Saturday, February 24, 2018

The Cow

THE COW

The friendly cow all red and white,
I love with all my heart:
She gives me cream with all her might,
To eat with apple-tart.

She wanders lowing here and there.
And yet she cannot stray,
All in the pleasant open air,
The pleasant light of day;

And blown by all the winds that pass
And wet with all the showers,
She walk among the meadow grass
And eats the meadow flowers.

Jingle by G. G. Wiederseim

Jingle.
by G. G. Wiederseim.

Papa's a-riding away to town
To buy my mama a beautiful
gown
With laces and ruffles and rib-
bons of red,
And a dear little bonnet to put 
on her head.

Singing

SINGING

Of speckled eggs the birdie sings
And nests among the trees;
The sailor sings of ropes and things
In ships upon the seas.

The children in far Japan,
The children sing in Spain;
The organ with the organ man
Is singing in the rain.

The Cradle That Walked On Two Feet

THE CRADLE THAT 
WALKED ON TWO FEET

The Japanese sister jumps rope all the
day,
And skips 'round the yard in her Japa-
nese play.
While tied on her back is her brother,
dear me!
His head is as wobbly as wobbly can be!

Little Miss Crewe...


Little Miss Crewe
Has lost her shoe,
And can't tell where to find it.
Move out the chest,
And cease the quest,
For doggy 
and she
are 
behind it.

Down the path...


"Down the path and up the lane,
And through the neighbor's gate,
Oh people going out to dine
Should never start too late..."

The pudding-bag string...

Sing, sing! what shall we sing?
The cat's run away with the pudding-bag string...

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

"Cock-a-doodle-doo!
My Dame has lost her shoe,
Master broke his fiddling-stick
And don't know what to do."

Days of the week...


Days of the week...

Sunday, sixpence in the plate;
Monday, makes the scholars late;
Tuesday, work is well begun;
Wednesday, leaves the lazy one;
Thursday, full as full can be;
Friday, friends come in for tea;
Saturday, the kitchen clean;-
Sunday comes for rest between!

The Popular Poplar Tree.


The Popular Poplar Tree.
by Blanche Willis Howard. 

When the great wind sets things whirling 
And rattles the window-panes,
And blows the dust in giants
And dragons tossing their manes;
When the willows have waves like water,
And the children are shouting with glee;
When the pines are alive and the larches,
Then hurrah for you and me,
In the tip o' the top o' the top o' the tip of
the popular poplar tree!

Don't talk about Jack and the Beanstalk
He did not climb half so high!
And Alice in all her travels
Was never so near the sky!
Only the swallow, a-skimming
The storm-cloud over the lea,
Knows how it feels to be flying-
When the gust come strong and free-
In the tip o' the top o' the top o' the tip of
the popular poplar tree!

Shoe Play

Shoe Play.

Five frisky ponies waiting at the gate.
Shoe them, saddle them, and ride off in state.
One pony for my little man;
Two ponies make a span;
Three ponies in a row;
Four ponies ready to go;
Five ponies, glossy and bright
Up street.-down street,
And home again at night.

Finish your meal...


Finish your meal, then softly steal,
To see my fine lady try her new wheel.
She bumps on both elbows,
A scratch on her nose;
But she doesn't care
If her wheel only goes.

A little boy named Johnny...


A little boy 
named Johnny
Had a donkey
he called Ned,

Who when e'er he
tried to ride him
Always threw
him o'er his 
head.

The Giraffe Friend


The Giraffe Friend.

They were happy and did laugh
When their friend, the big G'raffe,
Said, "I'll take you to the City,
in a tandem."

But their joy was turned to grief
When their charger bit a leaf,
Never thinking how his sudden stop
would land 'em.

Bow-wow, little dog...

Bow-wow, little dog, have you any name?
Yes sir, two, but they don't mean the same,
One from my master, he calls me "Champ,"
An one from the neighbors, the call me "Scamp."

by Dorothy G. Rice.

Bargains for Scholars

Bargains for Scholars.

A funny little man kept an alphabet
shop,
And out from his counter, hippity hop,
He danced until he was ready to drop,
Singing and shouting with never a stop;
"Come in, little scholars,
With bright silver dollars,
Or if you've not any
Then come with a penny.
I have a bumble Bs
And morrowfat Ps,
Some Chinese Qs
And Japanese Ts,
A flock of Js
And lots of Es,
And perfectly beautiful dark-blue Cs.
This is the place to buy your
knowledge
At cheaper rates than are given at
college!"
Then he'd draw a long breath and spin
like a top,
This queer little man in an alphabet 
shop.

An Imaginary Case

An Imaginary Case.

If one little boy-being
Healthy and strong-
Can keep a house merry
All the day long,

Just think, if you can,
What a tempest of joys
There'd be in a house
Holding nine little boys.

A Cup Of Tea

A Cup of Tea

Phoebe brings the tea-pot, the tea is all a-steam;
Dolly brings the pitcher filled with golden cream.
Rhoda has the dainty cups rimmed about with blue,
And Polly brings the pretty spoons shining bright as new.
The Baby trips along behind, looking very droll;
and she, the sweetest of them all, brings the sugar-bowl.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Japanese Silhouette Version of Old Mother Hubbard

       Here is a unique set of silhouettes or paper cuts of a Mother Goose Rhyme, "Old Mother Hubbard" done up in a Japanese motif. The silhouettes are mounted on top of an ancient Japanese kimono design.

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

May's Valentine

MAY'S VALENTINE

"It's up we'll get!"
Cried Nurse Jeannette,
"To feel the sun a- warming.
St. Valentine
Will feast and dine,
And bring you something charming.'
Then dressed they fast
In ruffles vast
This best of little creatures
But at the pane
She watched in vain,
And ah, the sorry features!

His laughter done,
The sober sun
Behind a cloud went straying.
A heavy snow
Began to blow;
The boys ran in from playing.
"Twill be here yet,"
Said Nurse Jeannette,
"Perhaps at noon, my deary,"
The postman passed,
In snow and blast,
And May's blue eyes were teary.
"It's dark and wet,"
Said Nurse Jeannette,
" St. Valentine is groping;
So May, my dear,
Wipe off that tear,
And don't you give up hoping!"

When twilight came,
The little dame
Still peeped from out the curtain.
The sleet came pelt!
She was, she felt,
Forgotten now, for certain.
But candleshine
Brought Valentine -
A valentine so rosy!
Nor dreamed the miss
T would look like this,
Surpassing song or posy.
She jumped for joy:
A baby boy
Lay blinking up to greet her.
A brother! May,
You darling, say
What valentine were sweeter ?

Agnes Lee.

To My Daugher

TO MY DAUGHTER

Her kiss is warm upon my cheek,
She is not coy nor shy;
Her arms were clinging round my neck
When she bade me good-bye.

She whispers soft her love for me,
And I tell her of mine;
Sweetheart, no other maid could be
So dear a Valentine.

She loves me more than all the world;
Yet sadly I foresee,
As time rolls on, some other swain
May be preferred to me.

Were she sixteen, instead of three,
This little Daughter mine,
Another's vows might prove more dear
Than Papa's Valentine.

Walter Learned.

Mamma's Valentine

MAMMA'S VALENTINE

Baby came toddling up to my knee,
His chubby features all aglow,
" Dess I 'se doin' to be 'oor beau,
See what oo' dot from me!"
A valentine from my baby boy!
A crumpled sheet and a homely scrawl,
In a baby hand - that was all -
Yet it filled my heart with joy.

Broken my heart and white my hair,
And my mother's eyes are used to weep;
My little boy is fast asleep
In the churchyard over there.
What shall be mamma's valentine? -
The spirit touch of the baby hand,
A baby voice from the spirit land
Singing a song divine.

Eugene Field.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

An Elizabethan Valentine

An Elizabethan Valentine
In an old Album dated 1583

When Slumber first undoudes my brain,
And thoughte is free
And Sense refreshed renews her reigne,
I thinke of Thee.

When next in prayer to God above
I bende my knee,
Then when I pray for those I love,
I pray for Thee.

And when the duties of the day
Demande of mee
To rise and journey on life's way,
I work for Thee.

Or if perchance I sing some lay,
Whate'eritbee;
All that the idle verses say,
They say of Thee.

For if an eye whose liquid lighte
Gleams like the sea,
They sing, or tresses browne and brighte, 
They sing of Thee.

And if a wearie mood, or sad,
Possesses mee,
One thought can all times make mee glad, 
The thoughte of Thee.

And when once more upon my bed,
Full wearily,
In sweet repose I lay my head,
I dream of Thee.

In short, one only wish I have
To live for Thee;
Or gladly if one pang 't would save
I 'd die for Thee.

Monday, February 12, 2018

Egg Hunt Silhouettes and Vintage Coloring

A little girl and the Easter bunny hide eggs in straw nests.
A little girl dumps dyed eggs from a large pot at the feet of the Easter bunny.
The Easter bunny paints eggs while a little girl collects them in her basket.

We're all dressed up and on our way,
To church, first thing on Easter day
Color a vintage picture of children going to church.


Sunday, February 11, 2018

The Two Brothers: A Story of Forgiveness

       Jacob and Esau were the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah. The two boys were very, different in looks and in character, and, as sometimes happens in families today, one was the favorite of his father, and the other the favorite of his mother. Esau, the elder, was a rough, hairy fellow who grew up to be a famous hunter, while Jacob was content to stay at home and take care of his father's flocks. Esau would go into the fields and kill deer, and then bring back to his father the delicious venison. But the homeloving Jacob was the favorite of his mother. In those days the eldest son was the most important of all the children. He received the greater share of the cattle and other property when the father died, and was favored above all the other sons. This special favor was called the birthright. As Esau was older than Jacob, he was entitled to the birthright, but he did not appreciate it as he should have done. One day, after he had been out hunting, he came home faint and hungry. Jacob had just cooked a savory vegetable food called pottage, and when his brother saw it he said, "Give me, I pray, the pottage to eat, for I am very faint." But Jacob said, "Sell me this day thy birthright." Now Esau thought only of satisfying his hunger, and he said to himself, "If I do not get food to eat at once I will die, and what good will my birthright be to me then?" Thus he weakly yielded to the temptation and sold his precious birthright.
Jacob receiving the blessing.
       As the years passed by Isaac became feeble and his sight grew very dim. One day he said to Esau, "Take thy bow and kill a deer, that I may taste again the venison that I love. Then I will give thee my farewell blessing." This special blessing was bestowed in those days, on the eldest son, and was one of the privileges of the birthright. Esau gladly departed to do his father's bidding. Rebekah, however, had overheard Isaac's words, and she was displeased that Esau should be placed above her favorite, Jacob. Therefore, as soon as Esau was out of sight, she told Jacob to bring to her two small goats from the herd. When he had done so she cooked the meat and made it taste like the venison of which Isaac was so fond. Then she had Jacob dress himself in Esau's clothes, and she put the skins of the goats on his hands and his neck, that he might seem to be a hairy man like his brother. When Jacob told her he feared that a curse would come upon him for deceiving his father, Rebekah replied, "Upon me be the curse, my son: only obey my voice." Then Jacob presented himself to Isaac, and the aged man felt of the hairy hands and believed that his eldest son was before him, though his voice was the voice of Jacob. When he had eaten of the meat which Rebekah had prepared, Isaac drew his son close to him, smelled of his garments, which had the smell of woods and fields, and gave him the prized blessing.
       On Esau's return from the hunt he prepared a savory piece of venison for his father, and offered it to him, begging for his blessing, as had been promised. Trembling and dismayed, the old man cried out, "Who art thou?" And when Esau told him that he was his first born son, Isaac knew that Jacob had stolen his brother's blessing. Exceedingly bitter was Esau's sorrow when he found out that he had been cheated, and in his anguish he cried, "Bless me, even me also, my father." Isaac was indeed glad to bless him, but he had promised the best things to Jacob, and he dared not revoke his solemn words. Esau could not control his feelings of disappointment and anger, and it was soon reported to Rebekah that he had threatened to kill his brother. Therefore the mother advised Jacob to go away to the home of her brother Laban, in another country. And in due time Jacob departed. So we see that his selfishness and greed sent him into exile and separated him from all that he loved.
       It was many years before the brothers met again. At the home of Laban Jacob received a kindly welcome, and he fell deeply in love with Rachel, the younger of his uncle's two daughters. Laban promised him that if he would serve him for seven years he could have Rachel for his wife, and so great was Jacob's love for her that the seven years of service seemed short, indeed. But when the time was up Laban consented to the marriage only when Jacob promised to serve him another seven years. As time passed by Jacob prospered greatly, and many sons were born to him. Then, at the end of twenty years, he decided to return to his own country. So he gathered together his flocks and herds, and departed with his family and servants.
       In all these years Jacob and Esau had never been reconciled, and as Jacob approached the place where his brother was living he sent men ahead with a friendly message, for he still feared his anger. The messengers told Esau of Jacob's prosperity during his sojourn with Laban, and of his hope that the past might be forgotten, but they returned with bad news. Instead of a message of friendship they came with a report that Esau was planning to meet his brother with four hundred men. That night Jacob prayed earnestly to God to save him from his brother's wrath, and the next day he sent his servants ahead of him with presents of goats and camels. When Jacob saw Esau approaching with the four hundred men he ran to meet him alone, and bowed down on the ground before him. All of Esau's anger melted away at sight of his brother, and he embraced him tenderly. Then they wept for joy that all was made right between them, and Jacob had his children come forward and greet their uncle. Esau asked about the droves and herds which had been sent ahead, and when Jacob told him they were gifts for him, he replied, "I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself." But Jacob insisted that he keep them, for he wanted his brother to know that the old spirit of greed had left his heart. The same day Esau departed to his own home, but Jacob journeyed on and came finally to Hebron, in Canaan, where his old father, still alive, was sojourning. The land of Canaan became his home once more, and there he reared twelve sons who became founders of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.