An April Joke

[Illustration]

Oh, it was a merry, gladsome day,
When the April Fool met the Queen of May;
She had roguish eyes and golden hair,
And they were a mischief-making pair.
They planned the funniest kind of a joke
On the poor, long-suffering mortal folk;
And a few mysterious words he said,
His fool's cap close to her flower-crowned head.
Then he laughed till he made his cap-bells ring,
At the thought of the topsy-turvy Spring.
"'Tis a fair exchange," he said, with a wink--
"It is!" she said, and what do you think?
The flowers that should bloom in the month of May
Every one of them came on an April day!
And they looked for April showers in vain,
But all through May it did nothing but rain!

An Alice Alphabet

[Illustration]

A is for Alice a-dressing the Queen.

[Illustration]

B is for Borogoves, mimsy and lean.

[Illustration]

C is the Cheshire Cat, wearing a grin.

[Illustration]

D is the Duchess who had a sharp chin.

[Illustration]

E is the Eaglet who barred out long words.

[Illustration]

F, the Flamingo, the queerest of birds.

[Illustration]

G is the Gryphon, loquacious and gay.

[Illustration]

H, Humpty Dumpty in gorgeous array.

[Illustration]

I is for Insects with curious names.

[Illustration]

J is the Jabberwock burbling with flames.

[Illustration]

K is the King who was whizzed through the air.

[Illustration]

L is the Lobster who sugared his hair.

[Illustration]

M, the Mock Turtle, whose tears freely flowed.

[Illustration]

N is for Nobody seen on the road.

[Illustration]

O is for Oysters who trotted so quick.

[Illustration]

P is the Puppy who played with a stick.

[Illustration]

Q is the Queen who ran very fast.

[Illustration]

R is the Rabbit who blew a great blast.

[Illustration]

S is the Sheep, on her knitting intent.

[Illustration]

T, Tweedledum, with his noisy lament.

[Illustration]

U is the Unicorn, valiant in feud.

[Illustration]

V is the Violet, saucy and rude.

[Illustration]

W, the Walrus, addicted to chat.

[Illustration]

X, Executioner, seeking the cat.

[Illustration]

Y is the Youth Father William surveyed.

[Illustration]

Z is the Zigzag the mouse's tail made.

The Funny Kittens

[Illustration]

Once there were some silly kittens,
And they knitted woolly mittens