Here and Now Story Book Part 8

Cut-cut-cut, cadaakut, I laid an egg for Peter."

When the rooster saw all these eggs he opened his mouth again and bragged:

"c.o.c.k-a-doodle-doo, What they say is true.

See what they can do, c.o.c.k-a-doodle-doo."

And the little hens answered:

"Cut-cut-cut, cadaakut, We can lay an egg, an egg, Cut-cut-cut, cadaakut, We can lay an egg."

And if ever you are out in the country early in the morning you will hear the wonderful rooster-noise. And then you will hear the hens telling how many eggs they have laid for you.

THE LITTLE HEN AND THE ROOSTER

The little hen goes "cut cut cut."

The rooster he goes "c.o.c.k a doodle doo!

You want me and I want you, But I'm up here and you're down there."

The little hen goes "cut cut cut,"

The rooster he steps with a funny little strut, He c.o.c.ks his eye, gives a funny little sound, He looks at the hen, he looks all around, He flaps his wings, he beats the air, He stretches his neck, then flies to the ground.

"c.o.c.k a doodle, c.o.c.k a doodle, c.o.c.k a doodle doo!

Now you have me and I have you!"

MY HORSE, OLD DAN

This verse utilizes a child's love of enumeration and of movement. The School has found it the most successful of my verse for small children.

MY HORSE, OLD DAN

Old Dan has two ears Old Dan has two eyes Old Dan has one mouth With many, many, many, many teeth.

Old Dan has four feet Old Dan has four hoofs Old Dan has one tail With many, many, many, many hairs.

Old Dan can w a l k, w a l k, Old Dan can trot, trot, trot, Old Dan can run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, Many, many, many, many miles.

Horsie goes jog-a-jog-a-jog The wheels go round and round and round.

Horsie goes jog-a-jog-a-jog Oh, hear what a rattlety, tattlety sound!

Horsie goes jog-a-jog-a-jog The wheels they pound and pound and pound.

Horsie goes jog-a-jog-a-jog While the wagon it rattles along the ground!

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Auto, auto.

May I have a ride?

Yes, sir, yes, sir, Step right inside.

Pour in the water, Turn on the gasolene, And chug, chug, away we go Through the country green.

HOW SPOT FOUND A HOME

This story was worked out with the help of a five-year-old boy who supplied most of the content. It at once suggested dramatization to various groups of children to whom it was read. The refrains are definite corner posts in the story and are recognized as such by the children.

HOW SPOT FOUND A HOME

Once there was a cat. She was a black and white and yellow cat and the boys on the street called her Spot. For she was a poor cat with no home but the street. When she wanted to sleep, she had to hunt for a dark empty cellar. When she wanted to eat, she had to hunt for a garbage can.

So poor Spot was very thin and very unhappy. And much of the time she prowled and yowled and howled.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Now one day Spot was prowling along the fence in the alley. She wanted to find a home. She was saying to herself:

"Meow, meow!

I've no place to eat, I've no place to sleep, I've only the street!

Meow, meow, meow!"

Then suddenly she smelled something. Sniff! went her pink little nose.

Spot knew it was smoke she smelled. The smoke came out of the chimney of a house. "Where there is smoke there is fire," thought Spot, "and where there is fire, it is warm to lie." So she jumped down from the fence and on her little padded feet ran softly to the door. There she saw an empty milk bottle. "Where there are milk bottles, there is milk," thought Spot, "and where there is milk, it is good to drink." So she slipped in through the door.

Inside was a warm, warm kitchen. Spot trotted softly to the front of the stove and there she curled up. She was very happy, so she closed her eyes and began to sing:

"Purrrr, purrrr, Curling up warm To a ball of fur, I close my eyes And purr and purr.

Purrrr, purrrr, Purrrr, purrrr."

Bang! went the kitchen door. Spot opened one sleepy eye. In front of her stood a cross, cross woman. The cross, cross woman scowled. She picked up poor Spot and threw her out of the door, screaming:

"Scat, scat!

You old street cat!

Scat, scat!

And never come back!"