The Tale of Hare, Elephant, and Hippo... as Told by Charms

One day, Hare looked out over his field. If he was going to have enough food to eat, he would have to plant a crop. But if he was going to plant a crop, first he would have to clear the field. And that was a lot of work ~ far more work than Hare wanted to do.

But Hare was clever.  He sat down to think.  He thought and thought and thought, until he came up with a big idea.  First he dragged a length of rope into the field.  Then he waited patiently.  Pretty soon a  big African elephant came lumbering along.

Hare hopped up to make a deal with Elephant.  He bet Elephant that he could beat Elephant at tug-of-war. Elephant laughed at the idea.  How could a little animal like Hare beat him at a game of tug-of-war?  It sounded like a no-brainer.  Quickly he scooped up the rope with his trunk.

Hare picked up the other end and hopped through the bushes, across the field.  There he hid behind a row of bushes and waited.

Soon Hippopotamus waddled through.

Hare hopped up to Hippo and dared Hippo to beat him at tug-of-war. Hippo, without another thought, picked up the end of the rope with his teeth.

Then Hare hopped into the bushes and gave the rope a tug.

When Elephant and Hippo felt the rope move, they each started to pull.  They were both strong and big and powerful.  Back and forth they dragged the rope. Back and forth.  Back and forth.  The sun rose in the sky, and started to dip down.  At last night fell.

Still Elephant and Hippo pulled at the rope.

Back and forth.  Back and forth.

And each time the rope moved, it plowed another row in the field.

Hare never had a finer harvest.

 
Hare, Hippo, and Elephant can be found here and here.

To see Hare's field, you will have to travel to Africa.

The Elephant

by Ogden Nash

Elephants are useful friends,
Equipped with handles at both ends, 

They have a wrinkled moth proof hide,
Their teeth are upside down, outside, 

If you think the elephant preposterous,
You’ve probably never seen a rhinosterous.

Elephants (and rhinosterouses) here and here.

The Owl and the Pussycat...as Portrayed by Charms

by Edward Lear

I

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea     In a beautiful pea green boat, (accompanied by a manatee) They took some honey, and plenty of money,     Wrapped up in a five pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above,     And sang to a small guitar, 'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love,       What a beautiful Pussy you are,           You are,           You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!'

II

Pussy said to the Owl, 'You elegant fowl!     How charmingly sweet you sing! O let us be married! too long we have tarried:     But what shall we do for a ring?' They sailed away, for a year and a day,     To the land where the Bong-tree grows (elephants can always be found near Bong Trees) And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood     With a ring at the end of his nose,           His nose,           His nose, With a ring at the end of his nose.

III

'Dear pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling     Your ring?' Said the Piggy, 'I will.' So they took it away, and were married next day     By the Turkey who lives on the hill. (This is his neighbor, the eagle). They dined on mince, and slices of quince,     Which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,     They danced by the light of the moon,           The moon,           The moon, They danced by the light of the moon. Be CHARMed here and here.

Eletelephony

by Laura E. Richards

Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant-
No! No! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone-
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I've got it right.)

Howe'er it was, he go his trunk

Entangled in the telephunk;
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee-
(I fear I'd better drop the song
Of elephop and telphong!)

Have you called your elephants today?