In My Nursery Part 16

Said the boy to the day that was hurrying by, "Oh, little day, pretty day, why must you fly?

Oh, stay with me, play with me, just as you are; Let no shadow of evening your noon-brightness mar."

Said the day to the boy as it hurried away, "And is't for my brightness you ask me to stay?

Know, the jewel of day would no longer seem bright, If it were not clasped round by the setting of night."

THE SHARK.

Oh! blithe and merrily sang the shark, As he sat on the house-top high: A-cleaning his boots, and smoking cheroots, With a single gla.s.s in his eye.

With Martin and Day he polished away, And a smile on his face did glow, As merry and bold the chorus he trolled Of "Gobble-em-upsky ho!"

He sang so loud, he astonished the crowd Which gathered from far and near.

For they said, "Such a sound, in the country round, We never, no, never did hear."

He sang of the s.h.i.+ps that he'd eaten like chips In the palmy days of his youth.

And he added, "If you don't believe it is true, Pray examine my wisdom tooth!"

He sang of the whales who'd have given their tails For a glance of his raven eye.

And the swordfish, too, who their weapons all drew, And swor'd for his sake they'd die.

And he sang about wrecks and hurricane decks And the mariner's perils and pains, Till every man's blood up on end it stood, And their hair ran cold in their veins.

But blithe as a lark the merry old shark, He sat on the sloping roof.

Though he said, "It is queer that no one draws near To examine my wisdom toof!"

And he carolled away, by night and by day, Until he made every one ill.

And I'll wager a crown that unless he's come down, He is probably carolling still.

THE EASTER HEN.

Oh! children, have you ever seen The little Easter Hen, Who comes to lay her pretty eggs, Then runs away again?

She only comes on Easter Day; And when that day is o'er, Till next year brings it round again, You will not see her more.

Her eggs are not like common eggs, But all of colors bright: Blue, purple, red, with spots and stripes, And scarcely one that's white.

She lays them in no special place,-- On this side, now on that.

And last year, only think! she laid One right in Johnny's hat.

But naughty boys and girls get none: So, children, don't forget!

And be as good as good can be-- It is not Easter yet!

PUMP AND PLANET.

With a hop, skip, and jump, We went to the pump, To fill our kettles with starch.

He gave us good day In the pleasantest way, With a smile that was winning and arch.

"Oh, Pump," said I, "When you look up on high To flirt with the morning star, Does it make you sad, Oh! Pumpy, my lad, To think she's away so far?"

Said the Pump, "Oh no!

For we've settled it so That but little my feelings are tried.

For every clear night She slides down the moonlight, And s.h.i.+nes in the trough at my side."

THE POSTMAN.

Hey! the little postman, And his little dog.

Here he comes a-hopping Like a little frog; Bringing me a letter, Bringing me a note, In the little pocket Of his little coat.

Hey! the little postman, And his little bag, Here he comes a-trotting Like a little nag; Bringing me a paper, Bringing me a bill, From the little grocer On the little hill.

Hey! the little postman, And his little hat, Here he comes a-creeping Like a little cat.

What is that he's saying?

"Naught for you to-day!"

Horrid little postman!

I wish you'd go away!

HOPSY UPSY.

Hopsy upsy, Baby oh!

Into your bath you now must go; Splash and dash, and paddle and plash, That's what you like, my Baby oh!

Where is the sponge for Baby oh?

See the silvery fountains flow,-- Diamond drops so bright and clear, Falling all over my Baby dear.

Now for the soap, my Baby oh!

Watch the bubbles that come and go; Rainbow isles in a sea of foam, Reflecting your smiles, they go and come.

Here is the towel for Baby oh!

Cannot stay in all day, you know; Now scrub and rub, and rub and scrub, And so good-by to the beautiful tub.