There was a cunning spider once
Who wove a tangled web;
A shining fly came passing by
And to the spider said:
"What have you in your parlor, sir,
I wish you'd tell to me."
The spider said: "I wish instead
You'd step inside and see.
"My parlor is a pretty place
Where you may sit and rest;
With cozy nooks and picture books,
I think mine is the best.
"I've windows in my parlor, too,
All draped in woven lace;
And as you pass a pretty glass
Reflects a handsome face.
"I've pictures on the mantelshelf
I purchased just of late;
The frames are fine and nicely shine
And all are up to date."
The fly then crossed the threshold line
And never thought of harm;
The spider wise then blinked his eyes
And spun a little yarn.
He said unto his victim fair:
"This is a pretty place;
So won't you fly to the window high
Where hangs the woven lace?"
The fly flew to the window pane
Where spider lace was hung;
And ere he knew just what to do
A web was 'round him strung.
He buzzed and hummed and fluttered there,
And struggled with his might.
The spider sly had caught the fly
And held him very tight.
So let's not listen, like the fly,
To untrue tales that are told;
For we must mind we're sure to find
All glittering things aren't gold.
Let's not be led to danger then
By a sinful, harmful guide;
But walk each day in the narrow way
And shun the one that's wide.

MOTHER GOOSE'S DINNER PARTY

Old Mother Goose
Rode in her caboose,
And invited her friends to dine;
And to each of them said,
As she popped out her head:
"Be sure to come at straight nine."
To Old Mother Hubbard,
Who had a bare cupboard,
With nothing to eat or to sup,
She said: "Bring your dog Jack,
So you can carry back
Enough for to fill you both up."
And to little Bopeep:
"You may bring all your sheep,
And their tails that were hung up to dry."
And to little Jack Horner,
Who sat in the corner,
She said: "I have made a plum pie."
And to little Boy Blue:
"Bring your horn along too,
And play us a rollicking tune;
For the cat with the fiddle
Will play us 'Hi-diddle,'
While the cow jumps over the moon."
And to little Tom Tucker,
Whose face wore a pucker,
Because he had nothing to eat,
She said: "Come to the party
And eat quite hearty,
Then your face will be pleas'nt and sweet."
But of little Tom Green,
The boy who was mean,
She said she would surely leave out;
And would only invite
The boy who did right,
And he was that little John Trout.
To the piper's son Tom,
She said: "Come along
And bring us a pig if you will,"
Then poor simple Simon,
Who met the fat pieman,
She told he could eat to his fill.
And to poor Jack and Jill,
Who fell down the hill,
And cut such a terrible caper:
"Be sure that you bring
A drink from the spring,
And some vinegar and brown paper."
But to bad, bad Peter,
The great pumpkin eater,
She said she thought 'twould be well
To give his poor wife
A change in her life,
And let her come out of her shell.
But poor Humpty-Dumpty!
He got such a bumpty,
When he fell way down from the wall,
That he went all to smash
With a terrible crash,
So she couldn't invite him at all.
Then old Mother Goose
Thought 'twould be of no use
To invite the king and the queen;
For they lived so high
On their blackbird pie,
And with poor folks wouldn't be seen.
But thought 'twould be right
To kindly invite
The woman who lived in the shoe.
So lent her caboose
To be of some use
In bringing the children there too.
So all the folks came
To see the good dame,
And they all spent a jolly good day;
And said their good-byes,
With tears in their eyes,
When the wagons were rolling away.

OLIVE'S ADVICE

Let me tell you what to do
As this world you journey through.
Give a smile to all you meet,
Keep your temper nice and sweet.
Keep your faces bright and clean,
Never do a trick that's mean.
Keep pure thoughts within your mind,
Never say a word unkind.
When at home, or when at school
Please obey each given rule.
Keep in mind your duty ever,
Don't neglect it once, no, never!
Then you'll live a happy life,
Free from trouble, free from strife.