may know.

And tires of bicycles go pop,
Balloons will go and balk,
So taking all in all, I think
If I were you, I'd walk.

Hark! Hark!

Hark, Hark the dogs do bark!
The beggars have come to town.
Some in rags, and some in tags,
And some in velvet gowns.

Hear, hear, they're drawing near!
Just hark to the tramp of feet!
So haste about, set tables out,
And get them food to eat.

Run, run, the turkey's done!
I hope it is nicely dressed,
For those who shirk and will not work
Are sure to want the best.

There Was an Old Woman

"There was an old woman
Who lived in a shoe,
Who had so many children
She didn't know what to do
She gave them some broth
Without any bread
And whipped them all soundly
And sent them to bed."

[Illustration:
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children she didn't know what to do;
She gave them some broth without any bread;
She whipped them all soundly, and put them to bed.
FROM A DRAWING BY P. VINTON BROWN]

Now it happened that Santa Claus,
Passing that way,
Peeped into the shoe top
And saw how they lay--
With their round, rosy faces
All shining with tears,
And resolved to do something
To comfort the dears.

So while they were sleeping
In woful array,
He bundled those children
Right into his sleigh;
And cracking his whip
As his reindeers sped forth,
Away they all flew
To his home in the North.

What wonders he showed them,
Such beautiful toys!
Such dolls for the girls,
And such drums for the boys!
Such farms and such stables,
Such monkeys and bears,
Such dishes and tables
And tiny dolls' chairs!

And when they had seen
All the wonderful things
Which each winter, at Christmas,
Dear Santa Claus brings,
He gave them, to make
Their enchantment complete,
Just all of the candy
And cake they could eat.

When they told of their travels,
Their mother, it seems,
Only laughed, and declared
They were nothing but dreams.
I am sure, though, things _must_
Have occurred as they say,
Else why were they, all of them,
Ill the next day?

Humpty Du