Blottentots, and How to Make Them — Text and Context

These were made for Dymphna

HOW TO MAKE BLOTTENTOTS

To make a funny Blottentot, First take a piece of paper, Splash on some ink, a single spot, Crease, press, but cut no caper.

Don't crease exactly at the blot-- You'll have a fearful muddle; Press gently, too, and not a lot, Unless you want a puddle.

With everything we humans do, Practice makes us apter: So start at once, you'll find it true At the end of your first chapter.

In the realms of wonderland Such flies do gaily flitter, But when they're just a blot of ink Of course they cannot glitter.

They flitter, flutter round about, These Flitter-Flitter-Flitters, O'er dewy flow'ry sunny meads, The lightest, brightest critters.

Weedy, greedy Gobble-Me-Up, Your mouth is a fearful size. Do you live on little girls and boys, Or merely cakes and pies?

TWO BUCKING NIGHTMARES

Two bucking nightmares ran out to neigh, Thinking it night, but found it day, So took to their heels in sore dismay,-- I'm 'fraid they still are running away.

Now it seems to be scarcely credible, A difficult thing to think, That such a strange grotesquerie Was pressed from a drop of ink.

But word for word I tell you, As true as word can be, That in its making there was naught But the blindest chancerie.

Tom and Johnny Make-the-law, Talkative and lazy, Standing on a Thingumajig Comical and crazy. You are just a pair of Imps, With but one leg that badly limps.

Gadzooks, Nell Gwynne! How did you get in? Did you walk or were you brought in your chair? Your dress is perfection To the smallest section Of stomacher, quilting and hair.

Said Dr. Spindleshanks, "I'll stand no silly pranks!" "You're nothing but a prig!" Said Dr. Funnywig. Then, making each a face, They went off at a pace.

You big Bugaboo! We didn't want you, But really now that you've come, If you keep far away We'll permit you to stay, Just as long you keep quite dumb.

Teeny and Tiny Pugnoses Have discovered two beautiful roses, But the stems are so tall They can't reach them at all, Though they stand on the tips of their toeses.

You can see by the look of this big-footed Sprite, That just the one thing that affords him delight Is to give a high jump and land on your toe, On the very same spot where the biggest corns grow.

A LITTLE GRASS MIDGET

This is a little grass Midget, As you know a most terrible fidget. For a month every year He makes it quite clear That he is a little grass Midget.

I hope they're on pegs, Because if they're legs, They are altogether shocking. They have no feet, And almost meet, And haven't the sign of a stocking.

Why, here's our dear old hopper, Our Kangar-rooster-roo! And seeing he's such a whopper, I'll certainly not say "Shoo"!

Then there are two, you see, So I'd better hold my peace, Or they may sit on me And leave me a crumpled crease.

A Squidgeecumsquee Got up in a tree, And found another-- The fac simile. "Oh dear! oh my!" He said jumping high, "It's surely my brother-- What a horrible guy!"

"You jump over to me," said Sue. "I wish you would come to me," said Loo; "As sure as I jump I'll kick that stump, So really I'd rather let you."

Now this is just the funniest rogue, A Brownie as black as ink, And what he's doing perched up there, I'm sure I cannot think.

He's holding his arms like a pair of sails; Perhaps he's trying to fly. Let's hope he won't be playing that game When you and I pass by.

Here are the strangest pair of dogs, What sort I cannot tell, But judging by their noses sharp They have the sense of smell.

Their tails are very, very long,-- But does it really matter? By the very way they stare and start They're mad as any hatter.

Are these Quumps or Zagabogs, Golliwogs or Quees? Anyhow, you'd best look out,-- They're just about to sneeze!

I've just discovered a marvelous way Of making these Blottentots mottled and gray; If you promise you never will show any one I'll tell you the secret of how it is done.

Take two bottles of ink, one thick and one thin, Of different blacks, and dip your pen in; From each splash a drop at the very same spot, Then do as before, only pressing a lot.

What makes these little Grigs so sad? They're standing most dejected. Have they been up to something bad And in it got detected?