Riley Child-Rhymes Part 7

_Now_ he aint afeard a bit! he's ist so fat an' tame, We on'y chain him up at night, to save the little chicks.

Holler "Greedy! Greedy!" to him, an' he knows his name, An' here he'll come a-waddle-un, up fer any tricks!

He'll climb up my leg, he will, an' waller in my lap, An' poke his little black paws 'way in my pockets where They's beechnuts, er c.h.i.n.kypins, er any little sc.r.a.p Of anything, 'at's good to eat--an' _he_ don't care!

An' he's as s.p.u.n.ky as you please, an' don't like dogs at all.-- Billy Miller's black-an'-tan tackled him one day, An' "Greedy" he ist kindo' doubled all up like a ball, An' Billy's dog he gived a yelp er two an' runned away!

An' nen when Billy fighted me, an' hit me with a bone, An' Ma she purt'nigh ketched him as he dodged an' skooted thro'

The fence, she says, "You better let my little boy alone, Er 'Greedy,' next he whips yer dog, shall whip you, too!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: An' nen when Billy fighted me]

THE OLD HAY-MOW

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Old Hay-Mow--t.i.tle]

The Old Hay-mow's the place to play Fer boys, when it's a rainy day!

I good-'eal ruther be up there Than down in town, er anywhere!

When I play in our stable-loft, The good old hay's so dry an' soft, An' feels so fine, an' smells so sweet, I 'most ferget to go an' eat.

[Ill.u.s.tration: In our hay-mow where I keep store]

An' one time wunst I _did_ ferget To go 'tel dinner was all et,-- An' they had short-cake--an'--Bud he Hogged up the piece Ma saved fer me!

Nen I won't let him play no more In our hay-mow where I keep store An' got hen-eggs to sell,--an' shoo The cackle-un old hen out, too!

An' nen, when Aunty she was here A-visitun from Rensselaer, An' bringed my little cousin,--_he_ Can come up there an' play with me.

But, after while--when Bud he bets 'At I can't turn no summersetts,-- I let him come up, ef he can Ac' ha'f-way like a gentleman!

ON THE SUNNY SIDE

[Ill.u.s.tration: On The Sunny Side--t.i.tle]

Hi and whoop-hooray, boys!

Sing a song of cheer!

Here's a holiday, boys, Lasting half a year!

Round the world, and half is Shadow we have tried; Now we're where the laugh is,-- On the sunny side!

Pigeons coo and mutter, Strutting high aloof Where the sunbeans flutter Through the stable roof.

Hear the chickens cheep, boys, And the hen with pride Clucking them to sleep, boys, On the sunny side!

[Ill.u.s.tration: As a romping boy]

Hear the clacking guinea; Hear the cattle moo; Hear the horses whinny, Looking out at you!

On the hitching-block, boys, Grandly satisfied, See the old peac.o.c.k, boys, On the sunny side!

Robins in the peach-tree; Bluebirds in the pear; Blossoms over each tree In the orchard there!

All the world's in joy, boys, Glad and glorified As a romping boy, boys, On the sunny side!

Where's a heart as mellow?

Where's a soul as free?

Where is any fellow We would rather be?

Just ourselves or none, boys, World around and wide, Laughing in the sun, boys, On the sunny side!

A SUDDEN SHOWER

[Ill.u.s.tration: A Sudden Shower--t.i.tle]

Barefooted boys scud up the street Or skurry under sheltering sheds; And schoolgirl faces, pale and sweet, Gleam from the shawls about their heads.

Doors bang; and mother-voices call From alien homes; and rusty gates Are slammed; and high above it all, The thunder grim reverberates.

And then, abrupt,--the rain! the rain!-- The earth lies gasping; and the eyes Behind the streaming window-pane Smile at the trouble of the skies.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Schoolgirl faces ... gleam from the shawls about their heads]

The highway smokes; sharp echoes ring; The cattle bawl and cowbells clank; And into town comes galloping The farmer's horse, with streaming flank.

The swallow dips beneath the eaves, And flirts his plumes and folds his wings; And under the catawba leaves The caterpillar curls and clings.

The b.u.mble-bee is pelted down The wet stem of the hollyhock; And sullenly, in spattered brown, The cricket leaps the garden walk.

Within, the baby claps his hands And crows with rapture strange and vague; Without, beneath the rosebush stands A dripping rooster on one leg.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A Sudden Shower--Tailpiece]

GRANDFATHER SQUEERS

[Ill.u.s.tration: Grandfather Squeers--t.i.tle]

"My grandfather Squeers," said The Raggedy Man, As he solemnly lighted his pipe and began--

"The most indestructible man, for his years, And the grandest on earth, was my grandfather Squeers!

"He said, when he rounded his three-score-and-ten, 'I've the hang of it now and can do it again!'

"He had frozen his heels so repeatedly, he Could tell by them just what the weather would be;