The Project Gutenberg eBook of Mother Truth's Melodies. Common Sense For Children. A Kindergarten

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: Mother Truth's Melodies. Common Sense For Children. A Kindergarten

Author: Mrs. E. P. Miller

Release date: February 25, 2010 [eBook #31388]
Most recently updated: January 6, 2021

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Don Kostuch

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTHER TRUTH'S MELODIES. COMMON SENSE FOR CHILDREN. A KINDERGARTEN ***

Transcriber's notes:

Page numbers in this book are indicated by numbers enclosed in curly braces, e.g. {99}. They are located where page breaks occurred in the original book.

End Transcriber's note

MOTHER TRUTH'S MELODIES.

COMMON SENSE FOR CHILDREN.

A KINDERGARTEN,

BY

MRS. E. P. MILLER,

AUTHOR OF "A FATHER'S ADVICE; A BOOK FOR EVERY BOY." AND "A MOTHER'S ADVICE; A BOOK FOR EVERY GIRL."

450 ILLUSTRATIONS.

NEW AND ENLARGED EDITION.

CHICAGO:

CRAM STANDARD BOOK CO.,

BOSTON, MASS., J. Q. ADAMS & Co

1896.

COPYRIGHTED 1887, BY
STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANY.

COPYRIGHTED BY
STANDARD COLUMBIAN COMPANY,

1891, 1892.

COPYRIGHTED BY
CRAM STANDARD BOOK COMPANY
1894

COPYRIGHTED BY
GEORGE F. CRAM,
1895

{5}

To all who love the Children,
    This book, INSCRIBED, I bring,--
Thus reaching forth to draw you
    Within my charmed ring,
Where seeds and germs we'll nurture
    In babies, children, youth,
Till every plant shall blossom,
    And bear the fruits of TRUTH.

{6}

INTRODUCTION.

Since little ones are geese no more,
    But knowing have become,
It ill beseems that "Mother Goose"
    Should dwell in every home.
So "Mother Truth" in "Melodies"
    For Babes, here lifts her voice,
Assured that parents, children, all,
    Will welcome and rejoice.

{7}

NOTE.

Let no one suppose that the Author of these "Melodies" considers them poetry. They are simply rhymes, the jingle of which may be music in the children's ears, and the illustrations a delight to eager eyes. The Truths presented, even if not fully understood at first, will leave their impress, and in so far as they fill the little minds, will keep out falsehood and false ideas.

The putting of facts in such form as to attract the attention of the little ones, and be readily fixed in their memory, was first suggested to the writer of these rhymes by a valued friend, the well known philanthropist, MRS. ELIZABETH THOMPSON, and her interest in the "Melodies" is such that she has generously assisted in procuring illustrations for the same.

Thus "Mother Truth's Melodies" are introduced with the hope that this effort to entertain children with rhyming reason will meet with the approval of every lover of the young, and of Truth.

{8}

Poetry is the language of the imagination, while "facts are stubborn things," and, in the mass, refuse utterly to be poetized. Yet, even facts may be presented pleasingly and melodiously, and in such way that they will be easily impressed upon the minds of children. This the author of "Mother Truth's Melodies" sought to do, when the little book was first given to the public.

Now, however, in the revising and enlarging of the book, she has given wider play to the imagination, has enlarged the range of subjects, has embodied lessons for children of older growth, and feels that altogether, it will meet more fully the demands which its already large sales warrant her in believing to exist.

She can ask no more favorable reception than was first met; but, hoping for a continuance of the same, she trusts that as it becomes more widely distributed, its truths and teachings will be impressed upon household after household, till throughout the land, the little ones, and larger, too, shall be influenced thereby.

MRS. E. P. M.

{9}

CONTENTS

WHY FLY AWAY, MOTHER GOOSE,	13
TOSS THE BABY,	14
PAT-A-CAKE, PAT-A-CAKE,	15
HEY, MY KITTEN, MY KITTEN,	16
WINKUM, WINKUM,	17
BABY'S BELL,	18
WILLY-NILLY,	19
BABY'S RECORD,	20
SLEEP, LITTLE SWEETEY,	22
NEVER TELL A FIB,	23
HUMPTY-DUMPTY,	24
HUSH-A-BYE,	26
DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH,	30
BYE-BABY-BUNTING,	31
TO BED WITH THE CHICKENS,	32
DIVE ME SUDAR,	33
TAUSE I'M TROSS,	34
THE NEW BOOK	36
WHISKUM, WHISKUM,	37
THE JACK-HORSE,	38
HI-DIDDLE DIDDLE,	39
THE RAIN,	40
FEED THE BIRDIES,	41
ROCK-A-BYE,	42
THE SNOWBALL,	49
LITTLE BO-PEEP,	50
THE TEA PARTY,	51
TELL IT AGAIN, MOTHER,	52
LITTLE JACK HORNER,	54
LITTLE BOY BLUE,	55
MISS VELVET PAWS,	56
POLLY HOPKINS,	57
A, B, C,	58
C-A-T SPELLS CAT,	64
THE KITTEN,	67
DOLLY DIMPLE,	70
IF YOU PLEASE,	75
THE POOR LITTLE CHICK-A-DEES,	76
HEIGH-HO, DAISIES AND BUTTERCUPS,	80
THE PONY,	81
BABY'S RECKONING,	86
TWO LITTLE PINK SHOES,	88
BABY PEARL,	90
MY VALENTINE,	91
FEE-FI-FO-FUM,	92
THE OXEN,	100
THE BROKEN PITCHER,	104
THE ELEPHANTS,	105
THE WIND, THE FOG, THE RAIN, THE SNOW,	106
TRUTH,	110
HI DIDDLE, HO-DIDDLE,	112
WHAT IS THE AXIS,	116
HEAT AND COLD,	119
HARLEY'S DREAM,	120
OUR LANGUAGE KEY,	123
THE SPEECH FAMILY,	124
NUMBER AND GENDER,	126
ONE LITTLE CHICKEN,	127
LETTERS,	128
WORDS,	129
A SMILE,	131
TWINKLE, TWINKLE,	132
OLD SOL IN A JINGLE,	134
"ROBERT OF LINCOLN,"	137
LIMPY-DIMPY-DINGLE,	138
CASTLE WONDERFUL,	140
THE RATTLE OF THE BONES	148
WHOLLY HOLE-Y,	153
THE BREATH O' LIFE,	156
THREE LITTLE GIRLS,	157
TEMPERANCE CHILD,	158
LISTEN, CHILDREN,	159
TICK-TOCK, TICK-TOCK,	160
CURIOUS TREES; THE COW TREE, THE SUGAR-PINE, THE BUTTER-TREE, THE BREAD-FRUIT TREE, THE CLOVE-TREE,	161
THE TREE VILLAGE,	166
NO EYES,	168
THE MAMMOTH CAVE,	170
THE CAMELS,	172
KEY NOTES,	177
THE BEARS,	178
THE BEAR, A BLESSING,	181
FRUITS,	183
THE RACCOON,	184
THE BANK SWALLOWS,	190
THE MOCKING BIRD,	194
THE BUSY BEES,	196
HONEY-SWEET,	205
WHAT THEY SAY,	208
BRITAIN'S RULERS,	215
OUR LAND,	218
SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC,	220
GRAPHO,	223
THE STOP FAMILY,	226
LITTLE MISCHIEF,	229
GRANDMA'S CANARY,	233
BABY'S FAITH,	236
THE MEADOW QUAILS,	238
THE LITTLE HOUSEWIFE,	240
MOTHER-LOVE,	242
IT SNOWS! IT SNOWS!	244
AN OLD SAW,	247
THE DANDELION BLOSSOM,	248
SUNSHINE,	250
OUR ETHEL,	250
LITTLE GIRL'S LETTER TO GOD,	254
GRANDMA'S LESSONS,	258
MY LITTLE FOUR YEAR OLD,	260
HANDSOME DICK,	261
BESSIE'S KISSES,	266
THE DINNER POT,	267
NANNY'S PLAY,	268
NANNY'S LESSON,	272
NANNY'S RIDE,	276
THE RACE,	283
OUR KENNETH,	284
MY TEN YEAR'S OLD,	287
DARE TO SAY NO,	288
ASK MOTHER; TELL MOTHER,	291
DON'T TELL A LIE,	292
LITTLE MOSES,	294
THE CHILDREN'S RAILROAD,	298
THE PHOEBE'S NEST IN THE OLD WELL WHEEL,	304
MABEL'S SNOW-FEATHERS	306
FOREST TREES,	310
CHILDHOOD FANCIES,	312
LIZZIE AND THE ANGELS,	317
CHILD MEMORIES,	324
NELLY AND NED,	326
THE CLAMBERERS,	329
THE NEW WHITE JATTET,	330
REMEMBER THE POOR,	331
THE LITTLE STREET SWEEPER,	332
THE HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE FAMILY,	338
QUIRKS,	345
SOMEBODY'S BOY,	346
THE LADDIE-AND LASSIE BIRDS,	348
THE GREAT WATCH FULL I,	352

{13}

MOTHER TRUTH'S MELODIES.

WHY FLY AWAY, MOTHER GOOSE?

"MOTHER GOOSE, Mother Goose,
    Why fly away?"
"Because Mother Truth is
    A-coming to-day.
She'll tell you funny things,
    But they'll be true;
She'll bring you pictures
    So charming and new;
      She'll sing you Melodies, helping to show
      How, to true women and men, you may grow."

{14}

TOSS THE BABY.

Toss the baby high in air;
Catch him though, with special care
Lest his little back be strained,
Lest his little joints be sprained,
Lest his bones be bent or broken;

Lest through life he bear some token
Of a careless toss or fall,
That for sympathy shall call,
And that must forever be
Painful to our memory.

{15}

PAT-A-CAKE, PAT-A-CAKE.

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake,
    Mamma's boy,
Laughing and crowing,
    And jumping with joy;
Roll it, and pick it and mark it with B,
    And toss in the oven for Baby and me.

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake,
    Papa's girl,
Springing in baby-glee,
    Shaking her curl;
Roll it and pick it and mark it with G,
    And toss in the oven for Girly and me.

{16}

HEY, MY KITTEN, MY KITTEN.

    Hey, my kitten, my kitten,
    Hey, my kitten, my deary;
If Mamma should feed him too often,
    He never could be so cheery.
    Here we go up, up, up.
And here we go down, down, down-y.
If we never feed baby too much,
    He never will give us a frown-y.

    Hey, my kitten, my kitten,
    Hey, my kitten, my deary;
We'll put him to bed with the birdies,
    And that will make him so cheery!
    Here we go up, up, up,
And here we go down, down, down-y;
If we give him nothing but smiles,
    He will give us never a frown-y.

{17}

WINKUM, WINKUM.

Winkum, winkum, shut your eye,
Sweet, my baby, lullaby;
For the dew is falling soft,
Lights are flickering up aloft,
And the head-light's peeping over
Yonder hill-top capped with clover;
Chickens long have gone to rest,
Birds lie snug within their nest,
And my birdie soon will be
Sleeping with the chick-a-dee,
For with only half a try,
Winkum, winkum, shuts her eye.

{18}

BABY'S BELL.

Jingle! jingle! baby's bell;
What a tale its tongue might tell.
Could it speak it sure would say,
"When the baby's tired with play,
And is getting cross, don't try
To jingle bells, but hush-a-bye;
All so still, now crooning low,
Lull-a-bye, bye-o, bye-o,--
Quiet down his quaking nerves,
Soothe him as his state deserves;--
Passing hand from head to feet,
Sl-o-w-l-y, softly, loving, sweet,
As to smooth the feathers down,
Rumpled, from your birdling's crown;-- {19} See, he sleeps, and in his dream
Yours may hand of angel seem,
Raveling out the tangled ills,
Knitting up with restful thrills."

WILLY-NILLY.

Willy-Nilly, birdy sings,
    For he's running over
With the music that he flings
    To his sweet bird-lover;--
Willy-nilly, baby laughs,
   Gay and glad and gleeful;
Brimming over high with health,
    She is always playful.

{20}

BABY'S RECORD.

New-born baby, soft and pink,
Of the two worlds on the brink.

One month old,--eat and sleep;
Precious little human heap.

Two months old,--tear and smile;
Fists in mouth and eyes the while.

Three months old,--"goo-a-goo,"
Windows wide where soul looks through.

Four months old,--finds his toes,
Tries to fix them on his nose. {21}
Five months old,--first wee pearl;
All the household in a whirl.

Six months old,--sits alone;
Wishes swaddling clothes were gone.

Seven months old,--creep and crawl,
Wonder-eyed, a charm to all.

Eight months old,--confiscate
Pussy's tail and papa's pate.

Nine months old,--roguish eyes
Deepening daily; wilful, wise.

Ten months old,--witching ways
Wind us in; the baby pays!

Eleven months old,--finger-tip
Guides the elfin on his trip.

Year old,--lots of mischief done;
Walking, talking, just for fun.

{22}

SLEEP, LITTLE SWEETEY.

Sleep now, my sweetey,
Dear one, and pretty!
Weary with playing,
Weary with straying,
Stop little thinkers,
Shut little winkers;
Sleep, little sweetey,
Precious and pretty.

Sleep now, my sweetey,
Dear One, and pretty!
Stop little thinkers,
Shut little winkers,
Angels a-watching
Sleep-doors unlatching;
Slip in, my sweetey,
Precious and pretty!

Sleeping, my sweetey,
Dear one, and pretty!
Stopped, little thinkers,
Shut, little winkers,
Angels a-watching,
Sleep-doors are latching;
Slipped in, my sweetey,
Precious and pretty!

{23}

NEVER TELL A FIB.

If mamma says she'll punish,
    She must do it, or she tells
A fib, as Sister Annie
    Told "a story" 'bout the bells;
And if mamma tells a fib,
    Then surely children will,
And what a fearful thing,
    Our home with fibs to fill!

{24}

HUMPTY--DUMPTY.

    Humpty-Dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop,
Baby is crying, why doesn't he stop?
What does he cry for? his clothing is tight;
No wonder such things make baby a fright.

    Humpty-dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop,
Baby was crying, but now he will stop;
What did he cry for? his clothing was wet;
No wonder such things should make babies fret.

    Humpty-dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop,
Baby is crying, oh, when will he stop?
What does he cry for? his feet are a-cold;
No wonder such things should make baby scold. {25}
    Humpty-dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop,
Baby is crying, but soon he will stop;
What does he cry for? he had too much food;
No baby in this way can ever be good.

    Humpty-dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop,
Baby is laughing and scarcely will stop;
What does he laugh for? Oh, when he feels well,
He always is happy,--'tis thus we can tell.

{26}

HUSH-A-BYE.

Hush-a-bye, baby,
    On Grandmother's lap;
Hush-a-bye, baby,
    And take a nice nap;
Hush-a-bye, baby,
    What is it you say?
Your "teeth are a-coming,"
You're "ten months to-day;"
Well, babies must cry,
And Grandmothers must try
To comfort and hush them, but never forget
    The little gums ache,
    And little nerves quake,
Till little lips quiver, and babies must fret.

Hush-a-bye, baby,
    We'll cool his hot gums,
Hush-a-bye, baby,
    With tiny ice-crumbs;
Hush-a-bye, baby,
    We'll rub hard and long
With icy-cold finger,--
    See him list to my song! {27}
Ah, babies are sweet
If their wants we but meet,
So why should we blame them when fretful and cross?
    Let us find what is wrong,
    And remove it ere long,
And we'll see that time thus spent is never a loss.

Hush-a-bye, baby,
    What more can we do
Hush-a-bye, baby,
    That will comfort you?
Hush-a-bye, baby,
    We'll lay you down flat,
On your stomach, dear baby,
    On Grandmother's lap. {28}
    Nor trot you a mite,
    No matter how slight,
But, sure that your clothing is all dry and neat,
    We'll loosen each band,
    And with soft and warm hand,
Gently rub you all over from head to your feet.

Hush-a-bye, baby,
    We will not forget,
Hush-a-bye, baby,
    That hands may be wet,
Hush-a-bye, baby,
    And soothe you sometimes,
When dry hands won't do it,
    Hush, list to my rhymes! {29}
    And now we'll not nurse
    Till the nursing's a curse;
Nor dose you, nor drug you, nor feed with sweet-meats;
    Nor to soothe, will we try,
    With old "Dame Winslow" by,
For our hopes for the babies, she ever defeats.

Hush-a-bye, baby,
    We'll quiet his nerves,
Hush-a-bye, baby,
    The truth it deserves--
Hush-a-bye, baby--
    Even here to be known :
We will quiet his nerves    By just calming our own! And our baby will feel
    The sweet hush o'er him steal,
That brings with it soothing and comfort and rest;
And to slumber so soft,
His spirit we'll waft,
And then lay him away in his own baby nest.

{30}

DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH.

Dear Mamma, I've been laughing
    For Uncle Ben and Pa,
And then for sister Lizzie
    I talked "ar-g o-o" and "gar;"
And then a "little story"
    For Dick and Cousin Jane,--
And now you, Mamma, want me
    To laugh and talk again.

I'd like to do it,
    Mamma, but if I even try,
I am so weary with it,
    I'm sure I'd only cry!
Don't let them try, dear Mamma,
    to make me laugh and crow,
I'll do it when I'm able,
    for babies always do.

{31}

BYE-BABY-BUNTING.

BYE-BABY-BUNTING,
The Indians live by hunting,
And bring home many a beaver-skin
To wrap the little pappoose in.
And mother-squaw the baby'll tie
Fast on a board, and swinging high,
Will hang it up among the trees
To rock-a-bye with every breeze;
But our dear baby, snug and warm,
Shall rock-a-bye on mother's arm.

{32}

TO BED WITH THE CHICKENS.

Oh, put me in my bed, Mamma,
    When chickens go to rest,
For I'm your little chick-a-dee,
    So put me in my nest.

Yes, when the birds forget to sing,
    And lambs forget to play,
You'll put your birdy in his nest,
    Your lamb you'll fold away.

{33}

DIVE ME SUDAR.

Papa, when you dive me tandy,
    Dive me only white,--
'Tause there's poison in the tolored,
    Which my health will blight;
But you better dive me sudar,
    Let the tandy be,--
'Tause I shall not want so much,
    And that is best for me.

{34}

'TAUSE I'M TROSS

Mamma, 'tause I'm tross don't whip me;
    I tan't help it, not a bit!
'Tis the tandy hurts my stomat,
    And that mates me whine and fret.
Sometimes, too, I'm whipped for trossness
    When the trossness tomes from meat;      {35} Thint how tiders drowl and drumble,
    And then dive me food to eat
That will mate me well and happy,--
    Wheat and oat-meal, rice and truit,
These will mate me dood and gentle,
    'Stead of mating me a brute.

{36}

THE NEW BOOK.

COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO,
A picture-book for you,--
Keep it nice, and in a trice
Sing Cock-a-doodle-doo.

{37}

WHISKUM, WHISKUM.

Whiskum, whiskum, over the house,
Scud the cloudlets, still as a mouse;
Whiskum, whiskum, by-and-by
They'll pour rain-drops from the sky.

{38}

THE JACK-HORSE.

We will ride our Jack-horse
All the meadows across;
    Oh no, do not whip him,
    But feed him, my dear!
A handful of grass
In his mouth as we pass,
    Will make him trot gaily,
    And give us good cheer!

{39}

HI-DIDDLE-DIDDLE.

    HI-DIDDLE-DIDDLE
Mother duck's in the middle,
Her baby-ducks swimming around;
    With bills like a ladle,
    And feet like a paddle,
No danger that they will be drowned

{40}

THE RAIN.

    Come, rain, come,
    That the water may run,
That the meadow grass may grow;
    That the fruit and grain
    O'er hill and plain,
May greet us as we go.

    Come, rain, come,
    That the water may run,
That the mill may make our meal;--
    'Twill grind our wheat,
    And corn so sweet,
When it turns the old mill-wheel.

Mother Truth's Melodies. Common Sense For Children. A Kindergarten

About This Book

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Mother Truth's Melodies. Common Sense For Children. A Kindergarten

MOTHER TRUTH'S MELODIES. COMMON SENSE FOR CHILDREN.

MOTHER TRUTH'S MELODIES.

COMMON SENSE FOR CHILDREN.