FAIRY TALES.
"'Et me see," thought little May,
Waking from her slumber,
"How many 'tories do I know?
Oh, a mons'rous number!
First Cin'rella with her shoe,
All d'essed up so sp'ended;
"'Es, an' naughty B'ue Beard too,
Always gettin' 'fended;
'Fended with his wives he was,
All account of keys,
Then a-comin' back to say
'Die Ma'am! on your knees!'
Oh my! if she hadn't had
Her faithful sister Ann,
No one ever would have come
To kill that wicked man!
Then the Bean-stalk—that was nice!
Wis' I'd one this minute,
Guess, though, I'd be most af'aid—
Might be giants in it.
Wonder if I was to be
Jack the Giant-killer
Nursey'd be af'aid o' me?
Why, I wouldn't kill her!
Not unless she combed too hard—
Then I'd shake my axe
Jus' a 'ittle—wis' I had
A real one jus' like Jack's.
Wis' I had a pair o' boots
Like Puss, who went a-walkin'!
Wis' I had a Pussy too,
Sittin' up a-talkin'.
I wouldn't like to go get lost
Like 'ittle Hop my T'umb
'Way 'n the forest (don't I wish
My mamma'd only come!)
A'most makes me feel af'aid
T'inkin' 'bout 'em now;
Gettin' lef' that way I t'ink
Was dreffle, any how;—
But, oh, the chil'ren in the wood,
They must have been so f'ightened
A-list'nin, to the t'under, or
A-watchin' when it lighten'd.
Don't see why they didn't go;
Maybe, though, they couldn't—
My Uncle wouldn't t'eat me so,
Uncle Rodney wouldn't.
Maybe in the mornin', too,
They heard a lion roarin'—
Here comes Nursey! now I'll play
I'm fast as'eep, a-snorin'.
————————
Old Can-an'-must is a giant bold,
But one thing scares him, I've been told;
"I'm afraid when a youngster wastes his crust,
He'll never be thrifty," says Can-an'-must.
Old Can-an'-must is a giant bold,
And only one thing makes him scold:
"If I catch a youngster leaving a crust,
I'll gobble him up!" says Can-an'-must.
————————
MOTHERLESS.
"I wish she had not died," she said,
The words were soft and low;
"Most little girls like me, papa,
Have dear mammas, you know.
"There's Lulu Hart, next door. I think
It's nice to live that way;
With some one sitting at the blinds
To watch you while you play;
"I often see her look up quick,
And smile at some one there;
And when she laughs and hides away,
She knows some one will care.
"Why didn't Doctor Bishop cure
My mother, dear papa?
That's what he did one time, you know,
For Lulu Hart's mamma.
"Say, papa, was God good to take
My own mamma away?
For I was just a baby then—
Papa, why don't you say?"
"Yes, always good," he sobbed. "Mamma
Is very happy, dear."
His little girl sprang up, nor cared
Another word to hear.
"Why, papa! crying? Please don't cry.
Do you feel sorry, too?
Now, papa, see; I never meant
I didn't care for you.
"If mamma's happy in the sky—
You told me so before—
We mustn't cry. I think it's wrong
To want her any more.
"Laugh, papa, quick! I'll pull your hair!
I'll kiss your funny nose;
Laugh, quick, for Minnie; else I'll try
To jump right on your toes.
"Poor eyes! all wet. I'll kiss them dry.
What's in your pocket? See.
Oh! where's your watch? Now, won't you please
Just make it tick for me?
"It's nice to have a dear papa.
(How big it is, and bright.
I hear it ticky, ticky, tick.
It's very loud to-night.)
"Ride me to Banbury Cross, papa!
Now, don't you let me fall.
When I was littler, how I slipped!
I couldn't keep on at all.
"Oh! there's the tea-bell. Now you've tossed
My hair like everything!
I'll toss yours too. Oho! Oho!
You look just like a king—
"For kings have crowns, you know, papa,
And your hair's standing straight.
I knew you'd laugh! There, now, you're good—
Come quick, and show Aunt Kate."
Aunt, at the table, glanced at one,
And then glanced at the other;
She could not guess what hidden thing
Had happened to her brother.
His shining hair stood like a crown,
His smile was warm and bright;
"Why, John," she said, "you really seem
Like your old self to-night."