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And the wee Robin makes answer: "I'm going away to the King to sing him
a song this glad Christmas morning."
And the sly Fox says: "Come here, wee Robin, and I'll let you see the
pretty spot on the tip of my tail."
But the wee Robin says: "No, no! sly Fox, no, no! You worried the little
Lamb, but you cannot worry me!"
So the wee Robin flew away until he came to a grassy meadow, and there
he saw a little shepherd boy.
And the little shepherd says: "Where are you going, wee Robin?"
And wee Robin makes answer: "I'm going away to the King to sing him a
song this glad Christmas morning."
And the little shepherd boy says: "Come here, wee Robin, and I'll give
you some crumbs from my lunch."
But the wee Robin says: "No, no! little shepherd boy, no, no! You caught
the Goldfinch, but you cannot catch me!"
So the wee Robin flew away till he came to the King; and there he sat on
a plowshare, and sang the King a cheery song. And the King says to the
Queen: "What will we give to the wee Robin for singing us this cheery
song?"
And the Queen makes answer to the King: "I think we'll give him the wee
Wren to be his wife."
So the wee Robin and the wee Wren were married, and the King and the
Queen, and all the court danced at the wedding. Then the wee Robin and
the wee Wren flew away home to the wee Robin's own brookside, and hopped
on the brier bush.
THE FOX
The Fox set out in a hungry plight,
And begged the moon to give him light,
For he'd many a mile to travel that night
Before he could reach his den O!
First he came to a farmer's yard,
Where the ducks and geese declared it was hard
That their nerves should be shaken, and their rest be marred
By a visit from Mr. Fox O!
He seized the gray goose by the sleeve,
Says he, "Madam Gray Goose, by your leave,
I'll carry you off without reprieve,
And take you away to my den O!"
He seized the gray duck by the neck,
And flung her over across his back,
While the old duck cried out, "Quack, quack, quack,"
With her legs dangling down behind O!
Then old Mrs. Flipper Flapper jumped out of bed,
And out of the window she popped her head,
Crying, "John, John, John, the gray goose is gone,
And the Fox is off to his den O!"
Then John went up to the top of the hill,
And he blew a blast both loud and shrill.
Says the Fox, "That is fine music, still
I'd rather be off to my den O!"
So the Fox he hurried home to his den,
To his dear little foxes eight, nine, ten.
Says he, "We're in luck, here's a big fat duck
With her legs dangling down behind O!"
Then the Fox sat down with his hungry wife,
And they made a good meal without fork or knife.
They never had a better time in all their life,
And the little ones picked the bones O!
THREE COMPANIONS
BY DINAH MARIA MULOCK-CRAIK
We go on our walk together--
Baby and dog and I--
Three little merry companions,
'Neath any sort of sky
Blue as our baby's eyes are,
Gray like our old dog's tail;
Be it windy or cloudy or stormy,
Our courage will never fail.
Baby's a little lady;
Dog is a gentleman brave;
If he had two legs as you have,
He'd kneel to her like a slave;
As it is, he loves and protects her,
As dog and gentleman can.
I'd rather be a kind doggie,
I think, than a cruel man.
"'FRAID CAT!"
BY FRANK MUNRO
To Pussy-town, the other day,
The movies came.
And you must know,
The only chance mice have to play
Is when the cats
Go to the show!
(Yes, mice have certain little "rights"--
Though I confess
'Em hard to see!
And one is to stay up o' nights
And steal our cheese--
If cheese there be!)
Well, in the playhouse, on the screen,
The pussies saw
(And so may you)
True love run smoothly, I ween:
But "also ran,"
A dog in blue!
The foolish cats, in great alarm,
Dashed out, nor
Asked for money back!--
A dog policeman has no charm
When he is close
Upon one's track!
They did not use their heads. I fear;
(Some boys and girls
Are just like that)
And so the pussies now must hear
The grown folks say
"'Fraid cat! 'Fraid cat!"
[Illustration: THE CATS AT THE MOVIES
FROM A DRAWING BY CULMER BARNES]
THE SPIDER AND THE FLY
BY MARY HOWITT
"Will you walk into my parlor?" said the Spider to the Fly,
"'Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there."
"Oh, no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain;
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."
"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.
"There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin;
And if you like to rest a while, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
"Oh, no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"
Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, "Dear friend, what can I do
To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?
I have, within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome--will you please to take a slice?"
"Oh, no, no," said the little Fly, "kind sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"
"Sweet creature," said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise;
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf;
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you're pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."
The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon be back again;
So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing:
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple, there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead."
Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by:
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew--
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue;
Thinking only of her crested head--poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den
Within his little parlor--but she ne'er came out again!
[Illustration: "HELLO! IS THIS THE CLOVER NOOK DAIRY? PLEASE SEND ME
SOME MILK AT ONCE. GOOD-BY"]
#Everyday Verses#
BY ALDEN ARTHUR KNIPE
PICTURES BY EMILIE BENSON KNIPE
A LITTLE GENTLEMAN
When Mother drops things on the floor,
My father asks me: "Who
Should always pick them up for her?"
And so I always do.
He says I haven't far to reach
And that a gentleman
Must do things for his Mother
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