Under the Window Pictures & Rhymes for Children

Excerpt

Under the window is my garden,

Where sweet, sweet flowers grow;

And in the pear-tree dwells a robin,

The dearest bird I know.

Tho' I peep out betimes in the morning,

Still the flowers are up the first;

Then I try and talk to the robin,

And perhaps he'd chat—if he durst.

Will you be my little wife,

If I ask you? Do!

I'll buy you such a Sunday frock,

A nice umbrella, too.

And you shall have a little hat,

With such a long white feather,

A pair of gloves, and sandal shoes,

The softest kind of leather.

And you shall have a tiny house,

A beehive full of bees,

A little cow, a largish cat,

And green sage cheese.

You see, merry Phillis, that dear little maid,

Has invited Belinda to tea;

Her nice little garden is shaded by trees—

What pleasanter place could there be?

There's a cake full of plums, there are strawberries too,

And the table is set on the green;

I'm fond of a carpet all daisies and grass—

Could a prettier picture be seen?

A blackbird (yes, blackbirds delight in warm weather,)

Is flitting from yonder high spray;

He sees the two little ones talking together—

No wonder the blackbird is gay!

Three tabbies took out their cats to tea,

As well-behaved tabbies as well could be:

Each sat in the chair that each preferred,

They mewed for their milk, and they sipped and purred.

Now tell me this (as these cats you've seen them)—

How many lives had these cats between them?

Little Fanny wears a hat

Like her ancient Grannie;

Tommy's hoop was (think of that!)

Given him by Fanny.

"Margery Brown, on the top of the hill,

Why are you standing, idle still?"

"Oh, I'm looking over to London town;

Shall I see the horsemen if I go down?"

"Margery Brown, on the top of the hill,

Why are you standing, listening still?"

"Oh, I hear the bells of London ring,

And I hear the men and the maidens sing."

"Margery Brown, on the top of the hill,

Why are you standing, waiting still?"

"Oh, a knight is there, but I can't go down,

For the bells ring strangely in London town."

Little wind, blow on the hill-top,

Little wind, blow down the plain;

Little wind, blow up the sunshine,

Little wind, blow off the rain.

Indeed it is true, it is perfectly true;

Believe me, indeed, I am playing no tricks;

An old man and his dog bide up there in the moon,

And he's cross as a bundle of sticks.

School is over,

Oh, what fun!

Lessons finished,

Play begun.

Who'll run fastest,

You or I?

Who'll laugh loudest?

Let us try.

"Little Polly, will you go a-walking to-day?"

"Indeed, little Susan, I will, if I may."

"Little Polly, your mother has said you may go;

She was nice to say 'Yes;' she should never say 'No.'"

"A rook has a nest on the top of the tree—

A big ship is coming from over the sea:

Now, which would be nicest, the ship or the nest?"

"Why, that would be nicest that Polly likes best."

As I was walking up the street,

The steeple bells were ringing;

As I sat down at Mary's feet,

The sweet, sweet birds were singing....