Part 25 (1/2)

R was a rabbit, Who had a bad habit Of eating the flowers In gardens and bowers.

r Naughty fat rabbit!

S was the sugar-tongs, Nippity-nee, To take up the sugar To put in our tea.

s Nippity-nee!

T was a tortoise, All yellow and black: He walked slowly away, And he never came back.

t Torty never came back!

U was an urn All polished and bright, And full of hot water At noon and at night.

u Useful old urn!

V was a villa Which stood on a hill, By the side of a river, And close to a mill.

v Nice little villa!

W was a whale With a very long tail, Whose movements were frantic Across the Atlantic.

w Monstrous old whale!

X was King Xerxes, Who, more than all Turks, is Renowned for his fas.h.i.+on Of fury and pa.s.sion.

x Angry old Xerxes!

Y was a yew, Which flourished and grew By a quiet abode Near the side of a road.

y Dark little yew!

Z was some zinc, So s.h.i.+ny and bright, Which caused you to wink In the sun's merry light.

z Beautiful zinc!

Edward Lear.

_The Table and the Chair_

I

Said the Table to the Chair, ”You can hardly be aware How I suffer from the heat And from chilblains on my feet.

If we took a little walk, We might have a little talk; Pray let us take the air,”

Said the Table to the Chair.

II

Said the Chair unto the Table, ”Now, you _know_ we are not able: How foolishly you talk, When you know we _cannot_ walk!”

Said the Table with a sigh, ”It can do no harm to try.

I've as many legs as you: Why can't we walk on two?”

III

So they both went slowly down, And walked about the town With a cheerful b.u.mpy sound As they toddled round and round; And everybody cried, As they hastened to their side, ”See! the Table and the Chair Have come out to take the air!”

IV

But in going down an alley, To a castle in a valley, They completely lost their way, And wandered all the day; Till, to see them safely back, They paid a Ducky-quack, And a Beetle, and a Mouse, Who took them to their house.