Cole's Funny Picture Book No. 1
sisters were invited. So they made her dress them for this ball, but
never thought of allowing her to go.
"I wish you would take me to the ball with you, sisters," said
Cinderella, meekly.
"Take you, indeed!" answered the elder sister with a sneer, "it
is no place for a cinder-sifter: stay at home and do your work."
When they were gone, Cinderella, whose heart was sad, sat down and
cried; but as she sorrowful, thinking of the unkindness of her
sisters, a voice called to her from the garden, and she went to see
who was there. It was her godmother, a good old Fairy.
"Do not cry, Cinderella," she said; "you also shall go to the ball,
because you are a kind, good girl. Bring me a large pumpkin."
Cinderella obeyed, and the fairy touched it with her wand, turned it
into a grand coach. Then she turned a rat into a coach-man, and some
mice into footmen; and touching Cinderella with her wand, the poor
girl's rags became a rich dress trimmed with costly lace and jewels,
and her old shoes became a charming pair of glass slippers, which
looked like diamonds. The fairy told her to go to the ball and enjoy
herself, but to be sure and leave the ball-room before the clock
struck eleven. "If you do not," she said, "your fine clothes will all
turn to rags again.
So Cinderella got into the coach, and drove off with her six footmen
behind, very splendid to behold, and arrived at the King's Court,
where she was received with delight. She was the most beautiful young
lady at the ball, and the Prince would dance with no one else. But
she made haste to leave before the hour fixed and had time to undress
before her sisters came home. They told her a beautiful Princess had
been at the ball, with whom the Prince was delighted. They did not
know it was Cinderella herself.
Three times Cinderella went to royal balls in this manner, but the
third time she forgot the Fairy's command, and heard eleven o'clock
strike. She darted out of the ball-room and ran down stairs in a
great hurry. But her dress all turned to rags before she left the
palace and she lost one of her glass slippers. The Prince sought for
her everywhere, but the guard said no one had passed the gate but a
poor beggar girl. However, the prince found the slipper, and in order
to discover where Cinderella was gone, he had it proclaimed that he
would marry the lady who could put on the glass slipper. All the
ladies tried to wear the glass slipper in vain, Cinderella's sisters
also, but when their young sister begged to be allowed to try it
also, it was found to fit her exactly, and to the Prince's delight,
she drew the fellow slipper from her pocket, and he knew at once that
she was his beautiful partner at the ball. So she was married to the
Prince, and the children strewed roses in their path as they came out
of church.
Cinderella forgave her sisters, and was so kind to them that she made
them truly sorry for their past cruelty and injustice.
The Three Bears
Once upon a time three bears lived in a nice little house in a great
forest.
There was Father Bear, Mother Bear, and Baby Bear.
They had each a bed to sleep in, a chair to sit on, and a basin and a
spoon for eating porridge, which was their favourite food.
One morning the three bears went to take a walk before breakfast; but
before they went out they poured the hot porridge into their basins,
that it might get cool by the time they came back. Mr and Mrs Bear
walked arm-in-arm, and Baby Bear ran by their side. Now, there lived
in that same forest a sweet little girl who was called Golden Hair.
She, also, was walking that morning in the wood, and happening to
pass by the bear's house, and seeing the window open, she peeped in.
There was no one to be seen, but three basins of steaming hot
porridge all ready to be eaten, seemed to say "Come in and have some
breakfast." So Golden Hair went in and tasted the porridge in all the
basins, then she sat down in Baby Bear's chair, and took up his
spoon, and ate up all his porridge. Now this was very wrong. A tiny
bear is only a tiny bear, still he has the right to keep his own
things. But Golden Hair didn't know any better.
Unluckily, Baby Bear's chair was too small for her, and she broke the
seat and fell through, basin and all.
Then Golden Hair went upstairs, and there she saw three beds all in a
row. Golden Hair lay down on Father Bear's bed first, but that was
too long for her, then she lay down on Mother Bear's bed, and that
was too wide for her, last of all she lay down on Baby Bear's bed,
and there she fell asleep, for she was tired.
By-and-by the bears came home, and Old Father Bear looked at his
chair, and growled:
"Somebody has been here!"
Mother Bear growled more softly:
"Somebody has been here!"
Baby Bear, seeing his chair broken, squeeled out "Somebody has been
here, and broken my chair right through!"
Then they went to the table, and looked at their porridge, and Father
Bear Growled:
"Who has touched my basin?"
And Mother Bear growled:
"Who has touched my basin?"
And Baby Bear squeaked:
"Somebody has broken mine and eaten up all my porridge!"
They went upstairs and Father Bear growled:
"Who has been lying on my bed?"
And Mother Bear growled:
"Who has been lying on my bed?"
And Baby Bear squeaked out:
"O! here is a little girl in my bed; and it must be she who has
eaten my breakfast and broken my chair and basin!"
Then Father Bear growled:
"Let us eat her up!"
Then Mother Bear growled:
"Let us eat her up!"
And Tiny Bear squeaked:
"Let us eat her up!"
But the noise they made awoke Golden Hair; she startled out of bed
(on the opposite side) and jumped out of the window. The three bears
all jumped out after her, but they fell one on the top of the other,
and rolled over and over, and while they were picking themselves up,
little Golden Hair ran home, and they were not able to catch her.
Bluebeard
Once there lived in a lovely castle a very rich man called Bluebeard.
A short distance off lived an old gentleman with two lovely
daughters, named Fatima and Annie. Bluebeard visited their house, and
at length proposed to Fatima, was accepted by her, and they were
married with great splendour. He took her home with him to his
castle, and permitted her sister Annie to reside with her for company
for a time.
She lived very happily in her new home, her new husband was very kind
to her, and allowed her to have everything she wished for, but one
day he suddenly told her that business called him away from home,
that he should be away some days, and handed her the keys to his
wardrobe, treasures, and all parts of the castle, he also gave her
one key of a small closet, and told her that she might unlock every
door in the castle, but not the closet door, for if she did so, she
should not live an hour longer. He then left home fondly kissing her
at the door.
Her sister and herself returned into the castle, and enjoyed
themselves in unlocking room after room, looking over the
curiosities, treasures, &c, until Annie became tired and lay down to
rest on a rich sofa, and fell asleep. Fatima, as soon as she saw that
her sister was asleep, felt a womanly curiosity, an irresistible
temptation to unlock the forbidden closet, and take a peep.
She tripped lightly up to the door, turned the key in the lock,
pushed the door open, and, oh! horror! there were five or six dead
ladies lying in the closet, with their marriage rings on their
fingers. She at once concluded that they were Bluebeard's previous
wives, she let the key drop in her fright into the blood on the
floor, she picked it up and attempted to wipe it, but the blood would
not come off. She awoke her sister, and they both tried, but they
could not get it off, and gave it up in despair.
Just then Bluebeard suddenly returned, and asked his wife if she
could please to hand him the keys. She trembling did so. He said "How
came the blood on the closet key? You have disobeyed me, and shall
die at once."
She begged a few minutes to say her prayers and just as he was going
to chop her head off, her two brothers arrived at the castle, burst
open the door, killed the cruel wretch, and rescued their sisters.
[Page 18--Girl Land]
My Girl
A little corner with it's crib.
A little mug, a spoon, a bib,
A little tooth so pearly white,
A little rubber-ring to bite.
A little plate all lettered round,
A little rattle to resound,
A little creeping--see! she stands!
A little step 'twixt outstretched hands.
A little doll with flaxen hair.
A little willow rocking chair,
A little dress of richest hue,
A little pair of gaiters blue.
A little school day after day,
A little "schoolma'am" to obey,
A little study--soon 'tis past--
A little graduate at last.
A little muff for wintry weather,
A little jockey-hat and feather,
A little sac with funny pockets,
A little chain, a ring, and lockets.
A little while to dance and bow,
A little escort homeward now,
A little party somewhat late,
A little lingering at the gate.
A little walk in leafy June,
A little talk while shines the moon,
A little reference to papa,
A little planning with mamma.
A little ceremony grave,
A little struggle to be brave,
A little cottage on the lawn,
A little kiss--my girl was gone!
Good and Bad
There was a little girl,
And she had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead
When she was good
She was very good,
But when she was bad, she was horrible.
My little Daughter's Shoes
Two little rough-worn, stubbed shoes
A plump, well-trodden pair;
With striped stockings thrust within,
Lie just beside my chair.
Of very homely fabric they,
A hole is in each toe,
They might have cost, when they were new,
Some fifty cents or so.
And yet this little, worn-out pair
Is richer far too me
Than all the jewelled sandals are
Of Eastern luxury.
This mottled leather, cracked with use,
Is satin in my sight;
These little tarnished buttons shine
With all a diamond's light.
Search through the wardrobe of the world!
You shall not find me there
So rarely made, so richly wrought,
So glorious a pair.
And why? Because they tell of her,
Now sound asleep above,
Whose form is moving beauty, and
Whose heart is beating love.
They tell me of her merry laugh;
Her rich, whole-hearted glee;
Her gentleness, her innocence,
And infant purity.
They tell me that her wavering steps
Will long demand my aid;
For the old road of human life
Is very roughly laid.
High hills and swift descents abound;
And, on so rude a way,
Feet that can wear these coverings
Would surely go astray.
Sweet little girl! be mine the task
Thy feeble steps to tend!
To be thy guide, thy counsellor,
Thy playmate and thy friend!
And when my steps shall faltering grow,
And thine be firm and strong,
Thy strength shell lead my tottering age
In cheerful peace along.
The Old Cradle
And this was your cradle?
Why, surely, my Jenny,
Such slender dimensions
Go somewhat to show
You were a delightfully
Small picaninny
Some nineteen or twenty
Short summers ago.
Your baby-day flowed
In a much troubled channel;
I see you as then
In your impotent strife,
A tight little bundle
Of wailing and flannel,
Perplexed with that
Newly-found fardel called Life,
To hint at an infantine
Frailty is scandal;