 | Rhymes and jingles by Mary Mapes Dodge |  |
124
The Alphabet
Little boys with pockets,
Little boys with none,
Little bright-eyed lassies
Gather, every one!
Crowd around me closely.
Would you master books?
You must first discover
How each letter looks.
Little boys with none,
Little bright-eyed lassies
Gather, every one!
Crowd around me closely.
Would you master books?
You must first discover
How each letter looks.
A has a bar
Where a fairy might ride;
Where a fairy might ride;
B is a post
With two loops at the side.
With two loops at the side.
C might be round
If a piece you would lend;
If a piece you would lend;
D is a buck-saw
Standing on end.
Standing on end.
E has a peg
In the middle, they say;
In the middle, they say;
125
F is an E
With the bottom away.
With the bottom away.
G is like C,
With a block on one end;
With a block on one end;
H has a seat
That would hold you, depend.
That would hold you, depend.
I is so straight
It would do for a prop;
It would do for a prop;
J is a crook
With a bar at the top.
With a bar at the top.
K is a stick
With a crotch fastened to it;
With a crotch fastened to it;
L is a roost,
If the chickens but knew it.
If the chickens but knew it.
126
M has four parts,
As you quickly may see;
As you quickly may see;
N the poor fellow!
Is made out of three.
Is made out of three.
O is so round
It would do for a hoop;
It would do for a hoop;
P is a stick
With a top like a loop.
With a top like a loop.
Q to be curly
Is constantly trying;
Is constantly trying;
R is like B,
With the bottom loop flying.
With the bottom loop flying.
S is a snake,
All crooked and dread;
All crooked and dread;
127
T is a pole
With a bar for a head.
With a bar for a head.
U it is plain,
Would make a good swing;
Would make a good swing;
V is a sharp
As a bumble-bee's sting.
As a bumble-bee's sting.
W ought
To be called double-V;
To be called double-V;
X is a cross,
As you plainly can see;
As you plainly can see;
Y is just formed
Like a V on a stand;
Like a V on a stand;
Z is the crookedest
Thing in the land!
Thing in the land!
| Rhymes and jingles by Mary Mapes Dodge | |