Part 26 (1/2)

Huffly, snuffly, eminent fowl.

Black bat hung by a twig of the tree, Blinkety, winkety, blind old bat; Paying his court to the b.u.mble-bee, Fuzzy bee, buzzy bee, yellow and fat.

”Oh!” said the owl, ”but the sun is so bright.

Blazing, crazing, fiery sun, How can I possibly wait till night?

Sweltering, meltering, not much fun!”

”Oh!” said the bat, ”if a cloud would come, Showery, lowery, nice gray cloud, I'd take my love to my cavern home, Happily, flappily, pleased and proud.”

”Oh!” said the bee, ”but if that be all, Whimpering, simpering, blear-eyed bat, Yonder's a cloud coming up at your call, Scowling, growling, black as your hat.”

”Oh!” said the owl and the bat together: ”Rollicky, jollicky, nice fat cloud, Give us some good, black, thundery weather; Roar away, pour away, can't be too loud!”

Up came the cloud, spreading far and wide, Billowy, pillowy, black as night; Brisk little hurricane sitting inside, Blow away, strow away, out of sight.

Off went the owl like a thistle-down puff, Ruffly, huffly, rolled in a ball; Off went the bat like a candle-snuff, Fly away, die away, terrible fall.

Off went the twig, and off went the tree, Cras.h.i.+ng, smas.h.i.+ng, splintering round; Nothing was left but the b.u.mble-bee, And who so merry, so merry as she, As she laughed, ”Ho! ho!” as she laughed, ”He! he!

Creep away, sleep away, hole in the ground.”

FROM NEW YORK TO BOSTON.

[_Allegro con moto._]

Here we go skilfully skipping, Riding the resonant rail; Conductor the tickets is clipping, Boy has bananas for sale.

Raindrops outside are a-dripping,-- Dripping o'er meadow and vale.

Here we go skilfully skipping, Riding the resonant rail.

Clankety clankety clank, Clinkety clinkety cling; Five little boys on a bank, One little girl in a swing.

Fishhawk o'erhead in the distance, Spreading his wings like a sail.

Here we go skilfully skipping, Riding the resonant rail.

”Puck, Life, Frank Leslie, and Harper!

Latest editions, just out!”

Boy is an impudent sharper!

All are last week's, I've no doubt.

”Every new monthly and weekly, Every new novel and tale!”

Here we go skilfully skipping, Riding the resonant rail.

Jogglety jogglety joggle!

Jigglety jigglety jig!

Snuffy old man with a goggle, Acid old dame with a wig, Pretty girl peacefully sleeping Under her gold-spotted veil.

Here we go skilfully skipping, Riding the resonant rail.

Now we are duly admonished, Hartford's the place we reach next; Cow in the field looks astonished, Sheep in the pasture perplexed.