The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Runaway Donkey, and Other Rhymes for Children
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: The Runaway Donkey, and Other Rhymes for Children
Author: Emilie Poulsson
Illustrator: L. J. Bridgman
Release date: September 15, 2014 [eBook #46861]
Most recently updated: October 24, 2024
Language: English
Credits: Produced by David Edwards, Haragos Pál and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
file was produced from images generously made available
by The Internet Archive)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RUNAWAY DONKEY, AND OTHER RHYMES FOR CHILDREN ***
"Whoa, Barney!" shouted Helen,
When off he dashed, "Whoa, whoa!"
And both the girls chased after him
As fast as they could go. (Page 81.)
THE
RUNAWAY DONKEY
AND OTHER
RHYMES FOR CHILDREN
BY
EMILIE POULSSON
AUTHOR OF "FINGER PLAYS FOR NURSERY AND KINDERGARTEN,"
"THROUGH THE FARMYARD GATE," "CHILD
STORIES AND RHYMES"
ILLUSTRATED BY L. J. BRIDGMAN
BOSTON
LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD COMPANY
Published, August, 1905.
Copyright, 1905, by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Company.
All Rights Reserved.
The Runaway Donkey.
PREFACE
Several of the rhymed stories in this book are true stories, and children may enjoy them the more for knowing that Barney, a real donkey, did run away and play pranks as the rhymes say; that Midget did ride horseback; that the deer did toss the hay to the hungry pony; and that Queen Victoria did restore the birds' nesting-place in the old round tower at Windsor. Pony Rollo, too, is a real character, clever and lovable, although some liberties have been taken in the portrayal of him and his doings. Barney Gray is still living, petted by his now grown-up owners and enjoyed by all children who visit the farm to which the donkey came about twenty years ago, and a drive with Barney is quite as likely now as in former days to have unexpected features.
The pictures of Barney and some of the other pets have been drawn by Mr. Bridgman from photographs taken expressly for this book.
In the belief that such rhymes as are herein offered gratify and increase in children both the love of animals and the sense of humor, this new volume is sent forth not only to give pleasure, but to contribute what it may to the fostering of these desirable traits.
Kindergartners will find here, as in Through the Farmyard Gate, suitable material for kindergarten use; for example, the cumulative rhyme, The Pigeons, and the tracing-back rhyme, Who Gives us Our Thanksgiving Dinner?
For courteous permission to use such of these rhymes as have already appeared
in print, acknowledgments are made to publishers and periodicals as follows: The
Century Company, New York (St. Nicholas); S. E. Cassino, Salem, Massachusetts
(Little Folks); and Milton Bradley Co., Springfield, Massachusetts (Kindergarten
Review).
EMILIE POULSSON.
Boston, Mass., 1905.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
|---|---|
| The Runaway Donkey | 1 |
| The Pony Rollo Rhymes:— | |
| I. The Pony Needed | 11 |
| II. The Pony's Arrival | 14 |
| III. The Pony's Tricks | 18 |
| IV. The Pony Named | 22 |
| V. The Pony and Teddy | 24 |
| VI. The Pony as Cowboy | 28 |
| VII. The Check-rein Story | 33 |
| VIII. Pony Rollo and Little Dog Midget | 37 |
| The Kindly Deer | 42 |
| Farm Voices | 46 |
| By Favor of the Queen | 48 |
| The Pigeons | 52 |
| The Child and the Pigeons | 56 |
| Who gives us our Thanksgiving Dinner? | 57 |
| Clothes | 60 |
| At the Pond | 63 |
| The Ballad of the Bumptious Boy | 67 |
| The Noisy Rhyme | 70 |
| The Donkey's Ears | 72 |
| Old Barney's Latest Prank | 74 |
THE RUNAWAY DONKEY
A sturdy little donkey,
All dressed in sober gray,
Once took it in his long-eared head
That he would run away.
All dressed in sober gray,
Once took it in his long-eared head
That he would run away.
So, when a little open
He saw the stable door,
He ran as if he never would
Come back there any more.
He saw the stable door,
He ran as if he never would
Come back there any more.
Away that donkey galloped
And ran and ran and ran
And ran and ran and ran and ran
And RAN and RAN and RAN!
And ran and ran and ran
And ran and ran and ran and ran
And RAN and RAN and RAN!
Behind him ran the children,
The groom and coachman, too;
The groom and coachman, too;
The farmer and the farmer's man,
To see what they could do.
To see what they could do.
Some carried whips to whip him;
Some, oats to coax him near;
Some called, "Come here, you foolish beast!"
And some, "Come, Barney, dear."
Some, oats to coax him near;
Some called, "Come here, you foolish beast!"
And some, "Come, Barney, dear."
But not a whit cared Barney
For cross or coaxing word;
And clatter, clatter, clatter still,
His little hoofs were heard.
For cross or coaxing word;
And clatter, clatter, clatter still,
His little hoofs were heard.
And all across the meadow,
And up and o'er the hill,
And through the woods and down the dale
He galloped with a will.
And up and o'er the hill,
And through the woods and down the dale
He galloped with a will.
And into every hay field
And through the swamp and mire
Still Barney ran and ran and ran
As if he'd never tire!
And through the swamp and mire
Still Barney ran and ran and ran
As if he'd never tire!
His chasers all stopped running;
Then meek as any lamb
Did Barney stand, as if to say,
"Come catch me! Here I am."
Then meek as any lamb
Did Barney stand, as if to say,
"Come catch me! Here I am."
But when one of them started,
Then Barney started too;
As if the chase had just begun,
Away he swiftly flew.
Then Barney started too;
As if the chase had just begun,
Away he swiftly flew.
But there's an end to all things,
And so, the stupid elf,
When no one else could capture him
This donkey caught himself.
And so, the stupid elf,
When no one else could capture him
This donkey caught himself.
For, running in the barnyard,
He did not calculate
What consequences would befall,
And hit the swinging gate.
He did not calculate
What consequences would befall,
And hit the swinging gate.
It quickly swung together;
Down dropped the iron latch.
Oh, Barney Gray, to think that you
The runaway should catch!
Down dropped the iron latch.
Oh, Barney Gray, to think that you
The runaway should catch!
The children danced with pleasure,
The groom roared with delight,
The others smiled their broadest smiles
Or laughed with all their might.
The groom roared with delight,
The others smiled their broadest smiles
Or laughed with all their might.
But Barney, naughty Barney,
Had mischief in him still;
For when the laughing coachman tried
To lead him up the hill,
Had mischief in him still;
For when the laughing coachman tried
To lead him up the hill,
His donkeyship determined
That he would yet have fun,
So braced himself and stood stock still
As if he weighed a ton!
That he would yet have fun,
So braced himself and stood stock still
As if he weighed a ton!
But mighty was the coachman
And pulled with such a will
That Barney soon was being dragged
Full roughly up the hill.
And pulled with such a will
That Barney soon was being dragged
Full roughly up the hill.
"Well, well!" at last thought Barney,
"The coachman is so strong,
I might as well be good just now,"
And so he walked along.
"The coachman is so strong,
I might as well be good just now,"
And so he walked along.
And when he reached the stable
And stood within his stall
You'd scarce believe so meek a beast
Could run away at all!
And stood within his stall
You'd scarce believe so meek a beast
Could run away at all!
But all the meditations
Of this meek Barney Gray
Are only of some future time
When he may run away.
Of this meek Barney Gray
Are only of some future time
When he may run away.
PONY ROLLO RHYMES
I. THE PONY NEEDED
Barney was the children's donkey,
Full of tricks was he,
But no beast of sober merits
More beloved could be.
Full of tricks was he,
But no beast of sober merits
More beloved could be.
Though to tricksy little Barney
They were loyal yet,
All the children coaxed and pleaded
For another pet.
They were loyal yet,
All the children coaxed and pleaded
For another pet.
Yes, they wanted now a pony,
One which they could ride.
"Ride on Barney?" that suggestion
Shows you never tried.
One which they could ride.
"Ride on Barney?" that suggestion
Shows you never tried.
For with double donkey firmness
Barney's mind is set
That he never will be ridden.
(Never has been yet!)
Barney's mind is set
That he never will be ridden.
(Never has been yet!)
Barney has a plan of action,
Simple, clear, and bold;
And the fate of would-be riders
Can be well foretold.
Simple, clear, and bold;
And the fate of would-be riders
Can be well foretold.
Puffing, swelling, artful Barney
Rounds his body out
Till the strap will scarcely fasten,
He has grown so stout!
Rounds his body out
Till the strap will scarcely fasten,
He has grown so stout!
When at last the girth is buckled
By the coachman's might,
Lo! how freely slips the saddle,
Which was thought so tight.
By the coachman's might,
Lo! how freely slips the saddle,
Which was thought so tight.
Since his trick has made the saddle
Loose and insecure,
Barney's face is meek and placid,
Of success he's sure.
Loose and insecure,
Barney's face is meek and placid,
Of success he's sure.
When the daring would-be rider
Mounts the donkey's back,
Barney seems resigned: and starting,
Trots along till—Whack!
Mounts the donkey's back,
Barney seems resigned: and starting,
Trots along till—Whack!
Tableau—Barney standing pensive
With a guileless stare.
In the dust or mud, the rider!
How did he get there?
With a guileless stare.
In the dust or mud, the rider!
How did he get there?
Many riders, big and little,
Many times have tried;
No one ever mastered Barney,—
Ever had a ride.
Many times have tried;
No one ever mastered Barney,—
Ever had a ride.
And since Barney is so stub—well,
Firm, at any rate,
Till a pony comes, the children
Must for riding wait.
Firm, at any rate,
Till a pony comes, the children
Must for riding wait.
II. THE PONY'S ARRIVAL
"Here's the pony! here's the pony!"
Fast the tidings flew
As the longed-for pony trotted
Up the avenue.
Fast the tidings flew
As the longed-for pony trotted
Up the avenue.
And the children, such news hearing,
Quickly gathered near;
Saw and loved the pretty creature,
Voted him "a dear."
Quickly gathered near;
Saw and loved the pretty creature,
Voted him "a dear."
"Father! Mother! Come and see him!"
"Auntie, do come! do!"
"Hurry, nurse, and let the baby
See the pony, too."
"Auntie, do come! do!"
"Hurry, nurse, and let the baby
See the pony, too."
"Oh, at last we've got a pony,"
Cried the children all.
"Every one must come to see him,
Call the people! call!"
Cried the children all.
"Every one must come to see him,
Call the people! call!"
From the farm and from the garden,
From each household nook,
Men and maids with pleasure hastened
At the pet to look.
From each household nook,
Men and maids with pleasure hastened
At the pet to look.
Close around the gentle pony
Did the children crowd,
Patting, stroking, gazing, praising,
Eager, fond, and proud.
Did the children crowd,
Patting, stroking, gazing, praising,
Eager, fond, and proud.
Near them flocked the grown-up people,
With admiring eyes.
For 'twas plain the pretty pony
Was a wondrous prize.
With admiring eyes.
For 'twas plain the pretty pony
Was a wondrous prize.
Such a shape! and such a color!
Such a mane and tail!
Legs so slender, hoofs so dainty,
Words to picture fail.
Such a mane and tail!
Legs so slender, hoofs so dainty,
Words to picture fail.
And not only for his beauty
Did he merit praise,
But for all his tricks so clever,
And his gentle ways.
Did he merit praise,
But for all his tricks so clever,
And his gentle ways.
III. THE PONY'S TRICKS
"Shake hands, pony," said the coachman.
Quickly, at command,
Pony placed his forefoot gently
In the coachman's hand.
Quickly, at command,
Pony placed his forefoot gently
In the coachman's hand.
"Pony," said the coachman, slowly,
"I have heard it said
That you're fond of oats for supper;"
Pony bowed his head.
"I have heard it said
That you're fond of oats for supper;"
Pony bowed his head.
"What! Another trick! Oh, watch him!"
"Pony, show them now
How you like to roll and frolic;
Roll, sir! You know how!"
"Pony, show them now
How you like to roll and frolic;
Roll, sir! You know how!"
Down upon the grass went pony,
Rolled from side to side.
And the children watched his capers
With delight and pride.
Rolled from side to side.
And the children watched his capers
With delight and pride.
In the stable pony showed them
He knew one trick more.
With his nose the latch he lifted
Of the stable door.
He knew one trick more.
With his nose the latch he lifted
Of the stable door.
"Ha, ha!" said the coachman, gayly,
"I'll look out for you!
Stable doors by ponies opened?
That would never do!"
"I'll look out for you!
Stable doors by ponies opened?
That would never do!"
"Oh! the cunning little fellow!
How much he does know!"
Laughed the children, "He's as funny
As a circus show!"
How much he does know!"
Laughed the children, "He's as funny
As a circus show!"
IV. THE PONY NAMED.
With them all, the pretty pony
Was the theme for days;
Parents, children, groom, and coachman
Joined in words of praise.
Was the theme for days;
Parents, children, groom, and coachman
Joined in words of praise.
Soon arose the weighty question
What his name should be,
And the children long debated
Ere they could agree.
What his name should be,
And the children long debated
Ere they could agree.
"Call him 'Beauty.'" "That's too common!"
"Merrylegs." "Too long!"
Gipsy, Bijou, Firefly, Diamond,
Names in plenty throng.
"Merrylegs." "Too long!"
Gipsy, Bijou, Firefly, Diamond,
Names in plenty throng.
But, not suited yet, the children
One and all discard.
If the pony were less precious,
Choice would be less hard!
One and all discard.
If the pony were less precious,
Choice would be less hard!
But at last they named him "Rollo,"
Saying, "For you know
One of his best tricks is rolling,
And he loves it so."
Saying, "For you know
One of his best tricks is rolling,
And he loves it so."
And ere long the clever pony
To the children came
From the stall or from the pasture
When they called his name.
To the children came
From the stall or from the pasture
When they called his name.
V. THE PONY AND TEDDY
Pony Rollo was a beauty,
As you've heard before,
But his beautiful behavior
Made him loved the more.
As you've heard before,
But his beautiful behavior
Made him loved the more.
When upon his back he carried
Children large or small,
With what care went Pony Rollo
Lest the child should fall.
Children large or small,
With what care went Pony Rollo
Lest the child should fall.
Patient, docile Pony Rollo
Did so well his part
That the children very quickly
Gained the rider's art.
Did so well his part
That the children very quickly
Gained the rider's art.
But one day not even Rollo
Could a fall prevent,
And the reckless little Teddy
From the saddle went.
Could a fall prevent,
And the reckless little Teddy
From the saddle went.
There he lay beneath the pony,
All in quaking dread.
Oh! those heavy hoofs would surely
On him quickly tread!
All in quaking dread.
Oh! those heavy hoofs would surely
On him quickly tread!
But the knowing little pony,
Wise as he is good,
Lifting not a hoof, nor moving,
Like a statue stood.
Wise as he is good,
Lifting not a hoof, nor moving,
Like a statue stood.
Waiting, waiting, Pony Rollo
Still as marble kept,
Till the frightened, grateful Teddy
From beneath had crept.
Still as marble kept,
Till the frightened, grateful Teddy
From beneath had crept.
Then was Rollo more than ever
Feasted and caressed,
And pronounced of all good ponies
Wisest, dearest, best.
Feasted and caressed,
And pronounced of all good ponies
Wisest, dearest, best.
VI. THE PONY AS COWBOY
Oh! the flurry and the bustle!
Weeks of seashore joys
Were in store for all the children.
"Ready, girls and boys!"
Weeks of seashore joys
Were in store for all the children.
"Ready, girls and boys!"
But the children lingered, lingered
At the stable door;
"Good-by, Barney," "Good-by, Rollo,"
Saying yet once more.
At the stable door;
"Good-by, Barney," "Good-by, Rollo,"
Saying yet once more.
"Don't forget us, Rollo, Barney,
We'll come back again!
And more fun we'll have together,
Riding, driving then."
We'll come back again!
And more fun we'll have together,
Riding, driving then."
Then to Barney and to Rollo
Soon there came a change.
With the absence of the children
Life seemed new and strange.
Soon there came a change.
With the absence of the children
Life seemed new and strange.
Barney Gray was sent to pasture
With the lambs and sheep,
There to run and roll in freedom,
Kick and prance and leap.
With the lambs and sheep,
There to run and roll in freedom,
Kick and prance and leap.
Still more lonely then was Rollo,
But he, too, found joy,
For the care of him was given
To the farmer's boy.
But he, too, found joy,
For the care of him was given
To the farmer's boy.
In the golden summer weather,
Happy little Jack
Drove the cows, from pasture daily,
On the pony's back.
Happy little Jack
Drove the cows, from pasture daily,
On the pony's back.
Down the road the cattle straggled;—
If they turned aside,
Then would Jack with much halloaing
Toward them quickly ride.
If they turned aside,
Then would Jack with much halloaing
Toward them quickly ride.
"There goes Brindle! At her, Rollo!
Now for Lady Bess!
There! Good pony! We can keep them
In the road, I guess!"
Now for Lady Bess!
There! Good pony! We can keep them
In the road, I guess!"
And the pony, clever fellow,
Learned so well the knack,
That to drive the cows he scarcely
Needed help from Jack.
Learned so well the knack,
That to drive the cows he scarcely
Needed help from Jack.
Let a cow but turn a little
From the road to stray,
In an instant Rollo joined her,
And, as if in play.
From the road to stray,
In an instant Rollo joined her,
And, as if in play.
He would push the truant gently
With his velvet nose,
Till she yielded to his guiding,
And the right way chose.
With his velvet nose,
Till she yielded to his guiding,
And the right way chose.
When the children from the seashore
Back to Rollo came,
As a cowboy had their pony
Won some extra fame.
Back to Rollo came,
As a cowboy had their pony
Won some extra fame.
VII. THE CHECK-REIN STORY
Pony Rollo clattered gayly
Through the farmyard gate,
Oh! such news! such news for Dobbin!
Scarcely could he wait.
Through the farmyard gate,
Oh! such news! such news for Dobbin!
Scarcely could he wait.
When at last the barn was fastened
And they were alone,
Pony Rollo told his story
In most joyful tone.
And they were alone,
Pony Rollo told his story
In most joyful tone.
"Oh! this morning as I trotted
I could plainly hear
What they said,—my little lady
And her mother dear.
I could plainly hear
What they said,—my little lady
And her mother dear.
"They were talking of the check-rein,
And at last they said:
'Pony Rollo need not wear it!'
Then I tossed my head,
And at last they said:
'Pony Rollo need not wear it!'
Then I tossed my head,
"And I shook my mane and whinnied.
'Why, he understands!'
Said my little lady, laughing.
Then with her own hands
'Why, he understands!'
Said my little lady, laughing.
Then with her own hands
"Off she took the check-rein, Dobbin,
Chatting fast the while.
'There! you darling Pony Rollo,
We won't care for style.
Chatting fast the while.
'There! you darling Pony Rollo,
We won't care for style.
"'You shan't wear the horrid check-rein,
Little pony mine;
And we'll both be just as happy
If we're not so fine.'
Little pony mine;
And we'll both be just as happy
If we're not so fine.'
"That I held my head up proudly
As I tried to show
All my joy in this new freedom
You will surely know.
As I tried to show
All my joy in this new freedom
You will surely know.
"And I heard them,—Yes, I heard them
Say the time was near
When all check-reins should be banished;
And,—now you shall hear!—
Say the time was near
When all check-reins should be banished;
And,—now you shall hear!—
"Then they said, old Dobbin's check-rein
No more would they use!
There!" said joyful Pony Rollo,
"Isn't that good news?"
No more would they use!
There!" said joyful Pony Rollo,
"Isn't that good news?"
Boy or girl with horse or pony
Which you love full well,
Has he any check-rein story
Glad as this to tell?
Which you love full well,
Has he any check-rein story
Glad as this to tell?
VIII. PONY ROLLO AND LITTLE DOG MIDGET
Midget, little Midget,
Was the household pet,
And his pretty cunning ways
Ne'er can we forget.
Was the household pet,
And his pretty cunning ways
Ne'er can we forget.
Trotting legs the nimblest,
Liveliest of tails,
Such a bark for yelps of joy,
Or for saddest wails!
Liveliest of tails,
Such a bark for yelps of joy,
Or for saddest wails!
Fluffy little Midget,
When he quiet lay
Seemed a bunch of shaded floss,
Silky, soft, and gray.
When he quiet lay
Seemed a bunch of shaded floss,
Silky, soft, and gray.
But a whispered "Midget,"
Or the merest sound,
And the mop of silken hair
Life and voice soon found.
Or the merest sound,
And the mop of silken hair
Life and voice soon found.
Standing up and begging,
Fetching back a ball;
Playing dead, but roused to life
At his master's call.
Fetching back a ball;
Playing dead, but roused to life
At his master's call.
Holding tempting morsels
On his pert black nose;
From the farmer's field of corn
Driving off the crows.
On his pert black nose;
From the farmer's field of corn
Driving off the crows.
Bringing Father's slippers,
Jumping high in air,
Mother's basket carrying
With a pompous air.
Jumping high in air,
Mother's basket carrying
With a pompous air.
These and all his other
Tricks of doggish skill,
Midget would at any time
Do with eager will.
Tricks of doggish skill,
Midget would at any time
Do with eager will.
But his pet performance,
And his greatest pride,
Was to mount the pony's back,
There to sit and ride.
And his greatest pride,
Was to mount the pony's back,
There to sit and ride.
At the signal "Bravo!
Thank the pony now!"
Down the little dog would jump
With a sharp "Bow-wow!"
Thank the pony now!"
Down the little dog would jump
With a sharp "Bow-wow!"
Pretty little doggies
Just of Midget's kind,
Lively, clever, full of tricks,
You will often find.
Just of Midget's kind,
Lively, clever, full of tricks,
You will often find.
Which of them is Midget
You can surely tell
By this horseback-riding trick
That he does so well.
You can surely tell
By this horseback-riding trick
That he does so well.
The End
OF
PONY ROLLO RHYMES
THE KINDLY DEER
Trottety trot! Oh, the ponies prance
And gayly their little hoofs sound!
For they caper and frisk as they trot along,
Away to the tethering ground.
And gayly their little hoofs sound!
For they caper and frisk as they trot along,
Away to the tethering ground.
Stampety stamp! Yes, they must be tied
Or else they will scamper away;
For it's "Oh! for a gallop and good free run!"
These frolicsome ponies would say.
Or else they will scamper away;
For it's "Oh! for a gallop and good free run!"
These frolicsome ponies would say.
Trampety tramp! Now the master comes!
Sweet hay he is bringing to each.
But there's one hungry pony whose share all goes
Far out of the poor fellow's reach.
Sweet hay he is bringing to each.
But there's one hungry pony whose share all goes
Far out of the poor fellow's reach.
Pullety pull! How the pony pulls!
He stretches and tugs, might and main.
But the hay, every wisp, so far away lies
That all Pony's tugging is vain.
He stretches and tugs, might and main.
But the hay, every wisp, so far away lies
That all Pony's tugging is vain.
Leapety leap! On his four long legs
Comes bounding a tall stately deer;
Not a wild deer is he, but the master's pet,
The ponies' friend, many a year.
Comes bounding a tall stately deer;
Not a wild deer is he, but the master's pet,
The ponies' friend, many a year.