“Come hither, little puppy-dog,
I’ll give you a new collar,
If you will learn to read your book,
And be a clever scholar.”

“No! no!” replied the puppy-dog,
“I’ve other fish to fry;
For I must learn to guard your house,
And bark when thieves come nigh.”

With a tingle, tangle titmouse,
Robin knows great A,
And B, and C, and D, and E,
F, G, H, I, J, K.

“Come hither, pretty cockatoo,
Come and learn your letters;
And you shall have a knife and fork
To eat with, like your betters.”

“No! no!” the cockatoo replied,
“My beak will do as well;
I’d rather eat my victuals thus
Than go and learn to spell.”

With a tingle, tangle titmouse,
Robin knows great A,
And B, and C, and D, and E,
F, G, H, I, J, K.

“Come hither, little pussy-cat,
If you’ll your grammar study,
I’ll give you silver clogs to wear,
Whene’er the gutter’s muddy.”

“No! whilst I grammar learn,” says puss,
“Your house will in a trice
Be overrun from top to toe
With flocks of rats and mice.”

With a tingle, tangle titmouse,
Robin knows great A,
And B, and C, and D, and E,
F, G, H, I, J, K.

“Come hither, then, good little boy,
And learn your alphabet,
And you a pair of boots and spurs,
Like your papa’s, shall get.”

“Oh, yes! I’ll learn my alphabet,
And when I’ve learned to read,
Perhaps papa will give me, too,
A pretty, long-tailed steed.”

With a tingle, tangle titmouse,
Robin knows great A,
And B, and C, and D, and E,
F, G, H, I, J, K.