“Well, I am glad,” shouted the Little Red House.  “Now we are all happy!”

Then Sym got the fire started, and the smoke curled up, and the Little House had his gay blue feather once again.  Sym began to sing his Tinker’s Song louder than ever, and Emily Ann, who was getting the meal ready, joined in and sang too.  Very soon the kettle also began to sing, and, when the pan heard that he began to sing.  Then Doctor Tree-creeper arrived to attend to the white-ants, and, as he walked round the trunk of the big Blue-gum, tapping it just like a doctor, he began to sing.  And two Kookaburras, who were sitting on the fence, were so tickled with it all, that they laughed and laughed till they made everyone else laugh with them.

“This is quite like old times,” laughed the big Blue-gum.  “Are you contented now?”

“Am I contented?” cried the Little Red House.  “Am I contented?  Well, what would you think?”

And then—­well, most ordinary grown-up folk would tell you that just then Emily Ann drew down one of the front blinds.  But all the big Blue-gum knew, and all you and I know, is that the Little Red House winked.

And when I saw him last, his smile was as broad as ever, and he was still winking.

THE PIEMAN

I’d like to be a pieman, and ring a little bell,
Calling out, “Hot pies!  Hot pies to sell!”
Apple-pies and Meat-pies, Cherry-pies as well,
Lots and lots and lots of pies—­more than you can tell. 
Big, rich Pork-pies!  Oh, the lovely smell! 
   But I wouldn’t be a pieman if . . . 
      I wasn’t very well. 
         Would you?

THE TRIANTIWONTIGONGOLOPE

There’s a very funny insect that you do not often spy,
And it isn’t quite a spider, and it isn’t quite a fly;
It is something like a beetle, and a little like a bee,
But nothing like a wooly grub that climbs upon a tree. 
Its name is quite a hard one, but you’ll learn it soon, I hope. 
So try: 
   Tri-
      Tri-anti-wonti-
         Triantiwontigongolope.

It lives on weeds and wattle-gum, and has a funny face;
Its appetite is hearty, and its manners a disgrace. 
When first you come upon it, it will give you quite a scare,
But when you look for it again, you find it isn’t there. 
And unless you call it softly it will stay away and mope. 
So try: 
   Tri-
      Tri-anti-wonti-
         Triantiwontigongolope.

It trembles if you tickle it or tread upon its toes;
It is not an early riser, but it has a snubbish nose. 
If you snear at it, or scold it, it will scuttle off in shame,
But it purrs and purrs quite proudly if you call it by its name,
And offer it some sandwiches of sealing-wax and soap. 
So try: 
   Tri-
      Tri-anti-wonti-
         Triantiwontigongolope .