Šrift:Väiksem АаSuurem Aa
THE CAT AND THE DOG
There once lived a Man, a Cat, and a Dog,
And the Man built a house with stone and log.
"If you'll help to take care of this house with me,
One indoors, one out, your places must be."
Said both together, "Indoors I'll stay!"
And they argued the matter for half-a-day.
"Come, let us sing for it!" purrs the Cat;
"No!" barks the Dog, "I won't do that."
"Come, let us fight for it!" growls Bow-wow;
"Nay!" says Pussy, "mee-ow, mee-ow!"
"Well, let us race for it!" – said and done.
The course is mark'd out, and away they run.
Puss bounded off; the Dog ran fast;
Quickly was Puss overtaken and pass'd;
But a Beggar who under the hedge did lie
Struck the poor Dog as he gallop'd by
A blow with his staff, and lessen'd his pace
To a limp: so Pussy won the race.
The Beggar went on his way to beg;
Dog was cured of his limping leg;
And Cat keeps the inside of the house,
Watching it well from rat and mouse,
Dog keeps the outside, ever since then,
And always barks at beggar-men.
HERE AND THERE
(A JUVENILE CHORUS.)
Where's Lucy? where's Lucy?
Far, far in the wood,
With wild birds for playmates,
And beechnuts for food?
Chorus
No, here she is! here she is!
Happy and gay,
With singing and ringing
To join in our lay.
Where's Gerald? where's Gerald?
He's out in the snow;
The stars shining keenly,
The cold wind doth blow.
No, here he is! here he is!
Happy and gay;
With singing and ringing
To join in our lay!
Where's Evey? where's Evey?
She's lost in the fog;
Go seek her, go find her,
With man and with dog.
No, here she is! here she is!
Happy and gay;
With singing and ringing,
To join in our lay!
Where's Henry? where's Henry?
Poor Henry's afloat;
The sea-waves all round him,
High tossing his boat.
No, here he is! here he is!
Happy and gay;
With singing and ringing
To join in our lay!
Where's Charley? where's Charley?
In China dwells he;
He wears a long pig-tail,
Perpetually drinks tea.
No, here he is! here he is!
Happy and gay;
With singing and ringing,
To join in our lay!
Where's Johnny? where's Johnny?
In Nubia, I know;
He has climb'd a tall palm-tree, —
A lion's below.
No, here he is! here he is!
Happy and gay;
With singing and ringing,
To join in our lay!
Where's Mary? where's Mary?
Young Mary's asleep;
And round her white pillow
The little dreams creep.
No, here she is! here she is!
Happy and gay;
With singing and ringing,
To join in our lay!
Where's Bertha? where's Bertha?
She has wings – she can fly!
She has flown to the bright moon —
Look up there and spy!
No, here she is! here she is!
Happy and gay;
With sinking and ringing,
To join in our lay!
[AD INFINITUM.]
THE BIRD
"Birdie, Birdie, will you pet?
Summer-time is far away yet,
You'll have silken quilts and a velvet bed,
And a pillow of satin for your head!"
"I'd rather sleep in the ivy wall;
No rain comes through, tho' I hear it fall;
The sun peeps gay at dawn of day,
And I sing, and wing away, away!"
"O Birdie, Birdie, will you pet?
Diamond-stones and amber and jet
We'll string for a necklace fair and fine
To please this pretty bird of mine!"
"O thanks for diamonds, and thanks for jet,
But here is something daintier yet, —
A feather-necklace round and round,
That I wouldn't sell for a thousand pound!"
"O Birdie, Birdie, won't you pet?
We'll buy you a dish of silver fret,
A golden cup and an ivory seat,
And carpets soft beneath your feet!"
"Can running water be drunk from gold?
Can a silver dish the forest hold?
A rocking twig is the finest chair,
And the softest paths lie through the air, —
Good-bye, good-bye to my lady fair!"