No More Learning

Collect notices of King Xerxes in Mr. Lear's works, and
state your theory, if you have any, as to the character and
appearance of Nupiter Piffkin.

7. Draw pictures of the Plum-pudding flea, and the Moppsikon
Floppsikon Bear, and state by whom waterproof tubs
were first used.

8. "There was an old man at a station
Who made a promiscuous oration. "

What bearing may we assume the foregoing couplet to have
upon Mr. Lear's political views?
--_The London Spectator_.




* * * * *


A BOOK OF NONSENSE

by

EDWARD LEAR.

With All the Original Pictures and Verses







[Illustration]


There was an Old Derry down Derry, who loved to see little folks
merry;
So he made them a Book, and with laughter they shook
At the fun of that Derry down Derry.



Original Dedication.

TO THE
GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, GRAND-NEPHEWS, AND GRAND-NIECES
OF EDWARD, 13TH EARL OF DERBY,
THIS BOOK OF DRAWINGS AND VERSES

(The greater part of which were originally
made and composed for their parents. )

Is Dedicated by the Author,
EDWARD LEAR.

London, 1862.
* * * * *




[Illustration]

There was an Old Man with a nose,
Who said, "If you choose to suppose
That my nose is too long, you are certainly wrong! "
That remarkable Man with a nose.

[Illustration]

There was a Young Person of Smyrna,
Whose Grandmother threatened to burn her;
But she seized on the Cat, and said, "Granny, burn that!
You incongruous Old Woman of Smyrna! "

[Illustration]

There was an Old Man on a hill,
Who seldom, if ever, stood still;
He ran up and down in his Grandmother's gown,
Which adorned that Old Man on a hill.

[Illustration]

There was an Old Person of Chili,
Whose conduct was painful and silly;
He sate on the stairs, eating apples and pears,
That imprudent Old Person of Chili.

[Illustration]

There was an Old Man with a gong,
Who bumped at it all the day long;
But they called out, "Oh, law! you're a horrid old bore! "
So they smashed that Old Man with a gong.

[Illustration]

There was an Old Man of Kilkenny,
Who never had more than a penny;
He spent all that money in onions and honey,
That wayward Old Man of Kilkenny.

[Illustration]

There was an Old Man of Columbia,
Who was thirsty, and called out for some beer;
But they brought it quite hot, in a small copper pot,
Which disgusted that man of Columbia.

[Illustration]

There was an Old Man in a tree,
Who was horribly bored by a Bee;
When they said, "Does it buzz? " he replied, "Yes, it does!
It's a regular brute of a Bee. "

[Illustration]

There was an Old Lady of Chertsey,
Who made a remarkable curtsey;
She twirled round and round, till she sank underground,
Which distressed all the people of Chertsey.

[Illustration]

There was a Young Lady whose chin
Resembled the point of a pin;
So she had it made sharp, and purchased a harp,
And played several tunes with her chin.