riding at anchor, With Admiral Napier, K.C.B."

So when they got aboard of the Admiral's He hanged fat Jack and flogged Jimmee; But as for little Bill he made him The Captain of a Seventy-three.

FAIRY DAYS

Beside the old hall-fire, upon my nurse's knee, Of happy fairy days what tales were told to me!

I thought the world was once all peopled with princesses, And my heart would beat to hear their loves and their distresses; And many a quiet night, in slumber sweet and deep, The pretty fairy people would visit me in sleep.

I saw them in my dreams come flying east and west, With wondrous fairy gifts the new-born babe they bless'd; One has brought a jewel and one a crown of gold, And one has brought a curse--but she is wrinkled and old.

The gentle queen turns pale to hear those words of sin, But the king he only laughs and bids the dance begin.

The babe has grown to be the fairest of the land, And rides the forest green, a hawk upon her hand; An ambling palfrey white, a golden robe and crown, I've seen her in my dreams, riding up and down, And heard the ogre laugh, as she fell into his snare, At the little tender creature who wept and tore her hair.

But ever when it seemed her need was at the sorest, A prince in s.h.i.+ning mail comes prancing through the forest, A waving ostrich-plume, a buckler burnished bright; I've seen him in my dreams--good sooth! a gallant knight.

His lips are coral-red beneath a dark moustache; See how he waves his hand and how his blue eyes flas.h.!.+

"Come forth, thou Paynim knight!" he shouts in accents clear.

The giant and the maid both tremble his voice to hear.

Saint Mary guard him well!--he draws his falchion keen, The giant and the knight are fighting on the green.

I see them in my dreams, his blade gives stroke on stroke.

The giant pants and reels, and tumbles like an oak!

With what a blus.h.i.+ng grace he falls upon his knee And takes the lady's hand and whispers, "You are free!"

Ah! happy childish tales of knight and faerie!

I waken from my dreams, but there's ne'er a knight for me; I waken from my dreams and wish that I could be A child by the old hall-fire upon my nurse's knee!

MRS. KATHERINE'S LANTERN

WRITTEN IN A LADY'S ALb.u.m

"Coming from a gloomy court, Place of Israelite resort, This old lamp I've brought with me.

Madam, on its panes you'll see The initials K. and E."

"An old lantern brought to me?

Ugly, dingy, battered, black!"

(Here a lady I suppose Turning up a pretty nose)-- "Pray, sir, take the old thing back, I've no taste for bric-a-brac."

"Please to mark the letters twain"-- (I'm supposed to speak again)-- "Graven on the lantern pane.

Can you tell me who was she, Mistress of the flowery wreath, And the anagram beneath-- The mysterious K. E.?

"Full a hundred years are gone Since the little beacon shone From a Venice balcony: There, on summer nights, it hung, And her lovers came and sung To their beautiful K. E.

"Hus.h.!.+ in the ca.n.a.l below Don't you hear the splash of oars Underneath the lantern's glow, And a thrilling voice begins To the sound of mandolins?-- Begins singing of amore, And delire and dolore-- O the ravis.h.i.+ng tenore!

"Lady, do you know the tune?

Ah, we all of us have hummed it!

I've an old guitar has thrummed it, Under many a changing moon.

Shall I try it? Do re Mi * * * * *

What is this? _Ma foi_, the fact is, That my hand is out of practice, And my poor old fiddle cracked is, And a man--I let the truth out-- Who's had almost every tooth out, Cannot sing as once he sung, When he was young as you are young, When he was young and lutes were strung, And love-lamps in the cas.e.m.e.nt hung."

LUCY'S BIRTHDAY

Seventeen rose-buds in a ring, Thick with sister flowers beset, In a fragrant coronet, Lucy's servants this day bring.

Be it the birthday wreath she wears Fresh and fair, and symbolling The young number of her years, The sweet blushes of her spring.

Types of youth and love and hope!

Friendly hearts your mistress greet, Be you ever fair and sweet, And grow lovelier as you ope!

Gentle nursling, fenced about With fond care, and guarded so, Scarce you've heard of storms without, Frosts that bite, or winds that blow!

Kindly has your life begun, And we pray that heaven may send To our floweret a warm sun, A calm summer, a sweet end.

And where'er shall be her home, May she decorate the place; Still expending into bloom, And developing in grace.

PISCATOR AND PISCATRIX

LINES WRITTEN TO AN ALb.u.m PRINT

As on this pictured page I look, This pretty tale of line and hook As though it were a novel-book Amuses and engages: I know them both, the boy and girl; She is the daughter of the Earl, The lad (that has his hair in curl) My lord the County's page is.

A pleasant place for such a pair!

The fields lie basking in the glare; No breath of wind the heavy air Of lazy summer quickens.

Hard by you see the castle tall; The village nestles round the wall, As round about the hen its small Young progeny of chickens.

It is too hot the pace to keep; To climb the turret is too steep; My lord the earl is dozing deep, His noonday dinner over.

The postern-warder is asleep (Perhaps they've bribed him not to peep); And so from out the gate they creep, And cross the fields of clover.