The Project Gutenberg eBook ofThe Rocket BookThis ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.Title: The Rocket BookAuthor: Peter NewellRelease date: November 19, 2005 [eBook #17104]Most recently updated: December 13, 2020Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Jason Isbell, David Garcia and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ROCKET BOOK ***
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
Title: The Rocket BookAuthor: Peter NewellRelease date: November 19, 2005 [eBook #17104]Most recently updated: December 13, 2020Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Jason Isbell, David Garcia and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Title: The Rocket Book
Author: Peter Newell
Author: Peter Newell
Release date: November 19, 2005 [eBook #17104]Most recently updated: December 13, 2020
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Jason Isbell, David Garcia and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ROCKET BOOK ***
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HARPER & BROTHERSNEW YORK
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COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY HARPER & BROTHERS———————PATENTED JUNE 4, 1912———————PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAPUBLISHED OCTOBER, 1912
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THE ROCKET BOOK
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When Fritz, the Janitor's bad kid,Went snooping in the basement,He found a rocket snugly hidBeneath the window casement.
When Fritz, the Janitor's bad kid,Went snooping in the basement,He found a rocket snugly hidBeneath the window casement.
When Fritz, the Janitor's bad kid,
Went snooping in the basement,
He found a rocket snugly hid
Beneath the window casement.
(Rocket Hole)
He struck a match with one fell swoop;Then, on the concrete kneeling,He lit the rocket and—she—oop!It shot up through the ceiling.
He struck a match with one fell swoop;Then, on the concrete kneeling,He lit the rocket and—she—oop!It shot up through the ceiling.
He struck a match with one fell swoop;
Then, on the concrete kneeling,
He lit the rocket and—she—oop!
It shot up through the ceiling.
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THE BASEMENT
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The Steiners on the floor aboveOf breakfast were partaking;Crash! came the rocket, unannounced,And set them all a-quaking!
The Steiners on the floor aboveOf breakfast were partaking;Crash! came the rocket, unannounced,And set them all a-quaking!
The Steiners on the floor above
Of breakfast were partaking;
Crash! came the rocket, unannounced,
And set them all a-quaking!
(Rocket Hole)
It smote a catsup bottle, fair,And bang! the thing exploded!And now these people all declareThat catsup flask was loaded.
It smote a catsup bottle, fair,And bang! the thing exploded!And now these people all declareThat catsup flask was loaded.
It smote a catsup bottle, fair,
And bang! the thing exploded!
And now these people all declare
That catsup flask was loaded.
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FIRST FLAT
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Before the fire old Grandpa HoppDozed in his arm-chair big,When from a trunk the rocket burstAnd carried off his wig!
Before the fire old Grandpa HoppDozed in his arm-chair big,When from a trunk the rocket burstAnd carried off his wig!
Before the fire old Grandpa Hopp
Dozed in his arm-chair big,
When from a trunk the rocket burst
And carried off his wig!
(Rocket Hole)
It passed so near his ancient headHe roused up with a start,And, turning to his grandsons, said,"You fellows think you're smart!"
It passed so near his ancient headHe roused up with a start,And, turning to his grandsons, said,"You fellows think you're smart!"
It passed so near his ancient head
He roused up with a start,
And, turning to his grandsons, said,
"You fellows think you're smart!"
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SECOND FLAT
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Algernon Bracket, somewhat rash,Had blown a monster bubble,When, oh! there came a blinding flash,Precipitating trouble!
Algernon Bracket, somewhat rash,Had blown a monster bubble,When, oh! there came a blinding flash,Precipitating trouble!
Algernon Bracket, somewhat rash,
Had blown a monster bubble,
When, oh! there came a blinding flash,
Precipitating trouble!
(Rocket Hole)
But Algy turned in mild disgust,And called to Mama Bracket,"Say, did you hear that bubble bu'st?It made an awful racket!"
But Algy turned in mild disgust,And called to Mama Bracket,"Say, did you hear that bubble bu'st?It made an awful racket!"
But Algy turned in mild disgust,
And called to Mama Bracket,
"Say, did you hear that bubble bu'st?
It made an awful racket!"
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THIRD FLAT
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Jo Budd, who'd bought a potted plant,Was dousing it with water.He fancied this would make it grow,And Joseph loved to potter.
Jo Budd, who'd bought a potted plant,Was dousing it with water.He fancied this would make it grow,And Joseph loved to potter.
Jo Budd, who'd bought a potted plant,
Was dousing it with water.
He fancied this would make it grow,
And Joseph loved to potter.
(Rocket Hole)
Then through the pot the rocket shotAnd made the scene look sickly!"Well, now," said Jo, "I never thoughtThat plant would shoot so quickly!"
Then through the pot the rocket shotAnd made the scene look sickly!"Well, now," said Jo, "I never thoughtThat plant would shoot so quickly!"
Then through the pot the rocket shot
And made the scene look sickly!
"Well, now," said Jo, "I never thought
That plant would shoot so quickly!"
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FOURTH FLAT
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Right here 'tis needful to remarkThat Dick and "Little Son"Were playing with a Noah's arkAnd having loads of fun,
Right here 'tis needful to remarkThat Dick and "Little Son"Were playing with a Noah's arkAnd having loads of fun,
Right here 'tis needful to remark
That Dick and "Little Son"
Were playing with a Noah's ark
And having loads of fun,
(Rocket Hole)
When all at once that rocket, stout,Up through the ark came blazing!The animals were tossed aboutAnd did some stunts amazing.
When all at once that rocket, stout,Up through the ark came blazing!The animals were tossed aboutAnd did some stunts amazing.
When all at once that rocket, stout,
Up through the ark came blazing!
The animals were tossed about
And did some stunts amazing.
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FIFTH FLAT
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A Burglar on the next floor upThe sideboard was exploring.(The family, with the brindled pup,Were still asleep and snoring.)
A Burglar on the next floor upThe sideboard was exploring.(The family, with the brindled pup,Were still asleep and snoring.)
A Burglar on the next floor up
The sideboard was exploring.
(The family, with the brindled pup,
Were still asleep and snoring.)
(Rocket Hole)
Just then, up through the silverwareThe rocket thundered, flaring!The Burglar got a dreadful scare;Then out the door went tearing.
Just then, up through the silverwareThe rocket thundered, flaring!The Burglar got a dreadful scare;Then out the door went tearing.
Just then, up through the silverware
The rocket thundered, flaring!
The Burglar got a dreadful scare;
Then out the door went tearing.
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SIXTH FLAT
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Miss Mamie Briggs with no mean skillWas playing "Casey's Fling"To please her cousin, Amos Gill,Who liked that sort of thing,
Miss Mamie Briggs with no mean skillWas playing "Casey's Fling"To please her cousin, Amos Gill,Who liked that sort of thing,
Miss Mamie Briggs with no mean skill
Was playing "Casey's Fling"
To please her cousin, Amos Gill,
Who liked that sort of thing,
(Rocket Hole)
When suddenly the rocket, hot,The old piano jumbled!It stopped that rag-time like a shot,Then through the ceiling rumbled.
When suddenly the rocket, hot,The old piano jumbled!It stopped that rag-time like a shot,Then through the ceiling rumbled.
When suddenly the rocket, hot,
The old piano jumbled!
It stopped that rag-time like a shot,
Then through the ceiling rumbled.
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SEVENTH FLAT
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Up through the next floor on its wayThat rocket, dread, went tearingWhere Winkle stood in bath-robe, gay,A tepid bath preparing.
Up through the next floor on its wayThat rocket, dread, went tearingWhere Winkle stood in bath-robe, gay,A tepid bath preparing.
Up through the next floor on its way
That rocket, dread, went tearing
Where Winkle stood in bath-robe, gay,
A tepid bath preparing.
(Rocket Hole)
The tub it punctured like a shotAnd made a mighty splashing.The man was rooted to the spot;Then out the door went dashing.
The tub it punctured like a shotAnd made a mighty splashing.The man was rooted to the spot;Then out the door went dashing.
The tub it punctured like a shot
And made a mighty splashing.
The man was rooted to the spot;
Then out the door went dashing.
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EIGHTH FLAT
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Bob Brooks was puffing very hardHis football to inflate,While round him stood his faithful guard,And they could hardly wait.
Bob Brooks was puffing very hardHis football to inflate,While round him stood his faithful guard,And they could hardly wait.
Bob Brooks was puffing very hard
His football to inflate,
While round him stood his faithful guard,
And they could hardly wait.
(Rocket Hole)
Then came the rocket, fierce and bright,And through the football rumbled."You've got a pair of lungs, all right!"His staring playmates grumbled.
Then came the rocket, fierce and bright,And through the football rumbled."You've got a pair of lungs, all right!"His staring playmates grumbled.
Then came the rocket, fierce and bright,
And through the football rumbled.
"You've got a pair of lungs, all right!"
His staring playmates grumbled.
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NINTH FLAT
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The family dog, with frenzied mien,Was chasing Fluff, the mouser,When, poof! the rocket flashed between,And quite astonished Towzer.
The family dog, with frenzied mien,Was chasing Fluff, the mouser,When, poof! the rocket flashed between,And quite astonished Towzer.
The family dog, with frenzied mien,
Was chasing Fluff, the mouser,
When, poof! the rocket flashed between,
And quite astonished Towzer.
(Rocket Hole)
Now, if this dog had wit enoughThe English tongue to torture,He might have growled such silly stuffAs, "Whew! that cat's a scorcher!"
Now, if this dog had wit enoughThe English tongue to torture,He might have growled such silly stuffAs, "Whew! that cat's a scorcher!"
Now, if this dog had wit enough
The English tongue to torture,
He might have growled such silly stuff
As, "Whew! that cat's a scorcher!"
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TENTH FLAT
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While Carrie Cook sat with a bookThe phonograph played sweetly.Then came the rocket and it smashedThat instrument completely.
While Carrie Cook sat with a bookThe phonograph played sweetly.Then came the rocket and it smashedThat instrument completely.
While Carrie Cook sat with a book
The phonograph played sweetly.
Then came the rocket and it smashed
That instrument completely.
(Rocket Hole)
Fair Carrie promptly turned her head,Attracted by the roar."Dear me, I never heard," she said,"That record played before!"
Fair Carrie promptly turned her head,Attracted by the roar."Dear me, I never heard," she said,"That record played before!"
Fair Carrie promptly turned her head,
Attracted by the roar.
"Dear me, I never heard," she said,
"That record played before!"
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ELEVENTH FLAT
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De Vere was searching for a matchTo light a cigarette,But failed to find one with despatch,Which threw him in a pet.
De Vere was searching for a matchTo light a cigarette,But failed to find one with despatch,Which threw him in a pet.
De Vere was searching for a match
To light a cigarette,
But failed to find one with despatch,
Which threw him in a pet.
(Rocket Hole)
Just then the rocket flared up brightBefore his face and crackled,Supplying him the needed light—"Thanks, awfully," he cackled.
Just then the rocket flared up brightBefore his face and crackled,Supplying him the needed light—"Thanks, awfully," he cackled.
Just then the rocket flared up bright
Before his face and crackled,
Supplying him the needed light—
"Thanks, awfully," he cackled.
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TWELFTH FLAT
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Home from the shop came Maud's new hat—A hat of monstrous size!It almost filled the tiny flatBefore her ravished eyes.
Home from the shop came Maud's new hat—A hat of monstrous size!It almost filled the tiny flatBefore her ravished eyes.
Home from the shop came Maud's new hat—
A hat of monstrous size!
It almost filled the tiny flat
Before her ravished eyes.
(Rocket Hole)
When, sch-u-u! up through the box so proudThe rocket flared and spluttered."I said that hat was all too loud!"Her peevish husband muttered.
When, sch-u-u! up through the box so proudThe rocket flared and spluttered."I said that hat was all too loud!"Her peevish husband muttered.
When, sch-u-u! up through the box so proud
The rocket flared and spluttered.
"I said that hat was all too loud!"
Her peevish husband muttered.
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THIRTEENTH FLAT
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Tom's pap had helped him start his train,And all would have been fineHad not the rocket, raising Cain,Blocked traffic on the line.
Tom's pap had helped him start his train,And all would have been fineHad not the rocket, raising Cain,Blocked traffic on the line.
Tom's pap had helped him start his train,
And all would have been fine
Had not the rocket, raising Cain,
Blocked traffic on the line.
(Rocket Hole)
It blew the engine into scrap,As in a fit of passion."Who would have thought that toy," said pap,"Would blow up in such fashion!"
It blew the engine into scrap,As in a fit of passion."Who would have thought that toy," said pap,"Would blow up in such fashion!"
It blew the engine into scrap,
As in a fit of passion.
"Who would have thought that toy," said pap,
"Would blow up in such fashion!"
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FOURTEENTH FLAT
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Orlando Pease, quite at his ease,The "Morning Star" was reading."My dear," said he to Mrs. Pease,"Here's a report worth heeding."
Orlando Pease, quite at his ease,The "Morning Star" was reading."My dear," said he to Mrs. Pease,"Here's a report worth heeding."
Orlando Pease, quite at his ease,
The "Morning Star" was reading.
"My dear," said he to Mrs. Pease,
"Here's a report worth heeding."
(Rocket Hole)
The rocket then in wanton sportFlashed through the printed pages.The lady gasped, "A wild report!"Then swooned by easy stages.
The rocket then in wanton sportFlashed through the printed pages.The lady gasped, "A wild report!"Then swooned by easy stages.
The rocket then in wanton sport
Flashed through the printed pages.
The lady gasped, "A wild report!"
Then swooned by easy stages.
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FIFTEENTH FLAT
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Doc Danby was a stupid guy,So, lest he sleep too late,He placed a tattoo clock near byTo waken him at eight.
Doc Danby was a stupid guy,So, lest he sleep too late,He placed a tattoo clock near byTo waken him at eight.
Doc Danby was a stupid guy,
So, lest he sleep too late,
He placed a tattoo clock near by
To waken him at eight.
(Rocket Hole)
But, ah! the rocket smote that clockAnd smashed its way clean through it!"You have a fine alarm," said Doc,"But, say, you overdo it!"
But, ah! the rocket smote that clockAnd smashed its way clean through it!"You have a fine alarm," said Doc,"But, say, you overdo it!"
But, ah! the rocket smote that clock
And smashed its way clean through it!
"You have a fine alarm," said Doc,
"But, say, you overdo it!"
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SIXTEENTH FLAT
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A penny-liner, Abram Stout,Was writing a description."The flame shot up," he pounded out—Then threw a mild conniption.
A penny-liner, Abram Stout,Was writing a description."The flame shot up," he pounded out—Then threw a mild conniption.
A penny-liner, Abram Stout,
Was writing a description.
"The flame shot up," he pounded out—
Then threw a mild conniption.
(Rocket Hole)
For through his Flemington there shiedA rocket, hot and mystic."I didn't mean to be," he cried,"So deuced realistic!"
For through his Flemington there shiedA rocket, hot and mystic."I didn't mean to be," he cried,"So deuced realistic!"
For through his Flemington there shied
A rocket, hot and mystic.
"I didn't mean to be," he cried,
"So deuced realistic!"
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SEVENTEENTH FLAT
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Gus Gummer long had set his headUpon some strange invention."Be careful, Gus," his good wife said;"It might explode. I mention—"
Gus Gummer long had set his headUpon some strange invention."Be careful, Gus," his good wife said;"It might explode. I mention—"
Gus Gummer long had set his head
Upon some strange invention.
"Be careful, Gus," his good wife said;
"It might explode. I mention—"
(Rocket Hole)
Just then the pesky rocket flaredAnd wrecked that Yankee notion."I feared as much!" his wife declared;Then fainted from emotion.
Just then the pesky rocket flaredAnd wrecked that Yankee notion."I feared as much!" his wife declared;Then fainted from emotion.
Just then the pesky rocket flared
And wrecked that Yankee notion.
"I feared as much!" his wife declared;
Then fainted from emotion.
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EIGHTEENTH FLAT
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While Burt was on his hobby-horseAnd riding it like mad,The rocket on its fiery courseUpset the startled lad.
While Burt was on his hobby-horseAnd riding it like mad,The rocket on its fiery courseUpset the startled lad.
While Burt was on his hobby-horse
And riding it like mad,
The rocket on its fiery course
Upset the startled lad.
(Rocket Hole)
The frightened pony plunged a lot,Like Fury playing tag."Whoa, Spot!" said Burt. "Who would have thoughtYou such a fiery nag!"
The frightened pony plunged a lot,Like Fury playing tag."Whoa, Spot!" said Burt. "Who would have thoughtYou such a fiery nag!"
The frightened pony plunged a lot,
Like Fury playing tag.
"Whoa, Spot!" said Burt. "Who would have thought
You such a fiery nag!"
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NINETEENTH FLAT
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A taxidermist plied his tradeUpon a walrus' head.It really made him quite afraidTo meet its stare so dread.
A taxidermist plied his tradeUpon a walrus' head.It really made him quite afraidTo meet its stare so dread.
A taxidermist plied his trade
Upon a walrus' head.
It really made him quite afraid
To meet its stare so dread.
(Rocket Hole)
When suddenly the rocket, bright,Flared up and then was off!"Oh, Minnie," cried the man in fright,"Just hear that walrus cough!"
When suddenly the rocket, bright,Flared up and then was off!"Oh, Minnie," cried the man in fright,"Just hear that walrus cough!"
When suddenly the rocket, bright,
Flared up and then was off!
"Oh, Minnie," cried the man in fright,
"Just hear that walrus cough!"
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TWENTIETH FLAT
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Oh, it was just a splendid flight—That rocket's wild career!But to an end it came, all right,As you shall straightway hear.
Oh, it was just a splendid flight—That rocket's wild career!But to an end it came, all right,As you shall straightway hear.
Oh, it was just a splendid flight—
That rocket's wild career!
But to an end it came, all right,
As you shall straightway hear.
(Rocket Hole)
It plunged into a can of creamThat Billy Bunk was freezing,And froze quite stiff, as it would seem,And so subsided, wheezing.
It plunged into a can of creamThat Billy Bunk was freezing,And froze quite stiff, as it would seem,And so subsided, wheezing.
It plunged into a can of cream
That Billy Bunk was freezing,
And froze quite stiff, as it would seem,
And so subsided, wheezing.
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TOP FLAT
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(Rocket Hole)
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[Blank Page]
Click below to see an animation of what the growing rocket holes looked like when the reader quickly flipped through the pages of the physical book.
Animation
Animation