6 65 THE DUCK. THINK it was a stroke of luck "I swim-far better than the swallow, "But when did Envy ever lack "And when I fly with outspread wings "And yesterday, a pert young chub Gave me, he thought, a hardish rub; That swimming?' said he with a laugh; 'I call it only half and half.' 66 Well, let them talk, it won't hurt me--They are not ducks and drakes, you sce; Our graces put them in a pet, All grapes are sour one cannot get. G "There's only one thing where I fail, I got a cold a long time back, 6 And never get beyond a Quack!' "I'll take some lessons of the lark, Then won't folks listen with a Hush! THERE's a merry brown thrush sitting up in the tree; "He's singing to me! He's singing to me!" And what does he say, little girl, little boy? "O, the world's running over with joy Don't you hear? Don't you see? Hush! Look! In my tree I'm as happy as happy can be." And the brown thrush keeps singing, "a nest do you see, And five eggs, hid by me in the juniper tree? Don't meddle! don't touch! little girl, little boy, Or the world will lose some of its joy! Now I'm glad! now I'm free! And I always shall be, If you never bring sorrow to me." So the merry brown thrush sings away in the tree, And he sings all the day, little girl, little boy But long it won't be, Don't you know, don't you see, Unless we be good as good can be!" 67 THE FROST. II, see the cunning frost again With bower and hill and shady lane, The snowy-mantled meadow; In sunlight and in shadow. And, oh, it gives full many a dream Again flows on the little rill, And summer skies are o'er us. MY GOOD-FOR-NOTHING. "WHAT are you good for, my brave little man? What you are good for? Now ponder it well. Over the carpet the dear little feet 69 WATCHING FOR FATHER. THERE's a little face at the window The hills have caught the shadow Away behind, With busy mind, But a step that is light and free, And a sun-burnt face On which the trace Of a hard day's work you see, Comes the farmer home from toil, Driving the cows before him; And the child-eyes, strained at the window thero, Were the first in the house that saw him. Ah! would, when the day is done And I leave my cares behind me, I could have such a pair of winsome2 eyes |