This is a modern-English version of Denslow's Humpty Dumpty, originally written by Denslow, W. W. (William Wallace). It has been thoroughly updated, including changes to sentence structure, words, spelling, and grammar—to ensure clarity for contemporary readers, while preserving the original spirit and nuance. If you click on a paragraph, you will see the original text that we modified, and you can toggle between the two versions.

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Illustrations in this e-text are proportionally larger than in the original book. Thumbnails of all pages are shown at the end of the text. The author’s name on the cover was punctuated as shown.

Illustrations in this e-text are proportionally larger than in the original book. Thumbnails of all pages are displayed at the end of the text. The author's name on the cover was punctuated as shown.

Humpty Dumpty

Cover Text

Bare Humpty sitting; text 'To Edward Hall'

Bare Humpty sitting: Humpty Dumpty

UMPTY-DUMPTY was a smooth, round little chap, with a winning smile, and a great golden heart in his broad breast.

Humpty Dumpty was a smooth, round little guy with a charming smile and a big golden heart in his broad chest.

Only one thing troubled Humpty, and that was, that he might fall and crack his thin, white skin; he wished to be hard, all the way through, for he felt his heart wabble when he walked, or ran about, so off he went to the Black Hen for advice.

Only one thing bothered Humpty, and that was the thought of falling and cracking his thin, white shell; he wanted to be sturdy all the way through because he felt his heart wobble when he walked or ran around. So, he headed to the Black Hen for advice.

This Hen was kind and wise, so she was just the one, for him to go to with his trouble.

This hen was kind and wise, so she was exactly who he went to with his troubles.

“Your father, Old Humpty,” said the Hen, “was very foolish, and would take warning from no one; you know what the poet said of him:

“Your father, Old Humpty,” said the Hen, “was really foolish, and wouldn’t listen to anyone; you know what the poet said about him:

‘Humpty-Dumpty sat on a wall,

“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,”

Humpty-Dumpty had a great fall;

Humpty Dumpty took a big fall;

All the king’s horses, and all the king’s men

All the king's horses and all the king's men

Cannot put Humpty-Dumpty together again.’

Cannot put Humpty Dumpty back together again.

“So you see, he came to a very bad end, just because he was reckless, and would not take a hint from any one, he was much worse than a scrambled egg; the king, his horses and his men, did all they could for him, but his case was hopeless,” and the Hen shook her head sadly.

“So you see, he ended up really badly, just because he was careless and wouldn't listen to anyone. He was much worse than a broken egg; the king, his horses, and his men did everything they could for him, but there was no hope for him,” and the Hen shook her head sadly.

Humpty's father after his fall

“What you must do,” continued the Hen, as she wiped a tear from her bright blue eye, “is to go to the Farmer’s Wife, next door, and tell her to put you into a pot of boiling hot water; your skin is so hard and smooth, it will not hurt you, and when you come out, you may do as you wish, nothing can break you, you can tumble about to your heart’s content, and you will not break, nor even dent yourself.”

“What you need to do,” the Hen went on, wiping a tear from her bright blue eye, “is go to the Farmer’s Wife next door and tell her to put you in a pot of boiling hot water; your skin is so tough and smooth that it won’t hurt you. And when you come out, you can do whatever you want—nothing can break you, you can roll around to your heart’s content, and you won’t break or even get a dent.”

So Humpty rolled in next door, and told the Farmer’s Wife that he wanted to be put into boiling hot water as he was too brittle to be of any use to himself or to any one else.

So Humpty rolled in next door and told the Farmer’s Wife that he wanted to be put into boiling hot water because he was too fragile to be of any use to himself or anyone else.

Humpty talks to the farmer's wife

“Indeed you shall,” said the Farmer’s Wife, “what is more I shall wrap you up in a piece of spotted calico, so that you will have a nice colored dress; you will come out, looking as bright as an Easter Egg.”

“Of course you will,” said the Farmer’s Wife, “and what's more, I’ll wrap you up in a piece of spotted fabric, so you’ll have a nice colorful dress; you’ll come out looking as bright as an Easter egg.”

Humpty in his calico bundle goes into the pot

So she tied him up in a gay new rag, and dropped him into the copper kettle of boiling water that was on the hearth.

So she tied him up in a bright new cloth and dropped him into the copper kettle of boiling water that was on the hearth.

It was pretty hot for Humpty at first, but he soon got used to it, and was happy, for he felt himself getting harder every minute.

He did not have to stay in the water long, before he was quite well done, and as hard as a brick all the way through; so, untying the rag, he jumped out of the kettle as tough and as bright as any hard boiled Egg.

He didn’t have to stay in the water long before he was totally cooked, and as hard as a brick all the way through. So, untying the rag, he jumped out of the kettle as tough and as shiny as any hard-boiled egg.

Decorated Humpty emerges from the pot

Humpty jumps from the mantel

The calico had marked him from head to foot with big, bright, red spots, he was as gaudy as a circus clown, and as nimble and merry as one.

The calico had covered him from head to toe with big, bright red spots; he was as flashy as a circus clown and just as quick and cheerful.

The Farmer’s Wife shook with laughter to see the pranks of the little fellow, for he frolicked and frisked about from table to chair, and mantelpiece; he would fall from the shelf to the floor, just to show how hard he was; and after thanking the good woman most politely, for the service she had done him, he walked out into the sunshine, on the clothes-line, like a rope dancer, to see the wide, wide world.

The Farmer’s Wife couldn't stop laughing at the antics of the little guy, as he danced around from table to chair and mantelpiece. He’d even jump off the shelf onto the floor, just to prove how tough he was. After politely thanking the kind woman for her help, he stepped out into the sunshine, walking on the clothesline like a tightrope walker, eager to see the big, wide world.

* * * *

Full Page: Humpty walks a tightrope while farmer's wife looks on

Of the travels of Humpty-Dumpty much could be said; he went East, West, North and South; he sailed the seas, he walked and rode on the land through all the Countries of the Earth, and all his life long he was happy and content.

Of the travels of Humpty-Dumpty, there’s a lot to talk about; he journeyed East, West, North, and South; he sailed the seas and traveled overland across all the countries of the world, and throughout his life, he was happy and satisfied.

Full Page: Humpty rides a mouse jumping a hurdle

Sometimes as a clown, in a circus, he would make fun for old and young; again, as a wandering minstrel,

Sometimes as a clown in a circus, he would entertain both young and old; other times, as a wandering minstrel,

Old man with ear trumpet listens to Humpty singing

he twanged the strings of his banjo and sung a merry song, and so on through all his travels, he would lighten the cares of others, and make them forget their sorrows, and fill every heart with joy.

He strummed the strings of his banjo and sang a cheerful song, and throughout his travels, he would ease the worries of others, help them forget their troubles, and bring joy to everyone.

Humpty greets little girl with doll

But wherever he went, in sunshine or in rain, he never forgot to sing the praises of the wise Black Hen nor the good, kind Farmer’s Wife, who had started him in life, hardened against sorrow, with a big heart in the right place, for the cheer and comfort of OTHERS.

But no matter where he went, in sunshine or in rain, he never forgot to sing the praises of the wise Black Hen and the good, kind Farmer’s Wife, who had given him a good start in life, toughened up against sorrow, with a big heart in the right place, for the cheer and comfort of OTHERS.

Humpty and small boy sit on wall while full moon looks on

Denslow’s Picture Books for Children

For these books W. W. Denslow has revised and adapted several of the best classical fairy tales. He has improved these stories by elimination of all coarseness, cruelty, and everything that might frighten children. They are new; more beautiful and striking in both text and picture than any children’s books heretofore published. Each book is filled with pictures of action and fun in brilliant colors. The twelve books are uniform in size.

For these books, W. W. Denslow has updated and reworked several of the best classic fairy tales. He has enhanced these stories by removing any roughness, cruelty, or anything that might scare children. They are fresh, more beautiful, and visually impressive in both text and illustrations than any children’s books published before. Each book is packed with vibrant, action-filled pictures. The twelve books are the same size.

12 book covers: titles below

COPYRIGHT, 1903, W. W. DENSLOW

PRICE 25 CENTS EACH; INDESTRUCTIBLE, MOUNTED ON LINEN, 50 CENTS EACH

G. W. Dillingham Company, Publishers, New York

Front Cover Text

Denslow’s

Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty

Adapted and Illustrated by W. W Denslow

G. W. Dillingham Co.
Publishers New York.

Back Cover Text

Denslow’s Picture Books for Children

Denslow’s Kids' Picture Books

For these books, W. W. Denslow has reworked and adapted several of the best classic fairy tales. He has enhanced these stories by removing any roughness, violence, and anything that might scare children. They are fresh, more beautiful and eye-catching in both text and illustrations than any children's books published before. Each book is packed with vibrant, colorful illustrations that depict action and fun. The twelve books are the same size.

Denslow’s ABC Book

Denslow's ABC Book

Denslow’s One Ring Circus

Denslow's One Ring Circus

Denslow’s Tom Thumb

Denslow's Tom Thumb

Denslow’s Humpty Dumpty

Denslow's Humpty Dumpty

Denslow’s Old Mother Hubbard

Denslow’s Jack and the Bean-Stalk

Denslow’s Jack and the Beanstalk

Denslow’s ZOO