Hush-a-by lady, in Alice�s lap!
Til the feast�s ready we�ve time for a nap:
When the feasts over, we�ll go to the ball-
Red Queen, and White Queen, and Alice, and all!
(�And now you know the words,� she added,
as she put her head down on Alice�s other shoulder,
�just sing it through to me. I�m getting sleepy, too.�
In another moment both Queens were fast asleep,
and snoring loud.
At this moment the door was flung open, and a shrill voice was heard singing:)
To the Looking-Glass world it was Alice that said
�I�ve a sceptre in hand, I�ve a crown on my head;
Let the Looking-Glass creatures, whatever they be,
Come and dine with the Red Qeen, the White Queen, and me!�
(And hundreds of voices joined in the chorus:)
Then fill up the glasses as quick as you can,
And sprinkle the table with buttons and bran:
Put cats in the coffee, and mice in the tea-
And welcome Queen Alice
with thirty-times-three!
(Alice thought to herself, �Thirty times three makes ninety.
I wonder if any one�s counting?� In a minute there was silence again,
and the same shrill voice sang another verse:)
�O Looking-Glass creatures,� quoth Alice, �draw near!
�Tis an honour to see me, a favor to hear:
�Tis a privilege high to have dinner and tea
Along with the Red Queen, the White Queen and me!�
(Then came the chorus again:)
Then fill up the glasses with treacle and inc,
Or anything else that is pleasant to drink;
Mix sand with the cider, and wool with the wine-
And welcome Queen Alice
with ninety-times-nine!
�Ninety-times-nine!� Alice repeated in despair.
�Oh, that�ll never be done! I�d better go in at once.�
Til the feast�s ready we�ve time for a nap:
When the feasts over, we�ll go to the ball-
Red Queen, and White Queen, and Alice, and all!
(�And now you know the words,� she added,
as she put her head down on Alice�s other shoulder,
�just sing it through to me. I�m getting sleepy, too.�
In another moment both Queens were fast asleep,
and snoring loud.
At this moment the door was flung open, and a shrill voice was heard singing:)
To the Looking-Glass world it was Alice that said
�I�ve a sceptre in hand, I�ve a crown on my head;
Let the Looking-Glass creatures, whatever they be,
Come and dine with the Red Qeen, the White Queen, and me!�
(And hundreds of voices joined in the chorus:)
Then fill up the glasses as quick as you can,
And sprinkle the table with buttons and bran:
Put cats in the coffee, and mice in the tea-
And welcome Queen Alice
with thirty-times-three!
(Alice thought to herself, �Thirty times three makes ninety.
I wonder if any one�s counting?� In a minute there was silence again,
and the same shrill voice sang another verse:)
�O Looking-Glass creatures,� quoth Alice, �draw near!
�Tis an honour to see me, a favor to hear:
�Tis a privilege high to have dinner and tea
Along with the Red Queen, the White Queen and me!�
(Then came the chorus again:)
Then fill up the glasses with treacle and inc,
Or anything else that is pleasant to drink;
Mix sand with the cider, and wool with the wine-
And welcome Queen Alice
with ninety-times-nine!
�Ninety-times-nine!� Alice repeated in despair.
�Oh, that�ll never be done! I�d better go in at once.�