Cole's Funny Picture Book No. 1

by E. W. Cole

Christmas Stockings 'Tis Christmas day, And little May Peeps from her bed in the morning grey. She looks around, But not a sound Breaks on the quietness profound. So, heaving sighs, She shuts her eyes, And hard to go to sleep she tries. But sleep has fled That little bed. And weary moves the curly head, Until the light (Oh, welcome sight!) Has banished every trace of night. Then out of bed, With hurried tread, She runs to waken brother Fred; For oh, what joys, In the shape of toys, Does Christmas bring to girls and boys! Fred gives a groan, Or a sleepy moan, And mutters, "Do let me alone!" But bonnie May Will not have nay; She whispers, "It is Christmas day!" Oh, magic sound! For Fred turns round, And in a trice is on the ground. "Our stockings, where?" "They're on that chair." "Oh, what has Santa Claus put there?" May laughs with glee, The sight to see, Of stockings filled from toe to knee With parcels queer, That stick out here, Before, behind, in front and rear. "Oh, Fred! a dolly! I'll call her Molly." "Why, may, a penknife here; how jolly!" "A necktie blue! A paintbox too!" "Oh, Fred, a pair of kid gloves new!" "May, here's a gun! Won't we have fun, Playing at soldiers!—You'll be one." "Now that is all. No; here's a ball; Just hold it, or these things will fall." "What's in the toe, May, do you know? Biscuits and figs!—I told you so." "I think," said May, That Christmas day Should come at least every second day." And so say we; But then you see That Santa Claus would tired be. And all his toys And Christmas joys Would vanish then from girls and boys. From "The Prize"

Hang Up Baby's Stocking Hang up the baby's stocking: Be sure you don't forget: The dear little dimpled darling Has never seen Christmas yet. But I told him all about it, And he opened his big blue eyes; I'm sure he understood it, He looked so funny and wise. Ah, what a tiny stocking; It doesn't take so much to hold Such little toes as baby's Safe from the frost and cold. But then, for the baby's Christmas It never will do at all; For Santa Claus wouldn't be looking For anything half so small. I know what will do for baby; I've thought of a first-rate plan; I'll borrow a stocking of grandma— The longest that I ever can. And you shall hang it by mine, mother, Right here in the corner—so; And write a letter for baby. And fasten it on the toe. "Old Santa Claus, this is a stocking Hung up for our baby dear; You never have seen our darling, He has not been with us a year, "But he is a beautiful baby; And now, before you go, Please cram this stocking with presents, From the top of it down to the toe. "Put in a baby's rattle, Also a coral ring, A bright new ribbon for his waist; Some beads hung on a string "And mind a coloured ball please, And a tiny pair of shoes; You'll see from this little stocking, The size you have to choose."

Santa Claus A health to good old Santa Claus, And to his reindeer bold, Whose hoofs are shod with elder-down, Whose horns are tipped with gold. Ho comes from utmost fairyland Across the wintry snows; He makes the fir-tree and the spruce To blossom like the rose. Over the quaint old gables, Over the windy ridge, By turret wall and chimney tall, He guided his fairy sledge; He steals upon the slumbers Of little rose-lipped girls, And lays his waxen dollies down Beside their golden curls. He scatters blessings on his way, And sugar-coated plums; He robs the sluggard from his rest With trumpets, guns, and drums. Small feet, before the dawn of day, Are marching to and fro, Drums beat to arms through all the house, And penny trumpets blow. A health to brave old Santa Claus, And to his reindeer bold, Whose hoofs are shod with elder-down, Whose horns are tipped with gold. S. H. Whitman

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Page 81—Play Land

The Rabbit on the Wall The children shout with laughter, The uproar louder grows; Even grandma chuckles faintly, And Johnny chirps and crows. There ne'er was gilded painting, Hung up in lordly hall, Gave half the simple pleasure As this rabbit on the wall. The cottage work is over, The evening meal is done; Hark! thro' the starlight stillness You hear the river run. The little children whisper, Then speak out one and all; "Come, father, make for Johnny, The rabbit on the wall." He—smilingly assenting, They gather round his chair; "Now, grandma, you hold Johnny; Don't let the candle flare." So speaking, from his fingers He throws a shadow tall, That seems, a moment after, A rabbit on the wall.

Holiday Time With these three little girls and two little boys There is sure to be plenty of laughter and noise; But nobody minds it, because don't you see, At school they are quiet with lessons to say— But when the holidays come they can play the whole day.

The Fairy Queen Let us laugh and let us sing, Dancing in a merry ring; We'll be fairies on the green, Sporting round the Fairy Queen. Like the seasons of the year, Round we circle in a sphere; I'll be Summer, you'll be Spring, Dancing in a fairy ring. Harry will be Winter wild; Little Annie, Autumn mild; Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring, Dancing in a fairy ring. Spring and Summer glide away, Autumn comes with tresses grey; Winter, hand in hand with Spring, Dancing in a fairy ring. Faster! faster! round we go While our cheeks like roses glow; Free as birds upon the wing, Dancing in a fairy ring.

Come and Play in the Garden Little sister, come away, And let us in the garden play, For it is a pleasant day. On the grassplot let us sit, Or, if you please, we'll play a bit, And run about all over it. But the fruit we will not pick, For that would be a naughty trick, And, very likely, make us sick. Nor will we pluck the pretty flowers That grow about the beds and bowers, Because, you know, they are not ours. We'll pluck the daisies, white and red, Because mamma has often said, That we may gather them instead. And much I hope we always may Out very dear mamma obey, And mind whatever she may say.