Watermelon Pete and Others

And Daddy Elephant kissed him, and said, “Why, what’s the matter with my little Baby Elephant?”

And Baby Elephant said, “Why, Daddy, I’ve worn my stockings all out, and I haven’t any more to put on.”

“Is that all?” said Daddy Elephant. “Well, come along, and we will go and see if we can find some stockings for you.”

So they went a long way, through the Jungle, until they came to Mrs. Lion’s store, and they went in.

“Good morning, Mrs. Lion,” said Daddy Elephant, very politely. “Have you some stockings that you will sell me for my little Baby Elephant?”

“Well, now, Daddy Elephant,” said Mrs. Lion, “I don’t believe I have any that would fit him; they are all so small. But if you’ll take a seat, I will ask my little Lions to make him some.”

So she called four of her little Lions, and asked them if they would make some stockings for Baby Elephant. They said they would be pleased to do it, and so they got some balls of wool and began knitting so busily with their shiny knitting needles, click, click! click, click! that pretty soon there they were, four nice long new stockings, one for each foot.

Then Daddy Elephant paid for the stockings and put them on Baby Elephant. And Baby Elephant said, “These are perfectly lovely new stockings, Daddy, but now, do you know, I believe I ought to have some new shoes, so I won’t spoil my nice new stockings.”

And Daddy Elephant said, “Why, what a funny little Baby Elephant you are! Just as soon as you get one thing you think of something else. But come along, and we will see if we can find you some shoes.”

So they went a long, long way through the Jungle, until they came to Mrs. Tiger’s store.

“Good morning, Mrs. Tiger,” said Daddy Elephant, very politely indeed. “Have you some shoes that you could sell me for my little Baby Elephant?”

“Why, no, Daddy Elephant,” said Mrs. Tiger, “I haven’t any big enough for him. But if you will take a seat and wait, I will call my Tiger shoemakers, and have some made for him.”

So they waited patiently while the Tiger shoemakers made some shoes. “Tip-a-tap, tip-a-tap, tip-a-tap-too!” went the hammers, until pretty soon there they were, four nice new red shoes with one for each foot.

Then Daddy paid Mrs. Tiger for them, and put them on and buttoned them up, and Baby Elephant said, “My! These are lovely new shoes, Daddy, and I thank you, but now I look so nice, shouldn’t I have a hat?”

And Daddy Elephant laughed and said, “Well, you are a funny little Baby Elephant. But come along, and I will see if I can find a hat for you.”

So they walked and walked a long way through the Jungle, and after a while they came to Mrs. Monkey’s millinery store.

And Daddy Elephant said, oh, very politely, “How do you do, Mrs. Monkey? Have you your new spring hats in? My little Baby thinks he’d like a hat.”

And Mrs. Monkey said that she didn’t believe she had a hat that would quite fit Baby Elephant, because they were very small this season, but that she would make him one. So she sent her little Monkeys out into the Jungle, and pretty soon they came back with some palm-tree leaves. And she sewed them into the prettiest hat you ever saw.

But Baby Elephant wanted trimming on his hat. So she found some ribbon grass, and made some bows, and rosettes, and put them on and Daddy Elephant paid her for it, and they started out again.

Then Baby Elephant laughed. “Daddy, don’t I look funny with my stockings and shoes and nice new hat, and no coat on?”

And Daddy said, “Oh, you funny baby! Well, come along, and we’ll see if we can find you a coat.” And they walked and walked, and nobody could make a coat until they came to where the Tailor Bird lived. And he said he could make a coat, “Just as easy!”

So he took a big piece of cloth, and spread it on the ground, and laid Baby Elephant down on it, and cut a coat just like him, but he got it a good deal too big, and it has wrinkled ever since.

But Baby Elephant liked it, and was very proud of his pretty new things, and promised his Daddy he would keep them all very nice. And when he got home he ran and kissed his Mammy Elephant, who had just begun to wonder where he and Daddy had been all day.

And then they all had supper.

LITTLE BROWN HEN

Little Brown Hen, one warm spring day,
Made a nest in the barn, in the clover hay.

Said Little Brown Hen, "Eggs are so dear,
The Farmer Boy might come in here,

“So I really believe it may be wise,
To hide my nest from his bright blue eyes.”

The Bossy-calf saw her very well,
But she knew the Bossy-calf wouldn’t tell.

And every day when the clock struck ten,
With a cheerful song that Little Brown Hen

Laid an egg in the nest in the clover hay,
Until she had twelve eggs hidden away.

In that nest, which was almost out of sight,
Sat Little Brown Hen, both day and night;

And the Bossy-calf knew her secret well,
But the Bossy-calf would never tell.

And the little gray mice came there to play,
To amuse the Little Brown Hen all day,

Till one morning, oh, such a pretty sight,
Out in the sunshine warm and bright!

Little Brown Hen – proud, happy dame —
With twelve little fluffy chickens came!

Said Baby Fritz, with a joyous shout,
“Look, Buddie, the chicks are all popped out!”

You should have seen the Farmer Boy!
His eyes were all bulged out with joy.

But the Bossy-calf didn’t see, alas!
He was out in the meadow, eating grass.

THE LITTLE BROWN DOG AND THE LITTLE WHITE CAT

The Little Brown Dog had a little cold nose,
O me, O my!
The Little White Cat had pins in her toes,
O me, O my!
The Little Brown Dog poked his little cold nose
Too near the pins in the little Cat’s toes!