The cat, the dog, the cow, the horse, The squirrel and the rabbit, Wear coats of fur; from small to great, All have the selfsame habit.
But people wear so many things! Almost the whole creation It takes our clothing to supply For use or decoration.
A flannel jacket from the sheep Who spared the wool with pleasure: And from the silkworm ribbons gay. And every silken treasure.
A dress from off the cotton plant. Spun, woven, colored, printed: A breastpin made of fishes' scales. All delicately tinted.
Of tortoise-shell my lady's comb. And many another notion; Her jewels from the mines are brought. Her pearls from depths of ocean.
The golden straws from humble field Are plaited for a bonnet, The feather-coated ostrich gives The plumes we place upon it.
From tropic trees the milky sap Men constantly are getting, And making into rubber shoes To save our feet a wetting:
While boots and shoes of every sort, Of thick or thinnest leather, Are made from skins of animals, Tanned, cut, and sewed together.
Yes, surely, as I said before, Almost the whole creation It takes our clothing to supply, For use or decoration.
A pretty pond there is, all fringed With trees and flowers gay, Where many happy creatures live And many come to play.
The fishes frolic merrily Within its waters cool, And funny little polliwogs Live in the shining pool.
Along the grassy bank the snails And turtles slowly creep; The frogs go splashing in and out With many a sudden leap.
The insects and the merry birds Its shining surface skim; And thirsty cows and horses drink Along its rippling brim.
The water lilies' fragrant cups Upon the wavelets lie, And near them float the stately swans, With proud necks curving high.
And see! here comes the mother duck With all her yellow brood; And here are all the goslings, too, Behind their mother good.
They hurry, scurry, down the bank And in the water go. They dive and splash, and with delight Go swimming to and fro.
And when the children call to them And throw them bits of bread, Geese, ducks, and swans all fearless come And crowd near to be fed.
Oh, yes! the pond's a merry place, So busy and so gay, Where many happy creatures live And many come to play.
"Those crackers are lighted! Be careful! They're going off--_don't_ stand so near!" But the Bumptious Boy heeded no warning, And this is what happened. O dear!