Author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, John Dough and the Cherub, The Treasure of Karnak, and The Visitors from Oz, etc.
Originally published in Father Goose: His Book, 1899.
When George Washington was young
And full of energy,
He took his little hatchet
And chopped a cherry tree.
His father grew quite angry,
This sorry sight to see,
For he was very fond indeed
Of that same cherry tree.
And so he questioned Georgie:
"Who did this thing?" said he.
"I cannot tell a lie," said George,
"I chopped the cherry tree!"
The father then wept tears of joy,
At such brave honesty:
"Your truthfulness is worth far more
Than one small cherry tree."
And when his father walked away
George seized the ax with glee
And hacked away 'till he had felled
Another cherry tree.
His father now returned in haste,
took Georgie on his knee,
And said "I'll teach you to destroy
My pretty cherry tree!"
"Don't spank!" cried George; "I'll tell the truth,
For still I'll honest be;
'Twas I, dear father, took the ax
And chopped the cherry tree."
"Oh, ho!" Said Mr Washington
"Unless I punish thee
Thy truth will cost to me the loss
Of every cherry tree!"
'Twas full a week before poor George
Sat down with any ease,
His father sold the hatchet
And saved his cherry-trees.
Several Riddles and Rhymes
With the help of some bookworms I have managed to puzzle out the Forgetful Poet's riddles. The book people were Romeo, King Lear, Nicholas Nickleby, Pickwick. The Forgetful Poet sent us just one verse this week. He is too busy having fun to write more, I s'pose. Here it is:
I saw a foot that never shoe would fit,
Upon a word that rhymes, perforce, with thrill.
I saw four wings upon an object not
A bird, nor hat. Indeed, it was a -----.
A summer dress material and a word meaning to tumble will give one of King Arthur's knights. Which one?
A word meaning modest and part of a door will give one of the characters from the "Merchant of Venice." Which one?
What tool is like a bee?
And that's all.
[Answers next time.]
Copyright © 2012 Eric Shanower and David Maxine. All rights reserved.
