PREFACE
Preface
ALL Lions have tails: some—like the one here—remarkably long ones. Some Lionels I know have “Legends” instead. The Lionel for which these were made is a great devourer of them, and he also has an appetite for pictures to paint. This book of sketches, the offspring of the odd half hours of winter evenings, was originally intended strictly for home consumption. One thing, however, leads to another, just as the sketches did, following one by one as fancy led, till they filled the book, and this book falling under the eye of Messrs Cassell (through the voluntary offices of a sympathetic and enthusiastic friend) “Legends for Lionel” may become legends for legions of Lionels.That both Lionels and others may get as much fun out of the book as did its own father—and Lionel’s—is the wish of both, at any rateWalter Crane.Aug: 1887
ALL Lions have tails: some—like the one here—remarkably long ones. Some Lionels I know have “Legends” instead. The Lionel for which these were made is a great devourer of them, and he also has an appetite for pictures to paint. This book of sketches, the offspring of the odd half hours of winter evenings, was originally intended strictly for home consumption. One thing, however, leads to another, just as the sketches did, following one by one as fancy led, till they filled the book, and this book falling under the eye of Messrs Cassell (through the voluntary offices of a sympathetic and enthusiastic friend) “Legends for Lionel” may become legends for legions of Lionels.
That both Lionels and others may get as much fun out of the book as did its own father—and Lionel’s—is the wish of both, at any rate
Walter Crane.
Aug: 1887
page 2Jack Frost sends his Herald
Jack Frost sends his Herald
page 3without their leaves,
without their leaves,
page 4and just as the World is thinking of skating—
and just as the World is thinking of skating—
page 5comes Thaw;
comes Thaw;
page 6followed by Fog, in which Lionel begins to look out for Xmas.
followed by Fog, in which Lionel begins to look out for Xmas.
page 7He sees dim and cloudy outlines,
He sees dim and cloudy outlines,
page 8across a white expanse, dotted with sugar-plums,
across a white expanse, dotted with sugar-plums,
page 9which led him to a little house in a garden of Xmas-Trees.
which led him to a little house in a garden of Xmas-Trees.
page 10The door was opened by a stately Turkey,
The door was opened by a stately Turkey,
page 11supported by attendant sausages
supported by attendant sausages
page 12and followed by Plum pudding
and followed by Plum pudding
page 13Mince-pies,
Mince-pies,
page 14and a regiment of Crackers
and a regiment of Crackers
page 15and a rain of Bon-bons,
and a rain of Bon-bons,
page 16also a Snap-dragon
also a Snap-dragon
page 17StGeorge after him.
StGeorge after him.
page 18but Lionel gets through them all at last, and is invited by Jack Horner
but Lionel gets through them all at last, and is invited by Jack Horner
page 19to a seat in the chimney corner,
to a seat in the chimney corner,
page 20and a share of the celebrated pie,
and a share of the celebrated pie,
page 21and when the pie was opened
and when the pie was opened
page 22it stood and flapped its wings!
it stood and flapped its wings!
page 23A pretty dish to set before two hungry things
A pretty dish to set before two hungry things
page 24King Frost was in his Freezing House:
King Frost was in his Freezing House:
page 25Nipping toes and noses!
Nipping toes and noses!
page 26Green Spring was in her sleeping car,
Green Spring was in her sleeping car,
page 27Tying up her posies
Tying up her posies
page 28The spade was in the garden talking to the hose,
The spade was in the garden talking to the hose,
page 29About a little London-black that settled on the rose.
About a little London-black that settled on the rose.
page 30But Lionel takes to another branch of the black business,
But Lionel takes to another branch of the black business,
page 31and, followed by his tinker’s dog, he trundles his workshop.
and, followed by his tinker’s dog, he trundles his workshop.
page 32On the common he meets a pot and a kettle in hot dispute:
On the common he meets a pot and a kettle in hot dispute:
page 33having mended their little difference with a bit of cracked looking glass,
having mended their little difference with a bit of cracked looking glass,
page 34further on he meets with some keen customers,
further on he meets with some keen customers,
page 35and a whole population of pots and pans,
and a whole population of pots and pans,
page 36besides sets of fire-irons waiting to be set on their legs.
besides sets of fire-irons waiting to be set on their legs.
page 37Fire-dogs, too, left the chimney corner,
Fire-dogs, too, left the chimney corner,
page 38to follow the Tinker’s dog:
to follow the Tinker’s dog:
page 39Good Luck flings her old horse shoe after him,
Good Luck flings her old horse shoe after him,
page 40and so, getting hold of all the old iron of the village, the Tinker turns Magician, transmutes it into gold and retires from business.
and so, getting hold of all the old iron of the village, the Tinker turns Magician, transmutes it into gold and retires from business.
endpaper
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