Part 7 (1/2)

”LET US EAT HER UP;”

And Mother Bear growled, ”LET US EAT HER UP;”

And Tiny Bear squeaked,

”LET US EAT HER UP.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: GOLDEN HAIR ESCAPES FROM THE BEARS.]

The noise they made woke Golden Hair, and you may imagine how frightened she was when she saw the three bears. She started out of bed, and jumped at once out of the window. The bears rushed after her, and Father Bear caught her golden hair in his teeth, but she left a lock behind, and still ran on. Then the three bears all jumped out after her, but they fell one on the top of the other and rolled over and over, and while they were picking themselves up, little Golden Hair ran home, and they were not able to catch her.

But I do not think she had acted rightly (though she did not deserve to be eaten up); it was very wrong to break little Bear's chair and eat his milk, and I think Golden Hair will have to take great care to keep out of the reach of the THREE BEARS.

PUNCH AND JUDY.

Mr. Punch and his wife Led a terrible life, Very much like a dog and a cat; Till, one summer morn A baby was born, A darling all dimples and fat.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PUNCH, JUDY, AND THE BABY.]

Mrs. Judy was proud, And the nurses allowed That they never had seen such a child; And the proud mother thought When her baby she brought To her husband, ”It must make him mild.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: PUNCH AND THE BABY.]

Mr. Punch was quite pleased; The poor baby he seized, And danced up and down in great joy.

”Oh, my Judy,” he cried, ”With a father's just pride, I look on our beautiful boy.”

But the baby soon cried; Punch's temper was tried, And in a great pa.s.sion he flew; He shook the poor child, And, with rage growing wild, The babe o'er the balcony threw.

Judy, greatly displeased, A thick stick at once seized, And began her stern husband to beat; ”O you monster,” she cried, As her weapon she plied, ”You deserve the same ending to meet.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: PUNCH AND JUDY.]

On his arms and his head Her blows fell like lead; She wonder'd such treatment he stood!

Beating and battering, She made such a clattering, It sounded like chopping up wood.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PUNCH KILLS JUDY.]

Of his beating quite tired, Punch's patience expired; He s.n.a.t.c.hed the stick out of her hands, And gave Judy a blow Which, alas, laid her low, And above her a conqueror stands.

Then he danced and he sang, And such nonsense began, That we laughed, though we couldn't tell why; For in such a sad case It were much more our place For Judy's misfortunes to cry.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PUNCH AND THE CONSTABLE.]

But the constable see!-- ”Are you come here for me?”

Cries Punch, as he dances about.

”Yes, yes; come to jail, 'Tis a terrible tale,”