Title : The Gingerbread Boy and Joyful Jingle Play Stories
Author : Laura Rountree Smith
Illustrator : Mildred Lyon Hetherington
Release date : October 15, 2020 [eBook #63463]
Language : English
Credits
: Produced by Richard Tonsing, Juliet Sutherland, and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
All the People That Bobby Had Been Kind to Came to His Party
(Bobby Bright Eyes’ Birthday Party)
Big Brother Beaver and Chatter-box Dance a Hornpipe
| The Gingerbread Boy | Page 9 |
| The Easter Bunny | „ 19 |
| Old Woman Work-Away | „ 28 |
| Bobby Bright Eyes’ Birthday Party | „ 41 |
| The Happy Hare | „ 49 |
| The Road to Sleepy-Town | „ 57 |
| Old Mother Bear’s Christmas Stocking | „ 67 |
| Old Mother Bear’s Happy New Year | „ 80 |
| Little Tommy Tittlemouse | „ 87 |
| The Mad March Hare | „ 97 |
| Danny-Do-Little | „ 108 |
| Jack and Jill’s Toothpick Circus | „ 119 |
The first three stories contained in the book found great favor with the reading public, having been published in the Woman’s Home Companion.
All the stories are wholesome and have good influence upon the little readers. In Danny Do-Little, work is made delightful through play. In Old Mother Bear’s Christmas Stocking, the selfishness of the animals is dwelt upon, but also their kindness of heart, and the saying brought out that, “One good turn deserves another.” The little Birthday story will be interesting to read at school and children’s parties, for who among the little ones does not occasionally have a birthday?
Catchy little jingles run throughout the stories. An enthusiastic parent in Massachusetts said: “My children are very much pleased with Laura Rountree Smith’s Jingle Books, and must have a story before bed-time each night. I think her books mighty clever.”
The book contains stories which can easily be read by the children themselves.
Peter Nibbled His Toes, Polly Nibbled His Fingers and Baby Stood By and Clapped
Polly Makes Gingerbread Cookies
Polly and Peter had to stay home one Saturday when mother was ill.
Mother said, “Polly, take my place in the kitchen, please, and, Peter, you must amuse the baby.”
10 Polly went down stairs, put on her little all-over apron, and sat down on the kitchen stool.
She sighed: “Oh dear, something always happens on a sunny Saturday—when I want to play! We have to miss the school picnic to-day; but I will smile, and smile, and something nice will surely happen.”
With that, the dimples began to play hide and seek upon her face, and she heard an airy, fairy voice calling:
“Who are you?” cried Polly.
11 She looked high and low, but no one was to be seen.
Polly smiled again, and said: “I have a new apron that I was going to wear to the picnic.”
“The better to cook with my dear,” said a sugary voice.
Polly looked about, but could not see the Gingerbread Boy, though she felt sure he had spoken.
Polly said: “I will make some gingerbread cookies, and see what comes of it.”
As Polly mixed the cookies a sugary voice cried:
12 Then the most wonderful thing happened!
The little rolling-pin that Polly was using turned to gold; and how it did roll out those gingerbread cookies! Then the cutter turned to gold, and cut them out into queer shapes and sizes.
The currants jumped upon the cookies making funny faces upon them.
They leaped into the pans, and all Polly had to do was to set them into the oven to bake.
She was so happy, she swept the kitchen and washed the dishes, and would have forgotten the cookies, I am sure, if she had not heard a voice calling:
Sure enough, Polly heard a rapping, tapping, and when she opened the oven door she heard the cookies call in a happy chorus:
As Polly took the cookies out of the pan, she saw one was shaped like a regular boy, and before she could say a word, out he jumped and sat down on the ice box, fanning himself with a geranium leaf.
14 Polly said, “I must go and call Peter. I must introduce him to the Gingerbread Boy!”
Peter had been thinking about the picnic, but he tried to amuse the baby by playing ball, and at this very minute in came Polly to tell about the Gingerbread Boy.
To their surprise the Gingerbread Boy said,
“Oh, oh,” cried the children, “It would not be polite to eat you!” But all this time they crept nearer and nearer.
15 The Gingerbread Boy said:
Peter nibbled the toes and Polly nibbled the fingers, while the baby stood by and clapped his hands with delight.
The Gingerbread Boy said;
The children nibbled away until only the Gingerbread Boy’s voice was left, but he sang gaily:
So he was all gone !
16 All this time the gingerbread cookies looked out of their large currant eyes, and Fairy Help-You-Out came into the kitchen and whispered into Polly’s ear and Peter’s ear and the baby’s ear something about a picnic.
The children clapped their hands with delight as three little baskets sailed down on the kitchen floor.
Each basket was full of good things to eat, and the baby’s basket had a bottle of milk in it, of course!
They were having the finest kind of a picnic right at home, in their own kitchen, when a voice called:
Three Little Baskets Sailed Down on the Kitchen Floor
18 The children rubbed their eyes to see if they were awake, and the Gingerbread Boy jumped in the window and sat on the ice box, fanning himself with a nasturtium leaf.
He laughed until his sides shook, saying:
Fairy Help-You-Out faded away, because she was no longer needed. For all I know, the Gingerbread Boy is with the children yet.
Mother Tiny-Tail sat in her little red plush rocking chair rocking to and fro singing:
He Went to the Little Brown Hen Who Lives in the Lane
Just then a Funny Bunny came by with a hop, and a skip, and a bound 20 and said, “Oh, Mother Tiny-Tail, no eggs for Easter, no eggs for the Tiny-Tails? That will never do!” So saying, he borrowed Mother Tiny-Tail’s market basket, and went hippety-hop to the Little Brown Hen who lives in the lane, saying:
The Little Brown Hen said:
Then Funny Bunny went with a hop, and a skip, and a jump to the little old Farmer who lived in the field and said:
21 The Farmer replied:
Please Give Me Corn
Funny Bunny went with a pitter, patter, pitter, patter, until he came to the Miller, and said:
The Miller laughed until his old fat sides shook and answered:
22 Then Funny Bunny sat down on a stone to think.
How was he going to get some money?
It was getting dark, and the Little Hill Men came out one by one, digging for fairy gold.
When Funny Bunny saw them he cried:
Now, the Little Hill Men did not want to give something for nothing, so they shouted:
23 Of course, the Little Hill Men never dreamed that he would do it, so they went on digging for fairy gold.
Funny Bunny was in real earnest, for he thought of Mother Tiny-Tail rocking sadly to and fro in her red plush rocking chair, so
My! how fast his legs could carry him!
He came back singing:
The Little Hill Men were so surprised he had answered their question that they all stopped digging and 24 crowded around Funny Bunny. “Click, click, click,” they dropped gold into his market basket.
Then he ran with a hop, skip and jump to the Miller and bought a bag of meal. He took the meal to the Farmer and bought the corn. Then he took the corn to the Little Brown Hen, who lived in the lane, and she counted out one dozen, two dozen, three dozen, four dozen, five dozen beautiful white eggs. They filled the market basket Funny Bunny was carrying.
When he got home he set the market basket down in front of Mother Tiny Tail, saying:
Click! Click! They Dropped Gold Into His Basket
Mother Tiny-Tail stopped rocking to and fro; but before she could say, “Thank you,” Funny Bunny was hippety-hoppety, off and away.
Mother Tiny-Tail painted the Easter eggs and hid them everywhere.
On Easter morning, all the Tiny-Tails cried, “Oh” and “Ah,” for they found the Easter Eggs in their shoes, in their oatmeal bowls, and in the most unexpected places.
Just at that very minute Funny Bunny peeped in the window and cried, as he held up a wonderful sugary egg:
27 Funny Bunny was always so kind to the Little Tiny-Tails that the Hill Men remembered him.
Funny Bunny Went Hippety-Hoppety, Off and Away
Then, with a twinkle of nose, and a dancing of toes, Funny Bunny went hippety-hoppety, off and away, singing:
Old Woman Work-Away was always spinning. In the fall of the year she began to think about Thanksgiving, singing:
Just as she was thinking about her Thanksgiving dinner, “Rap, a, tap,” sounded on the door, and in came Tinkle Bell, the fairy elf. The little bell on his cap went “Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,” and he said:
Just as She Was Thinking of Her Thanksgiving Dinner, in Came Tinkle Bell
The Old Woman replied:
Tinkle Bell took off his cap and shook it.
Out came a pile of fairy gold. He went off with the woven cloth and the little bell on his cap tinkled all the way.
The Old Woman was thinking now she had money enough to buy cranberries for Thanksgiving dinner, when “Rap, a, tap” was heard on the door, and in came Tiny-Tail, the rabbit, shivering with cold. He sang:
The Old Woman Sent Tiny-Tail Home with a Bag Full of Money
The Old Woman made him warm his paws by the fire. She could see he needed a new fur coat for winter sure enough. By and by she counted out all her fairy gold, and sent him home with a bag full so he could buy a winter coat.
32 The Old Woman went back to her spinning wheel singing:
She soon had a pretty mat woven, and in came Tinkle Bell and paid her as before. She felt sure she would have plum pudding for Thanksgiving dinner, when, “Rap, a, tap,” sounded on the door, and Bushy-Tail, the old squirrel, came limping in. He said:
33 The Old Woman knew as well as you or I that overshoes cost money, but she loved all the animals in the woods so she let Bushy-Tail help himself to her fairy gold, and he went off to buy overshoes.
Bushy-Tail Goes Off to Buy Overshoes
The Old Woman began to spin as before, singing:
34 When she had a pretty mat made Tinkle Bell came and bought it as before, and she said, “Now, I have my cake for Thanksgiving dinner.”
“Rap, a, tap,” sounded on the door and in walked Hug-Me-Tight, the bear, saying, as he brushed the snow from his fur and whiskers:
The Old Woman knew he wanted to sleep all winter and she thought how cold his ears would get, so she let him have money for a brand new night-cap.
The Old Woman began to spin so hard that her spinning wheel went 35 “Whir, whir, whir!” She had given away all her fairy gold, and Thanksgiving was coming nearer and nearer and she sang:
Tinkle Bell came and bought the mat and left a pile of gold as before. The Old Woman thought if she had no more visitors she could buy a fat turkey.
“Rap, a, tap,” sounded and in came Foxy-Loxy, the friendly Fox saying:
Foxy-Loxy Counts Out Her Gold
Now, the Old Woman did not want to give away all her fairy gold; but her own eyes were growing dim and she had to wear spectacles, so she felt sorry for Foxy-Loxy and let him count out her gold, and take it all away.
37 The Old Woman set the spinning wheel in the corner. She was tired spinning. Her head went nid, nid, nodding and she fell asleep.
At this very minute Tiny-Tail, Bushy-Tail, Hug-Me-Tight, and Foxy-Loxy met Tinkle Bell in the woods, and they showed their new possessions.
They all shouted, “We are so thankful!”
Tinkle Bell rang the tiny bell on his cap to bring them to order, saying:
Those comical little animals jumped up and down and Tiny-Tail said:
Bushy-Tail said:
Hug-Me-Tight said:
Foxy-Loxy said:
At that, they all laughed for they knew he meant to send the Old Woman a fine, fat turkey.
Tinkle Bell said:
He bought cranberries, cake and plum pudding.
When She Got There She Found a Basket Full of Good Things
40 Old Woman Work-Away heard a “Rap, a, tap” on the door by and by, and as she was still half asleep, she was slow to open the door. When she got there, she found a basket full of good things.
She might never have known where it came from, if she had not found a tiny card on which was written:
She looked about to see who was hiding in the bushes.
She could see no one, but she heard a tiny bell ring, “Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle.”
Once upon a time Bobby Bright Eyes was sitting on the door step crying, when an airy, fairy voice sang:
Bobby was so surprised he looked around to see where the voice came from, but the Fairy was well hidden as she sang again:
Bobby Bright Eyes dropped into verse too, in his excitement and said:
Then the fairy sailed away.
Some time after, Bobby Bright Eyes sat on the door step looking very sad for soon he would be five years old, and he was thinking that he had never had a Birthday Party in his life.
At this very minute a ringing, singing voice cried out:
Bobby Bright Eyes replied:
So time went on, and one day the Fairy danced in a tree overhead in plain sight, singing:
Bobby Was Sitting on the Doorstep Crying When——
Bobby Bright Eyes answered:
The Birthday Fairy knew then that Bobby Bright Eyes was nearly five years old, so she kissed him on both cheeks and followed him about all day singing:
Bobby had such bright eyes he was always seeing something to be done, without being told. So he ran on out to the barn and gave Pussy Whiskers, the Cat, a drink of milk.
45 Then Bobby ran on to the neighbor who baked beautiful birthday cakes and carried a letter for her to the Post Office, and,
Then Bobby ran errands for the big fat grocer, and,
Then Bobby shared an apple with the boy next door, and,
Then Bobby helped a Limpy-Lame Old Man across the street and,
46 Now every hour Bobby Bright Eyes grew nearer and nearer five years old, and the Birthday Fairy at last said,
At last Bobby replied, clapping his hands:
Then the Birthday Fairy danced right down beside him replying:
And before Bobby had time to say he was too poor to have a Birthday Party, pitter-patter, pitter-patter came Pussy Whiskers, carrying a small black kitten in her mouth for a Birthday present. She purred softly:
Bobby Bright Eyes was happy you may be sure.
Then, the neighbor who baked beautiful birthday cakes came saying:
It was a wonderful cake with pink and white icing upon it.
Then the big fat grocer came puffing along and cried:
Sure enough, he had five candles to put on the Birthday cake and when they were lighted they glittered like gold.
48 Then the little boy from next door ran over and threw a bouncing ball to Bobby Bright Eyes, saying:
Just as they were beginning to play ball the Limpy-Lame Old Man came, saying:
The Birthday Fairy had kept her secret well, so they all had the merriest kind of a time, and Bobby Bright Eyes had a Birthday Party after all. The Birthday Fairy was the merriest one of all for she sang as they cut the Birthday Cake:
“I Am Happy To-day and Happy To-morrow ”
sang the Happy Hare one misty morning.
50 As he was walking along he chanced to meet the Croaking Crocodile who greeted him saying:
The Crocodile shed real tears and the Happy Hare said:
So, they went on a journey to find the Weather Man, and they met many animals as they passed along the Winding Road for half of a half of a quarter of a mile.
51 They bowed to all the animals they met and inquired what kind of weather they wanted.
The Croaking Crocodile said:
So, Pussy Whiskers followed on behind, but Old Web-Foot the Duck had heard her remark, and as she thoroughly enjoyed wet weather she said:
The Happy Hare skipped on ahead but the Croaking Crocodile invited Old Web-Foot to go with them, and they 52 went on for half of a half of a quarter of a mile, until they met Chatter-Box, the monkey, who said:
He was glad to go on the journey to the Weather Man. Next they met Snowball, the Polar Bear sighing:
Before the Croaking Crocodile could make a remark
Just at this very minute they met a little old man in a little old brown suit, carrying a little old brown umbrella.
“
I Come From a Cold Country, As You Know,
How I Enjoy the Ice and Snow.
”
54 They all bowed politely and said:
To this, the little old man bowed politely and said:
The Happy Hare said, in reply:
The Weather Man smiled and remarked:
Then all the animals began to shout together:
The Happy Hare landed on his feet after he had been blown half of a half of a quarter of a mile saying:
The Croaking Crocodile remarked:
Pussy Whiskers and Web-Foot and Chatter-Box and Snowball sat down in a circle and tried to get their breath and they remarked in concert:
56 Now, if one ever notices a day half rain and half sunshine, half hot and half cold, one will know that the animals have gone to visit the Weather Man,
Perhaps if one wears Fairy Spectacles, one can see the Happy Hare peeping out of his wee little house in the woods, and one may hear him singing, as I did once,
“ Hello, Little Boy, in the White Night Gown ”
Little Boy Blue went to visit Uncle Phil on the farm and when night came he lay all alone in a big bed upstairs.
He missed his mother’s tucking in and good night kiss.
58 He thought of all the sleepy things mother had told him to think about. He tried counting sheep going over a fence. He hummed a lullaby song, but his eyes were still wide open when Fairy Moonlight peeped in and sang:
Little Boy Blue answered in a sing-song kind of way:
Fairy moonlight danced right into the room at that, and danced beside a picture that hung on the wall, as she sang:
The picture showed a long road with houses on each side.
Fairy Moonlight Danced Beside a Picture That Hung on a Wall
60 Suddenly the most surprising thing happened!
Stars shone out in the sky in the picture, and began to twinkle, twinkle, twinkle.
Lights came out in the windows of the houses; they began to twinkle, twinkle, twinkle.
Fairy Moonlight said:
No sooner said than done.
They were on the road to Sleepy Town.
As Little Boy Blue looked back one hundred and six children also stepped over the picture frame and he saw all his little friends following him.
61 There was Betty with her new doll snuggled up close and Bobby with his Teddy Bear, Little Mary came drawing her cart behind her.
A sleepy old man was lighting lamps all along the road singing:
They saw a sleepy old wind-mill turning round and round, round and round, and the wind-mill sang:
At that very minute Betty sat down and fell asleep under the wind-mill.
All the rest of the children trooped on. They could see the lights of Sleepy-Town twinkle, twinkle, twinkle in the distance.
62 They heard the sleepy little birds twittering in the trees.
At that very minute Billy sat down under the trees and fell asleep, while the other children went hurrying on.
They passed by a sleepy little brook that went singing over the stones:
At that, all the children but Little Boy Blue sat down and began to throw pebbles into the brook and soon their heads went nid-nid nodding and they were fast asleep.
Fairy Moonlight sang:
63 Sure enough, there was the sleepy old Sandman rocking to and fro in a hammock.
So He Fell Asleep
Little Boy Blue was so tired he crept in beside him and so he fell asleep right there on the road to Sleepy-Town.
64 The lights went out in the streets and houses one by one, and every one went nid-nid nodding.
“Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,” rang a bell and Little Boy Blue looked about. The Sandman was gone. Fairy Sunshine cried:
Little Boy Blue woke up sure enough in the great big bed, and soon he ran down stairs with a hop and skip and bound.
Uncle Phil said:
Little Boy Blue replied:
65 The most surprising part of the most surprising part of the story is still to come.
When Uncle Phil took Boy Blue home that evening in the old buggy he put a mysterious box with a mysterious paper and string covering it, into the old buggy.
When they arrived he handed Boy Blue the box.
In the box were little paper houses, and little paper street lamps, and windmills, and trees, and under one tree was a hammock for the Sandman.
It took Boy Blue exactly one hour to set the little town up, and Uncle Phil attached a cord and Boy Blue cried out with delight as from every house and every street lamp there shone a 66 light that twinkled, twinkled, twinkled.
Uncle Phil said:
Boy Blue thanked Uncle Phil and had many happy hours playing with his new toy town.
Fairy Moonlight peeped in the window and sang as she watched Boy Blue at play:
Her voice was so sleepy, sleepy, sleepy as she sang that even Uncle Phil, who was telling this story, fell asleep, and
Old Mother Bear sat in her red rocking chair knitting and singing:
She was finishing a stocking to hang up by the chimney for Santa Claus to fill.
At this very minute she heard, “Rap, a, tap” on the door and she sang:
Charley Chatter-box
Old Shaggy Brother
In came Charlie Chatter-Box, the monkey, saying:
He wiped his eyes on his 5 cent pocket handkerchief and Old Mother Bear felt so sorry for him, she finished the stocking she was knitting in a hurry, and gave it to him.
Charlie Chatter-Box thanked her and went off saying:
Old Mother Bear was a wonderful knitter, and soon she had another stocking nearly finished. She sang as before:
Then a light foot-fall was heard outside.
Old Shaggy Brother, the tramp dog, stood there saying:
Old Mother Bear let him in of course, and as he sat and warmed his paws by the fire, he said in a mournful way 70 that he had no stocking to hang up for Santa Claus, and he cried into his 10 cent pocket handkerchief.
Sister Pussy Whiskers
Cousin Nanny Goat
Old Mother Bear’s needles clicked faster and faster and soon she had a stocking ready for Old Shaggy Brother.
He went dancing off saying:
71 Old Mother Bear set up another stocking and began to knit faster and faster, singing:
“Ting, a, ling,” rang the telephone and Sister Pussy Whiskers called:
Old Mother Bear could hear her weeping into her new 25 cent pocket handkerchief, so she said she would mail her a stocking to-morrow.
Sister Pussy Whiskers shouted, “Merry Christmas!” and Old Mother Bear went back to her knitting, singing:
Then, as she worked away busily she heard a great roaring and crying outside and a voice said:
Old Mother Bear opened the door and invited the Mad March Hare in. He ran wildly about the room and tangled up her yarn and it was one hour and thirty-two minutes before Old Mother Bear could get him to sit down and dry his fur and whiskers.
He said:
73 Old Mother Bear said:
The Mad March Hare was happy to stay in the warm house and he did all the house work, while Old Mother Bear’s needles clicked away.
He made a furious dust when he swept the floor and broke a good many dishes but he said:
When at last he went off with his stocking Old Mother Bear drew a sigh of relief. He called back to her:
74 Then suddenly, and without any warning whatever Cousin Nanny Goat and Sammy Small Tail the Rabbit, came bounding in crying:
Old Mother Bear replied:
Then Cousin Nanny Goat dried her eyes on her blue silk pocket handkerchief and Sammy Small Tail dried his eyes on his red silk pocket handkerchief, and they watched Old Mother Bear go to a chest and draw out a pair of stockings!
As she gave them to those cunning animals they shouted:
As they danced off with their stockings, it grew near and nearer, Christmas Eve.
One evening as Sammy Small Tail hopped by Old Mother Bear’s house he peeped in the window. There she sat still in her red rocking chair. The knitting needles lay idle on the window-sill but they could see things with their eyes. They said:
Now, Sammy Small Tail went off in a hurry when he heard this, saying:
76 He called all the animals together and said:
The animals asked:
Sammy Small Tail replied:
One and all the animals went to work and made a stocking three feet long, and one foot wide! They made it for Old Mother Bear!
Charley Chatter-Box put in a cocoanut and Old Shaggy Brother put in an orange and Sister Pussy Whiskers put in an apple and Cousin Nanny Goat put in a plum, and the Mad 77 March Hare put in a new cup and saucer, and Sammy Small Tail put in a cookie.
They crept to Old Mother Bear’s House and crept to the window and stole in silently, and hung up the stocking.
They pinned a card on it, which said:
Old Mother Bear by and by began to rock to and fro, half awake, singing sleepily:
Sure enough, Santa Claus was on his way.
Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, went his sleigh bells.
78 He filled all the animals’ stockings and when he came to the house of Old Mother Bear and saw her big stocking he laughed until his sides shook, saying:
Then Old Mother Bear woke up and she and Santa Claus danced a hornpipe, and for all I know they are dancing yet:
Old Mother Bear and Santa Claus Danced a Hornpipe
Old Mother Bear sat in the chimney corner one New Year’s Eve sighing:
Lady Wind peeped in a crack under the window and said:
Old Mother Bear shook her head sighing:
Old Mother Moon peeped in the window next singing:
Old Mother Bear shook her right paw and said:
Then a snowflake Fairy called:
Old Mother Bear answered:
Then Fairy See-It-All came bouncing into the room shouting:
Old Mother Bear replied:
82 Old Mother Bear began to growl, and growl, and growl, and finally she said, “How can I have a Happy New Year when Boxer is always late to school, and Drowsy-Head never wants to go to bed, and Bruin leaves his things around, and Bright Eyes is always impolite?”
Fairy See-It-All had a wee little carriage that ran by itself, and in the twinkling of an eye she tucked in those four naughty little Bears and they rode away, away, away until they came to a wee little house in the woods on New Year’s Eve.
She said to Boxer:
83 Then for one whole year Boxer had to practice being on time to breakfast, dinner and supper, and he said:
So, he stayed in the wee little house in the woods a whole year and learned to be on time.
Fairy See-It-All said to Drowsy-Head:
Then Drowsy-Head had to practice doing useful things in the wee little house a whole year until he was tired enough to go to bed.
Fairy See-It-All said to Bruin:
84 All day long and every day for a whole year Bruin had to pick up his things and the belongings of the other Bears.
Fairy See-It-All said to Bright Eyes:
Of course after that Bright Eyes tried to be polite.
Every night the four little Bears flattened their noses against the window panes and cried out:
Lady Wind blew around the wee house and Mother Moon peeped in the window, the Snowflake Fairy danced lightly down and at last, a year 85 later, on New Year’s Eve, Fairy See-It-All brought her carriage that ran by itself, and tucked the four little Bears safely inside and away, away, away, they rode homeward.
They all were happy as happy could be, shouting:
Old Mother Bear was happy, for Boxer had learned to be on time, and was always on time at school, and Drowsy-Head liked to go to bed, and Bruin picked up his clothes and toys and Bright Eyes said, “Thank you,” and “If you please.”
After some children had read this story 99 times the most surprising things happened !
86 One little boy got to school every day for a whole year on time, so his teacher had a Happy New Year. One little girl went happily to bed every night, so one mother had a Happy New Year, and one little boy began to pick up his toys, so one father had a Happy New Year.
So many children learned to say “Thank you” and “If you please,” that people everywhere in town smiled and shook hands on the street when they met, and called, “A Happy New Year, A Happy New Year.”
Little Tommy Tittlemouse sat by the fire one evening saying:
As he looked into the grate he saw a red flame curl up, and up, and soon a Funny Fairy dressed in red and white jumped up on one of the logs and cried:
Tommy was just going to answer when the Funny Fairy jumped out of the fire and called:
Then, the Number Fairy came whisk! bound, out of the fire. She wore a black dress with white numbers upon it:
She shook her finger at Tommy and cried:
Tommy stood on one foot and then on the other, and could not get farther than “three times four,” to save his life.
Tommy Tittlemouse Meets the Number, Reader and Writing Fairies
90 The Funny Fairy felt sorry for him so he cried:
The Reader Fairy came out with a hop, skip and bound. She had words printed all over her coat. She bowed to Tommy and said of him:
Tommy was pleased you may be sure, for he was the best reader in his class.
The Funny Fairy called next:
The Writing Fairy came out with letters all over him, whistling and singing:
Tommy knew that he did write neatly. The Funny Fairy said:
Then the most surprising thing happened.
The Number Fairy took his hand and ran with him out of the house, away, away, away, to Number Land.
They met funny little Fairies everywhere with numbers all over them.
Four little Number Fairies offered him the cutest cookies with sugar upon them saying:
92 Tommy shook his head and passed sadly by the cakes, but in a minute the Number Fairies offered him bananas, saying:
Tommy could not answer, so they went hurrying by.
Next he was offered some rosy red apples and the Fairies said:
Tommy replied:
Then the Number Fairies set up a shout and cried:
93 The Fairies jumped about and formed a ring round him, shouting:
Then they began to sing the table to a little fairy tune and Tommy joined them.
Now, the most wonderful part of the most wonderful part of the story is yet to come.
In rolled a big, round table, and three times three chairs.
The fairies and Tommy sat down.
In the center of a table was a wee fairy, with a figure three on her cap. She waved her wand at each Fairy, 94 and Tommy in turn, and called for, “3 times 3” and “3 times 6” and “3 times 11.”
Each time when any one answered correctly, down floated a plate of Fairy food smoking hot.
To the surprise of all, Tommy cried:
Just as he was putting his fork into his plate a great cry arose.
In less than a twinkling of an eye he was whisked back home, and was sitting by the fire, but the Funny Fairy sat beside him, saying:
Then the Funny Fairy cut out many circles, and put a number in the center of each one. He put numbers all round the circles, too. Whenever Tommy multiplied any number in the outside of the circle by the number in the center, down on the circle floated a plate of fairy food, but he was never quick enough to catch it to eat.
He said:
By and by he fell asleep by the fire, and the Funny Fairy went back into the grate and sat on a log singing:
96 Next day Tommy knew the “threes,” and soon he learned all the tables. He said:
The Funny Fairy seemed to be around often. He sang:
Tommy tried to find the Fairy, but he had vanished.
sang the Mad March Hare one day in March when the stormy winds were blowing.
He went hoppety-hop to his little wee house in the woods. He roared so loudly as he went about his house-keeping and broke so many dishes as he washed his cups and saucers, that Old Hug-Me-Tight, the Bear, pricked up his ears as he passed by, saying:
The Mad March Hare stuck his head out the kitchen window and called:
The Bear was happy to come in and dry his wet paws by the kitchen fire.
The fire roared up the chimney.
The tea kettle sang and the Mad March Hare kept dropping dishes, clitter, clatter, smash, crash on the floor.
The Bear said:
99 The Mad March Hare gave a wild leap over to the Bear and boxed his ears, replying:
Old Hug-Me-Tight, the Bear, hung his head for sure enough, he did sleep all winter!
At this very minute Big Brother Beaver came lopping along. He heard such a noise in the house of the Mad March Hare that he tapped politely at the door and inquired:
The Mad March Hare snapped:
100 The Beaver did not know what to say to that for it was his nature to build, but he came in and warmed his paws by the fire and dried his coat, for it was a misty, moist morning.
The Mad March Hare went on washing dishes and breaking handles off his cups, and dropping knives and forks.
He peeped out the window and saw Chatter-Box, the monkey, swinging on the tree outside. He called:
Chatter-Box said:
The Mad March Hare turned over a whole dish-pan full of water on the floor and shouted:
The Mad March Hare Turned Over the Dishpan
The Monkey danced and pranced about and helped the Mad March Hare finish his dish-washing.
Then, suddenly, without any warning the Mad March Hare said:
The Beaver put on his horn-rimmed spectacles and tried to see what the reason could be.
The Monkey put his paw up to his ear to listen.
All the time the March wind howled louder, and louder, and the rain fell, and the sleet came, but the kitchen fire roared merrily and the tea kettle sang a cheerful song.
103 The Mad March Hare said:
“ Mary is mad when they comb her hair ”
The Bear, the Beaver and the Monkey nodded their heads. They had seen Mary mad many times when her hair was combed.
104 The Mad March Hare continued:
Then those comical animals clapped their paws, and told of one hundred and nine children who got mad every day over one thing or another!
The Mad March Hare said:
For one hour and sixteen minutes they sat warm and dry about the cheerful fire. Suddenly, Hug-Me-Tight began to hug them all in turn, and Big 105 Brother Beaver and Chatter-Box danced a hornpipe and they all shouted:
So, those comical little animals wrote a story and a song, asking the children not to get mad any more, so the March Hare could be happy.
Chatter-Box drew a picture of the Hare that all children love, and they all sang the song they composed to the tune of “Twinkle Little Star.”
106 Soon the visitors had to go home.
The Beaver said:
Chatter-Box said:
The Mad March Hare grew as happy as happy could be, and waved his hat as his visitors ran homeward. He called after them:
So many children learned the song about the Mad March Hare, and so 107 many children enjoyed the story that all over the world they whistled and sang instead of getting angry.
The Mad March Hare whistled and sang:
The Mad March Hare
Once upon a time there was a little boy who was lazy as lazy could be, but all of a sudden one sunshiny summer day he wanted to do something.
He wanted to go to the circus?
So, he did not get out in time to see the Circus Parade, and when he got to the Circus Tent he was too late. Crowds were turned away.
He went back home and sat down on the wood pile, and was feeling very sad when to his surprise, a merry voice called:
Danny-Do-Little and the Clown
There, sure enough, stood a regular Clown on his head, beside him!
Danny-Do-Little was so surprised he did not know what to say, and waited until the Clown stood on his feet, then he remarked:
The Clown answered in a sing-song Clownish way:
Then, the little boy said:
Danced So Hard That He Kicked Off One of His Slippers
The Clown said:
Then he went through the funniest little dance and danced so hard that he kicked off one of his silver slippers!
112 Danny-Do-Little clapped his hands and begged him to come in-doors and perform some of his tricks.
The Clown was as thirsty as thirsty could be so he said:
Danny-Do-Little laughed and ran to the pump and filled the water pail in a hurry to please the Clown.
Then the Clown surprised him!
Then at exactly that minute, the Clown began to want a cup of tea. He wanted it so badly he could hardly wait, but there was no fire and he shouted:
Danny-Do-Little took the hint at once, and he ran out and got an armful of wood, and made a fire and put on the tea-pot, and soon the water was boiling merrily for a cup of tea.
Every time he did a trick Danny-Do-Little tried to do the same, and together, they burst into merry peals of laughter.
The Clown was hungry and he dearly loved hard boiled eggs so he shouted:
114 Danny-Do-Little could take a suggestion as well as any boy, so he ran and got a basket full of eggs from the chicken house.
Then the Clown threw eggs in the air and caught them.
All of a sudden he looked at the kitchen floor.
When the floor was quite clean, out from his pocket he took a wonderful red bouncing ball and performed all kinds of tricks with it.
115 He shouted:
“Try me and see,” cried Danny, and the Clown played ball with him and showed him one hundred and six ways of doing tricks with the wonderful red bouncing ball. Then he put up his hand, saying:
Danny-Do-Little begged the Clown to stay but he gave him two tickets to the Circus which was to be held next week in On-Time-Town. He said:
Danny-Do-Little was amused for he had not said a single word about the 116 Clown’s suit, but he was so sorry to see him go that he looked rather sad, but the Clown tossed him his wonderful red bouncing ball and cried:
Then Danny-Do-Little began to practice all the tricks in real earnest and found his little feet began to act as though they belonged to him, and his arms and legs began to limber up and soon he was as active as could be. He learned to do many tricks well, but those he did with the bouncing ball were best of all.
Surprising things began to happen!
All the boys came to learn his tricks and hear the story of the Circus Clown!
117 The water pail was always full.
The wood-box was never empty!
The eggs were gathered every day!
Danny-Do-Little was busy from morning until night.
One day the greatest surprise of all came through the mail. There was a red and white box addressed to “Danny-Do-It-Now,” once called, “Danny-Do-Little.”
In the red and white box was a red and white Clown suit just his size.
On the suit was a red and white card saying:
What happened next do you suppose?
He Became the Funniest Circus Clown
One day Jack and Jill had the mumps and could not go to the circus.
Uncle Phil came in whistling and he said:
To their delight he showed them how.
They soaked the peas and stuck the tooth picks in them so they would hold together.
They made the circus tent and side-show tents, cages for the animals, and a merry-go-round.
120 It was fun to make the Tooth-Pick Animals and Clown.
Uncle Phil said he must go to work, but he said:
So saying, he went off and then the most extraordinary thing happened.
A voice whispered:
Jack and Jill clapped their hands and said:
121 They did not know they were sitting on a wishing rug.
No sooner had they made their wish than they grew smaller, and smaller, and smaller, and went inside the very tent they had made.
At this exciting minute a voice said:
“Oh, oh,” cried Jack and Jill. “What if our Tooth-Pick Clown and animals should become alive?”
In came the Tooth-Pick Clowns, singing:
122 Then in came a rider with a chariot saying:
Then in came the comical little animals and did their tricks in the rings.
The Clown sang:
In came the tall Giraffe and the Clown sang:
123 Next, in came an old Elephant, and the Clown riding on his back said:
Jack and Jill had so much fun they even rode in the merry-go-round and sang:
By and by the wonderful circus was over and the Clowns called:
124 Jack and Jill went into a side-show tent to have their fortunes told. Outside the tent the sign read:
Jack and Jill went merrily homeward while the old Clowns called after them:
The Family Clock greeted them as they got home. It began to strike and sing in a comical manner:
125 Jack and Jill rubbed their sleepy eyes.
They were in their own little red rocking chairs at home. They still had the mumps of course for company!
There, on the table before them, were the Tooth-Pick Animals, there were the merry Clowns, and the tent stood with a flap open so one could go inside!
The children said:
At this very minute, in came Uncle Phil with both hands behind his back, singing:
A Really, Truly Circus Clown
127 Jack chose the right hand and Jill chose the left.
Jack got a bag of pop corn and Jill a bag of peanuts.
Behind Uncle Phil came a really, truly Circus Clown in a really, truly Circus gown of red and white. He had a red and white striped cap on, and his face was painted many colors!
He stood on his head and turned somersaults and did his tricks to please the children: