The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Tiddly Winks

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Title : The Tiddly Winks

Author : Laura Rountree Smith

Illustrator : Haidee Zack Walsh

Release date : September 25, 2022 [eBook #69047]

Language : English

Original publication : United States: Albert Whitman Company

Credits : Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TIDDLY WINKS ***

[1]

THE
TIDDLY WINKS

EASY READING
LIBRARY OF “JUST
RIGHT BOOKS”

Published by
ALBERT WHITMAN & CO.
Chicago, U. S. A.

[2]


[3]

They Danced in a Ring at the Picnic


The
TIDDLY WINKS

Text by
LAURA ROUNTREE SMITH

Author of Six Tiddly Winks
Happy Manikin
Jolly Polly, etc.

Pictures by HAIDEE ZACK WALSH

A JUST RIGHT BOOK
Published by
ALBERT WHITMAN
COMPANY
CHICAGO

[4]

THE TIDDLY WINKS
Copyright, 1923, By Albert Whitman & Co.
Chicago, U.S.A.

A JUST RIGHT BOOK
MADE IN THE U.S.A.

©Cl A 752716


[5]

INTRODUCTION

Tiddly Winks is a little fairy,
And he sings like a canary.
Another fairy is Tiddly Wee,
He is just as cunning as can be.
Tiddly Thrift is a saving mite,
He wears a jacket snug and bright.
Tiddly Cheer-Up with smiling face,
Is always welcome any place.
Tiddly Scowl looks at you and me,
He is just as cross as he can be.
Tiddly Why will make you sigh,
He asks questions, My! Oh My!
A child can read if he stops and thinks,
So say the little Tiddly Winks;
If you will learn your A, B, C’s,
You soon can read good books like these.
The Tiddly Winks cry, “Ho, ho,”
How many words do you REALLY know?
One hundred or more, can you answer “Yes”?
Or do you read your books BY GUESS?

[6]

FOREWORD

The Tiddly Winks are good natured little fairies who teach lessons of thrift and good cheer. Here we meet Tiddly Winks, Tiddly Wee, Tiddly Thrift, Tiddly Cheer-Up, Tiddly Scowl, and Tiddly Why, all having the characteristics of real children.

Who would not take delight in learning their A, B, C’s with the Tiddly Winks?

A story of the Wee People—for Wee People, written in charming and simple style, to be used in school and home as a first reader, carefully graded with repetition of simple words and phrases.

[7]

Objects in the school room take a lively interest in the Tiddly Winks, find voices, and even the School Bell outside remarks,

“Hear my song, hear my rhyme,
Hurry children, be on time.”

If you still inquire, “Who are the Tiddly Winks?” we will let them reply in their own fashion,

“Who are we? Who are we?
Tiddly Winks as all can see;
We are a very merry band,
And we come from Fairyland.”

[8]

CONTENTS


[9]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

They Danced in a Ring at the Picnic Frontispiece
He Wheeled Him in a Wheelbarrow Page 10
Tiddly Winks Bowed to the Waste Basket 19
Tiddly Winks Jumped into the Ink Well 21
He Began to Swing on the Pendulum 25
Tiddly Winks Made the Clothes Look Funny 29
He Went to Sleep in a Clothes Basket 31
Tiddly Winks Danced with the Mouse 33
He Watched One Little Girl 39
Tiddly Winks Laughed Like a Brownie 41
Tiddly Winks Ran on One Side 45
He Ran a Race Round and Round the Old Clock’s Face 59
On His Velocipede 63
Sawing Wood 67
Skating 71
Dancing 74
I Live in a Doll House Under the Old Apple Tree 82
When I begin I like to Spin 84
Playing Leap-Frog 89

[10]


[11]

He Wheeled Him in a Wheelbarrow


THE TIDDLY WINKS


COUNTING

Tiddly Winks says,

One, two,
How do you do?

Tiddly Wee says,

Three, four,
Here comes one more.

[12]

Tiddly Thrift says,

Five, six,
I have saving tricks.

The Tiddly Winks.

Tiddly Cheer-Up says,

Seven, eight
Laugh at any rate.

Tiddly Scowl says,

Nine, ten,
I scowl again.

Tiddly Why says,

Eleven, twelve,
Why not count like elves?
We Can Count As Well As Think,
Says Every Little Tiddly Wink!

[13]

GOOD MORNING

“Good morning,” said Tiddly Winks.

“Good morning,” sang the School Bell.

“Who are you?” asked Tiddly Winks.

“Who are you?” asked the School Bell.

Tiddly Winks said,

“I am a fairy, light and airy,
And I sing like a canary.”

The School Bell was busy ringing.

The School Bell was busy singing,

“I am the School Bell, ding dong,
I am the School Bell, hear my song.”

THE SCHOOL BELL

Tiddly Winks heard the song.

Tiddly Winks heard the School Bell sing.

[14]

He said, “I am a cousin of the Brownies.”

The School Bell said, “I am a cousin of the Church Bell.”

Tiddly Winks said, “See the children!”

The children were coming to school.

The School Bell sang,

“They come to school at half past eight,
I hope that no one will be late.”

Tiddly Winks curled up in the School Bell.

He curled up and went to sleep.


A. B. C.

Tiddly Winks reads “A-B-C.”

Can you read “A-B-C?”

[15]

The School Bell cannot read at all.

The School Bell can only sing.

Tiddly Winks come read to me.

Can you read like a fairy?

Tiddly Winks, if you please
I know all my A, B, C’s.

WHAT DAY?

“Good morning again,” said Tiddly Winks.

“Good morning to you,” sang the School Bell.

“What day is it?” asked Tiddly Winks.

The School Bell sang, “It is Monday morning.”

He said, “I must ring on Monday morning.”

[16]

Tiddly Winks said, “The children are coming.”

He said, “They are carrying dinner-pails.”

The School Bell sang,

“Hear my song, hear my rhyme
Hurry children, be on time.”

HURRY

The children came hurrying to school.

The children came to school on time.

Tiddly Winks said, “I will go to school, too.”

He said, “I will go to school on time.”

He said, “I will go to school on Monday.”

Tiddly Winks peeped into the window.

He peeped into the school room.

[17]

He called to the children, “Good morning!”

They said, “Good morning, Tiddly Winks.”


DING DONG

“Ding, dong,” sang the School Bell.

“Good morning,” said Tiddly Winks.

Tiddly Winks said, “I have been gone a week.”

The School Bell said, “It is Monday morning.”

[18]

Tiddly Winks said, “Are you tired ringing?”

The School Bell said, “Are you tired singing?”

They sang together on Monday morning,

“Hurry, hurry, take your place,
Take your seat, with smiling face.”

SMILING FACE

Tiddly Winks said, “Can I take a seat?”

He had a very smiling face.

Tiddly Winks met the School Room Clock.

He said, to the clock, “Good morning.”

[19]

Tiddly Winks Bowed to the Waste Basket

[20]

The School Room Clock said, “Tick, tock.”

Tiddly Winks bowed to the Waste Basket.

The Waste Basket was empty.

He sang,

“Once in a while, once in a while,
They carry me up, and down, the aisle.”

FUN

Sure enough bye and bye the Waste Basket went up and down.

He was carried in the aisle.

He was carried between the seats.

Tiddly Winks came early to school.

Tiddly Winks was full of fun.

[21]

Tiddly Winks Jumped Into the Ink Well

[22]

He saw the children’s copy books.

The copy books were open on the desks.

Tiddly Winks jumped into an ink-well.

He jumped from desk to desk.

He jumped on the copy books.

You could see the marks of his feet!

The School Bell did not know what was going on.

He was outside ringing and singing.


THE BOOKS

The School Room Clock saw the copy books.

He saw the marks of little feet on them.

He put his hands over his face.

[23]

The School Room Clock wanted to hide!

He tried to hide his face with his hands!

The Waste Basket said, “I will get the books.”

He said, “I will get all the copy books!”

The School Room Clock ticked away, saying,

“Rub out the marks this Monday morning,
The teacher is coming, do take warning.”

[24]

THE FAIRY

Tiddly Winks was a real fairy.

He blew on the copy books.

He blew away all the marks.

The marks of his feet were gone!

The Waste Basket said, “I am sad.”

He said, “I won’t get the copy books now.”

The School Room Clock said,

“Come and help me run a race,
See my hands go round my face.”

MONDAY

Tiddly Winks said, “I will come.”

He said to the School Room Clock, “Here I come.”

He jumped inside of the clock.

[25]

He Began to Swing on the Pendulum

[26]

The children were coming to school.

They came to school on Monday.

They looked at the School Room Clock.

Tiddly Winks had stopped the Clock!

He began to swing on the pendulum.

He smiled at the children.

He said, “I always smile on Monday morning.”


THE CHIMES

Tiddly Winks slept a week in the Clock.

He woke up next Monday morning.

He said, “I will go and talk to the School Bell.”

[27]

The School Bell was singing, “ding, dong.”

“Good bye,” ticked the School Room Clock.

“Good bye,” whispered the Waste Basket.

Tiddly Winks called, “Good bye, good bye.”

He heard the School Bell singing,

“Monday morning, be on time,
Ding, dong, hear my chime.”

[28]

CLOTHES LINE

One Monday morning Tiddly Winks ran away.

He ran away from school one Monday morning.

He saw washing on a line.

He blew inside a white skirt.

The skirt looked like a balloon.

He said, “It looks like a balloon.”

He blew inside all the clothes.

He made the clothes look funny.

He called to the funny clothes on the line.

Tiddly Winks called, “Good bye.”

[29]

Tiddly Winks Made the Clothes Look Funny


[30]

FAIRY WIND

Tiddly Winks did not run far away.

He curled up to sleep.

He went to sleep in the clothes basket.

He woke and said, “What day is it?”

The Sun said, “Ask Fairy Wind.”

Tiddly Winks asked again about the day.

Fairy Wind said,

“Ask that question now in school,
You’ll learn something, as a rule.”

Tiddly Winks ran back to school.


THE CALENDAR

“Good morning,” sang the School Bell.

“Good morning,” ticked the Clock.

[31]

He Went to Sleep in a Clothes Basket

[32]

“Good morning,” whispered the Waste Basket.

The School Room Mouse came out.

Tiddly Winks danced with him.

Tiddly Winks said, “What day is it?”

The Mouse said, “Ask the Calendar.”

The Calendar hung on the wall.

The Calendar had names on it.

It had names of days on it.

It had numbers on it, too.

The Calendar nodded to Tiddly Winks.

It said, “It is Tuesday morning.”


GAMES

Tiddly Winks said, “It is Tuesday morning.”

[33]

Tiddly Winks Danced with the Mouse

He said, “Let us play a game.”

The School Room Mouse said, “I can play.”

He said, “We can play hide-and-seek.”

The Waste Basket said, “I will play.”

He said, “Let us play cat-and-mouse.”

They played games before school.

They played hide-and-seek.

They played cat-and-mouse.

They played games on Tuesday morning.


[34]

HIDE AND SEEK

The children came in on Tuesday.

They took their seats on Tuesday morning.

They did not see Tiddly Winks.

He hid behind the Calendar.

He was thinking about hide-and-seek.

He said, “I will hide here to-day.”

He said, “I will hide in a pencil-box.”

He said, “I will hide in a dinner-pail.”

Tiddly Winks played hide-and-seek.

He played hide-and-seek on Tuesday.


THE BLUE SKY

“Good morning, good morning, the sky is so blue,
Good morning, good morning, good morning to you.”

[35]

The children sang this song.

The School Bell stopped ringing.

He stopped to hear the children sing.

The School Room Clock kept on ticking.

He said,“Where is Tiddly Winks?”

He said, “Where is he on Tuesday?”

Tiddly Winks was in a pencil-box.

He made a noise in the pencil-box.

He made the pencils rattle.


THE NOISE

What a noisy pencil-box!

What a noise in the desk!

What a noise in the room!

The teacher said,

“Fold your hands and quiet keep,
Play you all are fast asleep.”

[36]

The children folded their hands.

They kept very quiet.

Tiddly Winks was quiet too.

He said, “I learned something.”

He learned something on Tuesday.

Tiddly Winks fell asleep.

He fell asleep on Tuesday morning.


[37]

THE RAIN

One Tuesday morning it rained.

It rained harder and harder.

Tiddly Winks said, “Will the children sing?”

He said, “They cannot sing about blue skies.”

He said, “Can they sing to-day?”

The School Room Clock said, “Wait and see.”

The Waste Basket said, “They will sing.”

The School Bell did not mind the rain.

He sang as usual, “ding, dong.”


[38]

LITTLE BUSY BEE

The children came to school.

They came that rainy day to school.

They sang a new song.

“Good morning on a rainy day,
We sing to keep the blues away.”

Tiddly Winks clapped his tiny hands.

He said, “I will sing the new song.”

He watched one little girl.

She was busy at work all day.

He said she is a busy girl.

He called her “Little Busy Bee.”


TIDDLY WEE

Tiddly Winks met another fairy.

He said to the fairy, “Good morning.”

[39]

He Watched One Little Girl

[40]

The fairy answered, “Good morning.”

Tiddly Winks said, “What is your name?”

The fairy answered, “I am Tiddly Wee.”

Tiddly Winks laughed like a Brownie.

Tiddly Winks said, “It is Tuesday morning.”

Tiddly Winks said, “It is ironing day.”


THE HELPERS

“Sing a song and have some fun,
’Twill help you get the ironing done.”

Tiddly Wee sang this little song.

He sang this song on Tuesday.

[41]

Tiddly Winks Laughed Like a Brownie

[42]

He helped Tiddly Winks iron his sheets.

Tiddly Winks ironed pillow cases.

These little fairies liked to iron.

They liked to iron on Tuesday.

They soon had ironed all the clothes.

Tiddly Winks said, “Let us go to school.”

Tiddly Wee said, “We will go to-morrow.”


COUNT BY TWO’S

Tiddly Winks said, “Where is my cap?”

Tiddly Wee said, “Where is my coat?”

Tiddly Winks found his red cap.

Tiddly Wee found his red coat.

[43]

They went to school on Wednesday.

They learned to count on Wednesday.

They learned to count by two’s.

Two, four, six, eight,
Count by two’s, don’t be late.

“Ding, dong,” rang the School Bell.

“Tick, tock,” sang the Clock.


LITTLE FAIRY MEN

The Waste Basket said, “I can count.”

The Calendar said, “See all my numbers,

“One, two, three, four,
Come in please—shut the door.”

Tiddly Winks wrote numbers.

Tiddly Wee wrote on the board.

[44]

“We are little Fairy Men,
We can count up to ten.”

The School Room Mouse looked at them.

He looked out of the Clock.

He sang,

“I can count very well,
But how far, I won’t tell.”

Tiddly Winks said, “I like to count.”

Tiddly Wee said, “I can count on Wednesday.”


ON TIME

Tiddly Winks came to school.

Tiddly Wee came early to school.

“Good morning,” sang the School Bell.

[45]

Tiddly Winks Ran on One Side, Tiddly Wee Ran on the Other

[46]

Tiddly Winks said,

“I have pennies, and a dime,
See, I always come on time.”

Tiddly Wee said,

“For the children we will wait,
How I hope they won’t be late.”

One little boy was often late.

One little boy was a sleepy-head.

Tiddly Winks said,

“Try to get to school on time,
Help the fairies make a rhyme.”

LATE

One little girl was late to school.

One little girl was often late.

The little girl was late to breakfast.

[47]

Tiddly Winks said,

“Tiddly Winks soon I will wake you,
And to school I will take you.”

Tiddly Winks woke the little girl.

Tiddly Wee ran with her to school.

Tiddly Winks ran on one side.

Tiddly Wee ran on the other.


TIDDLY THRIFT

Tiddly Thrift got off the boat,
In a neatly mended coat.

He came to town on Wednesday.

Tiddly Thrift said, “It is Wednesday.”

He wore a mended coat on Wednesday.

He met Tiddly Winks and Tiddly Wee.

[48]

Tiddly Thrift said,

“We must save paper and string,
We must save time and everything.”

Tiddly Thrift taught the children.

He taught them to save paper.

He taught them to write on both sides.


TO SAVE

The Waste Basket began to cry.

He began to cry on Wednesday.

“See the children save their paper.”

“They write on both sides of the paper.”

“How will I ever get full of paper?”

Tiddly Winks saw the children save paper.

[49]

Tiddly Wee said, “They will save time too.”

The School Room Clock said,

“Tick, tock, tick, tock,
They’ll save time like as not.”

The School Room Mouse began to squeak.

He squeaked, “I hope they will save crumbs.”

He said, “Will they save crumbs for me?”


SWEET COOKIES

Tiddly Winks as you know,
In the kitchen now must go,
Tiddly Wee, as you see,
Makes the fire burn merrily,
[50]
Tiddly Thrift every hour,
Saves the butter, saves the flour.
They get out the rolling-pin,
So the fun will soon begin!
They mix some cookies for a treat,
Cut them out, and make them sweet,
In the oven they baked them too,
Just as you or I would do.

[51]

JOLLY COOKS

Tiddly Winks and Tiddly Wee,
Are very little cooks you see,
Tiddly Thrift has come to town,
And he will bake the cookies brown.
The cook will have a nice surprise,
When the cookies greet her eyes,
The fairies say, “Do you like our looks?
You see we all are jolly cooks.”
The kitchen Clock upon the wall,
Said, “I like Tiddly Thrift the best of all.”
Tiddly Winks and Tiddly Wee,
Were just as busy as could be!

[52]


THE PICNIC

“Hurry, hurry,” called Tiddly Winks.

“Hurry up,” cried Tiddly Wee.

“Hurry to the picnic,” said Tiddly Thrift.

Some of the Tiddly Winks were late.

Tiddly Cheer-Up came smiling.

He came singing,

“Let us never trouble borrow,
Start to-day, or start to-morrow.”

[53]

They went on a picnic on Thursday.

They went to the woods.

They carried picnic baskets.


TIDDLY CHEER-UP

Tiddly Winks fell in the water.

Tiddly Wee helped him out.

Tiddly Thrift spread the lunch.

He said, “We will save the crumbs.”

Tiddly Cheer-Up smiled on every one.

He said,

“Nothing will go very wrong,
If we sing a ‘Cheer-Up’ song.”

They danced in a ring.

They danced in a ring at the picnic.

They danced and sang on Thursday.


[54]

TIDDLY SCOWL

“Good morning,” said Tiddly Winks.

“Is it a good morning?” asked Tiddly Scowl.

Tiddly Scowl was always scowling.

Tiddly Scowl was often late to school.

Tiddly Scowl said, “It is a rainy morning.”

Tiddly Scowl did not like the rain.

Tiddly Why came walking by.

Tiddly Why asked many questions.

Tiddly Why said, “Why do you scowl?”

He said, “Why don’t you like rain?”


LAUGH AND PLAY

“What day is it?” asked Tiddly Winks.

[55]

“What time is it?” asked Tiddly Wee.

“What shall we do next?” asked Tiddly Thrift.

“Let us laugh and play,” said Tiddly Cheer-Up.

“I cannot laugh and play,” said Tiddly Scowl.

Tiddly Why said, “Why can’t you laugh?”

The Calendar said, “I know what day it is.”

[56]

The Calendar said, “It is Thursday.”

The Calendar said,

“At my face come take a peek,
There are seven days in a week.”

The School Room Clock said, “Good morning.”

It said, “I can tell you the time.”

“Count the numbers on my face,
Can you count numbers any place?”

Tiddly Winks counted numbers on the board.

Tiddly Wee counted numbers on the Calendar.

Tiddly Thrift counted numbers on the Clock’s face.

[57]

Tiddly Cheer-Up counted numbers on cards.

Tiddly Scowl counted no numbers at all.

Tiddly Why said, “Why don’t you count?”

Tiddly Winks said, “I want to tell time.”

Tiddly Why asked, “Why do you want to tell time?”


TO TELL TIME

“I want to tell time,” said Tiddly Winks.

The School Room Clock smiled at him.

He said, “Look at my two hands.”

[58]

He said,

“Look at my shorter hand,
It points to the hour you understand.”

Tiddly Winks repeated the words over and over.

The Clock spoke again,

“Look at my longer hand,
It points to the minutes, you understand.”

The School Room Clock went on talking.

“I point to six, with my short hand,
The long hand’s at twelve you understand,
It is six o’clock, it is six o’clock,
And time for supper, like as not.”

THE HOURS

Tiddly Winks began to learn to tell time.

[59]

He Ran a Race,
Round and Round the Old Clock’s Face

[60]

He learned to tell a little time every day.

He learned to tell the hours.

Tiddly Winks then ran a race,
Round and round the old clock’s face.

Tiddly Winks began to tell time on Thursday.

Tiddly Scowl said, “I cannot tell time.”

The School Bell rang again,

“Ding, dong, work and play
Children be on time to-day.”

“Why should we be on time?” asked Tiddly Why.

Tiddly Scowl said, “Dear me, why do you ask questions?”


[61]

WAKE UP

“Wake up, wake up,” called Tiddly Winks.

“I am awake,” said Tiddly Wee.

“Hurry up, save time,” sang Tiddly Thrift.

“Wake up happy,” said Tiddly Cheer-Up.

“I cannot look happy,” said Tiddly Scowl.

“Why shall we get-up?” asked Tiddly Why.

Tiddly Winks said, “Let us go to school.”

He said, “Let us go on Friday.”

Tiddly Winks said, “Come, get breakfast.”


[62]

THE BREAKFAST

Tiddly Thrift helped with breakfast.

He set the breakfast table.

Can you set the breakfast table?

Tiddly Cheer-Up cooked the coffee.

Tiddly Scowl said, “I don’t like coffee.”

Tiddly Winks said, “Drink some cocoa.”

Tiddly Wee said, “Drink some milk.”

Tiddly Why said, “Why do we drink coffee?”

Tiddly Winks said, “We like to drink coffee.”

Tiddly Scowl sat in the corner scowling.

[63]

On His Velocipede


TIDDLY WHY

The Tiddly Winks hurried to school.

They all hurried to school on Friday.

The School Bell sang,

“Good morning, I am glad to meet you,
Good morning, I am glad to greet you.”

The School Room Clock sang,

“Fall in line,
It is quarter of nine.”

[64]

Tiddly Winks sat on the window-sill.

Tiddly Scowl came in late.

He stopped on the way to school.

He stopped to play ball.

Tiddly Why said, “Why are you late?”


THE NEW SONG

Tiddly Cheer-Up sang on Friday.

He sang a new song on Friday.

“If the weather is wet,
You’ll have fun yet,
If the weather is cold,
Please do not scold,
If the weather is dry,
To have fun we try,
[65]
When the weather is warm,
Comes a thunder storm,
Cheer-Up, we have fun together.
We like different kinds of weather.”

All the children learned the new song.

All the children liked the new song.

They sang together on Friday morning.


THAT WAY

The School Room Mouse said, “Good morning.”

He said, “I will be the teacher.”

He said, “What time is it, Tiddly Winks?”

Tiddly Winks replied, “It is school time.”

[66]

The School Room Mouse said, “Who can spell?”

He said, “Who can spell ‘Friday’?”

Tiddly Scowl said, “I cannot spell.”

He said,

“From school I often stay away,
I always scowl and scowl all day.”

Tiddly Thrift sang,

“Save a little every day,
We’ll be happier that way.”

BREAD AND CHEESE

The School Room Mouse was a funny teacher.

He said,

“You must excuse me if you please,
This Friday noon I smell fresh cheese.”

[67]

Sawing Wood

He smelled some fresh cheese on Friday.

He smelled cheese from a dinner pail.

The School Room Mouse loved cheese.

One little boy ate his lunch.

The boy had bread and cheese for lunch.

He dropped some crumbs of bread.

He dropped some crumbs of cheese.

The School Room Mouse came out.

He came out and ate the cheese.


[68]

VALENTINES

Tiddly Winks made a valentine.

He made a valentine on Friday.

Friday was Saint Valentine’s day.

Tiddly Wee made a valentine too.

He made it like a heart.

Tiddly Scowl said, “I cannot make one.”

He said, “I cannot make a valentine.”

Tiddly Thrift helped him.

Tiddly Cheer-Up made up a verse.

He made a verse for his valentine.

“I love you truly mother mine,
You are my dearest valentine.”

Tiddly Wee made a pretty valentine.

He made a valentine for the baby.

[69]

He wrote on his valentine,

“Baby brother with eyes so blue.
Here is a valentine heart for you.”

They all made some envelopes.

They made envelopes for the valentines.

They put stamps on the envelopes.

They sent the valentines by mail.

Tiddly Scowl got an ugly valentine.

Tiddly Cheer-Up said,

“If you will learn how to smile,
It will make life worth while.”

SPRING

The Calendar said, “It is spring.”

“It is spring,” whispered the breezes.

“It is spring,” pattered the rain.

[70]

“It is spring,” sang the robin.

The birds were building nests.

“Where will I live?” asked Jenny Wren.

Jenny Wren said, “I want a new house.”

She said, “Who will build me a house?”

Tiddly Winks said,

“I’ll build a wee house in the spring,
When all the birds begin to sing.”

A HOUSE

“Who will build me a home?” asked Jenny Wren.

“I will,” said Tiddly Winks.

“I will,” answered Tiddly Wee.

Tiddly Thrift said, “Use a cigar box.”

Tiddly Cheer-Up found a cigar box.

[71]

Skating

Tiddly Scowl said, “I cannot build a house.”

Tiddly Why said, “Why not?”

They soon made a house.

They made it out of a cigar box.

They made it for Jenny Wren.

She said,

“It is spring again, spring again,
Spring in sunshine, spring in rain.”

[72]

THE SEEDS

Tiddly Winks said, “It is spring.”

Tiddly Wee said, “Let us make a garden.”

Tiddly Thrift said, “I saved some seeds.”

He saved the seeds from last year.

Tiddly Cheer-Up said, “Where is the rake?”

Tiddly Scowl said, “I don’t like to rake.”

Tiddly Why said, “Why? Why?”

Tiddly Winks said, “Where is the hoe?”

They all sang,

“With rake and hoe
To the garden go,
[73]
In the early spring
When the robbins sing.”

THE GARDEN

The Tiddly Winks planted a garden.

They planted it in the spring.

They planted vegetable seeds.

They planted flower seeds.

Patter, patter, patter, fell the rain.

The rain helped the seeds grow.

The garden was planted on Saturday.

Another Saturday came.

The Tiddly Winks planted a tree.

They planted a tree on Saturday.

They planted a tree on Arbor Day.


[74]

THE SUN

The sun was shining one spring day.

The sun shone one Saturday.

Tiddly Winks got out the spade.

He said, “Let us make more garden.”

Tiddly Wee got out the wheelbarrow.

Dancing

Tiddly Thrift said, “See the lettuce!”

Tiddly Cheer-Up said, “See the radishes!”

[75]

Tiddly Scowl said, “I wish they were violets.”

Tiddly Why said, “Why? Why?”


THE RIDE

“Come rake and hoe,
Make our garden grow.”

Sang Tiddly Winks one Saturday.

Tiddly Wee said, “The sun makes things grow.”

Tiddly Thrift said, “The rain makes things grow.”

Tiddly Scowl grew very tired.

Tiddly Winks wheeled him home.

He wheeled him in the wheelbarrow.

Tiddly Why said, “Why does he ride?”

Tiddly Cheer-Up said,

“Cheer up, Cheer up, we are happy together,
Cheer up, Cheer up, it is fine spring weather.”

[76]

TO FISH

Tiddly Winks said, “Let us go fishing.”

Tiddly Wee said, “I will go with you.”

Tiddly Thrift said, “Where is the fishing-rod?”

Tiddly Cheer-Up said, “Here is the fish hook.”

Tiddly Scowl said, “Who will dig worms?”

Tiddly Why said, “Why do we want worms?”

“We will bait the hook,” said Tiddly Winks.

“Will bait it with worms,” said Tiddly Wee.

[77]

The Tiddly Winks sang,

“Happy at work, and happy at play,
We’ll go fishing on a Saturday.”

CATCHING FISH

The Tiddly Winks carried a basket.

They carried a basket for fish.

They sat on the bank to fish.

Tiddly Scowl said, “Why don’t the fish bite?”

[78]

By and by they caught some fish.

They put the fish in the covered basket.

They carried the basket home.

They all ate fish for supper.

They had fish for supper on Saturday.


THE MAYPOLE

Tiddly Winks said, “It is the first of May.”

Tiddly Wee said, “Where is the Maypole?”

Tiddly Thrift said, “We will make one.”

They made a Maypole from a pole.

They made it from a clothes pole.

They put gay streamers on it.

[79]

Each Tiddly Wink took hold of a streamer.

They danced round the Maypole.

They all sang,

“Round the Maypole dance and play,
In the merry month of May.”

THE RAG DOLL

Tiddly Winks got a letter.

He got a letter on Saturday.

The letter was from Toy Town.

It was written by the Rag Doll.

The Rag Doll said,

Toy Town, May 5th.

Dear Tiddly Winks,

I live in a new Doll House with many other toys.

[80]

I would like you to visit me.

Tell all the family to come and see me, and tell them that I live in the Doll House under the old apple tree.

Your friend,

The Rag Doll.


TO WRITE

Tiddly Winks said, “Here is a letter.”

He said, “Who will answer the letter?”

Tiddly Why said, “Why do you answer it?”

Tiddly Winks said, “We must be polite.”

Tiddly Thrift said, “I saved some paper.”

[81]

Tiddly Cheer-Up said, “We will make an envelope.”

The Tiddly Winks wrote a polite letter.

They put it in an envelope to send.

Tiddly Scowl said,

“I can’t write a letter very well,
For I never learned to spell.”

THE LETTER

This is the letter the Tiddly Winks wrote.

Tiddly Wink Town, May 6th.

Dear Rag Doll,

We will come to-morrow to visit you.

We will come to the Doll House under the apple tree.

Thank you for your letter.

Your loving friends,

The Tiddly Winks.

[82]

I Live in a Doll House Under the Old Apple Tree


[83]

THE VISIT

The Tiddly Winks called “Good-bye, good-bye.”

They called, “Good-bye Father and Mother.”

They went together to Toy Town.

They went to visit the Rag Doll.

They came to the Doll House.

The Rag Doll kissed them all.

The Rag Doll was glad to see them.

They sat in the new Doll House in Toy Town.


THE TOP

The Rag Doll said, “Where is Tiddly Scowl?”

[84]

When I Begin I Like to Spin

Sure enough, where was Tiddly Scowl?

He was up stairs in the Doll House.

He looked out of the window.

He said, “I want to go home.”

Just then the Top began to talk.

“I am the Top, will I never stop?
Spin, spin, spin,
With humming sound, I dance around,
Spin, spin, spin.”

Tiddly Why said,

“Why doesn’t the top stop?”

[85]

The Top answered,

“When I begin,
I like to spin.”

Tiddly Thrift laughed at that.

Tiddly Cheer-Up said, “We must say ‘Good-bye’.”


THE AIRSHIP

Tiddly Winks said, “We must say, ‘Good-bye’.”

Tiddly Wee said, “See the Airship!”

The Airship sailed down, down.

They all got in the Airship.

They called to the Rag Doll, “Good-bye.”

She gave them a surprise.

The Rag Doll said, “I will sail with you.”

[86]

They all sailed back to Tiddly Winks Town.

They sailed over the houses.

They sailed over the tree-tops.


FLYING HOME

The Tiddly Winks all flew home.

They flew home in the big Airship.

They sang as they flew,

“Hurrah, hurrah for Toy Town,
We’re flying up on high,
Hurrah, hurrah for Toy Town,
Good bye, good bye, good bye.”

The Rag Doll said,

“If you will open your eyes and look,
You will find me smiling in this book.”

She went to live in a book.

She went to live with the Tiddly Winks.


[87]

THE OWL

Tiddly Winks had a pet owl.

He called him “Mr. Who.”

The Owl cried, “Tu-whit, tu-who.”

Tiddly Winks said, “Meet the Rag Doll.”

The Rag Doll said,

“Are you really old and wise,
I very much admire your size.”

The Owl replied,

“I admire your bead eyes so bright,
Can you read by candle-light?”

They all laughed at that.

The Rag Doll could not read at all!


REST DAY

Tiddly Winks could read very well.

Tiddly Wee could read and write.

Tiddly Thrift could also save.

Tiddly Cheer-Up was always happy.

Tiddly Scowl was always cross.

[88]

Tiddly Why asked too many questions.

They all sang,

“On Monday, we will go to school
And learn some lessons as a rule.
We’ll go on Tuesday, Wednesday too,
On Thursday learn a thing or two,
On Friday we will be polite,
We’ll also try to read and write,
On Saturday we’ll have a play,
And Sunday is our best, rest day.”

MERRY JUNE

Merry June came again.

June came with vacation.

Tiddly Winks was merry in June.

Tiddly Wee said, “I like vacation.”

Tiddly Thrift said, “I will work in vacation.”

[89]

Playing Leap-Frog

Tiddly Scowl said,

“I really don’t like any season,
And I cannot tell the reason.”

Tiddly Why said, “Why don’t you like June?”

Tiddly Why asked too many questions.

He even wore a question mark on his cap?


[90]

PEEPING

Tiddly Winks said, “I will peep into school.”

He said, “I will peep in the school room window.”

He said, “I will say good-bye to the School Bell.”

He said, “I want to talk to the School Room Clock.”

He began to think about the School Room Mouse.

He wanted a word with the Waste Basket.

He wanted to talk to the Calendar.

Tiddly Winks went off dancing and singing.

“I can sing a little if I try,
And I can call, ‘good bye, good bye.’”

[91]

TO REMEMBER

Tiddly Winks heard the School Bell ringing.

He called, “Good-bye, School Bell.”

The School Bell said,

“Good bye, good bye, please remember,
School begins next September.”

Tiddly Winks answered,

“I will try to remember,
About next September!”

Tiddly Winks went into school.

He called, “Good-bye, Waste Basket.”

The Waste Basket replied,

“I’ll be at work as I remember,
Very early in September!”

Tiddly Winks looked at the Clock.

He called, “Good-bye, Mr. Time Keeper.”


[92]

GOOD-BYE

The School Room Clock sang,

“I will start again as I remember,
About the seventh of September!”

Tiddly Winks called, “Good-bye, School Room Mouse.”

The School Room Mouse answered,

“I’ll get more crumbs as I remember,
About the first week of September.”

The Calendar said, “Will no one speak to me?”

Tiddly Winks called, “Good-bye, old Calendar.”

The Calendar called,

[93]

“I keep the days as you remember,
School starts again next September.”

Tiddly Winks called happily,

“WHEN YOU CLOSE THIS LITTLE BOOK
OPEN IT AGAIN AND LOOK,
HOW MANY LESSONS CAN YOU READ?
IF YOU SAY ‘ALL’ YOU’RE WISE INDEED!”
A greeting from the Tiddly Winks,
May be in pencil, or in ink,
Each Tiddly Winks will be your friend,
From the beginning to the end!
[94]
They learn so many things from you,
And little tricks they like to do,
If you learn things from them, they say,
We’ll call again another day!
Tiddly Winks can you read?
Then you are very wise indeed,
Put on spectacles if you need,
Work with a will and you’ll succeed.

FINIS

Have You Had the Six Tiddly Winks and the A to Zees?

[95]


[96]

ALBERT WHITMAN’S
EASY READING JUVENILE LIBRARY
“JUST RIGHT BOOKS”

Profusely illustrated in colors; reinforced cloth binding; printed in large type on fine paper; jackets in color; price each, 60c.

PUBLISHED BY
ALBERT WHITMAN & COMPANY
CHICAGO, U. S. A.