Designs for the childrens book "The Magic Apple"

Text and illustrations for the childrens book "The Magic Apple".

Mary Lee sat under a tree,
The sun was hot and so was she;
Her eyes were closed from the hot sun’s gleaming
She sat there dreaming, dreaming, dreaming,

Mary’s hat was a green green leaf,
She wore it like a bonnet,
Her dress was pretty beyond belief,
And flowers bright and leaves were on it.

The trunk was brown on the big tall tree,
It bent right over sweet Mary Lee;
Protecting her from the sun’s hot rays,
It always did on summer days.

And now I’ll tell you what Mary saw
As she sat beneath the apple tree,
The things she saw aren’t kept in a store
No matter what cash you paid for a fee.

Six fat red apples danced on the earth,
Their large bright eyes were all a-twinkle;
Their faces were smooth and full of mirth
With ne’er a frown or even a wrinkle.

They danced and danced upon the green
As merry and jolly as they could be;
No happier apples have I ever seen
Said smiling wondering Mary Lee.

There came a whistling bird so big,
His tail was long and fancy;
Upon two apples he danced a jig
So frisky and so prance-y.

I’ve seen many birds, said Mary Lee
All colours bright and different sizes;
It seems to me, it seems to me,
This one must surely take the prizes

He danced upon two apples red
With faces that were very long,
Hey-diddle-diddle the green one said
And burst into a happy song.

So Mary sang, she was so glad,
Before her stood an apple girl;
Her dress was blue and the edges had
A funny twist, and a strange little curl.

She glanced at Mary her head on the side,
She gave her a lot of attention;
Her cheeks were red, and her eyes were wide,
So very polite, I must mention.

Please meet my folks, the apple girl said
I’m sure with you they’ll fall in love;
So away they fled with airy tread
And hearts as light as the sky above.

They came to a house that was so yellow,
The windows were decked with flowers so gay;
On one side peeped a brown eyed-fellow
Who yearned to come and dance and play.

Oh, that’s my brother, the apple-girl said
His face is as round as a pie,
And look at our chimney so tall and red
With smoke that floats to the sky so high.

There sat in the doorway, a fat brown cat
Waiting, I think for the mail;
His whickers were long, his eyes were flat
And he had a surprised looking tail.

Here comes my daddy, the apple girl said,
But he passed with a nod of his funny head;
I’m selling balloons and can’t stop to talk,
I have to keep running till I get to New York.

His hat was blue with yellow and red
It sat up high on top of his head,
One leg was blue, the other was green,
The funniest man that ever was seen.

His jacket was quite a sight to see
Put on as quick as quick could be
His pointed feet were shod in red
And he moved very fast as on he sped
But come, my mother you now must meet,

And see the apples upon her feet,
Her apron white has flowers all on it;
When you see her hat you’ll want to don it.

With hands in her pockets she seemed very wise,
One loved the bright look that shone in her eyes;
Sweet Mary Lee, she said, with a smile
Please come and visit with me for a while.

But just as Mary was about to go in
To see the house that was neat as a pin,
She heard a rustle in the tree up above
That made a noise like the wings of a dove.

And down fell an apple, an apple so red,
It hit little Mary right plop on the head;
It woke her up with a look of surprise,
And now you can see her big blue eyes.

Gone was the apple man, gone was his wife;
Apple girl, apple boy, come back to life!
She prayed so hard as she went to bed,
I’ll dream of them now sweet Mary Lee said;

Or better still when it does not rain
I’ll go to the garden and see them again,
I’ll sit right under the apple tree
And see if my friends will come back to me.