Citation
Fireside stories

Material Information

Title:
Fireside stories
Series Title:
Banbury Cross series
Creator:
Rhys, Grace Little, 1865-1929
Mitchell, Alice M ( Illustrator )
Bell, Robert Anning, 1863-1933 ( Engraver )
J. M. Dent & Co ( Publisher )
Turnbull & Spears ( Printer )
Place of Publication:
London
Publisher:
J.M. Dent & Co.
Manufacturer:
Turnbull and Spears
Publication Date:
Language:
English
Physical Description:
60, [3] p., [1] leaf of plates : ill. ; 15 cm.

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Children -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Children's stories ( lcsh )
Children's stories -- 1895 ( lcsh )
Bldn -- 1895
Genre:
Children's stories
novel ( marcgt )
Spatial Coverage:
England -- London
Scotland -- Edinburgh
Target Audience:
juvenile ( marctarget )

Notes

General Note:
"Banbury cross series. Prepared for children by Grace Rhys"--half title.
General Note:
Pictorial endpapers signed R.A.B., i.e. Robert Anning Bell.
Statement of Responsibility:
illustrated by Alice M. Mitchell.

Record Information

Source Institution:
University of Florida
Holding Location:
University of Florida
Rights Management:
This item is presumed to be in the public domain. The University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries respect the intellectual property rights of others and do not claim any copyright interest in this item. Users of this work have responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions may require permission of the copyright holder. The Smathers Libraries would like to learn more about this item and invite individuals or organizations to contact The Department of Special and Area Studies Collections (special@uflib.ufl.edu) with any additional information they can provide.
Resource Identifier:
026582670 ( ALEPH )
ALG2055 ( NOTIS )
154295715 ( OCLC )

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Full Text




Say
r Si a

Mi Sait fe











THE
BANBURY CROSS
SERIES

PREPARED FOR CHILDREN BY Grace Ruys

FIRESIDE STORIES











FIRESIDE STORIES ~&y
ILLUSTRATED. _.-
BY
ALICE M.

MITCHELL. ~





LONDON 9 &
PUBLISHED BY = (2
J.M. DENT & CO :
AT ALDINE HOUSE IN
GREAT EASTERN STREET.
1895.

XP






To Hope and Grace.

When you all sit round the fire, and
Christmas time comes back,

You may read many a worse tale than
that of Lazy Jack!

And here are Chicken-Licken and other
old friends,

And Lazy Jack begins where Chicken-
Licken ends !

G. R.









Titty Mouse and
Tatty Mouse.

-— ww

ITTY Mouse and Tatty Mouse both
lived in a house,
Titty Mouse went a-gleaning, and Tatty
Mouse went a-gleaning,
So they both went a-gleaning.

Titty Mouse gleaned an ear of corn, and
Tatty Mouse gleaned an ear of corn,
So they both gleaned an ear of corn.



IO TITTY MOUSE AND TAT'T'Y MOUSE.










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Titty Mouse made a pudding, and Tatty
Mouse made a pudding,
So they both made a pudding.

And Tatty Mouse put her pudding into
the pot to boil,

But when Titty went to put hers in the
pot, it tumbled over, and scalded her
to death.

Then Tatty sat down and wept. Then
a three-legged stool said, “Tatty, why
do you weep?” <*'Titty’s dead,” said



TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE. II

———————————
—

Se

ey

Tatty, ‘and so I weep.” ‘Then said
the stool, “Tl hop;” so the stool
hopped. Then a besom in the corner
of the room said, “Stool, why do you
hop?” <«*Oh!” said the stool, ‘ Titty’s
dead, and Tatty weeps, and so I hop.”
Then said the besom, “I'll sweep;”
so the besom began to sweep. Then
said the door, ‘‘Besom, why do you
sweep?” Qh!” said the besom,
««Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and
the stool hops, and so I sweep.” Then
said the door, “TIl jar;” so the door





I2 TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE.



jarred. Then said the window, ‘ Door,
why do you jar?” ‘ Oh!” said the
door, ‘‘ Titty’s dead and Tatty weeps,
and the stool hops, and the besom sweeps,
and so I jar.” Then said the window,
“‘ [ll creak;” so the window creaked.
Now there was an old form outside the
house, and when the window creaked,
the form said, ‘‘ Window, why do you
creak?” <‘ Oh!” said the window,
« stool hops, and the besom sweeps, the
door jars, and so I creak.” ‘Then said



TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE. 13



the old form, ‘‘I’ll run round the house;”
then the old form ran round the house.
Now, there was a fine large walnut-tree
growing. by the cottage, and the tree
said to the form, “Form, why do you
run round the house?” “Oh!” said
the form, ‘‘ Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps,
and the stool hops, and the besom sweeps,
the door jars, and the window creaks,
and so I run round the house.” Then
said the walnut-tree, “Tl shed my
leaves;” so the walnut-tree shed all
its beautiful green leaves. Now there



14 TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE.

was a little bird perched on one of the
boughs of the tree, and when all the
leaves fell, it said, ‘‘ Walnut-tree, why
do you shed your leaves?” <‘*Oh!”
said the tree, “ Titty’s dead, and Tatty
weeps, the stool hops, and the besom
sweeps, the door jars, and the window
creaks, the old form runs round the
house, and so I shed my leaves.” Then
said the little bird, “Tl moult all my
so he moulted all his pretty
feathers. Now there was a little girl
walking below, carrying a jug of milk
for her brothers’ and sisters’ supper, and
when she saw the poor little bird moult
all its feathers, she said, “Little bird,
why do you moult all your feathers?”
“Oh!” said the little bird, «“ Titty’s
dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool hops,
and the besom sweeps, the door jars,
and the window creaks, the old form
runs round the house, the walnut-tree
sheds its leaves, and so I moult all my

feathers ;’







16 TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE.



feathers.” Then said the little girl,
“‘Tll spill the milk;” so she dropped
the pitcher and spilt the milk. Now
there was an old man just by on the
top of a ladder thatching a rick, and
when he saw the little girl spill the
milk, he said, ‘‘ Little girl, what do you
mean by spilling the milk? Your little
brothers and sisters must go without
their supper.” Then said the little girl,
“Titty’s dead and Tatty weeps, the
stool hops, and the besom sweeps, the
door jars, and the window creaks, the







18 ‘TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE.



old farm runs round the house, the
walnut-tree sheds all its leaves, the little
bird moults all its feathers, and so I
spill the milk.” “Oh!” said the old
man, ‘‘ then I’ll tumble off the ladder and
break my neck;” so he tumbled off the
ladder and broke his neck. And when
the old man broke his neck, the great
walnut-tree fell down with a crash, and
upset the old form and house, and the
house falling knocked the window out,



TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE. I9

and the window knocked the door down,
and the door upset the besom, the besom
upset the stool, and poor little Tatty
Mouse was buried beneath the ruins.









The Story
of Mr. Vinegar.











M® and Mrs Vinegar lived in a

vinegar-bottle. Now one day,
when Mr Vinegar was from home, Mrs
Vinegar, who was a very good house-
wife, was busily sweeping her house,
when an unlucky thump of the broom
brought the whole house clitter-clatter,
clitter-clatter about her ears. In floods
of tears she rushed forth to meet her
husband. On seeing him she exclaimed,
“Oh, Mr Vinegar, Mr Vinegar, we are
ruined, we are ruined! I have knocked



24 THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR.

the house down, and it is all to pieces!”
Mr Vinegar then said, ‘“‘ My dear, let
us see what can be done. Here is the
door; I will take it on my back, and
we will go forth to seek our fortune.”
They walked all that day, and at
nightfall entered a thick forest. They
were both very tired, and Mr Vinegar
said, ‘‘ My love, I will climb up into
a tree, drag up the door, and you shall
follow.” This he did, and they both
stretched their weary limbs upon the
door, and fell fast asleep. In the middle
of the night Mr Vinegar was disturbed
by the sound of voices beneath, and to
his great dismay perceived that a party
of thieves were met to divide their booty.
«Here, Jack,” said one, ‘here’s five
pounds for you; here, Bill, here’s ten
pounds for you; here, Bob, here’s three
pounds for you.” Mr Vinegar could
listen no longer; his terror was so in-
tense that he trembled most violently,







26 THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR.



and shook down the door on their heads.
Away scampered the thieves, but Mr
Vinegar dared not quit his retreat till
broad daylight.

He then scrambled out of the tree,
and went to lift up the door. What
did he behold but a number of golden
guineas ! ‘Come down, Mrs Vinegar,”
he cried, ‘‘come down, I say; our
fortune’s made, our fortune’s made!
come down, I say.” Mrs Vinegar got



THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR. 27



down as fast as she could, and saw the
money with equal delight. ‘‘ Now, my
dear,” said she, ‘Vl tell you what you
shall do. There is a fair at the town

hard by; you shall take these forty
guineas and buy a cow. Ican make
butter and cheese, which you shall sell
at market, and we shall then be able
to live very comfortably.” Mr Vinegar
joyfully agrees, takes the money, and
goes off to the fair, When he arrived,
he walked up and down, and at length
saw a beautiful red cow. Oh! thought
Mr Vinegar, if I had but that cow I



28 THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR.

should be the happiest man alive. So
he offers the forty guineas for the cow,
and the owner declaring that, as he was
a friend, he’d oblige him, the bargain
was made. Proud of his purchase, he
drove the cow backwards and forwards
to show it. By-and-bye he saw a man
playing the bagpipes, —tweedledum,
tweedledee ; the children followed him
about, and he appeared to be pocket-
ing money on all sides. Well, thought
Mr Vinegar, if I had but that beautiful
instrument I should be the happiest man
alive—my fortune would be made.

So he went up to the man. “Friend,”
says he, “‘ what a beautiful instrument
that is, and what a deal of money you
must make.” ‘Why, yes,” said the
man, ‘‘I make a great deal of money,
to be sure, and it is a wonderful instru-
ment.” “Oh!” cried Mr Vinegar,
“how I should like to possess it!”
“Well,” said the man, “as you are a



THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR. 29



friend, I don’t much mind parting with
it; you shall have it for that red cow.”
“‘Done,” said the delighted Mr Vinegar ;
so the beautiful red cow was given for
the bagpipes. He walked up and down
with his purchase, but in vain he at-
tempted to play a tune, and instead of



30 THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR.



pocketing pence, the boys followed him
hooting, laughing, and pelting.

Poor Mr Vinegar, his fingers grew
very cold, and, heartily ashamed and
mortified, he was leaving the town,
when he met a man with a fine thick
pair of gloves. ‘‘Oh, my fingers are
so very cold,” said Mr Vinegar to him-
self; ‘if I had but those beautiful
gloves I should be the happiest man
alive.” He went up to the man, and



THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR. 31



said to him, ‘‘ Friend, you seem to have
a capital pair of gloves there.” <‘ Yes,
” cried the man; ‘and my hands
are as warm as possible this cold
November day.” ‘ Well,” said Mr
Vinegar, ‘‘I should like to have them.”
“What will you give?” said the man;
“fas you are a friend, I don’t much
mind letting you have them for those
bagpipes.” <‘ Done,” cried Mr Vinegar.
He put on the gloves, and felt perfectly
happy as he trudged homewards.

At last he grew very tired, when he
saw a man coming towards him with a

truly,



32 THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR.

good stout stick in his hand. <‘‘ Oh,”
said Mr Vinegar, ‘that I had but that
stick! I should then be the happiest
man alive.” He accosted the man—
‘Friend, what a rare good stick you
have got.” ‘ Yes,” said the man, ‘I
have used it for many a long mile, and
a good friend it has been; but if you
have a fancy for it, as you are a friend,
I don’t mind giving it to you for that
pair of gloves.” Mr Vinegar’s hands
were so warm, and his legs so tired,
that he gladly exchanged.

As he drew near to the wood where
he had left his wife, he heard a parrot
on a tree calling out his name—‘‘ Mr
Vinegar, you foolish man, you blockhead,
you simpleton! you went to the fair,
and laid out all your money in buying
a cow; not content with that, you
changed it for bagpipes, on which you
could not play, and which were not
worth one-tenth of the money. You



THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR. 33

Sinus “HN
aes eae

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bm
.

he

fue ey



fool, you! You had no sooner got the

bagpipes than you changed them for

the gloves, which were not worth one-

quarter of the money; and when you

had got the gloves, you changed them for

a poor, miserable stick, and now for your
7c



34 THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR.

forty guineas, cow, bagpipes, and gloves,
you have nothing to show but that poor
miserable stick, which you might have
cut in any hedge.” On this the bird
laughed immoderately, and Mr Vinegar,
falling into a violent rage, threw the
stick at its head. The stick lodged
in the tree, and he returned to his
wife without money, cow, bagpipes,
gloves, or stick, and she instantly gave
him such a sound cudgelling that she
almost broke every bone in his skin.











The Story

of Chicken-Licken.











S Chicken-licken went one day to

the wood, an acorn fell upon her
poor bald pate, and she thought the sky
had fallen. So she said she would go
and tell the King the sky had fallen.
So Chicken-licken turned back, and met
Hen-len. ‘‘ Well, Hen-len, where are
you going?” And Hen-len said, ‘I’m
going to the wood for some meat.” And
Chicken-licken said, ‘‘ Oh! Hen-len, don’t
go, for I was going, and the sky fell
upon my poor bald pate, and I’m going to



40 ‘THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN.



tell the King.” So Hen-len turned back
with Chicken-licken, and met Cock-lock.
«Oh! Cock-lock, where are you going ?”
And Cock-lock said, ‘I’m going to the
wood for some meat.” Then Hen-len
said, ‘*Oh! Cock-lock, don’t go, for I
was going, and I met Chicken-licken, and
Chicken-licken had been at the wood, and
the sky had fallen on her poor bald pate,
and we are going to tell the King.”



THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN. 4I



So Cock-lock turned back, and met
Duck-luck. ‘Well, Duck-luck, where
are you going?” And Duck-luck said,
“P’m going to the wood for some meat.”
Then Cock-lock said, ‘Oh! Duck-luck,
don’t go, for I was going, and I met Hen-
len, and Hen-len met Chicken-licken, and
Chicken-licken had been at the wood, and
the sky had fallen on her poor bald pate,
and we are going to tell the King.”



42 ‘THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN.

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So Duck-luck turned back, and. met
Drake-lake. ‘‘ Well, Drake-lake, where
are you going?” And Drake-lake said,
“Tm going to the wood for some meat.”
Then Duck-luck said, ‘Oh! Drake-lake,
don’t go, for I was going, and I met
Cock-lock, and Cock-lock met Hen-len,
and Hen-len met Chicken-licken, and
Chicken-licken had been at the wood,



THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN. 43



and the sky had fallen on her poor bald
pate, and we are going to tell the King.”
So Drake-lake turned back, and met



44. THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN.



Goose-loose. ‘‘ Well, Goose-loose, where
are you going?” And Goose-loose said,
«‘’m going to the wood for some meat.”



THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN. 45

Then Drake-lake said, “‘Oh! Goose-
loose, don’t go, for I was going, and I
met Duck-luck, and Duck-luck met Cock-
lock, and Cock-lock met Hen-len, and
Hen-len met Chicken-licken, and Chicken-
licken had been at the wood, and the sky
had fallen on her poor bald pate, and we
are going to tell the King.”

So Goose-loose turned back, and met
Gander-lander. ‘‘ Well, Gander-lander,
where are you going?” And Gander-
lander said, ‘I’m going to the wood for
some meat.” ‘Then Goose-loose said,
‘‘Oh! Gander-lander, don’t go, for I was
‘going, and I met Drake-lake, and Drake-
lake met Duck-luck, and Duck-luck met
Cock-lock, and Cock-lock met Hen-len,
and Hen-len met Chicken-licken, and
Chicken-licken had been at the wood, and
the sky had fallen on her poor bald pate,
and we are going to tell the King.”

So Gander-lander turned back, and
met Turkey-lurkey. ‘‘ Well, Turkey-



46 THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN.

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And

lurkey, where are you going :”
Turkey-lurkey said, “I’m going to the



THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN. 47

wood for some meat.” Then Gander-
lander said, ‘Oh! Turkey-lurkey, don’t
go, for I was going, and I met Goose-
loose, and Goose-loose met Drake-lake,
and Drake-lake met Duck-luck, and
Duck-luck met Cock-lock, and Cock-lock
met Hen-len, and Hen-len met Chicken-
licken, and Chicken-licken had been at
the wood, and the sky had fallen on her
poor bald pate, and we are going to tell
the King.”

So Turkey-lurkey turned back, and
walked with Gander-lander, Goose-loose,
Drake-lake, Duck-luck, Cock-lock, Hen-
len, and Chicken-licken. And as they
were going along, they met Fox-lox.
And Fox-lox said, ‘‘ Where are you
going, my pretty maids?” And they
said, ‘¢ Chicken-licken went to the wood,
and the sky fell upon her poor bald pate,
and we are going to tell the King.”
And Fox-lox said, ‘‘Come along with
me, and I will show you the way.” But







THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN. 49

Fox-lox took them into the fox’s hole,
and he and his young ones soon ate up
poor Chicken-licken, Hen-len, Cock-lock,
Duck-luck, Drake-lake, Goose-loose,
Gander-lander, and Turkey-lurkey, and
they never saw the King to tell him that
the sky had fallen.



7D







Lazy Jack’











A STORY WITHOUT A MORAL.

NCE upon a time there was a boy
whose name was Jack, and he

lived with his mother upon a dreary
common. ‘They were very poor, and the
old woman got her living by spinning ;
but Jack was so lazy that he would do
nothing but bask in the sun in the hot
weather, and sit by the corner of the
hearth in the winter-time. His mother
could not persuade him to do anything
for her, and was obliged at last to tell



54 LAZY JACK.

him that if he did not begin to work for
his porridge, she would turn him out to
get his living as he could.

This threat at length roused Jack, and
he went out and hired himself for the day
to a farmer for a penny; but as he was
coming home, never having had any
money before, he lost it in passing over
a brook. ‘You stupid boy,” said his
mother, ‘‘ you should have put it in your
pocket.” “Tl do so another time,”
replied Jack.

The next day Jack went out again,
and hired himself to a cowkeeper, who
gave him a jar of milk for his day’s work.
Jack took the jar and put it into the large
pocket of his jacket, spilling it all long
before he got home. ‘‘ Dear me!” said
the old woman, ‘‘ you should have carried
it on your head.” ‘Tl do so another
time,” replied Jack.

The following day Jack hired himself
again to a farmer, who agreed to give







56 LAZY JACK.



him a cream cheese for his services. In
the evening Jack took the cheese, and
went home with it on his head. By the
time he got home the cheese was com-
pletely spoilt, part of it being lost and
part melted in his hair. “You stupid
lout,” said his mother, ‘‘ you should have
carried it very carefully in your hands.”
“Tl do so another time,” replied Jack.
The day after this Jack again went







58 LAZY JACK.

out, and hired himself to a baker, who
would give him nothing for his work but
a large tom cat. Jack took the cat, and
began carrying it very carefully in his
hands, but in a short time Pussy scratched
him so much that he was compelled to let
it go. When he got home his mother
said to him, “You silly fellow, you
should have tied it with a string and
dragged it along after you.” <‘‘TIl do so
another time,” said Jack.

The next day Jack hired himself to a
butcher, who rewarded his labours with
a handsome present of a shoulder of
mutton. Jack took the mutton, tied it to
a string, and trailed it along after him in
the dirt, so that by the time he got home
the meat was completely spoilt. His
mother was this time quite out of patience
with him, for the next day was Sunday,
and she was obliged to content herself
with cabbage for her dinner. ‘You
ninnyhammer,” said she to her son, ‘“ you



LAZY JACK. 59



should have carried it on your shoulder.”
‘Pll do so another time,” replied Jack.
On the Monday Jack went once more,
and hired himself to a cattle-keeper,
who gave him a donkey for his trouble.
Although Jack was very strong, he found
some difficulty in hoisting the donkey on
his shoulders, but at last he managed it,
and began walking home with his prize.
Now, it happened that in the course of
his journey there lived a rich man with



60 LAZY JACK.

his only daughter, a beautiful girl, but
unfortunately deaf and dumb. She had
never laughed in her life, and the doctors
said she would never recover till some-
body made her laugh. Many tried with-
out success, and at last the father, in
despair, offered to marry her to the first
man who could make her laugh. This
young lady happened to be looking out
of the window when Jack was passing
with the donkey on his shoulders, the
legs sticking up in the air, and the sight
was so comical and strange, that she
burst out into a great fit of laughter, and
immediately recovered her speech and
hearing. Her father was overjoyed, and
fulfilled his promise by marrying her to
Jack, who was thus made a rich man for
life. They lived in a large house, and
Jack’s mother lived with them in great
happiness until she died.







’
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PRINTED BY
TURNBULL AND SPEARS
EDINBURGH







154694 -













Full Text

Say
r Si a

Mi Sait fe





THE
BANBURY CROSS
SERIES

PREPARED FOR CHILDREN BY Grace Ruys

FIRESIDE STORIES


FIRESIDE STORIES ~&y
ILLUSTRATED. _.-
BY
ALICE M.

MITCHELL. ~





LONDON 9 &
PUBLISHED BY = (2
J.M. DENT & CO :
AT ALDINE HOUSE IN
GREAT EASTERN STREET.
1895.

XP
To Hope and Grace.

When you all sit round the fire, and
Christmas time comes back,

You may read many a worse tale than
that of Lazy Jack!

And here are Chicken-Licken and other
old friends,

And Lazy Jack begins where Chicken-
Licken ends !

G. R.



Titty Mouse and
Tatty Mouse.

-— ww

ITTY Mouse and Tatty Mouse both
lived in a house,
Titty Mouse went a-gleaning, and Tatty
Mouse went a-gleaning,
So they both went a-gleaning.

Titty Mouse gleaned an ear of corn, and
Tatty Mouse gleaned an ear of corn,
So they both gleaned an ear of corn.
IO TITTY MOUSE AND TAT'T'Y MOUSE.










BO

bp
. A H ¢ a
3 i
H . S
3 4 i GEA, \ ‘
{ { \ St |
& 5 |)
\ d gf ‘
f \

VN | Ne
AM
Sh A ht
oo = «J

Titty Mouse made a pudding, and Tatty
Mouse made a pudding,
So they both made a pudding.

And Tatty Mouse put her pudding into
the pot to boil,

But when Titty went to put hers in the
pot, it tumbled over, and scalded her
to death.

Then Tatty sat down and wept. Then
a three-legged stool said, “Tatty, why
do you weep?” <*'Titty’s dead,” said
TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE. II

———————————
—

Se

ey

Tatty, ‘and so I weep.” ‘Then said
the stool, “Tl hop;” so the stool
hopped. Then a besom in the corner
of the room said, “Stool, why do you
hop?” <«*Oh!” said the stool, ‘ Titty’s
dead, and Tatty weeps, and so I hop.”
Then said the besom, “I'll sweep;”
so the besom began to sweep. Then
said the door, ‘‘Besom, why do you
sweep?” Qh!” said the besom,
««Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and
the stool hops, and so I sweep.” Then
said the door, “TIl jar;” so the door


I2 TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE.



jarred. Then said the window, ‘ Door,
why do you jar?” ‘ Oh!” said the
door, ‘‘ Titty’s dead and Tatty weeps,
and the stool hops, and the besom sweeps,
and so I jar.” Then said the window,
“‘ [ll creak;” so the window creaked.
Now there was an old form outside the
house, and when the window creaked,
the form said, ‘‘ Window, why do you
creak?” <‘ Oh!” said the window,
« stool hops, and the besom sweeps, the
door jars, and so I creak.” ‘Then said
TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE. 13



the old form, ‘‘I’ll run round the house;”
then the old form ran round the house.
Now, there was a fine large walnut-tree
growing. by the cottage, and the tree
said to the form, “Form, why do you
run round the house?” “Oh!” said
the form, ‘‘ Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps,
and the stool hops, and the besom sweeps,
the door jars, and the window creaks,
and so I run round the house.” Then
said the walnut-tree, “Tl shed my
leaves;” so the walnut-tree shed all
its beautiful green leaves. Now there
14 TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE.

was a little bird perched on one of the
boughs of the tree, and when all the
leaves fell, it said, ‘‘ Walnut-tree, why
do you shed your leaves?” <‘*Oh!”
said the tree, “ Titty’s dead, and Tatty
weeps, the stool hops, and the besom
sweeps, the door jars, and the window
creaks, the old form runs round the
house, and so I shed my leaves.” Then
said the little bird, “Tl moult all my
so he moulted all his pretty
feathers. Now there was a little girl
walking below, carrying a jug of milk
for her brothers’ and sisters’ supper, and
when she saw the poor little bird moult
all its feathers, she said, “Little bird,
why do you moult all your feathers?”
“Oh!” said the little bird, «“ Titty’s
dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool hops,
and the besom sweeps, the door jars,
and the window creaks, the old form
runs round the house, the walnut-tree
sheds its leaves, and so I moult all my

feathers ;’

16 TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE.



feathers.” Then said the little girl,
“‘Tll spill the milk;” so she dropped
the pitcher and spilt the milk. Now
there was an old man just by on the
top of a ladder thatching a rick, and
when he saw the little girl spill the
milk, he said, ‘‘ Little girl, what do you
mean by spilling the milk? Your little
brothers and sisters must go without
their supper.” Then said the little girl,
“Titty’s dead and Tatty weeps, the
stool hops, and the besom sweeps, the
door jars, and the window creaks, the

18 ‘TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE.



old farm runs round the house, the
walnut-tree sheds all its leaves, the little
bird moults all its feathers, and so I
spill the milk.” “Oh!” said the old
man, ‘‘ then I’ll tumble off the ladder and
break my neck;” so he tumbled off the
ladder and broke his neck. And when
the old man broke his neck, the great
walnut-tree fell down with a crash, and
upset the old form and house, and the
house falling knocked the window out,
TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE. I9

and the window knocked the door down,
and the door upset the besom, the besom
upset the stool, and poor little Tatty
Mouse was buried beneath the ruins.



The Story
of Mr. Vinegar.





M® and Mrs Vinegar lived in a

vinegar-bottle. Now one day,
when Mr Vinegar was from home, Mrs
Vinegar, who was a very good house-
wife, was busily sweeping her house,
when an unlucky thump of the broom
brought the whole house clitter-clatter,
clitter-clatter about her ears. In floods
of tears she rushed forth to meet her
husband. On seeing him she exclaimed,
“Oh, Mr Vinegar, Mr Vinegar, we are
ruined, we are ruined! I have knocked
24 THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR.

the house down, and it is all to pieces!”
Mr Vinegar then said, ‘“‘ My dear, let
us see what can be done. Here is the
door; I will take it on my back, and
we will go forth to seek our fortune.”
They walked all that day, and at
nightfall entered a thick forest. They
were both very tired, and Mr Vinegar
said, ‘‘ My love, I will climb up into
a tree, drag up the door, and you shall
follow.” This he did, and they both
stretched their weary limbs upon the
door, and fell fast asleep. In the middle
of the night Mr Vinegar was disturbed
by the sound of voices beneath, and to
his great dismay perceived that a party
of thieves were met to divide their booty.
«Here, Jack,” said one, ‘here’s five
pounds for you; here, Bill, here’s ten
pounds for you; here, Bob, here’s three
pounds for you.” Mr Vinegar could
listen no longer; his terror was so in-
tense that he trembled most violently,

26 THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR.



and shook down the door on their heads.
Away scampered the thieves, but Mr
Vinegar dared not quit his retreat till
broad daylight.

He then scrambled out of the tree,
and went to lift up the door. What
did he behold but a number of golden
guineas ! ‘Come down, Mrs Vinegar,”
he cried, ‘‘come down, I say; our
fortune’s made, our fortune’s made!
come down, I say.” Mrs Vinegar got
THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR. 27



down as fast as she could, and saw the
money with equal delight. ‘‘ Now, my
dear,” said she, ‘Vl tell you what you
shall do. There is a fair at the town

hard by; you shall take these forty
guineas and buy a cow. Ican make
butter and cheese, which you shall sell
at market, and we shall then be able
to live very comfortably.” Mr Vinegar
joyfully agrees, takes the money, and
goes off to the fair, When he arrived,
he walked up and down, and at length
saw a beautiful red cow. Oh! thought
Mr Vinegar, if I had but that cow I
28 THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR.

should be the happiest man alive. So
he offers the forty guineas for the cow,
and the owner declaring that, as he was
a friend, he’d oblige him, the bargain
was made. Proud of his purchase, he
drove the cow backwards and forwards
to show it. By-and-bye he saw a man
playing the bagpipes, —tweedledum,
tweedledee ; the children followed him
about, and he appeared to be pocket-
ing money on all sides. Well, thought
Mr Vinegar, if I had but that beautiful
instrument I should be the happiest man
alive—my fortune would be made.

So he went up to the man. “Friend,”
says he, “‘ what a beautiful instrument
that is, and what a deal of money you
must make.” ‘Why, yes,” said the
man, ‘‘I make a great deal of money,
to be sure, and it is a wonderful instru-
ment.” “Oh!” cried Mr Vinegar,
“how I should like to possess it!”
“Well,” said the man, “as you are a
THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR. 29



friend, I don’t much mind parting with
it; you shall have it for that red cow.”
“‘Done,” said the delighted Mr Vinegar ;
so the beautiful red cow was given for
the bagpipes. He walked up and down
with his purchase, but in vain he at-
tempted to play a tune, and instead of
30 THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR.



pocketing pence, the boys followed him
hooting, laughing, and pelting.

Poor Mr Vinegar, his fingers grew
very cold, and, heartily ashamed and
mortified, he was leaving the town,
when he met a man with a fine thick
pair of gloves. ‘‘Oh, my fingers are
so very cold,” said Mr Vinegar to him-
self; ‘if I had but those beautiful
gloves I should be the happiest man
alive.” He went up to the man, and
THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR. 31



said to him, ‘‘ Friend, you seem to have
a capital pair of gloves there.” <‘ Yes,
” cried the man; ‘and my hands
are as warm as possible this cold
November day.” ‘ Well,” said Mr
Vinegar, ‘‘I should like to have them.”
“What will you give?” said the man;
“fas you are a friend, I don’t much
mind letting you have them for those
bagpipes.” <‘ Done,” cried Mr Vinegar.
He put on the gloves, and felt perfectly
happy as he trudged homewards.

At last he grew very tired, when he
saw a man coming towards him with a

truly,
32 THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR.

good stout stick in his hand. <‘‘ Oh,”
said Mr Vinegar, ‘that I had but that
stick! I should then be the happiest
man alive.” He accosted the man—
‘Friend, what a rare good stick you
have got.” ‘ Yes,” said the man, ‘I
have used it for many a long mile, and
a good friend it has been; but if you
have a fancy for it, as you are a friend,
I don’t mind giving it to you for that
pair of gloves.” Mr Vinegar’s hands
were so warm, and his legs so tired,
that he gladly exchanged.

As he drew near to the wood where
he had left his wife, he heard a parrot
on a tree calling out his name—‘‘ Mr
Vinegar, you foolish man, you blockhead,
you simpleton! you went to the fair,
and laid out all your money in buying
a cow; not content with that, you
changed it for bagpipes, on which you
could not play, and which were not
worth one-tenth of the money. You
THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR. 33

Sinus “HN
aes eae

Vas ye : ‘

~,
wl \ Mee
| Se, na

— ob
—__ B
bm
.

he

fue ey



fool, you! You had no sooner got the

bagpipes than you changed them for

the gloves, which were not worth one-

quarter of the money; and when you

had got the gloves, you changed them for

a poor, miserable stick, and now for your
7c
34 THE STORY OF MR VINEGAR.

forty guineas, cow, bagpipes, and gloves,
you have nothing to show but that poor
miserable stick, which you might have
cut in any hedge.” On this the bird
laughed immoderately, and Mr Vinegar,
falling into a violent rage, threw the
stick at its head. The stick lodged
in the tree, and he returned to his
wife without money, cow, bagpipes,
gloves, or stick, and she instantly gave
him such a sound cudgelling that she
almost broke every bone in his skin.


The Story

of Chicken-Licken.





S Chicken-licken went one day to

the wood, an acorn fell upon her
poor bald pate, and she thought the sky
had fallen. So she said she would go
and tell the King the sky had fallen.
So Chicken-licken turned back, and met
Hen-len. ‘‘ Well, Hen-len, where are
you going?” And Hen-len said, ‘I’m
going to the wood for some meat.” And
Chicken-licken said, ‘‘ Oh! Hen-len, don’t
go, for I was going, and the sky fell
upon my poor bald pate, and I’m going to
40 ‘THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN.



tell the King.” So Hen-len turned back
with Chicken-licken, and met Cock-lock.
«Oh! Cock-lock, where are you going ?”
And Cock-lock said, ‘I’m going to the
wood for some meat.” Then Hen-len
said, ‘*Oh! Cock-lock, don’t go, for I
was going, and I met Chicken-licken, and
Chicken-licken had been at the wood, and
the sky had fallen on her poor bald pate,
and we are going to tell the King.”
THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN. 4I



So Cock-lock turned back, and met
Duck-luck. ‘Well, Duck-luck, where
are you going?” And Duck-luck said,
“P’m going to the wood for some meat.”
Then Cock-lock said, ‘Oh! Duck-luck,
don’t go, for I was going, and I met Hen-
len, and Hen-len met Chicken-licken, and
Chicken-licken had been at the wood, and
the sky had fallen on her poor bald pate,
and we are going to tell the King.”
42 ‘THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN.

ame 7: a
NY
es on

yes



So Duck-luck turned back, and. met
Drake-lake. ‘‘ Well, Drake-lake, where
are you going?” And Drake-lake said,
“Tm going to the wood for some meat.”
Then Duck-luck said, ‘Oh! Drake-lake,
don’t go, for I was going, and I met
Cock-lock, and Cock-lock met Hen-len,
and Hen-len met Chicken-licken, and
Chicken-licken had been at the wood,
THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN. 43



and the sky had fallen on her poor bald
pate, and we are going to tell the King.”
So Drake-lake turned back, and met
44. THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN.



Goose-loose. ‘‘ Well, Goose-loose, where
are you going?” And Goose-loose said,
«‘’m going to the wood for some meat.”
THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN. 45

Then Drake-lake said, “‘Oh! Goose-
loose, don’t go, for I was going, and I
met Duck-luck, and Duck-luck met Cock-
lock, and Cock-lock met Hen-len, and
Hen-len met Chicken-licken, and Chicken-
licken had been at the wood, and the sky
had fallen on her poor bald pate, and we
are going to tell the King.”

So Goose-loose turned back, and met
Gander-lander. ‘‘ Well, Gander-lander,
where are you going?” And Gander-
lander said, ‘I’m going to the wood for
some meat.” ‘Then Goose-loose said,
‘‘Oh! Gander-lander, don’t go, for I was
‘going, and I met Drake-lake, and Drake-
lake met Duck-luck, and Duck-luck met
Cock-lock, and Cock-lock met Hen-len,
and Hen-len met Chicken-licken, and
Chicken-licken had been at the wood, and
the sky had fallen on her poor bald pate,
and we are going to tell the King.”

So Gander-lander turned back, and
met Turkey-lurkey. ‘‘ Well, Turkey-
46 THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN.

: an Wa
See [i
ee RO ESN .

‘%
x”

MY
fs]

i

M87 sf



And

lurkey, where are you going :”
Turkey-lurkey said, “I’m going to the
THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN. 47

wood for some meat.” Then Gander-
lander said, ‘Oh! Turkey-lurkey, don’t
go, for I was going, and I met Goose-
loose, and Goose-loose met Drake-lake,
and Drake-lake met Duck-luck, and
Duck-luck met Cock-lock, and Cock-lock
met Hen-len, and Hen-len met Chicken-
licken, and Chicken-licken had been at
the wood, and the sky had fallen on her
poor bald pate, and we are going to tell
the King.”

So Turkey-lurkey turned back, and
walked with Gander-lander, Goose-loose,
Drake-lake, Duck-luck, Cock-lock, Hen-
len, and Chicken-licken. And as they
were going along, they met Fox-lox.
And Fox-lox said, ‘‘ Where are you
going, my pretty maids?” And they
said, ‘¢ Chicken-licken went to the wood,
and the sky fell upon her poor bald pate,
and we are going to tell the King.”
And Fox-lox said, ‘‘Come along with
me, and I will show you the way.” But

THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN. 49

Fox-lox took them into the fox’s hole,
and he and his young ones soon ate up
poor Chicken-licken, Hen-len, Cock-lock,
Duck-luck, Drake-lake, Goose-loose,
Gander-lander, and Turkey-lurkey, and
they never saw the King to tell him that
the sky had fallen.



7D

Lazy Jack’





A STORY WITHOUT A MORAL.

NCE upon a time there was a boy
whose name was Jack, and he

lived with his mother upon a dreary
common. ‘They were very poor, and the
old woman got her living by spinning ;
but Jack was so lazy that he would do
nothing but bask in the sun in the hot
weather, and sit by the corner of the
hearth in the winter-time. His mother
could not persuade him to do anything
for her, and was obliged at last to tell
54 LAZY JACK.

him that if he did not begin to work for
his porridge, she would turn him out to
get his living as he could.

This threat at length roused Jack, and
he went out and hired himself for the day
to a farmer for a penny; but as he was
coming home, never having had any
money before, he lost it in passing over
a brook. ‘You stupid boy,” said his
mother, ‘‘ you should have put it in your
pocket.” “Tl do so another time,”
replied Jack.

The next day Jack went out again,
and hired himself to a cowkeeper, who
gave him a jar of milk for his day’s work.
Jack took the jar and put it into the large
pocket of his jacket, spilling it all long
before he got home. ‘‘ Dear me!” said
the old woman, ‘‘ you should have carried
it on your head.” ‘Tl do so another
time,” replied Jack.

The following day Jack hired himself
again to a farmer, who agreed to give

56 LAZY JACK.



him a cream cheese for his services. In
the evening Jack took the cheese, and
went home with it on his head. By the
time he got home the cheese was com-
pletely spoilt, part of it being lost and
part melted in his hair. “You stupid
lout,” said his mother, ‘‘ you should have
carried it very carefully in your hands.”
“Tl do so another time,” replied Jack.
The day after this Jack again went

58 LAZY JACK.

out, and hired himself to a baker, who
would give him nothing for his work but
a large tom cat. Jack took the cat, and
began carrying it very carefully in his
hands, but in a short time Pussy scratched
him so much that he was compelled to let
it go. When he got home his mother
said to him, “You silly fellow, you
should have tied it with a string and
dragged it along after you.” <‘‘TIl do so
another time,” said Jack.

The next day Jack hired himself to a
butcher, who rewarded his labours with
a handsome present of a shoulder of
mutton. Jack took the mutton, tied it to
a string, and trailed it along after him in
the dirt, so that by the time he got home
the meat was completely spoilt. His
mother was this time quite out of patience
with him, for the next day was Sunday,
and she was obliged to content herself
with cabbage for her dinner. ‘You
ninnyhammer,” said she to her son, ‘“ you
LAZY JACK. 59



should have carried it on your shoulder.”
‘Pll do so another time,” replied Jack.
On the Monday Jack went once more,
and hired himself to a cattle-keeper,
who gave him a donkey for his trouble.
Although Jack was very strong, he found
some difficulty in hoisting the donkey on
his shoulders, but at last he managed it,
and began walking home with his prize.
Now, it happened that in the course of
his journey there lived a rich man with
60 LAZY JACK.

his only daughter, a beautiful girl, but
unfortunately deaf and dumb. She had
never laughed in her life, and the doctors
said she would never recover till some-
body made her laugh. Many tried with-
out success, and at last the father, in
despair, offered to marry her to the first
man who could make her laugh. This
young lady happened to be looking out
of the window when Jack was passing
with the donkey on his shoulders, the
legs sticking up in the air, and the sight
was so comical and strange, that she
burst out into a great fit of laughter, and
immediately recovered her speech and
hearing. Her father was overjoyed, and
fulfilled his promise by marrying her to
Jack, who was thus made a rich man for
life. They lived in a large house, and
Jack’s mother lived with them in great
happiness until she died.




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