Six Little Pigs

 

Six Little Pigs by Harvey Peake.

SIX little Piggies, very much alive,
Oldest one was musical, that left only five.

Five little Piggies, eating more and more,

One of them became a hog, that left only four.

 

Four little Piggies, round as they could be,

One rolled off the picture, that left only three.

 

Three little Piggies, hunting something new,

One found it in a bee hive, that left only two.

 

Two little Piggies tried to race to run,

One Piggie beat the other, leaving only one.

 

One little Piggie, very much bereft,

Grieved so much he pined away, not a one was left.

The Armadillo

 

The Armadillo
by George Cassard

A Mighty lucky animal
I think the Armadillo
For, when it's time to go to bed,
He rolls up in a ball instead
And winds himself around his head,
Which serves him as a pillow.

And when the morning comes again,
They never call and shake him.
He never gapes, and grunts, and groans,
And hears them say in startling tones:
''Get up, you awful lazy bones!"
The never try to wake him.

The Entellus Monkey

        The  Entellus  Monkey  is a  native  of  India.  It  is  not  small, by  any  means,  measuring  nearly thirty-six  inches  in  length,  not counting  the  tail.  They  belong to  the  family  of  Indian  monkeys that  is  sacred.  This  fact  makes them  very  bold  and  impudent. They  enter  villages,  sit  in  the porches  and  sills  (preferably those  of  the  pastry-cook  and corn  -  sellers),  and  from  there steal  when  the  master's  back  is turned,  while  the  poor  pastry-cook is  not  allowed  to  revenge  himself,  but  simply  sighs  and  keeps  a  better watch.
       The  origin  of  this  monkey-reverence  is  said  to  lie  in  the  fact  that  its  skeleton bears  some  resemblance  to  man,  and  long ago the  natives  believed  that  the  souls  of the  departed  came  back,  and  were  reincarnated  in  the  monkeys.  To  molest one  would  rouse  the  whole  village  to  fury,  and  there  were  many  instances  on record  where  hunters  came  to  grief  by  doing  so.
       Though  these  monkeys  live  a  secluded  life  under  human  protection, there  is  always  one deadly  enemy  on  the  watch,  the  snake,  which  crawls stealthily  after  them  among  the  branches. The  monkey,  grown  careless through  life  with  man,  falls  an  easy  victim  to  the  snake's  fangs. When  a snake  is  discovered,  the  whole  neighborhood  boils  with  excitement,  and  the yelling band pelts  and  harasses  the  invader,  always keeping  well  out  of  its  way,  however. Occasionally the tables  are  turned,  for  if  a  monkey finds  a  snake  asleep  in  a  high  tree,  it  creeps down to assure itself  that  it  is  no  trick. Then it  will  do  one  of  two  things,  either  push  the  snake  off suddenly from  its  perch, hoping  that  the  fall  will  injure  it,  or,  boldly  seizing  it  behind  the head,  scamper with  it  to  the  ground.    There  it  will  dash  its  head  against  a wall  or  among stones,  pausing every  once  in  awhile  to  see  how  the  work  is  progressing. Once  the  fangs  are  crushed,  so  as  to be  harmless,  the  poor  reptile  is  thrown among  the  young  monkeys,  who torment  it  still  further, until  it  is  dead. When  the  entellus  monkey  is  not  living  near  a  village, it  carries  on  its raids  in much  the  same  manner  among  the  jungle-folk.  Should  a  tiger  appear, the  monkey  climbs  to  the highest  branches,  and  from  there  insults  the royal  beast  below.
       The  long  tail  of  the  species  does  not  seem  to  be  of  much  benefit  to  the owner,  unless,  perhaps,  for  balancing  purposes ;  but  as  a  fifth  arm  it  is  never used.  The  general  color  of  this  monkey  is  a  dark  grayish-brown,  although when  young  it  is  several  shades  lighter.  The  hands  and  feet  are  black,  and there  is  also  some  black  around  the  head. 

One the entellus monkey is safe up a tree, it will torment all of it's enemies below.

 

 

 

 

"The Monkey at the Zoo'' sheet music

The Strange Looking Gnu

A bucking gnu.

       Here  is  an  animal  called  the  Gnu,  which  seems  to  be  made  up  of  odds and  ends: the  legs  of  an  antelope,  the  body  of  a  horse,  the  tail  of  a  mule,  and the  head  of  a  bull.  The  early  Dutch  settlers  in  South  Africa  called  the  animal "wildebeest,"  and  they  had  good  reason  for  it.  This  strange  animal's  way  of living  is  almost  as  odd  as  its  appearance.  Like  most  antelopes,  it  is  very curious,  and  all  a  hunter  has  to  do  when  he  wants  to  get  a  shot  at  one  is  to lie  down  in  the  grass  and  wave  a  red  handkerchief.  The  startled  creatures  at once  gallop  off  as  if  they  never  meant  to  stop,  then  suddenly  they  all  pull  up and  look  at  each  other  as  if  trying  to  find  out  who  said  "  run  "  first.  Before they  can  make  up  their  minds,  some  of  the  males  will  begin  fighting,  and  the band  will  look  on  as  though  there  was  not  a  waving  red  handkerchief  within miles.  Then  the  whole  band  will  begin  whisking  their  tails  and  kicking  up their  heels  like  colts  and  dash  off  again.  Now  this  is  where  the  curiosity comes  in.  Apparently  they  have  forgotten  all  about  the  red  handkerchief,  but they  have  not.  The  band  will  come  back  to  where  they  started  from  and  gallop furiously  round  and  round  the  concealed  hunter,  always  narrowing  the  circle until  they  come within  easy  gunshot.  Sometimes  they  come  too  close  and one  old  fellow  will  charge  furiously.  The  hunter  has  to  look  out  for  himself then,  for  the  temper  and  strength  of  the  gnu  are  not  to  be  tampered   with. The  gnu  is  often  found  in  the  company  of  other  animals.  In  fact,  it  is  a  common sight  to  see  them  rushing  over  the  field  in  the  midst  of  zebras,  antelopes, and  ostriches.     They  appear  to  live  peaceably  together.

The gnu heard stare down a pack of hungry wolves.

The Magnificent Buffalo

       The  Buffalo  of  Asia,  Africa,  and  India  is  a  magnificent  animal.  The horns  of  the  Indian  variety  frequently  measure  as  much  as  twelve  feet  from tip  to  tip.  The  strength  of  the  animal  is  enormous,  and  its  thick-set  limbs are  capable  of  great  endurance.  Its  speed  for  its  size  and  build  is  almost incredible.  The  buffaloes  love  water,  and  can  always  be  found  near  swampy ground,  where  they  roll  themselves  in  the  mud  until  their  skin  is  thoroughly caked.  This  serves  to  keep off  flies  and  mosquitoes.  The  temper  of  the  buffalo is  uncertain,  as  may  be  gathered  from  looking  into  its  face,  which  always shows  the  same  scowling  ferocity.  The  hunting  of  this  animal  is  very  difficult, as  its  skin,  which  looks  at  a  distance  like  rubber,  is  so  tough  that  it  will almost  turn  a  bullet  away.  To  kill  a  buffalo  with  a  single  shot  is  nearly impossible.  Should  the  brute  be  only  wounded,  it  will  charge  at  once.  When fairly  roused  its  fury  is  frightful  to  behold.  It  tears up  the  ground  with  its horns  and  wreaks  its  vengeance  upon  the  nearest  thing  at  hand.  Whether the  buffalo  is  dealing  with  man  or  beast,  it  never  leaves  its  victim  until  it  has trampled  every  trace  of  life  out  of  it.  The  great  hunter,  Sir  Samuel  Baker, mentions  having  seen  a  buffalo  beat  off  a  pair  of  lions  which  had  attacked  it. On  another  occasion  he  saw  a  buffalo  pulled  down  by  four  lions,  but  only  after a  battle  which  lasted  a  couple  of  hours. 

       In  the  spring  the  old  bulls  have  great  battles  among  themselves  for  the possession  of  the  females.    They  become  so  absorbed  in  the  fight  that  one  can come  easily  near  them;  but  should they  happen  to  catch  sight  of  the  intruder, they  are  liable  to  both  drop  their  quarrel  and  charge  together.  Unless  a  tree is  handy,  and  a  thick  one  at  that,  the  result  is  unpleasant.  When  a  bull  has defeated  its  rival  and  driven  it  off  the  field  of  glory,  the  old  rascal  sets  out  to look  for  another  one  to  fight.  On  one  occasion  a  victorious  buffalo  was  seen to  drive  its  long  horns  into  the  flanks  of  its  foe  and  kill  it.

The Restless Rhesus Monkey

        The  Rhesus  Monkey, the  monkey  made  famous  by  Kipling  in  his Jungle  Stories, is  the  true  Bander  of  the  Hindoos.  They  have  a  restless, quarrelsome  disposition,  and  appear  to  lead aimless  lives.  As  they  are  another branch  of  the  sacred  monkeys  of  India,  they  feel  at  liberty  to  plunder the  stores  and  gardens  of  their  protectors  without  showing  the  slightest  fear. It  has  been  agreed  on  all  sides  that  for  cunning  and  insolence  they  have  no equal.

A family of Rhesus monkeys by the water.

       Once, long ago, a  district  magistrate  in  Bengal  had  a  number  of  fine  peach-trees,  the  fruit of  which  he  was  very  proud,  and  therefore  anxious  to  save.     Now  the  local Rhesus  monkeys  had  also  taken  a  fancy  to  these  same  peaches,  and  forthwith  a war  began  between  the  man  and  the  beasts.  First  of  all,  a  Hindoo  was  put on  guard,  but  the  monkeys  cared  little  or  nothing  for  him,  well  knowing  that his  caste  and  religion  forbade  him  injuring  them.  Now  the  white  man  in  India did  not  care  an  atom  for  the  monkey in those days,  for  he  had  no  scruples  about  their sanctity,  and  if  they  did steal  from  him,  he  punished  them  as  much  as  he  dared without  offending  the  natives.  So  one day a  white  man  mounted  guard  over  the  peach trees.  The  monkeys  came  into  the  orchard  boldly  enough,  but  this  man chased  them  off,  using  his  stick  freely. The  marauders,  astonished  beyond measure,  retired  to  the  top  of  the  high  trees  to  consult.  For  a  long  time  they coughed,  chattered,  pulled  tails,  and  shook  the  branches  with  excitement  and rage  until  they  agreed  upon  a  plan.  They  divided  into  bands.  First  one would  pretend  to  enter  the  orchard,  and  when  the  guard  flew  at  them  another band  would  swarm  over  the  bamboo  fence  and  scramble  up  the  trees,  shaking the  branches  and  causing  a  shower  of  ripe,  golden  peaches.  Meanwhile  others would  scamper  round  on  the  ground,  grabbing  up  what  they  could,  and  then once  more  retire,  chattering  with  delight,  to  the  safety  of  the  high  trees.  The sun  being  hot  and  the  man  out  of  breath,  he  naturally  lost  his  temper  and went  for  a  gun.  This  did  not  trouble  the  monkeys,  for  they  had  seen  weapons pointed  at  them  before,  but  never  fired.  The  man  rushed  to  the  fence  upon which  a  number  of  monkeys  were  still  perched,  and,  picking  out  one  offender, he  fired.  The  poor  creature  set  up  a  howl  of  pain  as  it  fell,  and  then,  to  the amazement  of  the  man,  held  out  to  him  its  bloody,  shattered,  little  hand.  In a  moment  or  two  it  toppled  over  dead,  and,  regardless  of  the  danger,  the other  monkeys  scrambled  over  the  fence  and  bore  the  body  away.  The  result was  that  the  monkeys  retired  from  that  spot,  and  the  magistrate  gathered  his peaches  in  peace;  but  the  man  never  after  raised  a  gun  to  a  monkey, feeling quite guilty of his crime.

A Winter Artist

A Winter Artist
by Clara R. Bete

Winter time has come again.
Jack Frost, on the windowpane,
With the greatest care will trace
Patterns finer than old lace;
Fairies, flowers, and ferns he'll etch,
Or perhaps will make a sketch
Of a castle with a wall,
Or a maiden straight and tall.

O Jack Frost, it seems to me
Kind and skillful you must be-
You draw things that give delight,
And do it all in just one night!

Kites On High!

 Kites On High!
by Robert Louis Stevenson

I saw you toss the kites on high
And blow the birds about the sky;
And all around I heard you pass,
Like ladies' skirts across the grass.
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!

I saw the different things you did,
But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call,
I could not see yourself at all.
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!

O you, that are so strong and cold,
O blower, are you young or old?
Are you a beast of field and tree,
Or just a stronger child then me?
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!

Animal Alphabet, U through Z

The UNICORN
Had but one horn
To jab his foeman with;
It would not do
To search the zoo
For him, for he's a myth.

The toughest bird

Of which I've heard

Without doubt is the VULTURE.

He steals and slays,

And all his ways

Proclaim he has no culture.

The WILDCAT'S name

Shows he's not tame;

He's anything but mild.

His friends are few;

He knows it, too,

And that's what makes him wild.

Let's not discuss

The XIPHIAS,

I'm sure you would be bored.

the only thing

Interesting

About him is his sword.

It's well to stay

Quite far away

From YELLOW-JACKET'S nest.

For he can sting

Like anything;

That's what he does the best.

The old ZEBU

Would hardly do

To ride upon the street.

Though he knows how

To pull a plow,

He's anything but fleet.

Ross F. Taylor

1rst and 2nd and 3rd and 4th pages

Animal Alphabet, N through T

 Some call the NEWT 
A savage brute,
And say we should avoid him.
But I've not seen
Him very mean,
Unless some one annoyed him.

 

The OYSTER'S brain
Weighs but a grain;
He's ignorant, and yet
He's very kind,
And you will find
He makes a lovely pet.

I would suggest

You don't molest

The prickly PORCUPINE.

His quills might be

Quite nice to see -

They do not feel so fine.

The mountain QUAIL

Likes snow and hail

And chilly weather most.

He's very good

Out in the wood;

He's better upon toast.

RHINOCEROS

Looks cross to us,

And rather loose and lumpy;

But I suppose

A horny nose

Would make us grim and grumpy.

The SNAIL, you know,

Is very slow;

He doesn't dare to roam

Without his shack

Upon his back,

So he'll always be at home.

The TIGER knows

A lot of foes;

'Most all the creatures fear him.

I you should meet

Him in the street,

You'd best not linger near him.

1rst and 2nd and 3rd and 4th pages

Animal Alphabet, G through M

 The billy GOAT
Can't sing a note;
He has no education.
But it is said
He'll use his head
And cause great consternation.

 

The HIPPOPOT-

AMUS is not

The handsomest of creatures.

But then it would 

Be very rude

To criticize his features.

It's foolish, quite

To quake with fright

At the harmless, tame ICHNEUMON.

I must admit

I'm scared of it;

But then, I'm only human.

The JELLYFISH

Has no ambish;

He drifts around the sea;

He's satisfied 

To ride the tide;

He's wretched company.

The KANGAROO

Feels very blue

Because his legs don't mate.

Unless he trims

His long hind limbs,

He can't improve his gait.

Nobody thinks

Much of the LYNX;

In fact, he much berated.

He's very sly,

and that is why

He's not domesticated.

The MASTODON

Is dead and gone;

Quite naturally, I think

He made his home

Way up 'round Nome;

No wonder he's extinct.

1rst and 2nd and 3rd and 4th pages

Animal Alphabet, A through F

 A New Animal Alphabet by John Martin
 

The ALBATROSS Can fly across
The sea in ninety days.
It is agreed
That such a great speed
Entitles him to praise.

 

The BEAVER'S bite

Must be a fright

If properly inflicted.

If he bites me

I hope to see

Him speedily convicted.

 

The sand-hill CRANE

Is very vain

Of his ability

To stand a week 

Out in the creek

On one extremity.

The first of four sheets for the illustrated Animal Alphabet.

A fearful beast, 
To say the least,
Was the ancient DINOSAURUS.
He was so great,
We're fortunate
He died long years before us. 

The slippery EEL

Would doubtless feel

Sincere humiliation,

Should you mistake

Him for a snake;

They're really no relation.

It seems to me

The little FLEA

Is very justly hated.

I know that I'd

Be satisfied

Had he not been created.

1rst and 2nd and 3rd and 4th pages