Verse and Prose for Beginners in Reading Part 5

At sixes and sevens.

Beauty is but skin deep.

Half a loaf is better than no bread.

Better late than never.

Better live well than long.

Beware of no man more than thyself.

Birds of a feather will flock together.

Christmas comes but once a year; And when it comes, it brings good cheer; But when it's gone, it's never the near.

Brag is a good dog, but Holdfast is a better.

By fits and starts.

By and by is easily said.

Care will kill a cat.

Cats hide their claws.

Constant dropping wears the stone.

Count not your chickens before they are hatched.

Debt is the worst poverty.

Do not spur a free horse.

Don't cry till you are out of the wood.

Drive thy business; let not that drive thee.

Early to bed, and early to rise, Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

East or west, home is best.

Enough is as good as a feast.

Everybody's business is n.o.body's business.

HAPPY THOUGHT.

The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.

THE SUN'S TRAVELS.

The sun is not abed, when I At night upon my pillow lie; Still round the earth his way he takes, And morning after morning makes.

While here at home, in s.h.i.+ning day, We round the sunny garden play, Each little Indian sleepy-head Is being kissed and put to bed.

And when at eve I rise from tea, Day dawns beyond the Atlantic Sea; And all the children in the West Are getting up and being dressed.

MY BED IS A BOAT.

My bed is like a little boat; Nurse helps me in when I embark; She girds me in my sailor's coat And starts me in the dark.

At night, I go on board and say Good-night to all my friends on sh.o.r.e; I shut my eyes and sail away And see and hear no more.

And sometimes things to bed I take, As prudent sailors have to do; Perhaps a slice of wedding-cake, Perhaps a toy or two.

All night across the dark we steer; But when the day returns at last, Safe in my room, beside the pier, I find my vessel fast.

THE SWING.

How do you like to go up in a swing, Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall, Till I can see so wide, Rivers and trees and cattle and all Over the countryside--

Till I look down on the garden green, Down on the roof so brown-- Up in the air I go flying again, Up in the air and down!

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John Guard the bed that I lie on!

Four corners to my bed, Four angels round my head; One to watch, one to pray, And two to bear my soul away.

Mistress Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow?

With c.o.c.kle-sh.e.l.ls, and silver bells, And pretty maids all in a row.

Old King Cole Was a merry old soul, And a merry old soul was he; He called for his pipe, And he called for his bowl, And he called for his fiddlers three.

Every fiddler, he had a fiddle, And a very fine fiddle had he; Twee tweedle dee, tweedle dee, went the fiddlers.

Oh, there's none so rare, As can compare With old King Cole and his fiddlers three!

MOTHER HUBBARD AND HER DOG

Old Mother Hubbard Went to the cupboard, To get her poor dog a bone; But when she came there, The cupboard was bare, And so the poor dog had none.

She went to the baker's To buy him some bread; But when she came back, The poor dog was dead.

She went to the joiner's To buy him a coffin; But when she came back.

The poor dog was laughing.

She took a clean dish To get him some tripe; But when she came back, He was smoking his pipe.

She went to the fishmonger's To buy him some fish; And when she came back, He was licking the dish.

She went to the ale-house To get him some beer; But when she came back, The dog sat in a chair.

She went to the tavern For white wine and red; But when she came back, The dog stood on his head.

She went to the hatter's To buy him a hat; But when she came back, He was feeding the cat.

She went to the barber's To buy him a wig; But when she came back, He was dancing a jig.

She went to the fruiterer's To buy him some fruit; But when she came back, He was playing the flute.