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Fay-fi-fo-fee,

Nut-galls grow on the Oak-tree;

By tiny worms the nut-gall forms,

Like little ball;

And from Nut-gall

The Gallic Acid comes.



Fee-fi-fo-fade,

From Nut-galls, too, the Tannin's made;

While Acorns grow in group or row;--

And Live-oak long,

Makes ship-knees, strong,

That round the world may go.







Fee-fi-fo-fap,

We tap the Maples, and the sap

We find as sweet as sugar-beet,

Then boiling hard,

Our sure reward,

The maple-sugar treat.











Fay-fi-fo-fee,

See the graceful White-Birch tree,

With bark so light, so tough and tight

That Indians wrought

Canoes we're taught,

And paddled out of sight.











Fee-fi-fo-fap,

Hark and hear the Hemlock snap;--

Little spine so full of wind,

Heated, hops,

And jumping, pops,

And makes the bright eyes shine.



Fee-fi-fo-fur,

See the curious chestnut-burr;

Green and round, then turning brown.

Frost opens wide

Each prickly side,

And out the chestnuts bound.







Fee-fi-fo-fay,

Now the farmer makes his hay;

Grasses grow, which workmen mow,--

Toss every-wise,

Till sunshine dries,

Then into stacks, they stow.



Fay-fee-fi-fo,

See the farmer wield his hoe,

Lettuce, greens, then corn and beans,

With pumpkin-vines

Along the lines,

Where many a weed o'er-leans.







Fee-fi-fo-fog,

See the wriggling pollywog,*--

With funny tail; but without fail

This pollywog

Will grow a frog,

And lose his wiggle-tail.



[Footnote: Pollywog--Common name for poll wig, or tadpole.]



Fee-fi-fo-faint,

Colors, seven, the Rainbow paint;

Violet bright is first in sight--

Then indigo,

Blue, green, yellow,

Orange and Red,--the seven, WHITE.







Fay-fee-fi-fo,

Now you ask, "What makes Rainbow?"

It is the sun, my darling one,

Shines through the rain,

O'er hill and plain,

But see, the beauty's flown.



Fay-fi-fo-fear,

Don't you understand it, dear?

Raindrops fall, Sun shines through all,

Reflects beyond,

This beauteous wand

Which we the Rainbow call.