Mother Goose's Menagerie (Illustrated Edition). Carolyn Wells

Just try and see

       How glad they'll be

       To have you interview them."

       So Tim and Tilly, hand in hand,

       Into the Zoo went bravely;

       They met a dog who nodded, and

       Regarded them quite gravely.

       A handsome dog, and so well-bred,

       With big brown eyes and noble head.

       Upon a mat

       He calmly sat,

       Regarding them quite gravely.

       "I think, dear," Tilly said to Tim,

       "We'll interview this fellow;

       Somehow I like the looks of him

       With his gay coat of yellow."

       "All right," said Tim, "let's have a chat

       With Mr. Dog upon his mat;

       We'll draw him out

       And I've no doubt,

       He'll prove a merry fellow."

      Mother Hubbard's Dog

       Table of Contents

      Said Tilly and Tim, "We'll speak to him now,

       And hear what he has to say."

       To the well-dressed dog they made a bow,

       And said, in their pleasantest way:

       "Doggy, pray how do you do?

       Grant us an interview;

       We' re going the rounds

       Of these wide-spreading grounds,

       And we want to begin with you."

       The dog arose, and, bowing low,

       Said with a cordial smile,

       "I'm Old Mother Hubbard's dog, you know,

       That's why I'm dressed in style."

       "Oho!" said Tilly and Tim,

       Greatly admiring him,

       "Pray tell how you came

       To live with the dame,—

       Was it a frivolous whim?"

       "Well," said the dog, " 'twas thus, you see;

       When I was a tiny pup,

       Somehow it always seemed to me

       I'd be famous when I grew up.

       In the dog-days I was born,

       When the dog-star shone in the morn;

       And what do you s'pose?

       A little dog-rose

       Did always my collar adorn. "

       "I lived in a dog-wood, dark and drear,

       Where nothing to eat I spied

       But a dog-berry now and then, or I fear

       I frequently might have died.

       When one fine day, by chance,

       I saw Mother Hubbard advance.

       To her then I ran,

       And quickly began

       To turn somersaults and dance.

      " 'Oho,' said the dear old dame, said she,

       'A dog like you, I think,

       I'd like to adopt to live with me.'

       Said I as quick as a wink:

       'Oh, Mother Hubbard, pray do

       Take me to live with you;

       You'll certainly find

       I'm gentle and kind,

       Faithful and honest and true.'

       " 'To that,' said the old dame, 'I agree.'

       She adopted me then and there,

       And for many years she gave to me

       The best and kindest care.

       She bought me fruit and bread,

       She bought me this jacket red;

       She was satisfied,

       And filled with pride

       If I danced or stood on my head. "

       "She was always giving me beautiful things,

       And buying me this and that;

       She loaded me with dog-watches and rings,

       And bought me a feathered hat.

       She bought me fine stockings and shoes,

       And neckties of various hues;

       She bought me a wig

       If I danced her a jig,

       Which of course I would never refuse."

       "But, alas and alack, it happened one day,

       In spite of her thoughtful care,

       That somebody stole all her food away

       And left her cupboard bare;

       And rather than face the dame

       Saddened with grief and shame,

       The ocean I crossed,

       Not a moment I lost,

       But to Mother Goose I came."

       "Cordially Mother Goose welcomed me,

       And said, 'How do you do?

       I'm sure in my spacious menagerie

       I can find room for you.'

       So I stayed here, you see,

       And I'm happy as I can be;

       For I'll be bound

       That here I have found

       The very best place for me."

       "Of course I've made in this good home

       Many and excellent friends;

       No more abroad I care to roam,

       And so, — my story ends."

       "But tell us," said Tilly and Tim,

       As they narrowly looked at him,

       "Why weren't you lost

       When the ocean you crossed?

       Are you a sea-dog?

       Can you swim?"

       "Well," said the dog, "I came in a craft

       That has never been seen by men.

       It wasn't a steamer, a barge, or a raft."

       Said Tilly and Tim, "What, then?"

       Said the dog, "I'll confide to you,—

       A canoe brought me here to the Zoo."

       "Birchbark?" they cried.

       "No," he replied,

       "I came in a dog-bark canoe!"