The Old Man Who Lived In a Wood

The Old Man Who Lived In a Wood

Illustrated by T. Butler Stoney

Published by Geo. Allen, 156 Charing Cross Road, London

Text and pictures in this vintage picture book are not always synchronized. Don't be angry, it's still a lovely art work from the past. We will present all the graphicsin the same order as in the physical copy.

There was an old Man who lived in a wood,
As you shall plainly see,
He thought he could do more work in a day,
Than his wife could do in three.

“With all my heart,” the old Wife said,
If you will me allow;
’Tis you shall stay at home to-day,
And I will hold the plough.

“And you shall milk the Tiny Cow,
Lest that she should go dry;
And you shall feed the little pigs
That are within the stye.

“And you must watch the speckled hen,
Lest she should lay astray;
And don’t forget the spool of yarn
That I spin every day.” 

The old Wife took her stick in her hand
And went to hold the plough;
The old Man put his pail on his head
And went to milk the cow.

But Tiny winched and Tiny flinched,
And Tiny tossed her nose,
And Tiny she gave him a kick on the shins
Till the blood ran down to his toes.

“Now Tiny come! now Tiny come!”
And “Tiny Cow stand still!
But if ever I milk you again,” said he,
“ It shall be against my will.” 

And then he went to feed the pigs
That were within the stye,
But he knocked his head against the shed,
And he made the blood to fly.

And then he watched the speckled hen
Lest she should lay astray,
But he quite forgot the spool of yarn
That his wife spun every day.

And when his Wife came home at night,
He said he could plainly see
That she could do more work in one day
Than he could do in three.

Printed by Thos N Storer Sons & Co, Nottingham & London

We can't say a lot about the illustrator of this charming picture book Thomas Butler-Stoney (1874-1917). His parents were Walter Charles Butler-Stoney and Ellen Cattley Kemble. We know they weres from Ireland, but can't be even sure about the date of Thomas' birth (it may be 1875). We also know he died of wounds received in action during the First World War in 1917. He was a Lieutenant in Irish Guards, 1st Battalion, British Army and receiver of several medals. That's about that.

Anyway, we must add he illustrated a few (not much) other picture books too. Here is chance to peek at his view on The Piper of Hamelin.

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