Charles Edward Carryl

“ It’s enough to drive a person quite distracted.”
“Well, it’s a corker till you get used to it,” said the Robin, strutting about. “There’s such a tremendous variety to it, you see, that it exercises you all over at once.”
This was so ridiculous that Dorothy laughed outright. “I should never get used to it,” she said. “I don’t believe I know a single one of the answers.”
“I do!” said Bob Scarlet, proudly; “I know ’em all. It’s ‘No’ to everything in it.”
“Dear me!” said Dorothy, feeling quite provoked at herself, “of course it is. ”

“ Will Moles molest a mounted mink?
⁠Do Newts deny the news?
Are Oysters boisterous when they drink?
⁠Do Parrots prowl in pews?
Do Quakers get their quills from Quails?
⁠Do Rabbits rob on roads?
Are Snakes supposed to sneer at snails? ”

“ Chapter V. Bob Scarlet’s Garden.
Being in a garden full of flowers at Christmas-time is a very fine thing; and Dorothy was looking about with great delight, and wondering how it had all happened, when she suddenly caught sight of a big robin walking along one of the paths, and examining the various plants with an air of great interest. He was a very big robin, indeed—in fact, he was about as large as a goose; and he had on a gardener’s hat, and a bright red waistcoat which he was wearing unbuttoned so as to give his fat little chest plenty of room ”