*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78335 *** Transcriber’s Note Words between ~tildes~, _underscores_ and equal signs were printed in blackletter, italics and bold face respectively in the source document. Depending on the hard- and software used to read this text and their settings, not all elements may display as intended. The spelling in this e-text is that of the original work. A few obvious minor typographical errors have been corrected silently. [Illustration] [Illustration: THE LIMERICK UP TO DATE BOOK Composed and Collected by Ethel Watts Mumford Illustrated and Decorated by Ethel Watts Mumford and Addison Mizner [Illustration] San Francisco Published by Paul Elder and Company 1903] _Copyright 1903 by_ PAUL ELDER [Illustration] The Tomoyé Press San Francisco [Illustration] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Good Resolutions. John woke on Jan. first and felt queer; Said, “Crackers I’ll swear off this year! For the lobster and wine And the rabbit were fine, And it certainly wasn’t the beer.” January Janvier 1 [Illustration: Kanji January] 2 ~Januar~ 3 [Illustration: Aquarius ♒︎] 4 =Enero= 5 [Illustration: Hiragana January] 6 Gennaio 7] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Jan. Beware of Rash Judgments. A dame at the beaches of Florida, All the ladies said couldn’t be horrider; But she proved them all wrong, And she said, “Go along!” While the climate grew torrid and torrider. January Janvier 8 [Illustration: Kanji January] 9 ~Januar~ 10 [Illustration: Aquarius ♒︎] 11 =Enero= 12 [Illustration: Hiragana January] 13 Gennaio 14 Ἰανουάριος 15] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Flattery. Said the lady, “With you I’ll not go, You’re reported to be far from slow.” Said he, turning red, With a smile quite o’erspread-- “O Madame, don’t flatter me so!” January Janvier 16 [Illustration: Kanji January] 17 ~Januar~ 18 [Illustration: Aquarius ♒︎] 19 =Enero= 20 [Illustration: Hiragana January] 21 Gennaio 22 Ἰανουάριος 23] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Jan. Lavishness. There was a young lady named Julie, Who was terribly fond of patchouli; She used bottles seven, ’Til she smelt up to heaven, Which made all the angels unruly. January Janvier 24 [Illustration: Kanji January] 25 ~Januar~ 26 [Illustration: Aquarius ♒︎] 27 =Enero= 28 [Illustration: Hiragana January] 29 Gennaio 30 Ἰανουάριος 31] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: The Wicked Punster. Said a sporty young person named Groat, Who owned an old race-horse of note, “I consider it smart To lunch a la cart, But the horse always takes table d’oat.” February Février 1 [Illustration: Kanji February] 2 ~Februar~ 3 [Illustration: Pisces ♓︎] 4 =Febrero= 5 [Illustration: Hiragana February] 6 Febbraio 7] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Feb. The Church-Goer. There was a young man who said, “There, I will sneak out during this prayer!” But the squeak of his shoes So enlivened the pews, That he sat down again in despair. February Février 8 [Illustration: Kanji February] 9 ~Februar~ 10 [Illustration: Pisces ♓︎] 11 =Febrero= 12 [Illustration: Hiragana February] 13 Febbraio 14] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Speak Kindly. She’s so homely you’d think she would smother, And her back view is just like her brother. Her eyes are both bent, And her nose is a dent; But then, “she’s so good to her mother!” February Février 15 [Illustration: Kanji February] 16 ~Februar~ 17 [Illustration: Pisces ♓︎] 18 =Febrero= 19 [Illustration: Hiragana February] 20 Febbraio 21] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Feb. Good Manners. There was a young person of Tottenhem, Whose manners, Good Lord! she’d forgotten ’em. When she went to the vicar’s, She took off her knickers, Because she said she was hot in ’em. February Février 22 [Illustration: Kanji February] 23 ~Februar~ 24 [Illustration: Pisces ♓︎] 25 =Febrero= 26 [Illustration: Hiragana February] 27 Febbraio 28] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Appearances are Deceitful. There was a young lady of Skye, With a shape like a capital I; She said, “It’s too bad! But then I can pad,”-- Which shows you that figures can lie. March Mars 1 [Illustration: Kanji March] 2 ~März~ 3 [Illustration: Aries ♈︎] 4 =Marzo= 5 [Illustration: Hiragana March] 6 Μάρτιος 7] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: March Tact. There was a bright person named Biddle, Who asked everybody a riddle. When asked, “Can you tell The answer as well?” He replied, “I begin in the middle.” March Mars 8 [Illustration: Kanji March] 9 ~März~ 10 [Illustration: Aries ♈︎] 11 =Marzo= 12 [Illustration: Hiragana March] 13 Μάρτιος 14] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Sculpture. There was an old sculptor named Phidias, Whose knowledge of Art was invidious. He carved Aphrodite Without any nightie-- Which startled the purely fastidious. March Mars 15 [Illustration: Kanji March] 16 ~März~ 17 [Illustration: Aries ♈︎] 18 =Marzo= 19 [Illustration: Hiragana March] 20 Μάρτιος 21] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: March Intemperance. There once was a baker named Dunn, Who always was out for the fun, And although it was said He was very well bred, He spent all his dough on a “bun”! March Mars 22 [Illustration: Kanji March] 23 ~März~ 24 [Illustration: Aries ♈︎] 25 =Marzo= 26 [Illustration: Hiragana March] 27 Μάρτιος 28] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: The Careful Buyer. There was an old man of Madrid, Who went to an auction to bid; He bought, if you please, A case of old cheese-- But oh, Gosh! when they lifted the lid! March Mars 29 [Illustration: Kanji March] 30 ~März~ 31] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: April A Quiet Life. An Abbess whom all did admire, To holiness much did aspire. When asked to a ball, She replied, “Not at all; I’ve another engagement that’s Prior.” April Avril 1 [Illustration: Kanji April] 2 ~April~ 3 [Illustration: Taurus ♉︎] 4 =Abril= 5 [Illustration: Hiragana April] 6 Aprile 7] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Gentleness. There was a fair maiden of Siam, Who said to her lover, “O Priam, You may kiss me, of course, But you’ve got to use force-- And, God knows, you are stronger than I am!” April Avril 8 [Illustration: Kanji April] 9 ~April~ 10 [Illustration: Taurus ♉︎] 11 =Abril= 12 [Illustration: Hiragana April] 13 Aprile 14 Ἀπρίλιος 15] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: April Exasperation. There was an old person named Sam, Who was wearied of Omar Khayyam. Fitzgerald, you know, Is the whole of the show; But this cult and this music, “Oh, d----!” April Avril 16 [Illustration: Kanji April] 17 ~April~ 18 [Illustration: Taurus ♉︎] 19 =Abril= 20 [Illustration: Hiragana April] 21 Aprile 22 Ἀπρίλιος 23] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: The Kind Beadle. There was an old lady of Threedle, Who sat down in church on a needle; Tho’ deeply embedded, ’Twas luckily threaded, And quickly pulled out by the beadle. April Avril 24 [Illustration: Kanji April] 25 ~April~ 26 [Illustration: Taurus ♉︎] 27 =Abril= 28 [Illustration: Hiragana April] 29 Aprile 30] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: May Improper Language. There was a fair maid of Oshkosh, Who on Tuesday cried out, “Oh, by Gosh!” For up on the roof There was ocular proof That some one had stolen the wash. May Mai 1 [Illustration: Kanji May] 2 ~Mäi~ 3 [Illustration: Gemini ♊︎] 4 =Mayo= 5 [Illustration: Hiragana May] 6 Maggio 7] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Make the Best of Adverse Circumstances. There was a young person named Clyde, Who was once at a funeral espied. When asked who was dead, He smilingly said: “I don’t know--I just came for the ride.” May Mai 8 [Illustration: Kanji May] 9 ~Mäi~ 10 [Illustration: Gemini ♊︎] 11 =Mayo= 12 [Illustration: Hiragana May] 13 Maggio 14] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: May Devotion. There once was a fellow most kind, Who, when loving, went at it quite blind. He said, “That’s all right, But she’s so out of sight That I can’t keep her out of my mind!” May Mai 15 [Illustration: Kanji May] 16 ~Mäi~ 17 [Illustration: Gemini ♊︎] 18 =Mayo= 19 [Illustration: Hiragana May] 20 Maggio 21] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Always Save for a Rainy Day. There was a young lady named Jane, Who went out to walk in the rain; Her skirts were so lacey It really was racey, And drove all the chappies insane. May Mai 22 [Illustration: Kanji May] 23 ~Mäi~ 24 [Illustration: Gemini ♊︎] 25 =Mayo= 26 [Illustration: Hiragana May] 27 Maggio 28] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: May Be Careful. There was a young man from the Cape, Who always wore trousers of crêpe. When asked, “Do they tear?” He replied, “Here and there-- But they keep such a wonderful shape.” May Mai 29 [Illustration: Kanji May] 30 ~Mäi~ 31] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Seize Opportunities. There was an old lady of Lee, Who invited the curate to tea. He said, “You quite shine In the housewifely line.” “Oh, this is so sudden!” said she. June Juin 1 [Illustration: Kanji June] 2 ~Juni~ 3 [Illustration: Cancer ♋︎] 4 =Junio= 5 [Illustration: Hiragana June] 6 Giugno 7] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: June Seek After Knowledge. A man with the brain of a linnet Asked forty-two questions a minute. When they said, “Mind your biz!” He said, “Envy it is, ’Cause you know just how strictly I’m in it.” June Juin 8 [Illustration: Kanji June] 9 ~Juni~ 10 [Illustration: Cancer ♋︎] 11 =Junio= 12 [Illustration: Hiragana June] 13 Giugno 14 Ἰούνιος 15] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Respect for Age. There was an old beau of Formosa, Who ne’er was content with a “No, sah!” The strength of his arm Oft excited alarm, And his motto was “closah and closah.” June Juin 16 [Illustration: Kanji June] 17 ~Juni~ 18 [Illustration: Cancer ♋︎] 19 =Junio= 20 [Illustration: Hiragana June] 21 Giugno 22 Ἰούνιος 23] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: June Uncertainty. A lady once had a bad habit: She couldn’t see cheese but she’d nab it. She said, “Memory fails-- Is the rabbit from Wales? Or do the wails come from the rabbit?” June Juin 24 [Illustration: Kanji June] 25 ~Juni~ 26 [Illustration: Cancer ♋︎] 27 =Junio= 28 [Illustration: Hiragana June] 29 Giugno 30] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Retort Courteous. There was a young lady of Wilts, Who walked all through Scotland on stilts. When they said, “Oh, how shocking, To see so much stocking!” She said, “How about you and your kilts?” July Juillet 1 [Illustration: Kanji July] 2 ~Juli~ 3 [Illustration: Leo ♌︎] 4 =Julio= 5 [Illustration: Hiragana July] 6 Luglio 7] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: July Generosity. There was a young lady of Venice, Who used hard-boiled eggs to play tennis. When they cried, “You are wrong!” She replied, “Go along-- You don’t know how prolific my hen is.” July Juillet 8 [Illustration: Kanji July] 9 ~Juli~ 10 [Illustration: Leo ♌︎] 11 =Julio= 12 [Illustration: Hiragana July] 13 Luglio 14] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Art. There was a fair dame whose manœuvre Was to get her portrait in the Louvre; But they sent it away The very first day-- And it’s now in a dive in Vancouvre. July Juillet 15 [Illustration: Kanji July] 16 ~Juli~ 17 [Illustration: Leo ♌︎] 18 =Julio= 19 [Illustration: Hiragana July] 20 Luglio 21] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: July Comparisons are Odious. A talented artist (Ed Lanseer), Said, “Beau Brummel, I won’t paint these pants here; I assure you, I can’t see That they are so fancy-- Why, last week I saw a dog-fancier.” July Juillet 22 [Illustration: Kanji July] 23 ~Juli~ 24 [Illustration: Leo ♌︎] 25 =Julio= 26 [Illustration: Hiragana July] 27 Luglio 28] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Inspiration. An old person who lived by his pen, Cried, “Goody! I’ve got ’em again! A poem I’ll write, ’Bout the dawning of night, That will easily collar a ten!” July Juillet 29 [Illustration: Kanji July] 30 ~Juli~ 31] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Aug. Popularity. A musician there was--Paderewski-- Who never would drink nor would chewski; As a Matineé blade, He made Hackett afraid, And quite broke the heart of John Drewski. August Août 1 [Illustration: Kanji August] 2 ~August~ 3 [Illustration: Virgo ♍︎] 4 =Agosto= 5 [Illustration: Hiragana August] 6 Αὔγουστος 7] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Truth. There was a young lady named Maude, Who said she was “awfully boahed,” For all men she hated, Both single and mated-- But in the dark corners--Good Lawd! August Août 8 [Illustration: Kanji August] 9 ~August~ 10 [Illustration: Virgo ♍︎] 11 =Agosto= 12 [Illustration: Hiragana August] 13 Agosto 14 Αὔγουστος 15] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Aug. A Good Girl. Eliza she never was nifty, She was kindly and gentle and thrifty; She gave poor people pies, And she never made eyes-- But then--she was seven and fifty! August Août 16 [Illustration: Kanji August] 17 ~August~ 18 [Illustration: Virgo ♍︎] 19 =Agosto= 20 [Illustration: Hiragana August] 21 Agosto 22 Αὔγουστος 23] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Do Not be Persistent. There once was a promising hound, The fleetest that ever was found; But his friends all declare, That when chasing the hare, He was running things into the ground. August Août 24 [Illustration: Kanji August] 25 ~August~ 26 [Illustration: Virgo ♍︎] 27 =Agosto= 28 [Illustration: Hiragana August] 29 Agosto 30 Αὔγουστος 31] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Sept. Never Swear. A kindly old person named Tom, Manufactured a dynamite bomb. One day in annoy, He cast it at a boy,-- Saying, “Gracious! I nearly said Domn!” September Septembre 1 [Illustration: Kanji September] 2 ~September~ 3 [Illustration: Libra ♎︎] 4 =Setiembre= 5 [Illustration: Hiragana September] 6 Settembre 7] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Self-Sufficiency. There was a young damsel named Nell, Who considered herself quite a belle. She sat on the sand, And held her own hand, And never got on to the swell. September Septembre 8 [Illustration: Kanji September] 9 ~September~ 10 [Illustration: Libra ♎︎] 11 =Setiembre= 12 [Illustration: Hiragana September] 13 Settembre 14] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Sept. The Young Nimrod. Young Henry went out for to shoot, With a gun and a high rubber boot; He shot an old goat, A guide and a shoat-- But he’s best when he’s shooting the chute. September Septembre 15 [Illustration: Kanji September] 16 ~September~ 17 [Illustration: Libra ♎︎] 18 =Setiembre= 19 [Illustration: Hiragana September] 20 Settembre 21 Σεπτέμβριος 22] [Illustration: Foresight. There was an old man of Tarrentum, Who sat on his false teeth and bent ’um When asked what he’d lost, And what they had cost, He replied, “I don’t know, I just rent ’um.” September Septembre 23 [Illustration: Kanji September] 24 ~September~ 25 [Illustration: Libra ♎︎] 26 =Setiembre= 27 [Illustration: Hiragana September] 28 Settembre 29 Σεπτέμβριος 30] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Oct. Society. There was a fair charmer named Jones, And the lions from various zones At her house came and roared In a beautiful chord, As she fed them elaborate bones. October Octobre 1 [Illustration: Kanji October] 2 ~Oktober~ 3 [Illustration: Scorpio ♏︎] 4 =Octubre= 5 [Illustration: Hiragana October] 6 Ottobre 7] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: At a Cursory Glance. A curate once smote at a tee, And threw his new club up a tree, Saying, “Fie!! My!! Oh, dear!!! I must give up, I fear, Either golf or the ministree!” October Octobre 8 [Illustration: Kanji October] 9 ~Oktober~ 10 [Illustration: Scorpio ♏︎] 11 =Octubre= 12 [Illustration: Hiragana October] 13 Ottobre 14 Ὀυτώμβριος 15] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Oct. High Ideals. There was a young man who said, “Oh, Why, lucre’s so filthy and low!” But his friends said, “Oh, shoo! That’s too good to be true-- You can bet that he’s after the dough!” October Octobre 16 [Illustration: Kanji October] 17 ~Oktober~ 18 [Illustration: Scorpio ♏︎] 19 =Octubre= 20 [Illustration: Hiragana October] 21 Ottobre 22 Ὀυτώμβριος 23] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Compensation. There was a fair girl named Elaine, Who, one March day, went out dressed en train; The wind tried to be rude, But her costume was glued-- ’Tis better sometimes to be vain. October Octobre 24 [Illustration: Kanji October] 25 ~Oktober~ 26 [Illustration: Scorpio ♏︎] 27 =Octubre= 28 [Illustration: Hiragana October] 29 Ottobre 30 Ὀυτώμβριος 31] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Nov. The Lovers. A lover in China, named Kin, Sang soft serenades with great din; With his eye to a crack In the wall at the back-- And they said, “’Tis the lute of Peek-in!” November Novembre 1 [Illustration: Kanji November] 2 ~November~ 3 [Illustration: Sagitarius ♐︎] 4 =Noviembre= 5 [Illustration: Hiragana November] 6 Novembre 7] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Don’t Be a Rounder. There was a fair maid named O’Neil, Who went up in the great Ferris Wheel; On the thirty-fourth round She looked down at the ground-- And it cost her an 80-cent meal. [Illustration] November Novembre 8 [Illustration: Kanji November] 9 ~November~ 10 [Illustration: Sagitarius ♐︎] 11 =Noviembre= 12 [Illustration: Hiragana November] 13 Novembre 14] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Nov. Hospitality. A tenderfoot out in the West Said, “Afternoon tea’s _such_ a rest!” So they knocked off his hat As they punched his nose flat, And shot all the checks off his vest. November Novembre 15 [Illustration: Kanji November] 16 ~November~ 17 [Illustration: Sagitarius ♐︎] 18 =Noviembre= 19 [Illustration: Hiragana November] 20 Novembre 21 Νοέμβριος 22] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Perseverance. There was an old person named Tate Who out fishing went early and late. When the fish gave a tug, Then he pulled on the jug, And the thing that he caught was a skate. November Novembre 23 [Illustration: Kanji November] 24 ~November~ 25 [Illustration: Sagitarius ♐︎] 26 =Noviembre= 27 [Illustration: Hiragana November] 28 Novembre 29 Νοέμβριος 30] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Dec. Modesty. There once was a sensitive bride, Who ran when the groom she espied. When they put on her veil She set up a wail, And when the priest blessed her, she cried. December Décembre 1 [Illustration: Kanji December] 2 ~Dezember~ 3 [Illustration: Capricorn ♑︎] 4 =Diciembre= 5 [Illustration: Hiragana December] 6 Dicembre 7] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Know Your True Worth. Said a Rooster, “I’d have you all know I am nearly the whole of the show; Why, the Sun every morn Gets up with the dawn For the purpose of hearing me crow!” December Décembre 8 [Illustration: Kanji December] 9 ~Dezember~ 10 [Illustration: Capricorn ♑︎] 11 =Diciembre= 12 [Illustration: Hiragana December] 13 Dicembre 14] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Dec. A Good Reason. There was a young man of Fort Blainey, Who proposed to a typist named Janey; When his friends cried, “Oh, dear! She’s so old and so queer!” He replied, “But the day was so rainy!” December Décembre 15 [Illustration: Kanji December] 16 ~Dezember~ 17 [Illustration: Capricorn ♑︎] 18 =Diciembre= 19 [Illustration: Hiragana December] 20 Dicembre 21] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Recklessness. Sir Guy was an amorous knight, Who costumed himself in a tight. It was taking a chance To go without pants, In case the mosquitoes should bite. December Décembre 22 [Illustration: Kanji December] 23 ~Dezember~ 24 [Illustration: Capricorn ♑︎] 25 =Diciembre= 26 [Illustration: Hiragana December] 27 Dicembre 28] [Illustration: MEMORANDA] [Illustration: Dec. Thrift. There was a good dame of Cape Horn, Whose clothing was tattered and torn. She remarked, debonnaire, As she pinned up her hair: “Three bargains I purchased this morn.” December Décembre 29 [Illustration: Kanji December] 30 ~Dezember~ 31] [Illustration: Finis.] *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78335 ***