Cole's Funny Picture Book No. 1

by E. W. Cole

Jack The Glutton "Do look at those pigs, as they lay in the straw," Little Richard said to his papa; "They keep eating longer than ever I saw, What nasty fat gluttons they are!" "I see they are feasting" his father replied, "They eat a great deal I allow; But let us remember, before we deride, 'Tis the nature, my dear, of a sow. "But when a great boy, such as you, my dear Dick, Does nothing but eat all day And keeps sucking things till he makes himself sick, What a glutton! indeed, we may say. "When plumcake and sugar forever he picks, And sweetmeats, and comfits, and figs; Pray let him get rid of his own nasty tricks, And then he may laugh at the pigs."

Tom the Dainty Boy Never be dainty and throw food away; 'Tis sinful, as you must have heard many say; Besides, you yourself may require food some day, Though well fed. So don't smell your plate and turn over your food, And doubt if it's wholesome, or pleasant, or good; Such conduct is not only senseless,—but rude And ill-bred. There was a young boy, who so dainty became, That whether his dinner was fish, flesh or game, He turned up his nose at them all, just the same, And would cry, "I cannot eat this,"—and, "I do not like that;"— "This chicken's too lean,"—and "That mutton's too fat; The dog he may eat it up all, or the cat, But not I. The consequence was that he soon became thin; His bones they stuck out, and his cheeks they sunk in, And his hands were not stronger nor thicker than tin, If so strong. And his legs grew as slender as little hat-pegs, And almost as small was his waist as his legs; And he looked like the laths that are fastened round kegs, Thin and long. And thinner, and thinner, and thinner he grew, A shadow had been rather fat, of the two; In fact, you might easily look him right through, If you tried. And when he was quite the skeleton grown, As weak as a reed, and as cold as a stone He fell all to pieces, and with a faint groan, So he died.

Boy that robbed the Bird's nest "To-whit! To-whit! To-whee! Will you listen to me? Who stole four eggs I laid, And the nice nest I made?" "Not I," said the cow. "Oh, no; Such a thing I'd never do; I gave you a wisp of hay, But didn't take your nest away." "Coo, coo! said the dove, I'll speak a word my love; Who stole that pretty nest From a little red-breast?" "Not I," said the sheep. "Oh, no. I wouldn't treat a poor bird so; I gave wool the nest to line, But the nest was none of mine."

"Caw! Caw!" cried the crow, "I should like to know What thief took away A bird's nest to-day." "Cluck! Cluck!" said the hen, Don't ask me again! Why I hav'nt a chick Would do such a trick. We all gave her a feather, And she wove them together; I'd scorn to intrude On her and her brood." "Chirr-a-whirr! Chirr-a-whirr! We will make a great stir; Let us find out his name, And all cry for shame!" "I would not rob a bird," Said little Mary Green; "I think I never heard Of anything so mean." "'Tis very cruel too," Said little Alice Neil: "I wonder if he knew How sad the bird would feel?" A little boy hung down his head, And hid his face, so crimson red; For he stole that pretty nest From little robin redbreast; And he felt so full of shame, I do not like to tell his name. But during next week Dressed in his Sunday best This boy set out to seek All for another nest. He robbed a nest up high, Suspended in a tree; Two birds came through the sky, What happened you can see.

Cruel Boy What! go to see the kittens drowned On purpose in the yard! I did not think there could be found A little heart so hard. Poor kittens! No more pretty play With pussy's wagging tail: Why! I'd go far enough away Before I'd see the pail. Poor things! the little child that can Be pleased to go and see, Most likely, when he grows a man, A cruel man will be. And many a wicked thing he'll do Because his heart is hard: A great deal worse than killing you, Poor kittens in the yard.

Tyrannical Pat What became of tyrannical Pat, Who pelted the dog, and beat the cat, Why, puss scratched his face and tore his hat; And Dash knocked him over as flat as a mat. Mind that!

The little boy who bit his Nails See here a naughty boy, John Thales, Who had a shocking way Of picking at his finger nails, And biting them all day. And though he had, like other boys, Both soldiers, kites and drums, He liked, much better than these toys, His fingers and his thumbs.

Boy who tore his Hat Above on a chair, a little boy sat, For he had torn his nice new hat; And so was punished for doing that.

Thief Charley Charley, Charley, stole the barley Out of the baker's shop; The baker came out, and gave him a clout, And made that Charley hop.