Umbrellas

Under a toad stool
Crept a wee Elf,
Out of the rain
To shelter himself.
Under the toad stool
Sound asleep,
Sat a big Dormouse
All in a heap.
Trembled the wee Elf
Frightened, and yet
Fearing to fly away
Lest he get wet.
To the next shelter—
Maybe a mile!
Sudden the wee Elf
Smiled a wee smile;
Tugged till the toad stool
Toppled in two;
Holding it over him,
Gayly he flew.
Soon he was safe home,
Dry as could be.
Soon woke the Dormouse—
'Good gracious me!
'Where is my toad stool?'
Loud he lamented.
And that's how umbrellas
First were invented.
—OLIVER HERFORD."

And I do need one today,it's coming down in buckets!