Volume 13 — "ONCE-ON-A-TIME."

Heigh-ho! What frolics we might see, If it only had happened to you and me To be born in some beautiful far-off clime, In the country of Somewhere, once-on-a-time! Why, once-on-a-time there were mountains of gold, And cans full of jewels, and treasures untold; There were birds just waiting to fly before And show you the way to the magical door. And, under a tree, there was sure to be A queer little woman to give you the key; And a tiny, dancing, good-natured elf, To say, with his scepter: "Help yourself!" For millions of dollars grew from a dime In the country of Somewhere, once-on-a-time. If we lived in the country of Somewhere, you Could do whatever you chose to do. Instead of a boy, with the garden to weed, You might be a knight, with a sword and a steed. Instead of a girl, with a towel to hem, I might be a princess, with robe and gem; With a gay little page, and a harper old, Who knew all the stories that ever were told,— Stories in prose, and stories in rhyme, That happened somewhere, once-on-a-time. In the country of Somewhere, no one looks At maps and blackboards and grammar books; For all your knowledge just grows and grows, Like the song in a bird, or the sweet in a rose. And if ever I chance, on a fortunate day, To that wonderful region to find my way, Why then, if the stories all are true, As quick as I can, I'll come for you, And we'll row away to its happy shores, In a silver shallop with golden oars.