Part 22 (2/2)

Oh, could I find the forest Where the pencil-trees grow!

Oh, might I see their stately stems All standing in a row!

I'd hie me to their grateful shade; In deep, in deepest bliss; For then I need not hourly hear A chorus such as this:

_Chorus._ Oh, lend me a pencil, _please_, Mamma!

Oh, draw me some houses and trees, Mamma!

Oh, make me a floppy Great poppy to copy, And a horsey that prances and gees, Mamma!

The branches of the pencil-tree Are pointed every one; Ay! each one has a glancing point That glitters in the sun.

The leaves are leaves of paper white, All fluttering in the breeze; Ah! could I pluck one rustling bough, I'd silence cries like these:

_Chorus._ Oh, lend me a pencil, do, Mamma!

I've got mine all stuck in the glue, Mamma!

Oh, make me a pretty Big barn and a city, And a cow and a steam-engine too, Mamma!

The fruit upon the pencil-tree Hangs ripening in the sun, In cl.u.s.ters bright of pocket-knives,-- Three blades to every one.

Ah! might I pluck one s.h.i.+ning fruit, And plant it by my door, The pleading cries, the longing sighs, Would trouble me no more.

_Chorus._ Oh, sharpen a pencil for me, Mamma!

'Cause Johnny and Baby have three, Mamma!

And this isn't fine!

And Hal sat down on mine!

So do it bee-yu-ti-ful-_lee_, Mamma!

THE SEVEN LITTLE TIGERS AND THE AGED COOK.

Seven little tigers they sat them in a row, Their seven little dinners for to eat; And each of the troop had a little plate of soup, The effect of which was singularly neat.

They were feeling rather cross, for they hadn't any sauce To eat with their pudding or their pie; So they rumpled up their hair, in a spasm of despair, And vowed that the aged cook should die.

Then they called the aged cook, and a frying-pan they took, To fry him very nicely for their supper; He was ninety-six years old, on authority I'm told, And his name was Peter Sparrow-piper Tupper.

”Mr. Sparrow-piper Tup, we intend on you to sup!”

Said the eldest little tiger very sweetly; But this naughty aged cook, just remarking, ”Only look!”

Chopped the little tiger's head off very neatly.

Then he said unto the rest, ”It has always been confessed That a tiger's better eating than a man; So I'll fry him for you now, and you all will find, I trow, That to eat him will be much the better plan.”

So they tried it in a trice, and found that it was nice, And with rapture they embraced one another; And they said, ”By hook or crook, we must keep this aged cook; So we'll ask him to become our elder brother.”

[_Which they accordingly did._]

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