The Project Gutenberg eBook ofThe Slant 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 Slant BookAuthor: Peter NewellRelease date: December 8, 2005 [eBook #17254]Most recently updated: December 13, 2020Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Jason Isbell, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net.*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SLANT 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 Slant BookAuthor: Peter NewellRelease date: December 8, 2005 [eBook #17254]Most recently updated: December 13, 2020Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Jason Isbell, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net.
Title: The Slant Book
Author: Peter Newell
Author: Peter Newell
Release date: December 8, 2005 [eBook #17254]Most recently updated: December 13, 2020
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Jason Isbell, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net.
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SLANT BOOK ***
Back Cover
Back Cover
This uphill work is slow, indeed,But down the slant—ah! note the speed!
This uphill work is slow, indeed,But down the slant—ah! note the speed!
HARPER & BROTHERSNEW YORK
Copyright 1910, by Harper & BrothersPatented September 20, 1910Published November, 1910Printed in the United States of America
The original book is printed and bound so that alternating pages (and the text on those pages) are at a 15 degree incline or decline.
Where Bobby lives there is a hill—A hill so steep and high,'Twould fill the bill for Jack and JillTheir famous act to tryOnce Bobby's Go-cart broke awayAnd down this hill it kited.The careless Nurse screamed in dismayBut Bobby was delightedHe clapped his hands, in manner rude,And laughed in high elation—While, close behind, the Nurse pursuedIn hopeless consternation
Where Bobby lives there is a hill—A hill so steep and high,'Twould fill the bill for Jack and JillTheir famous act to tryOnce Bobby's Go-cart broke awayAnd down this hill it kited.The careless Nurse screamed in dismayBut Bobby was delightedHe clapped his hands, in manner rude,And laughed in high elation—While, close behind, the Nurse pursuedIn hopeless consternation
An Officer slid off the lidAs Bobby hove in sight,And bellowed out, "You're scorchin', kid—I'll run you in all right!"But down the Go-cart swiftly spedAnd smashed that Cop completely,And as he sailed o'er Bobby's headBob snipped a button neatly!
An Officer slid off the lidAs Bobby hove in sight,And bellowed out, "You're scorchin', kid—I'll run you in all right!"But down the Go-cart swiftly spedAnd smashed that Cop completely,And as he sailed o'er Bobby's headBob snipped a button neatly!
A funny Son of sunny GreeceWas standing near the curb,Beside his push-cart, wrapped in peace,That naught could well disturbBut all at once he got a shock—The Go-cart speeding down,Collided with his fancy stockAnd littered up the town!
A funny Son of sunny GreeceWas standing near the curb,Beside his push-cart, wrapped in peace,That naught could well disturbBut all at once he got a shock—The Go-cart speeding down,Collided with his fancy stockAnd littered up the town!
The runaway then swerved a bitAnd snapped a Hydrant, short;Which accident proved quite a hitOf rather novel sortThe Water spouted in a jetAs much as ten feet high,And all were soaked and nearly chokedWho chanced to be nearby!
The runaway then swerved a bitAnd snapped a Hydrant, short;Which accident proved quite a hitOf rather novel sortThe Water spouted in a jetAs much as ten feet high,And all were soaked and nearly chokedWho chanced to be nearby!
A farmer's wife, Miss' Angy Moore,Was trudging up the grade.A basketful of eggs she boreTo barter with in tradeThe Go-cart and the Lady met(Informally, no doubt)And made a sort of omeletteAnd spread it round about!
A farmer's wife, Miss' Angy Moore,Was trudging up the grade.A basketful of eggs she boreTo barter with in tradeThe Go-cart and the Lady met(Informally, no doubt)And made a sort of omeletteAnd spread it round about!
A Painter on a ladder perched,Was working at his calling—Against its foot the Go-cart lurchedAnd sent the fellow sprawlingHis pot of paint came tumbling downAnd wrong side up, it settledAbout a Chappie's flaxen crown—Oh, my! but he was nettled!
A Painter on a ladder perched,Was working at his calling—Against its foot the Go-cart lurchedAnd sent the fellow sprawlingHis pot of paint came tumbling downAnd wrong side up, it settledAbout a Chappie's flaxen crown—Oh, my! but he was nettled!
A German Band across the streetIts way was slowly wending,Which was a movement indiscreet,The way that things were tendingThe Go-cart struck the bass drum square,And passed completely through it.The Drummer madly tore his hairAnd said, "Vy did you do it?"
A German Band across the streetIts way was slowly wending,Which was a movement indiscreet,The way that things were tendingThe Go-cart struck the bass drum square,And passed completely through it.The Drummer madly tore his hairAnd said, "Vy did you do it?"
Some Workingmen were putting inA heavy plate-glass front.The Go-cart then came rushing inAnd did its little stuntIt smashed to bits a crystal paneTwo sweating men were bearing,And sped on down the slanting planeAnd left them mad and swearing!
Some Workingmen were putting inA heavy plate-glass front.The Go-cart then came rushing inAnd did its little stuntIt smashed to bits a crystal paneTwo sweating men were bearing,And sped on down the slanting planeAnd left them mad and swearing!
An automobile big and brownWas chugging up the hill,And met the Go-cart plunging downWith speed that boded illAt once there rose a noise and dinOf people in dismay.A Sandwich-man then butted inAnd opened up a way!
An automobile big and brownWas chugging up the hill,And met the Go-cart plunging downWith speed that boded illAt once there rose a noise and dinOf people in dismay.A Sandwich-man then butted inAnd opened up a way!
A Lad was rushing with a HatSome Lady had been buying—The Go-cart caught—and laid him flat,And sent the hat-box flyingThe Hat fell out and settled downUpon our Bobby's head."Say, I'm the swellest kid in town!"The precious rascal said
A Lad was rushing with a HatSome Lady had been buying—The Go-cart caught—and laid him flat,And sent the hat-box flyingThe Hat fell out and settled downUpon our Bobby's head."Say, I'm the swellest kid in town!"The precious rascal said
A Newsboy next was somehow hit—The Go-cart, swift and dextrous,Contrived to muss him up a bitAnd fill the air with extrasOne copy Bobby neatly scooped,And saw this wild display,In type so bold it fairly whooped:"A GO-CART BREAKS AWAY!"
A Newsboy next was somehow hit—The Go-cart, swift and dextrous,Contrived to muss him up a bitAnd fill the air with extrasOne copy Bobby neatly scooped,And saw this wild display,In type so bold it fairly whooped:"A GO-CART BREAKS AWAY!"
Then as the Go-cart speeded by,A Bulldog, quite pugnacious,Seized on the handle on the flyAnd clung with grip tenaciousThe Go-cart's speed was so increasedThe Dog streamed out behind it,And Bobby turned to pet the beastWhich didn't seem to mind it!
Then as the Go-cart speeded by,A Bulldog, quite pugnacious,Seized on the handle on the flyAnd clung with grip tenaciousThe Go-cart's speed was so increasedThe Dog streamed out behind it,And Bobby turned to pet the beastWhich didn't seem to mind it!
Perambulating down the streetWas Miss Lucile O'Grady—The Go-cart knocked her off her feetAnd took on board the Lady"Your fare!" said Bobby, with a shout,One chubby hand extending.But Miss O'Grady tumbled outWith shrieks the heavens rending
Perambulating down the streetWas Miss Lucile O'Grady—The Go-cart knocked her off her feetAnd took on board the Lady"Your fare!" said Bobby, with a shout,One chubby hand extending.But Miss O'Grady tumbled outWith shrieks the heavens rending
A Herder up the weary gradeA yearling Calf was leading.The creature was a stubborn jadeAnd lunged about, unheedingThe Go-cart caught the rope midwayBetween the Calf and Herder,And both fell in behind the shayWith cries of "Ba-a!" and "Murder!"
A Herder up the weary gradeA yearling Calf was leading.The creature was a stubborn jadeAnd lunged about, unheedingThe Go-cart caught the rope midwayBetween the Calf and Herder,And both fell in behind the shayWith cries of "Ba-a!" and "Murder!"
Two Chappies at a tennis meetWere battling fast and hard—The Go-cart skidded off the streetAnd shot across the yardThe game was "forty all," but thenIt didn't end that day—The Go-cart dashed into the netAnd carried it away!
Two Chappies at a tennis meetWere battling fast and hard—The Go-cart skidded off the streetAnd shot across the yardThe game was "forty all," but thenIt didn't end that day—The Go-cart dashed into the netAnd carried it away!
On came the Go-cart down the grade(The town was now behind it)And ran into an orchard's shadeWhere Providence resigned it!But then it only grazed a treeAnd set it all a-shiver;The ripened fruit fell merrilyAnd likewise Sammy Sliver!
On came the Go-cart down the grade(The town was now behind it)And ran into an orchard's shadeWhere Providence resigned it!But then it only grazed a treeAnd set it all a-shiver;The ripened fruit fell merrilyAnd likewise Sammy Sliver!
Then through a Watermelon patchThis awful cart descended,And split the melons by the batch—The Farmer was offendedAnd tried to stop its wild career,Which was a silly notion—It passed him promptly to the rearWith quite a rapid motion!
Then through a Watermelon patchThis awful cart descended,And split the melons by the batch—The Farmer was offendedAnd tried to stop its wild career,Which was a silly notion—It passed him promptly to the rearWith quite a rapid motion!
A Picnic Party on the greenWere seated at their lunch—The Go-cart dashed upon the sceneAnd through the happy bunch!Sardines and pickles, ham and cake,Were jumbled in a mess,Then straightway rose these PicnickersAnd shouted for redress!
A Picnic Party on the greenWere seated at their lunch—The Go-cart dashed upon the sceneAnd through the happy bunch!Sardines and pickles, ham and cake,Were jumbled in a mess,Then straightway rose these PicnickersAnd shouted for redress!
An Artist sketching on the slopeA lively air was humming,And so absorbed was he, he failedTo note the Go-cart comingA crash! The circumambient airWas filled with miscellany,And damaged quite beyond repairWas Cremnitz White Mulvaney!
An Artist sketching on the slopeA lively air was humming,And so absorbed was he, he failedTo note the Go-cart comingA crash! The circumambient airWas filled with miscellany,And damaged quite beyond repairWas Cremnitz White Mulvaney!
A Damsel milked a brindled CowOut in a pasture green,The Birdies sang from bush and bough—All Nature was sereneWhen suddenly a thunderboltDispelled the sweet illusion—The Go-cart gave the twain a jolt,And all was wild confusion!
A Damsel milked a brindled CowOut in a pasture green,The Birdies sang from bush and bough—All Nature was sereneWhen suddenly a thunderboltDispelled the sweet illusion—The Go-cart gave the twain a jolt,And all was wild confusion!
Upon a rustic bridge a ChapCast out a bait inviting,And presently he took a napAnd dreamed the fish were bitingThen came the Go-cart like a galeAnd rudely him awakened—At first he thought he'd caught a whale,But found he was mistaken!
Upon a rustic bridge a ChapCast out a bait inviting,And presently he took a napAnd dreamed the fish were bitingThen came the Go-cart like a galeAnd rudely him awakened—At first he thought he'd caught a whale,But found he was mistaken!
The longest night must have an endAs well as a beginning;And so this Cart, you may depend,Was bound to cease its spinningIt crashed into a hemlock StumpThat chanced to block its way,And Bobby made a flying jumpAnd landed in the hay!
The longest night must have an endAs well as a beginning;And so this Cart, you may depend,Was bound to cease its spinningIt crashed into a hemlock StumpThat chanced to block its way,And Bobby made a flying jumpAnd landed in the hay!