of rag.
There's little Miss Prim sitting up all alone,
And the Japanese looks like a wag.

Now what shall we talk of, my own dollies fair?
And what shall we give you for tea?
That queer little thing with the short frizzy hair,
Why does he keep looking at me?
My sister and I we will sing you a song
Before we get up from the table;
It shall not be sad, and it shall not be long--
We'll sing it as well as we're able.

SONG.

The darkness is stealing all over the place,
The flowers are weeping for sorrow,
The daisy is hiding its little round face,
The sun has gone seeking to-morrow.

So while you are seated all round the tea-table,
Please join in the chorus as well as you're able;
O! sing! sing away for your life.

CHORUS.

It's time to cut off the dicky birds' noses,
Time to cut off the dicky birds' noses,
It's time to cut off the dicky birds' noses,
So bring me the carving-knife.

The darkness is hiding the birds on the trees,
The thrushes are weary of singing,
A strange little rumour is borne on the breeze
Of Summer the swallows are bringing.

So while you are seated all round the tea-table,
Please join in the chorus as well as you're able;
O! sing! sing away for your life.

CHORUS.

It's time to cut off the dicky birds' noses,
Time to cut off the dicky birds' noses,
It's time to cut off the dicky birds' noses,
So bring me the carving-knife.

The Summer is stealing all over the place,
The wind is all scented with roses,
The dear little birds are all flying a race,
On purpose to give us their noses.

So while you are seated all round the tea-table,
Please join in the chorus as well as you're able;
O! sing! sing away for your life.

CHORUS.

It's time to cut off the dicky birds' noses
Time to cut off the dicky birds' noses,
It's time to cut off the dicky birds' noses,
So bring me the carving-knife.

TOMMY.

Tommy was sitting on the bench near the end of the lane. By his side
was a basin tied up in a cotton handkerchief; in the buttonhole of his
coat there was a sprig of sweet-william. The girls from the big house
came and stood still in front of him, staring at him rudely, but he did
no