Page 139. "The Man in the Moon" The Raggedy Man, who tells this story, was what in England is called an odd or handy man. The following description of him is from another of Mr. Riley's poems, written in what is known in America as the Hoosier dialect. A little study will make the words plain : ! the Raggedy Man! He works fer Pa; An' he's the goodest man ever you saw ! He comes to our house every day, An' waters the horses, and feeds 'em hay; When he drives out our little old wobble-ly calf; Ain't he a awful good Raggedy Man? W'y, the Raggedy Man-he's 'ist so good Ain't he a awful kind Raggedy Man? Raggedy! Raggedy! Raggedy Man ! Page 144. "The Wreck of the Steamship Puffin" This is from Mr. Punch's Young Reciter, by Mr. Anstey, published by Messrs. Bradbury, Agnew, and Co. It ought to be stated that in the book the ballad is accompanied by directions telling how it ought (or ought not) to be recited. Page 153. "Symon's Lesson of Wisdom for all Manner of Children " The piece from which these lines are taken is four hundred years old. By the advice of Dr. Furnivall the spelling has been made modern; otherwise everything is as the quaint and very thorough instructor wrote it. The Lesson in full is to be seen in Dr. Furnivall's Babees' Book, one of the Early English Text Society's publications. Another piece in the same collection, "The Birched Schoolboy," dated 1500, ends with the following wish : I WOULD my master were a wat [a hare], And my book a wild cat, And a brace of greyhounds in his top: I would be glad for to see that! What availeth me though I say nay? I would my master were a hare, To blow my horn I would not spare! What availeth me though I say nay? Birching or whipping now grows less and less common. Once it seems to have been continuous. In a school-book published in 1664, I find these threatening verses addressed by the schoolmaster to his pupils : MY child and schollar, take good heed Unto the words that here are set, And see thou do accordingly, Or else be sure thou shalt be beat. First, I command thee God to serve, Unto all Men be courteous, And mannerly in town and field. If broken Hos'd or Shoo'd you go, Then you and I must have a fray. If that thou cry or talk aloud, Or Books do rend, or strike with Knife Or Laugh or Play Unlawfully, Then you and I must be at strife. If that you Curse, Miscall, or Swear, If that you Pick, Filch, Steal, or Lye, If you forget a Schollar's part, Then must you sure your points untye. Wherefore, my child, behave thy self That thou may'st purchase Parents' love, Counsel (the title of this section) usually means counsel from the old to the young, but there is also counsel upsidedown, as we might call it. In St. Nicholas is the following example, called " A Lesson for Mamma," by Sydney Dayre :— DEAR mother, if you just could be A tiny little girl like me, And I your mother, you would see I'd always let you have your way; Such conduct will not do." I'd always give you jelly-cake For breakfast, and I'd never shake My head, and say: "You must not take So very large a slice." I'd never say: "My dear, I trust You will not make me say you must Eat up your oatmeal"; or, "The crust I'd buy you candy every day; I'd go down town with you, and say: I'd never say: "My pet, you know And every day I'd let you wear I'd never say: "Well, just a few!" I'd put the books and slates away; Ah-h-h! wouldn't that be grand! But, mother dear, you cannot grow The only thing to do, Is just for you to try and see Now, mother, couldn't you? |