THE TALE OF THE CUSTARD DRAGON
:- Frederic Ogden Nash
Note: For SUMMARY scroll down .
Belinda lived in a little white house,
With a little black kitten and a little grey mouse,
And a little yellow dog and a little red wagon,
And a realio, trulio, little pet dragon.
Now the name of the little black kitten was Ink,
And the little grey mouse, she called him Blink,
And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard,
But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard.
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Custard the dragon had big sharp teeth,
And spikes on top of him and scales underneath,
Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose,
And realio, trulio daggers on his toes.
Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears,
And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs,
Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage,
But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.
Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful,
Ink, Blink and Mustard, they rudely called him Percival,
They all sat laughing in the little red wagon
At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon.
Belinda giggled till she shook the house,
And Blink said Weeck! which is giggling for a mouse,
Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age,
When Custard cried for a nice safe cage.
Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound,
And Mustard growled, and they all looked around.
Meowch! cried Ink, and ooh! cried Belinda,
For there was a pirate, climbing in the winda.
Pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right,
And he held in his teeth a cutlass bright,
His beard was black, one leg was wood;
It was clear that the pirate meant no good.
Belinda paled, and she cried Help! Help!
But Mustard fled with a terrified yelp,
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Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,
And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed.
But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm,
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm.
The pirate gaped at Belinda’s dragon,
And gulped some grog from his pocket flagon,
He fired two bullets, but they didn’t hit,
And Custard gobbled him, every bit.
Belinda embraced him, Mustard licked him,
No one mourned for his pirate victim.
Ink and Blink in glee did gyrate
Around the dragon that ate the pirate.
But presently up spoke little dog Mustard,
I’d have been twice as brave if I hadn’t been flustered.
And up spoke Ink and up spoke Blink,
We’d have been three times as brave, we think,
And Custard said, I quite agree
That everybody is braver than me.
Belinda still lives in her little white house,
With her little black kitten and her little grey mouse,
And her little yellow dog and her little red wagon,
And her realio, trulio little pet dragon.
Belinda is as brave as a barrel full of bears,
And Ink and Blink chase lions down the stairs,
Mustard is as brave as a tiger in a rage,
But Custard keeps crying for a nice safe cage.
SUMMARY :-
BELINDA and her Pets:-
The opening stanza describes about a girl named Belinda and her four pet animals. She had a little black coloured kitten, grey coloured mouse, yellow coloured dog and own a little red wagon. She also has a pet coward dragon. She named "Ink" and "Blink" to the kitten and mouse respectively. She called dog as Mustard as he was yellow and as sharp as mustard. The name of dragon was Custard and he was a coward, who always cried for a safe cage.
Character sketch of Dragon: Custard
This stanza clearly depicts the physical features of the dragon. Custard has sharp teeth and sharp spines on his back. His mouth was like a fireplace from where he could emit fire, He used his nose to release out smoke. His toes were so sharp that it can pierce anything and cut like a dagger. Despite the physical appearance and fierce abilities, he was a coward.
The Tale of Bravery of the family members.
Belinda was a strong girl who can overcome every obstacle that came in his way. She was compared to a barrel full of bears. On the other hand "Ink" and "Blink" is described as a brave animal who can chase even Lion. Mustard was compared to the tiger's rage. And at last Custard was described contrast of its physical appearance. He was a timid animal. Belinda often used to tickle Custard, whenever he cried for a safe cage. The custard has so soft that he stopped crying, when pampered by Belina.
BEHAVIOUR of family towards CUSTARD.
Custard was always being tickled by Belinda. 'Ink' and 'Blink' used to call him Percival. He always remains a laughing stock or amusement for the family members.
ENCOUNTER with PIRATE.
Suddenly, one morning all of them heard a nasty sound. Mustard growled and all looked around. They saw a pirate climbing the window, enters the house. He had gun in each of his hand, a bright dagger in his mouth. He has one of his leg of wood. He was looking so terrible and so his intentions also. Seeing the Pirate coming towards them, Mustard fled away. Ink and Blink also went to their hidingplace. Belinda was crying that the Pirate is going to kill him. The bravery of each animals were gone.
CUSTARD brave out the situation.
Now, there was a heroic entry of the dragon 'Custard', who was often considered as timid and laughing stock. He came to rescue his house and protect Belinda from the clutches of Pirate. He attacked on Pirate with his tail. He pounced on him as robin on a worm, Pirate fired two bullets, but he missed the aim and Custard gobbled him. Belinda felt better and embraces the Custard with joy.
Celebrating the death of Pirate.
Everyone got relieved after the death of the Pirate. Belinda showered with love towards Custard and embraces him. Mustard licked her showing his gratitude. Ink and Blink dancing round and round, celebrating the death of Pirate. It was clear that Custard was courage enough despite of being so sensitive.
The criticism that followed.
After the encounter with the Pirate, Mustard gave excuses that he would dragged the Pirate, if he would have not been so nervous. Ink and Blink also give reasons that he would beat the Pirate, if he was thrice of his size. It was difficult for the everyone that Custard has swallowed up the Pirate. Finally at the last, readers get an idea that Belinda along with her pets were happy but still Custard crying for a nice safe cage.
