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One foot up and one foot downAnd that's the way to—
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COME CHILDREN ALL, BOTH GREAT AND SMALL,WITH EAGER EYE AND EAR,WHO DWELL AFAR OR NEARIN HOPE THAT SOME DAY YOU'LL CONTRIVETO VIEW GREAT LONDON'S BUSY HIVE,AND HEAR THE MIGHTY HUM OF BEESAT WORK ALIKE IN SUN OR SHOWER,WHILE BUTTERFLIES BENEATH THE TREESFLIT IDLY BY FROM FLOWER TO FLOWERIN PARKS AND GARDENS BRIGHT AND GAY:COME,—CLIMB SAINT PAUL'S WITH US TO-DAY,AND WITH THIS BOOK IN HAND,UPON THE DOME WE'LL STAND,AND THENCE LOOK DOWNO'ER LONDON TOWN.[04]
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CONTENTS Page THE TOWER OF LONDON , , , THE OMNIBUS THE PENNY-ICE MAN COVENT GARDEN , THE PENNY-TOY MAN THE ORANGE GIRL THE FIRST OF MAY ST. JAMES' PARK , WESTMINSTER ABBEY , , CHARITY GIRLS THE BRITISH MUSEUM , , THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY , THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS , , THE MILK WOMAN THE MUFFIN MAN THE SHOEBLACKS CHRIST'S HOSPITAL , GUILDHALL—GOG AND MAGOG , THE CAT'S-MEAT MAN THE NIGHT WATCH THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL , THE FLOWER WOMAN CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE THE CHESTNUT WOMAN THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL THE HAPPY FAMILY THE CROSSING SWEEPER PUNCH AND JUDY THE LOWTHER ARCADE , THE DUSTMAN IS COMING ,[08]
Among the sights of London TownWhich little visitors wish to view,The Tower stands first, and its great renownHas, you will notice, attracted Prue. At a well-known spot, to Miss Prue's surprise,Some fine old ravens are strutting about.If upon the picture a glance you cast,You will know the ravens next time, no doubt. The red-coated guard who's watching hereIs called a Beefeater—fancy that!And Prue discovers, as she draws near,A child by his side who is round and fat. "Father and Mother, pray come here,"In tones so pleasant, laughs lively Prue:"You've shown me things that are odd and queer,A Beefeater's baby I'll show you!"[09]
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Prue has wandered high and wandered lowThrough Norman chapel and dungeon cell;The grand Crown Jewels that sparkle so,And the Traitor's Gate, she has seen as well. She has looked from the walls on the River, too,And spent in the Armouries nearly an hour:Ah! holiday folks like our Miss PrueEnjoy themselves when they come to the Tower! But the Tower was a prison, in days of old,And few who got into it ever came out,Though now we can visit the grim strongholdAny day of the week, without fear or doubt.[11]
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Every day along the streets of mighty London TownNine hundred omnibuses rumble up and down.When you're tired of walking, call "Hi! Conductor, stop!"And he'll give you such a jolly ride, for twopence, on the top. Sometimes by the 'bus's side small boys will run a mile,Turning round just like the wheels, and hungry all the while:—"We've not had any breakfast,—won't you toss us down a brown?"—That's what they call a penny in the streets of London Town....