I Like Little Pussy

I like little Pussy,

Her coat is so warm; And if I don't hurt her

She'll do me no harm. So I'll not pull her tail, Nor drive her away, But Pussy and I

Very gently will play; She shall sit by my side,

And I'll give her some food;

And she'll love me because

I am gentle and good.

I'll pat little Pussy,

And then she will purr, And thus show her thanks For my kindness to her; I'll not pinch her ears,

Nor tread on her paw, Lest I should provoke her To use her sharp claw; I never will vex her,

Nor make her displeased, For Pussy can't bear

To be worried or teased.

Jane Taylor.

LITTLE PRINCE AND PRINCESS

IV

THE PALACE JEST-BOOK

IV

THE PALACE JEST-BOOK

The Owl and the Eel and the Warming-Pan

The owl and the eel and the warming-pan,
They went to call on the soap-fat man.
The soap-fat man he was not within:
He'd gone for a ride on his rolling-pin.
So they all came back by the way of the town,
And turned the meeting-house upside down.
Laura E. Richards.

The Fastidious Serpent

There was a snake that dwelt in Skye,

Over the misty sea, oh;

He liv'd upon nothing but gooseberry-pie
For breakfast, dinner, and tea, oh.

Now gooseberry-pie-as is very well known-
Over the misty sea, oh,

Is not to be found under every stone,

Nor yet upon every tree, oh.

And being so ill to please with his meat,
Over the misty sea, oh,

The snake had sometimes nothing to eat,

And an angry snake was he, oh.

Then he'd flick his tongue and his head he'd shake,

Over the misty sea, oh,

Crying, "Gooseberry-pie! For goodness' sake Some gooseberry-pie for me, oh!"

And if gooseberry-pie was not to be had,
Over the misty sea, oh,

He'd twine and twist like an eel gone mad,
Or a worm just stung by a bee, oh.

But though he might shout and wriggle about,

Over the misty sea, oh,

The snake had often to go without

His breakfast, dinner, and tea, oh.

Henry Johnstone.

Snake Story

There was a little Serpent and he wouldn't go

to school

Oh, what a naughty little Snake!