Volume I Part 14 (1/2)

One, two, Buckle my shoe; Three, four, Shut the door; Five, six, Pick up sticks; Seven, eight, Lay them straight; Nine, ten, A good fat hen; Eleven, twelve, Who will delve?

Thirteen, fourteen, Maids a-courting; Fifteen, sixteen, Maids a-kissing; Seventeen, eighteen, Maids a-waiting; Nineteen, twenty, My stomach's empty.

THE DIFFERENCE

Eight fingers, Ten toes, Two eyes, And one nose.

Baby said When she smelt the rose, ”Oh! what a pity I've only one nose!”

Ten teeth In even rows, Three dimples, And one nose.

Baby said When she smelt the snuff, ”Deary me!

One nose is enough.”

Laura E. Richards [1850-

FOOT SOLDIERS

'Tis all the way to Toe-town, Beyond the Knee-high hill, That Baby has to travel down To see the soldiers drill.

One, two, three, four, five, a-row-- A captain and his men-- And on the other side, you know, Are six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

John Banister Tabb [1845-1909]

TOM THUMB'S ALPHABET

A was an Archer, who shot at a frog; B was a Butcher, who had a great dog; C was a Captain, all covered with lace; D was a Drunkard, and had a red face; E was an Esquire, with pride on his brow; F was a Farmer, and followed the plow; G was a Gamester, who had but ill luck; H was a Hunter, who hunted a buck; I was an Innkeeper, who loved to bouse; J was a Joiner, who built up a house; K was a King, so mighty and grand; L was a Lady, who had a white hand; M was a Miser, and h.o.a.rded his gold; N was a n.o.bleman, gallant and bold; O was an Oysterman, who went about town; P was a Parson, and wore a black gown; Q was a Quack, with a wonderful pill; R was a Robber, who wanted to kill; S was a Sailor, who spent all he got; T was a Tinker, and mended a pot; U was an Usurer, a miserable elf; V was a Vintner, who drank all himself; W was a Watchman, who guarded the door; X was Expensive, and so became poor; Y was a Youth, that did not love school; Z was a Zany, a poor harmless fool.

GRAMMAR IN RHYME

Three little words, you often see, Are articles A, An, and The.

A Noun is the name of anything, As School, or Garden, Hoop, or Swing.

Adjectives tell the kind of Noun, As Great, Small, Pretty, White, or Brown.

Instead of Nouns the p.r.o.nouns stand, Her head, His face, Your arm, My hand.

Verbs tell something being done-- To Read, Count, Laugh, Sing, Jump, or Run.

How things are done the Adverbs tell, As Slowly, Quickly, Ill, or Well.

Conjunctions join the words together-- As men And women, wind Or weather.

The Preposition stands before A noun, as In or Through a door, The Interjection shows surprise, As Oh! how pretty! Ah! how wise!