The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe; Or There's No Place Like Home

Hal sat trotting Dot on his knee—poor little weazen-faced Dot who was just getting over the dregs of the measles and cross accordingly. By way of accompaniment he sang all the Mother Goose melodies that he could remember. At last he came to—There was an old woman who lived in a shoe: She had so many children she didn't know what to do; To some she gave broth without any breadand Harry stopped to catch his breath for the trotting was of the vigorous order.And a thrashing all round and sent them to bed!finished Joe thrusting his shaggy head in at the window after the fashion of a great Newfoundland dog.Dot answered with a piteous cry—a sort of prolonged wail heart-rending indeed.Serve you right said Joe going through an imaginary performance with remarkably forcible gestures.For shame Joe! You were little once yourself and I dare say cried when you were sick. I always thought it very cruel that after being deprived of their supper they should be—Thrashed! Give us good strong Saxon for once Flossy!Flossy was of the ambitious correct and sentimental order. She had lovely light curls and soft white hands when she did not have to work too hard which she never did of her own free will. She thought it dreadful to be so poor and aspired to a rather aristocratic ladyhood.I am sorry you were not among them she replied indignantly. You're a hard-hearted cruel boy!When the thrashings went round? You're a c-r-u-e-l girl! with a prodigious length of accent. Why I get plenty of 'em at school.'Trot trot trot. There was an old woman'—what are you laughing at Joe? and Hal turned red in the face.I've just made a brilliant discovery. O my poor buttons! remember Flossy's hard labor and many troubles and do not bust! Why we're the very children!At this Joe gave a sudden lurch: you saw his head and then you saw his heels and the patch on the knee of his trousers ripped partly off by an unlucky nail flapped in the breeze; and he was seated on the window-sill right side up with care drumming both bare heels into the broken wall. He gave a prolonged whistle of satisfaction made big eyes at Dot and then said again—Yes we are the very children!What children? Joe you are the noisiest boy in Christendom!CONTENTSJoe's Grand DiscoveryPlanning in the TwilightA Chance for FlossyThe Identical ShoeGood Luck for JoeFortunes and MisfortunesThe Old Tumbler after AllFlorence in StateFourth of JulyWhich should she choose?Out of the Old Home-NestJoe's FortuneFrom Gray Skies to BlueA Flower-Garden IndoorsHow Charlie ran awayAlmost discouragedLost at SeaA Song in the NightIn the Old Home-Nest againWherein the Old Shoe becomes crowdedHow the Dreams came TrueChristmastide