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[Illustration: FRONT COVER]






[Illustration]






              The ROCKET Book

              by PETER NEWELL



             HARPER & BROTHERS
                 NEW YORK




   COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY HARPER & BROTHERS
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           PATENTED JUNE 4, 1912
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  PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
          PUBLISHED OCTOBER, 1912






THE ROCKET BOOK

[Illustration]




THE BASEMENT


  When Fritz, the Janitor's bad kid,
    Went snooping in the basement,
  He found a rocket snugly hid
    Beneath the window casement.

  He struck a match with one fell swoop;
    Then, on the concrete kneeling,
  He lit the rocket and--she--oop!
    It shot up through the ceiling.


[Illustration: THE BASEMENT]




FIRST FLAT


  The Steiners on the floor above
    Of breakfast were partaking;
  Crash! came the rocket, unannounced,
    And set them all a-quaking!

  It smote a catsup bottle, fair,
    And bang! the thing exploded!
  And now these people all declare
    That catsup flask was loaded.


[Illustration: FIRST FLAT]




SECOND FLAT


  Before the fire old Grandpa Hopp
    Dozed in his arm-chair big,
  When from a trunk the rocket burst
    And carried off his wig!

  It passed so near his ancient head
    He roused up with a start,
  And, turning to his grandsons, said,
    "You fellows think you're smart!"


[Illustration: SECOND FLAT]




THIRD FLAT


  Algernon Bracket, somewhat rash,
    Had blown a monster bubble,
  When, oh! there came a blinding flash,
    Precipitating trouble!

  But Algy turned in mild disgust,
    And called to Mama Bracket,
  "Say, did you hear that bubble bu'st?
    It made an awful racket!"


[Illustration: THIRD FLAT]




FOURTH FLAT


  Jo Budd, who'd bought a potted plant,
    Was dousing it with water.
  He fancied this would make it grow,
    And Joseph loved to potter.

  Then through the pot the rocket shot
    And made the scene look sickly!
  "Well, now," said Jo, "I never thought
    That plant would shoot so quickly!"


[Illustration: FOURTH FLAT]




FIFTH FLAT


  Right here 'tis needful to remark
    That Dick and "Little Son"
  Were playing with a Noah's ark
    And having loads of fun,

  When all at once that rocket, stout,
    Up through the ark came blazing!
  The animals were tossed about
    And did some stunts amazing.


[Illustration: FIFTH FLAT]




SIXTH FLAT


  A Burglar on the next floor up
    The sideboard was exploring.
  (The family, with the brindled pup,
    Were still asleep and snoring.)

  Just then, up through the silverware
    The rocket thundered, flaring!
  The Burglar got a dreadful scare;
    Then out the door went tearing.


[Illustration: SIXTH FLAT]




SEVENTH FLAT


  Miss Mamie Briggs with no mean skill
    Was playing "Casey's Fling"
  To please her cousin, Amos Gill,
    Who liked that sort of thing,

  When suddenly the rocket, hot,
    The old piano jumbled!
  It stopped that rag-time like a shot,
    Then through the ceiling rumbled.


[Illustration: SEVENTH FLAT]




EIGHTH FLAT


  Up through the next floor on its way
    That rocket, dread, went tearing
  Where Winkle stood in bath-robe, gay,
    A tepid bath preparing.

  The tub it punctured like a shot
    And made a mighty splashing.
  The man was rooted to the spot;
    Then out the door went dashing.


[Illustration: EIGHTH FLAT]




NINTH FLAT


  Bob Brooks was puffing very hard
    His football to inflate,
  While round him stood his faithful guard,
    And they could hardly wait.

  Then came the rocket, fierce and bright,
    And through the football rumbled.
  "You've got a pair of lungs, all right!"
    His staring playmates grumbled.


[Illustration: NINTH FLAT]




TENTH FLAT


  The family dog, with frenzied mien,
    Was chasing Fluff, the mouser,
  When, <DW30>! the rocket flashed between,
    And quite astonished Towzer.

  Now, if this dog had wit enough
    The English tongue to torture,
  He might have growled such silly stuff
    As, "Whew! that cat's a scorcher!"


[Illustration: TENTH FLAT]




