fm, # 2 One EAR children all, who read this book, On nothing in these pages look As too fantastic, too extreme: Remember (this is my excuse To silence possible abuse) ‘ ll the story of a dreas To please our momentary w And we can dress in any way That's most convenient for the day, And eat the most. unwholesome dishes ; While Fancy shapes in strange array A medley of Birds, Beasts and Fishes. O take this Book from an Old Boy, And if it prove a silly toy, ; And Nurs’ry critics fail to spare it, , I hope that every dimpled finger That o'er my nonsense will not linger May have abundant strength to tear it. The Baldwin Library University RnB Florida Learned their Geography ; : And, after lessons, loved to play y At sending ships to sea They used instead of little boats ~ A thing that does as well, sieeabieieetihaiediaadeiieeiemateannesbatemetemeemieteaerentereeenatamemee arene ee | A vessel that securely floats, An empty walnut shell. They'd read of countries hot and cold Of Fades and Chinese, _They’d read where ev'ry spice is sold, They knew the names of seas, Great rivers where the sands are + gold, Strange animals and trees. No wonder then this little pair Would oft indulge the notion That Walnut Shells real vessels were, And washing tubs the Ocean ! And so their wish for travel grew Encouraged by their book, Till Evst: thought she was the Crew, And ARTHUR, Captain Cook. And often when they were in bed Their brains began to teem wonders, and the tales they read Were jumbled in a dream. JOR mast and sail To stand the gale | They chose a pretty feather ; The Walnut Shell Rode monstrous well Through very boisterous weather. They had no meat, Or bread to eat, And not a drop of tea; They had not stored So much on board As even one split-pea ! The wind was high And in the sky : The clouds were inky Yet neither child grew paler ; For ARTHUR was a daring boy, And Exsie shouted “SAzp-a-hoy /” Ay, ev'ry inch a sailor! HEIR ship flew fast Amid the Arctic snows: Before the blast, “Ffurrah, for ice!” Till little Exsie’s nose They cried, “its nice,” Was red with frost, And ARTHUR lost (Uli 2h, hy All feeling in his toes. _y They thought it fun gy To see no sun ough the north wind blows ! here a seal vides a meal, coats, our hats, A\\ our hose— With Mister Bear lis home we share, Two happy Esquimaux !” last they thought they might arrange A very comfortable change ; Said ELsig, ‘ Don’t remain, dear.” ‘All right,” cried Arthur ; ‘Off we go! We'll run down to the Hoang-ho— Gee up! you clumsy Reindeer!” And on they went where might be seen All sorts of Tea, both black and green, ‘And figures just like Daddy’s Screen, Pagodas, Chopsticks, Tails ! Umbrellas, Junks and tiny Shoes! As they were carried on bamboos, By men whose shoulders feel no bruise, Across the hills and. dales ! And when the little folks were bent To cross the Black man’s Continent, “The Ostriches shall find us legs,” Cried ARTHUR; “they can run?” Said Exsie, “Yes! and lay us eggs: Ill fry them in the Sun!” They travelled through the desert land And yet were brisk and merry, Though ArTHUR’S eyes. were full of sand, And Estes little face was tanned As brown as Autumn berry! The Walnut Shell, before the blast, Across the Tropics flew ; But Arruur, till the Simoom passed (That wind of course he knew) And daring Exste held on fast, When safe upon the Nile were cast The Walnut Shell and Crew! But Cannibals, in search of meat, Think children very good to eat, And thought to give themselves a treat ; S a. ‘Bu “a to failure When off to sea the children fled, For Arthur never lost his head, And Elsie steered (as they had read) South-west to find Australia. they knew : Cried Elsie, ‘““There’s ia a Kangaroo! Se What dunces they would think us If that queer beast we couldn't Haine —- (1 wonder if it’s really tame?) ? I mean th’ Ornithorhynchus!’ HEN sailing on some thousand miles, Where spices scent the breeze, ‘And coral branches grow to isles That crowd the Southern seas, 2. To India came, in search of sport, / aN i _ This young and dauntless pair, To beard the Leopard, as they thought, And Tiger in his lair. For Exste said, ‘‘ No beast can face An opened parasol, . And ARTHUR in the surest place Can make a bullet-hole!” Through jungles wild without mishap, \, They forced their daring way; | They saw all places on the map, <\ From Burmah to Bombay ! They danced at all nice, The pickles, and the Cashmere shawls, The curry and the rice! NE day a Condor seized the shell, The little travellers as well, And flew with speed terrific Towards an island in the sea, Which Arthur said was sure to be (I said they knew Geography) here in the Pacific. E@ excursion was it not, ie To such a very charming spot That seemed quite free from dangers ? For there they lived a life of ease, Whilst Apes politely climbed the trees For nuts to give the strangers. UT soon the children thought it best To put to sea once more; And E sie steered still further west, As she had steered before ; While ARTHUR opened out his chest By tugging at the oar. calm of Tropic heat, In solitude the most complete, _ Where the “mirage” in strange surprise Makes ELsig open wondering eyes, ee ea 3 | Ee | Till on far Afric’s burning sand King Mumbo-Jumbo, hat in hand, With. infant serenaders, nny eS And offers ev'rything that’s black To please the small invaders ! oe cert reece constant ora tearm open Se re 7 SSS A Sp SS Ss SSD SPSS HEY paddled on by giant reeds <= Of growth so tall and taper, Which met the old Egyptians’ needs, (As ELsIE said), for paper. The Hippopotamusses here,” Said ARTHUR, ‘we'll defy!” Said Exsig, “In the plural, dear, They're Hippopotamz.” From crocodiles who had not dined, Bold ArtrHuR never shrinks, _ While Exsre tries to call to mind _ °s for the Sphinx. — And journeying onward safe and sound With never pause nor hitch, Their way through the Canal they found With wonderment so rich; They saw big vessels outward bound (That only sometimes ran aground),. Go, steaming through the Ditch! EXT Venice to the daring pair ey \s Strange novelty imparts ; “) The Walnut Shell was useful there _There’s “Water, water, everywhere,” And boats instead of carts! OUNT Vesuvius! ‘Oh, how steep,” ARTHUR cries, ‘this cinder heap! We must write, and let Mamma know How we've climbed a real volcano !” Then came little Evsre’s joke, “Even Nature’s chimneys smoke!” green seas mountains hi In the Walnut Shell they fly Fast and ever faster! Come and go; Still we see strong ARTHUR row ; ARTHUR cries his face aglow, With his knowledge ‘‘ Now I know ‘This must be the Gulf Stream’s flow And it is our master! end a-head! Heave the lead: HEN down a mighty river's stream They floated on in happy dream, And smiled at fate that well might seem To grown-up folks a staggerer ; For ArtuurR shouted with delight, And E sie only held on tight, As they shot down Niagara! i -HROUGH foam and rapids safe they came, And thought the whirlpool very tame; Yet ARTHUR'S strength was still the same, And Exsip’s face was all aflame At ventures so romantic! And ArTHuR never ceased to row Till turtles took the shell in tow Across the broad Atlantic! -.T home once more; and all the Town D\ Talks of the Walnut Shell’s renown ; By) Arravr is pensioned by the Crown, And all his travels written down, Their wonder and variety, 1 Ee TN mm |, CRUISE OF THES # vee as ea LECTURE |