LITTLE RHYMES FOR LITTLE PEOPLE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19314, 15 October 1932, Page 13

LITTLE RHYMES FOR LITTLE PEOPLE

MERMAIDS AND THEIR WAYS. The little mermaids, you’ll agree, Most fortunate appear to be; They never need, like you and me, Umbrellas and goloshes; And never, never will you see Mermaids in machintoshes. To school sometimes they have to go, As little land-maids, do and so You see them swimming to and fro Upon the backs of fishes; But on half-holidays, you know, Each does as each one wishes.

So they go playmg round acoui The coral caves, and laugh and shout Until the sandman finds them out, When, under sea-green billows, Upon the ocean’s bed, no doubt They sleep on seaweed pillows. Sent by “Laughing Pixie,” Timaru.) THE DAFFODIL FAIRY’S SONG. I’m everyone’s darling: the blackbird and starling Are shouting about me from blossoming boughs; For I, the Lent Lily, the Daffy-down-dilly, Have heard through the country the call to arouse. The orchards are ringing with voices a-singing The praise of my petticoat, praise of my gown; The children are playing, and hark! they are saying That Daffy-down-dilly is come up to town! THE POSTMAN. I’d like to be a postman To go upon long tramps, With lots of birthday parcels, And cards with foreign stamps; With envelopes, all sizes, Inside my bag each day; And packs of tied-up letters To sort upon my way. I’d like to be a postman. I’d hurry up the road, And swing round all the corners, And never mind my load, And smile up at the windows At little girls like me. I’d like to be a postman; How jolly it must be. (Sent by “Silver Pixie,” Tycho).

THE SINGERS ARE BUSY.

The chaffinch in the pear tree, The goldfinch in the thistle, The bullfinch in the rowan, Oh, hear the fellows whistle! It’s hey down derry! October days are merry; And when they end Dear God will send A store of seed and berry: So sing down derry. In springtime birds are building, In summer flowers are blowing, In autumn apples redden, In winter fires are glowing, i So sing all together, I Hearts as light as feather, When joys are done i New joy’s begun ) And good is all God’s weather So sing, sing together. C. N.

THE WILLOW PATTERN PLATE. Molly in the kitchen broke a willowpattern plate. I spoke to her severely, but I spoke a moment late, To save those little people from a very dreadful fate, ; Whose fortune's told in blue upon the willow-pattern plate. Two blue little people came running together Across a blue bridge, in the sunshiny

weather, They run from a garden, where stands

a blue tree, Above the blue house of a wealthy Chinee.

The one is a maiden, the other her lover—

A blue weeping willow hangs half the bridge over; Behind, in pursuit, comes papa with a whip, But they’re over the bridge, and aboard the blue ship That her lover has moored by the strand of the sea— With a shove off the shore, from his wrath they are free— Now deep in the water the oars they are plying, While high in the heavens the blue doves are flying; To his blue island home her lover will waft her, And there they will happily live ever after. This is the story of the willow-pattern plate, So please be very careful—tho’ it’s only one and eight; And remember, that you have in hand a very precious freight, When you carry from the kitchen a willow-pattern plate. CURRANT BUNS. I'm very fond of a currant bun, I’m sure I could eat two or three, But Mother gives me only just one Because they aren’t good for me. I’m playing round about somewhere near. Instead of in the sun; So if Mum goes out and leaves me here, I’ll steal a currant bun! , (Sent by “Micky the Mouse,” Orton).