The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mother Truth's Melodies, by Mrs. E. P. Miller This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: Mother Truth's Melodies Common Sense For Children Author: Mrs. E. P. Miller Release Date: February 25, 2010 [EBook #31388] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTHER TRUTH'S MELODIES *** Produced by Don Kostuch Transcriber's notes: Page numbers in this book are indicated by numbers enclosed in curly braces, e.g. {99}. They are located where page breaks occurred in the original book. End Transcriber's note MOTHER TRUTH'S MELODIES. COMMON SENSE FOR CHILDREN. A KINDERGARTEN, BY MRS. E. P. MILLER, AUTHOR OF "A FATHER'S ADVICE; A BOOK FOR EVERY BOY." AND "A MOTHER'S ADVICE; A BOOK FOR EVERY GIRL." 450 ILLUSTRATIONS. NEW AND ENLARGED EDITION. CHICAGO: CRAM STANDARD BOOK CO., BOSTON, MASS., J. Q. ADAMS & Co 1896. COPYRIGHTED 1887, BY STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANY. COPYRIGHTED BY STANDARD COLUMBIAN COMPANY, 1891, 1892. COPYRIGHTED BY CRAM STANDARD BOOK COMPANY 1894 COPYRIGHTED BY GEORGE F. CRAM, 1895 {5} To all who love the Children, This book, INSCRIBED, I bring,-- Thus reaching forth to draw you Within my charmed ring, Where seeds and germs we'll nurture In babies, children, youth, Till every plant shall blossom, And bear the fruits of TRUTH. {6} INTRODUCTION. Since little ones are geese no more, But knowing have become, It ill beseems that "Mother Goose" Should dwell in every home. So "Mother Truth" in "Melodies" For Babes, here lifts her voice, Assured that parents, children, all, Will welcome and rejoice. {7} NOTE. Let no one suppose that the Author of these "Melodies" considers them poetry. They are simply rhymes, the jingle of which may be music in the children's ears, and the illustrations a delight to eager eyes. The Truths presented, even if not fully understood at first, will leave their impress, and in so far as they fill the little minds, will keep out falsehood and false ideas. The putting of facts in such form as to attract the attention of the little ones, and be readily fixed in their memory, was first suggested to the writer of these rhymes by a valued friend, the well known philanthropist, MRS. ELIZABETH THOMPSON, and her interest in the "Melodies" is such that she has generously assisted in procuring illustrations for the same. Thus "Mother Truth's Melodies" are introduced with the hope that this effort to entertain children with rhyming reason will meet with the approval of every lover of the young, and of Truth. {8} Poetry is the language of the imagination, while "facts are stubborn things," and, in the mass, refuse utterly to be poetized. Yet, even facts may be presented pleasingly and melodiously, and in such way that they will be easily impressed upon the minds of children. This the author of "Mother Truth's Melodies" sought to do, when the little book was first given to the public. Now, however, in the revising and enlarging of the book, she has given wider play to the imagination, has enlarged the range of subjects, has embodied lessons for children of older growth, and feels that altogether, it will meet more fully the demands which its already large sales warrant her in believing to exist. She can ask no more favorable reception than was first met; but, hoping for a continuance of the same, she trusts that as it becomes more widely distributed, its truths and teachings will be impressed upon household after household, till throughout the land, the little ones, and larger, too, shall be influenced thereby. MRS. E. P. M. {9} CONTENTS WHY FLY AWAY, MOTHER GOOSE, 13 TOSS THE BABY, 14 PAT-A-CAKE, PAT-A-CAKE, 15 HEY, MY KITTEN, MY KITTEN, 16 WINKUM, WINKUM, 17 BABY'S BELL, 18 WILLY-NILLY, 19 BABY'S RECORD, 20 SLEEP, LITTLE SWEETEY, 22 NEVER TELL A FIB, 23 HUMPTY-DUMPTY, 24 HUSH-A-BYE, 26 DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH, 30 BYE-BABY-BUNTING, 31 TO BED WITH THE CHICKENS, 32 DIVE ME SUDAR, 33 TAUSE I'M TROSS, 34 THE NEW BOOK 36 WHISKUM, WHISKUM, 37 THE JACK-HORSE, 38 HI-DIDDLE DIDDLE, 39 THE RAIN, 40 FEED THE BIRDIES, 41 ROCK-A-BYE, 42 THE SNOWBALL, 49 LITTLE BO-PEEP, 50 THE TEA PARTY, 51 TELL IT AGAIN, MOTHER, 52 LITTLE JACK HORNER, 54 LITTLE BOY BLUE, 55 MISS VELVET PAWS, 56 POLLY HOPKINS, 57 A, B, C, 58 C-A-T SPELLS CAT, 64 THE KITTEN, 67 DOLLY DIMPLE, 70 IF YOU PLEASE, 75 THE POOR LITTLE CHICK-A-DEES, 76 HEIGH-HO, DAISIES AND BUTTERCUPS, 80 THE PONY, 81 BABY'S RECKONING, 86 TWO LITTLE PINK SHOES, 88 BABY PEARL, 90 MY VALENTINE, 91 FEE-FI-FO-FUM, 92 THE OXEN, 100 THE BROKEN PITCHER, 104 THE ELEPHANTS, 105 THE WIND, THE FOG, THE RAIN, THE SNOW, 106 TRUTH, 110 HI DIDDLE, HO-DIDDLE, 112 WHAT IS THE AXIS, 116 HEAT AND COLD, 119 HARLEY'S DREAM, 120 OUR LANGUAGE KEY, 123 THE SPEECH FAMILY, 124 NUMBER AND GENDER, 126 ONE LITTLE CHICKEN, 127 LETTERS, 128 WORDS, 129 A SMILE, 131 TWINKLE, TWINKLE, 132 OLD SOL IN A JINGLE, 134 "ROBERT OF LINCOLN," 137 LIMPY-DIMPY-DINGLE, 138 CASTLE WONDERFUL, 140 THE RATTLE OF THE BONES 148 WHOLLY HOLE-Y, 153 THE BREATH O' LIFE, 156 THREE LITTLE GIRLS, 157 TEMPERANCE CHILD, 158 LISTEN, CHILDREN, 159 TICK-TOCK, TICK-TOCK, 160 CURIOUS TREES; THE COW TREE, THE SUGAR-PINE, THE BUTTER-TREE, THE BREAD-FRUIT TREE, THE CLOVE-TREE, 161 THE TREE VILLAGE, 166 NO EYES, 168 THE MAMMOTH CAVE, 170 THE CAMELS, 172 KEY NOTES, 177 THE BEARS, 178 THE BEAR, A BLESSING, 181 FRUITS, 183 THE RACCOON, 184 THE BANK SWALLOWS, 190 THE MOCKING BIRD, 194 THE BUSY BEES, 196 HONEY-SWEET, 205 WHAT THEY SAY, 208 BRITAIN'S RULERS, 215 OUR LAND, 218 SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC, 220 GRAPHO, 223 THE STOP FAMILY, 226 LITTLE MISCHIEF, 229 GRANDMA'S CANARY, 233 BABY'S FAITH, 236 THE MEADOW QUAILS, 238 THE LITTLE HOUSEWIFE, 240 MOTHER-LOVE, 242 IT SNOWS! IT SNOWS! 244 AN OLD SAW, 247 THE DANDELION BLOSSOM, 248 SUNSHINE, 250 OUR ETHEL, 250 LITTLE GIRL'S LETTER TO GOD, 254 GRANDMA'S LESSONS, 258 MY LITTLE FOUR YEAR OLD, 260 HANDSOME DICK, 261 BESSIE'S KISSES, 266 THE DINNER POT, 267 NANNY'S PLAY, 268 NANNY'S LESSON, 272 NANNY'S RIDE, 276 THE RACE, 283 OUR KENNETH, 284 MY TEN YEAR'S OLD, 287 DARE TO SAY NO, 288 ASK MOTHER; TELL MOTHER, 291 DON'T TELL A LIE, 292 LITTLE MOSES, 294 THE CHILDREN'S RAILROAD, 298 THE PHOEBE'S NEST IN THE OLD WELL WHEEL, 304 MABEL'S SNOW-FEATHERS 306 FOREST TREES, 310 CHILDHOOD FANCIES, 312 LIZZIE AND THE ANGELS, 317 CHILD MEMORIES, 324 NELLY AND NED, 326 THE CLAMBERERS, 329 THE NEW WHITE JATTET, 330 REMEMBER THE POOR, 331 THE LITTLE STREET SWEEPER, 332 THE HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE FAMILY, 338 QUIRKS, 345 SOMEBODY'S BOY, 346 THE LADDIE-AND LASSIE BIRDS, 348 THE GREAT WATCH FULL I, 352 {13} MOTHER TRUTH'S MELODIES. WHY FLY AWAY, MOTHER GOOSE? "MOTHER GOOSE, Mother Goose, Why fly away?" "Because Mother Truth is A-coming to-day. She'll tell you funny things, But they'll be true; She'll bring you pictures So charming and new; She'll sing you Melodies, helping to show How, to true women and men, you may grow." {14} TOSS THE BABY. Toss the baby high in air; Catch him though, with special care Lest his little back be strained, Lest his little joints be sprained, Lest his bones be bent or broken; Lest through life he bear some token Of a careless toss or fall, That for sympathy shall call, And that must forever be Painful to our memory. {15} PAT-A-CAKE, PAT-A-CAKE. Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, Mamma's boy, Laughing and crowing, And jumping with joy; Roll it, and pick it and mark it with B, And toss in the oven for Baby and me. Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, Papa's girl, Springing in baby-glee, Shaking her curl; Roll it and pick it and mark it with G, And toss in the oven for Girly and me. {16} HEY, MY KITTEN, MY KITTEN. Hey, my kitten, my kitten, Hey, my kitten, my deary; If Mamma should feed him too often, He never could be so cheery. Here we go up, up, up. And here we go down, down, down-y. If we never feed baby too much, He never will give us a frown-y. Hey, my kitten, my kitten, Hey, my kitten, my deary; We'll put him to bed with the birdies, And that will make him so cheery! Here we go up, up, up, And here we go down, down, down-y; If we give him nothing but smiles, He will give us never a frown-y. {17} WINKUM, WINKUM. Winkum, winkum, shut your eye, Sweet, my baby, lullaby; For the dew is falling soft, Lights are flickering up aloft, And the head-light's peeping over Yonder hill-top capped with clover; Chickens long have gone to rest, Birds lie snug within their nest, And my birdie soon will be Sleeping with the chick-a-dee, For with only half a try, Winkum, winkum, shuts her eye. {18} BABY'S BELL. Jingle! jingle! baby's bell; What a tale its tongue might tell. Could it speak it sure would say, "When the baby's tired with play, And is getting cross, don't try To jingle bells, but hush-a-bye; All so still, now crooning low, Lull-a-bye, bye-o, bye-o,-- Quiet down his quaking nerves, Soothe him as his state deserves;-- Passing hand from head to feet, Sl-o-w-l-y, softly, loving, sweet, As to smooth the feathers down, Rumpled, from your birdling's crown;-- {19} See, he sleeps, and in his dream Yours may hand of angel seem, Raveling out the tangled ills, Knitting up with restful thrills." WILLY-NILLY. Willy-Nilly, birdy sings, For he's running over With the music that he flings To his sweet bird-lover;-- Willy-nilly, baby laughs, Gay and glad and gleeful; Brimming over high with health, She is always playful. {20} BABY'S RECORD. New-born baby, soft and pink, Of the two worlds on the brink. One month old,--eat and sleep; Precious little human heap. Two months old,--tear and smile; Fists in mouth and eyes the while. Three months old,--"goo-a-goo," Windows wide where soul looks through. Four months old,--finds his toes, Tries to fix them on his nose. {21} Five months old,--first wee pearl; All the household in a whirl. Six months old,--sits alone; Wishes swaddling clothes were gone. Seven months old,--creep and crawl, Wonder-eyed, a charm to all. Eight months old,--confiscate Pussy's tail and papa's pate. Nine months old,--roguish eyes Deepening daily; wilful, wise. Ten months old,--witching ways Wind us in; the baby pays! Eleven months old,--finger-tip Guides the elfin on his trip. Year old,--lots of mischief done; Walking, talking, just for fun. {22} SLEEP, LITTLE SWEETEY. Sleep now, my sweetey, Dear one, and pretty! Weary with playing, Weary with straying, Stop little thinkers, Shut little winkers; Sleep, little sweetey, Precious and pretty. Sleep now, my sweetey, Dear One, and pretty! Stop little thinkers, Shut little winkers, Angels a-watching Sleep-doors unlatching; Slip in, my sweetey, Precious and pretty! Sleeping, my sweetey, Dear one, and pretty! Stopped, little thinkers, Shut, little winkers, Angels a-watching, Sleep-doors are latching; Slipped in, my sweetey, Precious and pretty! {23} NEVER TELL A FIB. If mamma says she'll punish, She must do it, or she tells A fib, as Sister Annie Told "a story" 'bout the bells; And if mamma tells a fib, Then surely children will, And what a fearful thing, Our home with fibs to fill! {24} HUMPTY--DUMPTY. Humpty-Dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop, Baby is crying, why doesn't he stop? What does he cry for? his clothing is tight; No wonder such things make baby a fright. Humpty-dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop, Baby was crying, but now he will stop; What did he cry for? his clothing was wet; No wonder such things should make babies fret. Humpty-dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop, Baby is crying, oh, when will he stop? What does he cry for? his feet are a-cold; No wonder such things should make baby scold. {25} Humpty-dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop, Baby is crying, but soon he will stop; What does he cry for? he had too much food; No baby in this way can ever be good. Humpty-dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop, Baby is laughing and scarcely will stop; What does he laugh for? Oh, when he feels well, He always is happy,--'tis thus we can tell. {26} HUSH-A-BYE. Hush-a-bye, baby, On Grandmother's lap; Hush-a-bye, baby, And take a nice nap; Hush-a-bye, baby, What is it you say? Your "teeth are a-coming," You're "ten months to-day;" Well, babies must cry, And Grandmothers must try To comfort and hush them, but never forget The little gums ache, And little nerves quake, Till little lips quiver, and babies must fret. Hush-a-bye, baby, We'll cool his hot gums, Hush-a-bye, baby, With tiny ice-crumbs; Hush-a-bye, baby, We'll rub hard and long With icy-cold finger,-- See him list to my song! {27} Ah, babies are sweet If their wants we but meet, So why should we blame them when fretful and cross? Let us find what is wrong, And remove it ere long, And we'll see that time thus spent is never a loss. Hush-a-bye, baby, What more can we do Hush-a-bye, baby, That will comfort you? Hush-a-bye, baby, We'll lay you down flat, On your stomach, dear baby, On Grandmother's lap. {28} Nor trot you a mite, No matter how slight, But, sure that your clothing is all dry and neat, We'll loosen each band, And with soft and warm hand, Gently rub you all over from head to your feet. Hush-a-bye, baby, We will not forget, Hush-a-bye, baby, That hands may be wet, Hush-a-bye, baby, And soothe you sometimes, When dry hands won't do it, Hush, list to my rhymes! {29} And now we'll not nurse Till the nursing's a curse; Nor dose you, nor drug you, nor feed with sweet-meats; Nor to soothe, will we try, With old "Dame Winslow" by, For our hopes for the babies, she ever defeats. Hush-a-bye, baby, We'll quiet his nerves, Hush-a-bye, baby, The truth it deserves-- Hush-a-bye, baby-- Even here to be known : We will quiet his nerves By just calming our own! And our baby will feel The sweet hush o'er him steal, That brings with it soothing and comfort and rest; And to slumber so soft, His spirit we'll waft, And then lay him away in his own baby nest. {30} DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH. Dear Mamma, I've been laughing For Uncle Ben and Pa, And then for sister Lizzie I talked "ar-g o-o" and "gar;" And then a "little story" For Dick and Cousin Jane,-- And now you, Mamma, want me To laugh and talk again. I'd like to do it, Mamma, but if I even try, I am so weary with it, I'm sure I'd only cry! Don't let them try, dear Mamma, to make me laugh and crow, I'll do it when I'm able, for babies always do. {31} BYE-BABY-BUNTING. BYE-BABY-BUNTING, The Indians live by hunting, And bring home many a beaver-skin To wrap the little pappoose in. And mother-squaw the baby'll tie Fast on a board, and swinging high, Will hang it up among the trees To rock-a-bye with every breeze; But our dear baby, snug and warm, Shall rock-a-bye on mother's arm.