cried Alice , jumping up and down in an agony of terror . ` Oh , there goes his PRECIOUS nose ' ; as an unusually large saucepan flew close by it , and very nearly carried it off . ` If everybody minded their own business , ' the Duchess said in a hoarse growl , ` the world would go round a deal faster than it does . ' ` Which would NOT be an advantage , ' said Alice , who felt very glad to get an opportunity of showing off a little of her knowledge . ` Just think of what work it would make with the day and night ! You see the earth takes twenty-four hours to turn round on its axis -- ' ` Talking of axes , ' said the Duchess , ` chop off her head ! ' Alice glanced rather anxiously at the cook , to see if she meant to take the hint ; but the cook was busily stirring the soup , and seemed not to be listening , so she went on again : ` Twenty-four hours , I THINK ; or is it twelve ? I -- ' ` Oh , do n't bother ME , ' said the Duchess ; ' I never could abide figures ! ' And with that she began nursing her child again , singing a sort of lullaby to it as she did so , and giving it a violent shake at the end of every line : ` Speak roughly to your little boy , And beat him when he sneezes : He only does it to annoy , Because he knows it teases . ' CHORUS . -LRB- In which the cook and the baby joined -RRB- : -- ` Wow ! wow ! wow ! ' While the Duchess sang the second verse of the song , she kept tossing the baby violently up and down , and the poor little thing howled so , that Alice could hardly hear the words : -- ' I speak severely to my boy , I beat him when he sneezes ; For he can thoroughly enjoy The pepper when he pleases ! ' CHORUS . ` Wow ! wow ! wow ! ' ` Here ! you may nurse it a bit , if you like ! '
the Duchess said to Alice , flinging the XXXXX at her as she spoke . '
advantage axes axis baby bit day figures head hint knowledge