About this book

Cole's Funny Picture Book No. 1

E. W. Cole

that on a certain day the bull called 'El Moro' would be introduced into the arena, and that, when he should have been goaded to the utmost fury, a young girl would appear and reduce the animal to quiet subjection. The people of Cadiz had heard of 'El Moro' as the most magnificent bull ever brought into the city, and it soon became known that the girl just advertised was a peasant girl of Espara, who had petted the bull, and fed it and cared for it during the years of it's growth. On the appointed day the vast amphitheatre was filled with an anxious, eager crowd. Several bulls had been killed and dragged away, and then the flourish of trumpets announced the coming of the hero of the day. With a deep, terrific roar, 'El Moro' entered upon the scene. He was truly magnificent; a bovine monarch, black and glossy, with eyes of fire, dilating nostrils, and wicked-looking horns. The picadores attacked him warily, hurling their banderillos (small, dart-like javelins ornamented with ribbons, and intended to jade and infuriate). The bull had killed three horses offhand, and had received eight banderillos in his neck and shoulders, when, upon a given signal, the picadores and matadores suddenly withdrew leaving the infuriated beast alone in his wild paroxysm of wrath. Presently a soft musical note, like the piping of a lark, was heard, and directly afterwards a girl of not more than fifteen years of age, an the tasteful garb of an Andalusian peasant, and with a pretty face, sprang lightly into the arena, approaching the bull fearlessly, at the same time calling his name--'Moro! Moro! Va voy!' At the first sound of the sweet voice the animal ceased his fury, and turned towards the place whence it came, and, when he saw the girl, he plainly manifested pleasure. She came to his head, and put forth her hand, which he licked with his tongue. Then she sang a low, sweet song, at the same time caressing the animal by patting him on the forehead, and, while she sang, the suffering monarch kneeled at her feet. Then she stooped and gently removed the cruel banderillos, after which, with her arms around 'El Moro's' neck, she led him towards the gate of the torril." [Page 148--Funny Australian Natives] Funny Australian Natives
Illustration note[Illustration: Kangaroo.]
Kangaroo The Kangaroo is the largest native animal in Australia. He is about 5 feet high when he sits up, he has a head somewhat like a rabbit's, his hands or fore feet are small but his hind feet are large, and he has a very thick tail. He can kick and tear with his sharp hind claws in a very dangerous manner. He frequently kills dogs with his claws, but, when he is chased by dogs, if he is near water he makes for it and often drowns the dogs if they come into the water after him. He leaps or hops about 15 feet at a time and goes very fast. The mother carries her young in a pouch, as seen in the picture, and when the baby kangaroos are frightened they run at once into their mother's pouch for safety, like any other babies running to their mother.
Illustration note[Illustration: Native Cat.]
Australian Native Cat It is a wild Cat, generally brown or black with many large and small white spots on it. It lives on small animals, including birds and their eggs, and is a great pest to farmers, killing their poultry.
Illustration note[Illustration: Emu and Chicks.]
Emu The Emu lives upon vegetable food such as fruits, roots, and grass. It has a great curiosity and is easily tamed. It is very inoffensive except when violently attacked; then it kicks like a horse. It is said that its kick will break a man's leg. Its flesh is eaten by the natives and is said to look and taste like beef. It can run very fast. It lays from 6 to 12 dark green coloured eggs and its young are pretty little striped things as in the above picture. It is, next to the Ostrich, the largest bird in the world, being 5 or 6 feet high, its colour is a mixture of grey and brown, and its voice has a low booming sound. It is generally coupled with the Kangaroo in the Australian Arms.
Illustration note[Illustration: Platypus.]
Platypus The Platypus is sometimes called the Water Mole. It is, perhaps, the most wonderful animal in the world in its combination, being part bird, part beast, part fish. It has a bill like a duck; five toes with claws and webbed feet; it is covered with thick glossy fur like a seal; it has cheek pouches like a monkey to keep it's food in; it lays two eggs, its voice resembles that of a young puppy, and the young platypuses play like puppies; it lives in rivers and makes burrows often 20 or 30 feet long; it feeds upon water insects, shell fish, etc. [Page 149--Funny Australian Natives] Funny Australian Natives
Illustration note[Illustration: Native Bear.]
Native Bear The Australian Native Bear is a dear little harmless fellow, and is easily tamed. He lives in the gum trees, feeds upon gum leaves, and loves his mother who carries him on her back and is very fond of him. He has a thick fluffy coat, big bushy ears, and no tail. He cries like a child if he misses his mother. The cry very pathetically if they are wounded, which they frequently are in the bush, by cruel wicked boys and men who think it is sport to shoot at the poor harmless creatures.
Illustration note[Illustration: Bower Bird.]
Bower Bird The Australian Bower Bird is an extensive builder; it not only builds its nest in a tree but it builds a palace on the ground in the shape of a bower hut, furnishes it with nick-nacks such as shells, bones, pieces of mineral, metals, bright parrots' feathers and other trifles. What the English magpie would steal and hide away the Bower Bird openly decorates his pavilion with. Often several birds collect together and play like children, running in, out, and around their wonderful bower-palace as shown in our picture. Lyre Bird The Australian Lyre Bird is a most beautiful creature, said to be a variety of the Bird of Paradise. It runs very quickly, and springs very high, and calls very loudly. It lays but one egg a year and, consequently, only has one baby per annum. It is a great mimic. Mr. Metcalfe in his "Australian Zoology", describing it, says: "It is a consummate mimic and ventriloquist. It imitates to perfection the notes of all other birds, the united voices of a flock of parrakeets, the barking of dogs, the sawing of timber and the clink of the woodman's axe. This it has earned for itself the title of the Australian Mocking Bird." Our Seven Funny Australian Natives The Kangaroo says, whenever I jump, I always come down with a great big thump. The Emu can give a nasty kick; Which is worse than getting a hit with a brick. I'm but a funny wild, little, spotted Native Cat, With claws and tail like a squirrel and a nose like a rat. Common people call me simply Mr. PLATYPUS, Learned people call me Mr. OR-NI-THO-RINK-KUS. I'm bit a little Native Bear, and am so happy and bright, I sleep and dream in a tree by day, and climb about at night. The clever Bower Bird builds his nest up a tree, And his beautiful palace down on the lea. Here we see a pretty bird, of its voice you will never tire, But tho' it mocks the sounds it hears the bird is still a Lyre. _(By a Company of Three Particularly Poor Poets.)_
Illustration note[Illustration: Tiny Child Astride a Giant Emu Egg harnessed to two Lyre Birds.]
[Page 150--Pussy Land] Cat Stories Puss in the Well Ding dong dell, pussy's in the well! Who put her in?--little Tommy Lin. Who pulled her out?--dog with long snout. What a naughty boy was that To drown poor pussy cat, Who never did any harm But kill'd the mice in his father's barn. The Singing Cat A cat came fiddling out of a barn, With a pair of bagpipes under her arm; She could sing nothing but fiddle cum fee, The mouse has married the bumble-bee. Pipe cat--dance, mouse, We'll have a wedding at our good house. Puss in London Pussy-cat, pussy-cat, where have you been? I've been to London to visit the Queen. Pussy-cat, pussy-cat, what did you there? I frighten'd a little mouse under the chair. Pussy-Cat and Mousey Pussy-Cat lives in the servant's hall, She can set up her back and purr; The little mice live in a crack in the wall, But they hardly dare venture to stir; For whenever they think of taking the air, Or filling their little maws, The Pussy-cat says, "Come out if you dare; I will catch you all with my claws." Scramble, scramble, scramble, went all the little Mice, For they smelt the Cheshire cheese, The Pussy-Cat said, "It smells very nice, Now do come out, if you please." "Squeak," said the little Mouse; "squeak, squeak, squeak," Said all the little ones too; "We never creep out when cats are about, Because we're afraid of you." So the cunning old Cat lay down on a mat By the fire in the servants' hall: "If the little Mice peep, they'll think I'm asleep;" So she rolled herself up like a ball. "Squeak," said the little Mouse, "we'll creep out And eat some Cheshire cheese, That silly old Cat is asleep on the mat, And we may sup at our ease." Nibble, nibble, nibble went all the little mice, And they licked their little paws; Then the cunning old Cat sprang up from the mat, And caught them all with her claws. Puss in the Pantry Hie, hie, says Anthony, puss in the pantry Gnawing, gnawing a mutton, mutton-bone; See now she tumbles it, see now she mumbles it, See how she tosses the mutton, mutton-bone, Dick killed Puss Do look at the cat! why, what is she at? She's catching a rat that's hid in Dick's hat. Dick ran for a bat to knock him down flat, But, crossing the mat the foolish young brat Tripped up and fell flat, He half killed the cat Instead of the rat, Hal cried out that that Was just tit for tat.
Illustration note[Illustration: Monkey Feeding Puss a Bottle of Ink.]
Puss and the Monkey Says Mr. Monkey, giving a wink; "It would be exceedingly funny, I think, To catch the cat, and give her a drink, Out of a great big bottle of ink." So, suiting the action to word, He caught up Puss, but she demurred; And made such a noise you never heard, And said it 'twas worse than eating a bird. The Puss she didn't like ink at all! She didn't like bottles great or small; Ink to her was worse than gall, And so she did nothing but spit, mew, and squall. And that's all! Sing Sing Sing, sing, what shall I sing? The cat has ate the pudding-string! Do, do, what shall I do? The cat has bit it quite in two. Good Puss Poor Puss, dear, lovely pretty puss, Content at home to stay; Thy pleasure's shown in gambol tricks And loves to skip and play. Grateful for every sup of milk, And for every bit of meat; Gives lively proof of gratitude By singing while you eat. See, how she cleans her sleeky skin! A soil would prove a flow; She licks her neck, her sides and back, And don't forget her paw. Mary's Puss Drowned Mary had a little cat, With long snow-white hair. Such a merry little cat, Jumping everywhere. When Mary went to take a walk, Pussy ran to meet her, Rubbed its head against her frock And said, 'Purr, purr,' to greet her. Once, when Mary was at school, Some cruel bad boys found it, And in a pond beside the road, Oh, sad to tell, they drowned it! Poor Mary's face was wet with tears, When she found Pussy lying:-- I would not be a cruel boy, To set poor Mary crying. My Pussy I love little Pussy, her coat is so warm;