 ALPHABET OF BIRDS THE ALPHABET OF BIRDS by an unknown author published by McLaughlin Brothers, New York, 1885 A. The albatross is a large bird. It flies for days without rest, following ships in the southern seas to get food. Thus it may be caught with a hook. B. The bellbird is white, as large as a pigeon, and lives in South America. As it sounds its call, like a church bell, its horn stands erect. C. The canary, named from the canary islands, whence it was brought, is often green, but generally yellow. Of all birds it sings most sweetly. D. The duck lives about the water, and dives to the bottom for food. Its oily feathers do not get wet. Its feet are webbed for swimming. E. The egret lives in American swamps. For food it catches mice, frogs, and fish. Its body feathers are white, while its train is cream-colored. F. The falcon has its home in Europe and Asia. It is fond of lizards, snakes, and birds. Thus it has been trained by men to hunt game birds. G. The gross beak is naturally red, but fades in color when shut in a cage. It is kind to other birds, often adopting and rearing their young. H. The hen is the most useful of fowls. She lays eggs, which we eat, and scratches the soft earth for worms, to feed her brood of chickens. I. J. The jay is about the size of a pigeon and blue in color. When tame it learns to talk. Often it cries like a hawk, to frighten little birds. K. The kingfisher lives about streams and lakes. It sits upon a branch or log, and darts upon the fish in the water. It has a loud, harsh cry, L. The lyre bird is named from its tail, which is often ten feet long. Its home is in Australia. Its voice is loud, but not disagreeable. M. The macaw is a large bird, fond of long flights. It is very gaily colored, like all South American birds. It feeds upon the palm fruit. N. The nightingale lives in England and is famous the world over for its song. Its peculiarity is that it sings and the night when flying. O. The ostrich is the largest bird known. It is raised for its long, curly plumes, which are dyed of every color and used to trim ladies' hats. P. The paradise bird is named from the splendor of its plumage. It is the most gorgeous of the feathered tribe living in the East Indies. Q. The quail is found both in Europe and America and is prized as a game bird. In spring and summer it makes a clear musical whistle. R. The robin is seen any summer's day feeding on our lawn. He is friendly to men and should not be frightened or hurt to drive him away. S. The spoon-bill is nearly purely white. Its bill is long and broad, wince its name. It wades in the water to catch fish for food. T. The tailor bird is noted for its peculiar nest, which is made of one or two leaves sewed so as to form a bag. It uses its bill for a needle. U. V. The vulture is ten feet across its wings. It feeds on the bodies of dead animals. W. The woodcock is much sought by the sportsmen of England and America. It catches worms by running its long bill into the soft ground. X. The xanthornus, or bobble-ink, varies much in color, according to age. Its nest is made of long grasses woven into a purse-like form. Y. The yellow hammer is an English bird different from our own. Its sad cry causes it to be feared and hated by many people. Z. The oozel is often hunted with falcons, and is said to afford fine sport, as by its quick motions it is able to lead the hawk a long chase. END OF THE ALPHABET OF BIRDS Read by Dennis Sayers in Modesto, California for LibriVox Fall 2008. A. Ant Louise's THE GLOBE ALPHABET This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recorded by Laurie Ann Walden. A. Ant Louise's THE GLOBE ALPHABET Other Unknown A stands for the anchor we cast into sea, to hold the ship fast where we wish it to be. B stands for the baker who makes men their bread, the great staff of life on which nations are fed. C stands for a Chinaman, here one you see, walking amidst his plantations of tea. D for dromedary, or deserts he strays and goes without water for many long days. E stands for elk in cold countries he's found, with elks the American forests abound. F stands for the fruit that in summer we eat and find so refreshingly cooling and sweet. G stands for giraffe which is able you see to eat the top leaves from the branch of a tree. H for hippopotamus, savage and strong, by African rivers he wanders along. M stands for Italian, an organ he grinds, J is for jewels of various kinds. K stands for kangaroos sitting and leaping, hunters to kill them a keen watch are keeping. L stands for the lion of forests the king, with terrible roaring he makes the woods ring. M stands for the mill where by water's great power the wheat is ground down to a very fine flower. N stands for a nabob, a lord of the east, who likes own strong coffee and sweetmeats to feast. O stands for the organ, delightful the sound, in church when its music floats solemnly round. P stands for the peacock, a bird very vain of feathers he sweeps on the earth like a train. Q stands for quadril which the little one stands, as well we all think is the children in France. R stands for reindeer, very swiftly it goes carrying the lap lander over the snows. S stands for the sculptor whose statues can make and portraits with chisel and mallet can take. T stands for the tiger, a terrible beast that lives in the jungles and woods of the east. U stands for the uniform in which are seen the soldiers who fight for their country and queen. V stands for the vulture, a great bird of prey. A barrier for the wagon that carries the hay. X for the xylographer cutting on wood, a picture which printed he thinks will be good. Y stands for the yacht that bounds or the sea, a prettier cutter you don't often see. Z stands for a zebra whose elegant shape the sculptor we think for his model might take. End of Aunt Louise's The Globe Alphabet. Absurd ABC by Walter Crane. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Absurd ABC by Walter Crane. A for the apple or alphabet pie which all get a slice of come taste it and try. B is the baby who gave Mr. Bunting, full many a long days rabbit skin hunting. C for the cat that played on the fiddle, when cows jumped higher than high diddle diddle. D for the dame with her pig at the style, Tiz said they got over, but not yet a while. E for the Englishman ready to make fast, the giant who wanted to have him for breakfast. F for the frog in the story you know, begun with a wooing, but ending in woe. G for Goosey Gander who wandered upstairs and met the old man who objected to prayers. H for poor Humpty who after his fall felt obliged to resign his seat on the wall. I for the inn where they wouldn't give beer, to one with too much and no money I fear. J does for poor Jack and also for Jill, who had so disastrous a tumble down hill. K for calm kitty at dinner who sat, while all the good folks watched the dog and the cat. L for little man, gun and bullets complete, who shot the poor duck and was proud of the feet. M for Miss Muffet with that horrid spider just dropped into tea and a chat beside her. N for the numerous children they who were often too much for their mothers in shoe. O the old person that cobwebs did spy and went up to sweep them O ever so high. P for the pie made of blackbirds to sing, a song fit for supper, a dish for a king. Q for Queen Anne who sat in the sun till she, more than the lily, resembled the bun. R stands for Richard and Robert, those men, who didn't get up one fine morning till ten. S for the snail that showed wonderful fight, putting no less than twenty-four tailors to flight. T stands for Tom, the son of the piper. May his principles change as his years grow riper. U for the unicorn keeping his eye on, the coveted crown and its council the lion. V for the victuals including the drink, the old woman lived on, surprising to think. W for the woman who not overnice made very short work of the three blind mice. X is the X that is found upon buns, which daughters not liking may come in for sons. Y for Yankee Doodle of ancient renown, both he and his pony that took him to town. Z for the zany who looked like a fool, for when he was young he neglected his school. End of Absurd ABC, recording by Rhonda Federman. The Alphabet of Animals by Ernest Grissett. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings were in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Jeanette Selig. Alphabet of Animals. A stands for Ape, who has four clever hands. He lives in great woods in the tropical lands. B stands for Boar, a most savage wild pig, with his terrible tusks for roots he can dig. C stands for Cat, who grows fond of the house and very much likes to run after a mouse. D stands for Donkey, a poor patient beast who thinks some fresh thistles a very great feast. E is for Elephant, mighty in size, but kind to all children and gentle and wise. F is for Fox, who lives down underground and often is chased by the huntsman and hound. G is for Goat, or the Welsh hills it flies and very rich milk to the children's supplies. H is for Horse, one of man's greatest friends, on our wands and our pleasures he gladly attends. I is for Ibex, a goat with long horns, he lives on the mountains, the lowlands he scorns. J is for Jaguar, a fierce beast of prey who hides in American forests by day. K is for Kangaroo, upright it keeps, except when it jumps or the ground in great leaps. L stands for Lynx, clothed in fur thick and good, which finds home and food in the depths of the wood. The zoological gardens, when you go to the zoo, you must look for all the animals in this alphabet. You will find the ape and the elephant and the fox there, and the lynx, the porcupine, the rhinoceros and the tiger. You will also see the lion, the king of beasts, who can be tamed, and is then as good and kind as a dog, and the leopards that jump about so nimbly. There also you will see the brown bears climbing up their pole, and you will know then that they can easily climb trees also. Give them a bun, for they are as fond of sweets as children are. Then go and look at the seal in his tank of water. You will see how fond he is of his keeper. The seal is a very sensible creature. His home is near the north pole, and his thick, soft fur makes him able to bear the cold seas and to lie on the ice without being frozen. Seals are kind to their little ones and live in families, Papa and Mama Seal and the children. Be sure not to pat the wolf, taking him for a dog, as a child we knew once did, as he may perhaps bite. Indeed, it is best not to touch any creature in the gardens. The polar bear is a fine old fellow, but would be happier in his home of ice and snow. His fur is so thick that he must be much too warm in summer. Go and look at the giraffes. They are elegant looking animals. Their long necks are given them that they may feed on the branches and boughs of high trees, and when they have to stoop to drink they look rather awkward. The giraffe runs very fast, and is so strong that it can fight with the lion, though it runs away from him always if it can. What wonderful creatures God has made, lions, tigers, leopards, bears, camels, and the others, nearly all of them for the use or pleasure of men. We are sure you will think of how great and good God is when you visit the zoo. Time is for marmot, its homes in the ground, and good stores of nuts and corn in it are found. N for Newfoundland dog, faithful and brave, and ready from drowning dear children to save. O is for otter, which lives in the streams and breakfasts on fish when the early dawn beams. P is for porcupine, up its quills stick. If you touched him they surely would give you a prick. Q is for quagga, or Africa's plains it gallops, or feeding in troops it remains. R for rhinoceros, thick skinned and strong, to which two great horns on his hard nose belong. S is for squirrel, who sits on a tree, when cracking his nuts very happy is he. V for the tiger, most savage of beasts, who on all living creatures most readily feasts. U is for unicorn, well known in fable, to find him alive I think no one is able. V for vicuña, on mountains it lives, and soft silky wool for the use of man gives. W for walrus, in cold polar seas it swims amidst the icebergs with safety and ease. X, extinct animal, you won't regret that creatures like this one no longer are met. Y is for yak, the wild ox of Tibet, the tarters are glad it's long soft fleece to get. Z is for zebra, the brave desert steed, who flies or the African plains at full speed. End of THE ALPHABET OF ANIMALS ALPHABET OF COUNTRY SCENES This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, visit LibriVox.org. Read by Dennis Sayers. ALPHABET OF COUNTRY SCENES Written by an unknown author and published by McLaughlin Brothers in 1880, A stands for Arabian with Neptune to guard, all saddled and bridled, the pet of our yard, B for the bees that fly out here and there and bring to the hives the sweet honey with care, C for the cows in the shade of the trees they are chewing the cud and seem quite at their ease, D for ducks swimming and playing together they care not for rain nor the stormiest weather, E for the eggs which we find in the nest they still feel quite warm from the hens downy breast, F are the fowls, the hens and the cocks take care my fine birdies beware of the fox, G is the goat with two kids young and gay they run to their mother then scamper away, H is the horse so sleek and so strong he draws the hay cart to the meadow along, I is the island where Johnny doth wish to sit on the bank in the summer and fish, K are the kittens that live in the stable they will catch all the mice as soon as they are able, L is for Lucy who waits at the style and puts down the pail for she is resting awhile, M is the milk which is good pussy thanks and so uninvited and slyly she drinks, N stands for the nuts and when the lessons are done two boys can go nutting much better than one, O for the owl that prowling at night steals chicks from our barn in the quiet moonlight, P for some pigs which have strayed from their stye but of course will return there to bed by and by, Q stands for the quints I have plucked from a tree to flavor the tart Mary's making for me, R for the rabbits white spotted and gray just see how that little one nibbles away, S for the sheep with their coats of soft wool they stand in the meadows so pleasant and cool, T for the turkey whose stately doth sail with long sweeping wings and a wide spreading tail, U stands for Ursula and V for the vine that yields her fine clusters in harvesting time, W for the wheat and for Whitey the calf who nibbles away at the grain and the chaff, X means on a bank note ten dollars tis clear on a barrel it stands for the strength of the beer, Y stands for our farm yard where chicks love to feed on the oats and the barley and other good seed, Z is for Zachary shutting the gate so good night little children it's getting quite late end of alphabet of country scenes read by denis Sayers in Modesto California for LibriVox fall two thousand and eight an alphabet of celebrities by Oliver Herford this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org an alphabet of celebrities by Oliver Herford A's Albert Edward well meaning but flighty who invited King Arthur the blameless and mighty to meet Alcibiades and Aphrodite B is for Bernhardt who fails to awaken much feeling in Bismarck Barabbas and Bacon C is Columbus who tries to explain how to balance an egg to the utter disdain of Confucius Carlisle Cleopatra and Cain D is for Diogenes Darwin and Dante who delight in the dance of a darling Bacchante E is for Edison making believe he's invented a clever contrivance for Eve who complain that she never could laugh in her sleeve F is for Franklin who fearfully shocks the feelings of Fennelin Faber and Fox G is Godiva whose great bareback feet though Guno and Goldsmith implore and entreat H is for Handel who pours out his soul through the bagpipes to Howells and Homer who roll on the floor in an ecstasy past all control I is for Ibsen reciting a play while Irving and Ingersoll hasten away J is for Johnson who only says Pish to Jonah who tells him his tale of a fish K is the Kaiser who kindly repeats some original verses to Kipling and Keats L is Lafontaine who finds he is unable to interest Luther and List in his fable while Lowy continues to dance on the table M is McDuff who's prevailed upon Milton and Montane and Manon to each try a kilton N is Napoleon shrouded in gloom with Nero Narcissus and Nordow to whom he's explaining the manual of arms with a broom O is for Oliver casting aspersion on Omar that awfully disillute Persian though secretly longing to join the diversion P is for Peter who hollers no no through the keyhole to pain Pateruski and Poe Q is the queen so noble and free for further particulars look under V ours Rubenstein playing that old thing in F to Rollo and Rembrandt who wish they were deaf S is for Swinburne who seeking the true the good and the beautiful visits the zoo where he chances on Sappho and Mr. Sardu and Socrates all with the same end in view T is for tally ran toasting mistruth by the side of her well in a glass of vermouth and presenting Mark Twain as the friend of his youth you is for Undeen pursuing Ulysses and on Berto who flee her damp death dealing kisses V is Victoria noble and true for further particulars look under Q W's Wagner who sang and played lots for Washington Wesley and good Dr. Watts his purient plots paint Wesley and Watts but Washington said he enjoyed them in spots X's and tippy who's having her say his purient plots paint Wesley and Watts and frightening the army of Xerces away why is for young the great Mormon saint who thinks little yum yum any vet so quaint he has to be instantly held in restraint Z is for Zola presenting later to Zenobia the brave and Zuleka the fair whose blushes they artfully conceal with their hair end of an alphabet of celebrities recording by Rhonda Fetterman Luisa's alphabet of fruits by London toy books this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Alana Jordan at Luisa's alphabet of fruits by London toy books a is for apples so rosy and round which the children delight to pick up from the ground be for the blackberry open to all to the rich and the poor to cottage and hull C is for currents which door are you see is picking for tarts from the red to current tree D for the damsons we make into jam which is often in Germany eaten with ham E for the elder with berries so brown you may sell them for two pence a quart in the town F for the fig which in Italy grows all temptingly laid in a basket and rose G for the grapes which beside the swift rind the peasant girls gather to make into wine H is the hazelnut found in the cups where the squirrel from branch to branch playfully hops I ivy berries both purple and blue you may not think them fruit but I'm sure the birds do J for the sweet russet jargonel pear which on shelves in the storeroom is laid up with care K for the kernel that pays us so well for the trouble we've taken to open the shell L is the fragrant and pale colored lime growing ripe in the sun of a tropical climb M for the melon the French woman sells by the arch within sound of the old minster bells N is the nectarine kind Jenny took to the sick girl who lived by the side of the brook O is for orange so juicy and sweet which Ellen has brought for the baby to eat P for the peaches which little Anne's ball to old Williams dismay has struck down from the wall Q for the quints growing down in the glade of which Sarah the cook will make nice marmalade R for the raspberries gathered at dawn for the school children's tea by and by on the lawn S is for strawberry brilliant and red which we look for amongst the green leaves of its bed T for the tamarinds brought from the west with ginger and guava in mariners chest U and V have no fruit but the great bearing vine grows in Italy Spain and beside the swift rind W for the walnuts at Christmas we eat and make of the shells such a capital fleet X Y Z I must leave but you may if you please call them fruit in the guise of unknown quantities and of Aunt Louise's alphabet of fruits recording by Elana Jordan suburban mom on youtube.com a nonsense alphabet by Edward Lear this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org a nonsense alphabet by Edward Lear a arch a was an area arch where washerwoman said they made a lot of lovely starch to starch papa's cravat B bottle B was a bottle blue which was not very small papa he filled it full of beer and then he drank it all C cat C was papa's grey cat who caught a squeaky mouse she pulled him by his twirly tail all about the house D duck D was papa's white duck who had a curly tail one day it ate a great fat frog beside a little snail E egg E was a little egg upon the breakfast table papa came in and ate it up as fast as he was able F fish F was a little fish cook in the river took it papa said cook cook bring a dish and cook be quick and cook it G gun G was papa's new gun he put it in a box and then he went and bought a bun and walked about the dogs H hat H was papa's new hat he wore it on his head outside it was completely black but inside it was red I ink stand I was an ink stand new papa he likes to use it he keeps it in his pocket now for fear that he should lose it J jam J was some apple jam of which papa ate part but all the rest he took away and stuffed into a tart K kite K was a great new kite papa he saw it fly above a thousand chimney pots and all about the sky L lamp L was a fine new lamp but when the wick was lit papa he said this light ain't good I cannot read a bit m mints m was a dish of mints it looked so good to eat papa he quickly ate it up and said this is a treat n nut n was a nut that grew high up upon a tree papa who could not reach it said that's much too high for me oh owl oh was an owl who flew all in the darker way papa said what an owl you are why don't you fly by day pee pig pee was a little pig went out to take a walk papa he said if piggy dead he'd all turn into pork Q quints Q was a quince that hung upon a garden tree papa he bought it with him home and ate it with his tea ah rank ah was a railway rug extremely large and warm papa he wrapped it around his head in a most dreadful storm s stick s was papa's new stick papa's new thumping stick to thump extremely wicked boys because it was so thick tea tumbler tea was a tumbler full of punch all hot and good papa he drank it up went in the middle of a wood you earn you was a silver urn full of hot scalding water papa said if that urn were mine I'd give it to my daughter thee villain thee was a villain once he stole a piece of beef papa he said oh dreadful man that villain is a thief w watch w was a watch of gold it told the time of day so that papa knew when to come and when to go away x xerxes x was king xerxes whom papa much wished to know but this he could not do because xerxes died long ago why youth why was a youth who kicked and screamed and cried like mad papa he said your conduct is abominably bad zed zebra zed was a zebra striped and streaked with lines of black papa said once he thought he'd like a ride upon his back right end of alphabet alphabet of old testament history by pot and amry this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox dot org recording by carol and francis alphabet of old testament history by pot and amry a was the first man who disobeyed god and brought down a curse on the earth which he trod b was a prophet who rode on an ass which spake and refused a bright angel to pass c was a man who was branded by god the blood of his brother cried out from the sod d amid lions in safety abides he's a reader of dreams and strange writings besides e was a queen young beauties and brave who risked her own life her nation to save f was a judgment in anger god sent for men of their wicked ways would not repent g was a mighty man proud and defiant with a sling and small stone tell me who slew the giant h in the desert her child left to die till an angel of god shoot a well that was nigh i was a patriarch gentle and kind j was his son who deceived him when blind k was a daughter of meek patient job a pattern of trust and belief in his god l was a man who was wealthy not wise from the judgments of sodom in terror he flies m was a lawgiver full of great zeal whose object through life was the israelites wheel n was a man who once lived in the ark which appeared in the waist like a star in the dark oh was a kind man who fed in a cave a hundred good prophets whose lives he did save p was a king whose god's judgments defied and was drowned with his hosts in the sea that was dried q were the birds which an angry god gave to the people his arm wrought such wonders to save r was the grandmother of a great king whose beautiful psalms in god's praises we sing s is a strong man who a riddle relates from a philistine city he bore off the gates t was god's house which a wise king did build jehovah's bright glory that sanctuary filled u was the river that daniel stood by v was the mystery shunned from on high w was the woman who pretended to call dead samuel up at the bidding of saul x was the number of certain commands god wrote on two stones in moses's hands why is the name of a thing that was laid on the necks of the oxen of wood they were made z was a captive king bound with a chain whose eyes were put out when he saw his son slain end of alphabet of old testament history the anti-slavery alphabet by anonymous this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org recording by alana jordan the anti-slavery alphabet by anonymous in the morning so thy seed to our little readers listen children all listen to our earnest call you are very young tis true but there's much that you can do even you can plead with men that they not buy slaves again and that those they may have be quickly said at liberty they may harken what you say though from us they turn away sometimes when from school you walk you can with your playmates talk tell them of the slave child's fate motherless and desolate and you can refuse to take candy sweet meat pie or cake saying no unless tis free the slave shall not work for me thus dear little children each may some useful lesson teach thus each one may help to free this fair land from slavery a is an abolitionist a man who wants to free the wretched slave and give to all an equal liberty b is a brother with a skin of somewhat darker hue but in our heavenly father's sight he is as dear as you c is the cotton field to which this injured brother's driven when as the white man slave he toils from early morn till even d is the driver cold and stern who follows whip in hand to punish those dare to rest or disobey command e is the eagle soaring high an emblem of the free but while we chain our brother man our type he cannot be f is the heart-sick fugitive the slave who runs away and travels through the dreary night but hides himself by day g is the gong whose rolling sound before the morning light calls up the little sleeping slave to labor until night h is the hound his master trained and called to sent the track of the unhappy fugitive and bring him trembling back i is the infant from the arms of its fond mother torn and at a public auction sold with horses cows and corn j is the jail upon whose floor that wretched mother lay until her cruel master came and carried her away k is the kidnapper who stole that little child and mother shrieking it clung to her but he tore it from each other l is the lash that brutally he swung around his head threatening that if it cried again he'd whip it till was dead m is the merchant of the north who buys what slaves produce so they are stolen whipped and worked for his and for our use n is the negro rambling free in his far distant home delighting meet the palm tree shade and coconut to roam o is the orange tree that bloomed beside his cabin door when white men stole him from his home to see it never more p is the parent sorrowing and weeping all alone the child he loved to lean upon his only son is gone q is the quarter where the slave on coarsest food is fed and where with toil and sorrow warned he seeks his wretched bed r is the rice swamp dank and lone where weary day by day he labors till the fever wastes his strength and life away s is the sugar that the slave is toiling hard to make to put into your pie and tea your candy and your cake t is the rank tobacco plant raised by slave labor to a poisonous and nasty thing for gentlemen to chew u is for upper canada where the poor slave has found rest after all his wanderings for it is British ground v is the vessel in whose dark noisome and stifling hold hundreds of Africans are packed brought or the seas and sold w is the whipping post to which the slave is bound while on his naked back the lash makes many a bleeding wound x is for Xerxes famed of your a warrior stern was he he fought with swords let truth and love our only weapons be y is for youth the time for all bravely to war with sin and think not think not it can ever be too early to begin z is a zealous man sincere faithful and just and true an earnest pleader for the slave will you not be so too end of the anti-slavery alphabet but recording by Alana Jordan st. louis missouri