clover-leaves
It was a summer evening,Old Kaspar's work was done,And he before his cottage doorWas sitting in the sun,And by him sported on the greenHis little grandchild Wilhelmine.She saw her brother PeterkinRoll something large and round,Which he beside the rivuletIn playing there had found;[page 201]He came to ask what he had found,That was so large and smooth and round.Old Kaspar took it from the boy,Who stood expectant by;And then the old man shook his head,And with a natural sigh,"'T is some poor fellow's skull," said he,"Who fell in the great victory."I find them in the garden,For there's many hereabout;And often, when I go to plowThe plowshare turns them out!For many thousand men," said he,"Were slain in that great victory.""Now tell us what 't was all about,"Young Peterkin he cries;While little Wilhelmine looks upWith wonder-waiting eyes;"Now tell us all about the war,And what they killed each other for.""It was the English," Kaspar cried,"Who put the French to rout;But what they killed each other forI could not well make out.But everybody said," quoth he,"That 't was a famous victory."My father lived at Blenheim then,Yon little stream hard by;They burnt his dwelling to the ground,And he was forced to fly:So with his wife and child he fled,Nor had he where to rest his head.[page 202]"With fire and sword the country roundWas wasted far and wide,And many a childing mother thenAnd new-born baby died:But things like that, you know, must beAt every famous victory."They say it was a shocking sightAfter the field was won;For many thousand bodies hereLay rotting in the sun:But things like that, you know, must beAfter a famous victory."Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won,And our good Prince Eugene.""Why 't was a very wicked thing!"Said little Wilhelmine."Nay—nay—my little girl," quoth he,"It was a famous victory."And everybody praised the DukeWho this great fight did win.""And what good came of it at last?"Quoth little Peterkin."Why, that I cannot tell," said he,"But 't was a famous victory."Robert Southey
It was a summer evening,Old Kaspar's work was done,And he before his cottage doorWas sitting in the sun,And by him sported on the greenHis little grandchild Wilhelmine.
It was a summer evening,
Old Kaspar's work was done,
And he before his cottage door
Was sitting in the sun,
And by him sported on the green
His little grandchild Wilhelmine.
She saw her brother PeterkinRoll something large and round,Which he beside the rivuletIn playing there had found;[page 201]He came to ask what he had found,That was so large and smooth and round.
She saw her brother Peterkin
Roll something large and round,
Which he beside the rivulet
In playing there had found;
He came to ask what he had found,
That was so large and smooth and round.
Old Kaspar took it from the boy,Who stood expectant by;And then the old man shook his head,And with a natural sigh,"'T is some poor fellow's skull," said he,"Who fell in the great victory.
Old Kaspar took it from the boy,
Who stood expectant by;
And then the old man shook his head,
And with a natural sigh,
"'T is some poor fellow's skull," said he,
"Who fell in the great victory.
"I find them in the garden,For there's many hereabout;And often, when I go to plowThe plowshare turns them out!For many thousand men," said he,"Were slain in that great victory."
"I find them in the garden,
For there's many hereabout;
And often, when I go to plow
The plowshare turns them out!
For many thousand men," said he,
"Were slain in that great victory."
"Now tell us what 't was all about,"Young Peterkin he cries;While little Wilhelmine looks upWith wonder-waiting eyes;"Now tell us all about the war,And what they killed each other for."
"Now tell us what 't was all about,"
Young Peterkin he cries;
While little Wilhelmine looks up
With wonder-waiting eyes;
"Now tell us all about the war,
And what they killed each other for."
"It was the English," Kaspar cried,"Who put the French to rout;But what they killed each other forI could not well make out.But everybody said," quoth he,"That 't was a famous victory.
"It was the English," Kaspar cried,
"Who put the French to rout;
But what they killed each other for
I could not well make out.
But everybody said," quoth he,
"That 't was a famous victory.
"My father lived at Blenheim then,Yon little stream hard by;They burnt his dwelling to the ground,And he was forced to fly:So with his wife and child he fled,Nor had he where to rest his head.
"My father lived at Blenheim then,
Yon little stream hard by;
They burnt his dwelling to the ground,
And he was forced to fly:
So with his wife and child he fled,
Nor had he where to rest his head.
"With fire and sword the country roundWas wasted far and wide,And many a childing mother thenAnd new-born baby died:But things like that, you know, must beAt every famous victory.
"With fire and sword the country round
Was wasted far and wide,
And many a childing mother then
And new-born baby died:
But things like that, you know, must be
At every famous victory.
"They say it was a shocking sightAfter the field was won;For many thousand bodies hereLay rotting in the sun:But things like that, you know, must beAfter a famous victory.
"They say it was a shocking sight
After the field was won;
For many thousand bodies here
Lay rotting in the sun:
But things like that, you know, must be
After a famous victory.
"Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won,And our good Prince Eugene.""Why 't was a very wicked thing!"Said little Wilhelmine."Nay—nay—my little girl," quoth he,"It was a famous victory.
"Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won,
And our good Prince Eugene."
"Why 't was a very wicked thing!"
Said little Wilhelmine.
"Nay—nay—my little girl," quoth he,
"It was a famous victory.
"And everybody praised the DukeWho this great fight did win.""And what good came of it at last?"Quoth little Peterkin."Why, that I cannot tell," said he,"But 't was a famous victory."
"And everybody praised the Duke
Who this great fight did win."
"And what good came of it at last?"
Quoth little Peterkin.
"Why, that I cannot tell," said he,
"But 't was a famous victory."
Robert Southey
Robert Southey
clover-leaves
Oft has it been my lot to markA proud, conceited, talking spark,With eyes, that hardly served at mostTo guard their master 'gainst a post;[page 203]Yet round the world the blade has beenTo see whatever could be seen,Returning from his finished tour,Grown ten times perter than before;Whatever word you chance to drop,The traveled fool your mouth will stop:"Sir, if my judgment you'll allow,I've seen—and sure I ought to know,"So begs you'd pay a due submission,And acquiesce in his decision.Two travelers of such a cast,As o'er Arabia's wilds they passedAnd on their way in friendly chat,Now talked of this, and then of that,Discoursed awhile, 'mongst other matter.Of the chameleon's form and nature."A stranger animal," cries one,"Sure never lived beneath the sun.A lizard's body, lean and long,A fish's head, a serpent's tongue,Its foot with triple claw disjoined;And what a length of tail behind!How slow its pace; and then its hue—Who ever saw so fine a blue?""Hold, there," the other quick replies,"'T isgreen, I saw it with these eyes,As late with open mouth it lay,And warmed it in the sunny ray:Stretched at its ease, the beast I viewedAnd saw it eat the air for food.""I've seen it, sir, as well as you,And must again affirm it blue;At leisure I the beast surveyed,Extending in the cooling shade.""'T is green, 't is green, sir I assure ye!""Green!" cries the other in a fury—[page 204]"Why, sir!—d'ye think I've lost my eyes?""'T were no great loss," the friend replies,"For, if they always serve you thus,You'll find them of but little use."So high at last the contest rose,From words they almost came to blows;When luckily came by a third—To him the question they referred,And begged he'd tell 'em, if he knew,Whether the thing was green or blue."Sirs," cries the umpire, "cease your pother!The creature's neither one nor t' other.I caught the animal last night,And viewed it o'er by candlelight:I marked it well—'t was black as jet—You stare—but sirs, I've got it yet,And can produce it." "Pray, sir, do:I'll lay my life the thing is blue.""And I'll be sworn, that when you've seenThe reptile, you'll pronounce him green.""Well, then, at once to ease the doubt,"Replies the man, "I'll turn him out:And when before your eyes I've set him,If you don't find him black, I'll eat him."He said: then full before their sightProduced the beast, and lo!—'t was white.Both stared, the man looked wondrous wise—"My children," the chameleon cries,(Then first the creature found a tongue,)"You are all right, and all are wrong:When next you talk of what you view,Think others see as well as you;Nor wonder, if you find that nonePrefers your eyesight to his own."James Merrick
Oft has it been my lot to markA proud, conceited, talking spark,With eyes, that hardly served at mostTo guard their master 'gainst a post;[page 203]Yet round the world the blade has beenTo see whatever could be seen,Returning from his finished tour,Grown ten times perter than before;Whatever word you chance to drop,The traveled fool your mouth will stop:"Sir, if my judgment you'll allow,I've seen—and sure I ought to know,"So begs you'd pay a due submission,And acquiesce in his decision.
Oft has it been my lot to mark
A proud, conceited, talking spark,
With eyes, that hardly served at most
To guard their master 'gainst a post;
Yet round the world the blade has been
To see whatever could be seen,
Returning from his finished tour,
Grown ten times perter than before;
Whatever word you chance to drop,
The traveled fool your mouth will stop:
"Sir, if my judgment you'll allow,
I've seen—and sure I ought to know,"
So begs you'd pay a due submission,
And acquiesce in his decision.
Two travelers of such a cast,As o'er Arabia's wilds they passedAnd on their way in friendly chat,Now talked of this, and then of that,Discoursed awhile, 'mongst other matter.Of the chameleon's form and nature."A stranger animal," cries one,"Sure never lived beneath the sun.A lizard's body, lean and long,A fish's head, a serpent's tongue,Its foot with triple claw disjoined;And what a length of tail behind!How slow its pace; and then its hue—Who ever saw so fine a blue?"
Two travelers of such a cast,
As o'er Arabia's wilds they passed
And on their way in friendly chat,
Now talked of this, and then of that,
Discoursed awhile, 'mongst other matter.
Of the chameleon's form and nature.
"A stranger animal," cries one,
"Sure never lived beneath the sun.
A lizard's body, lean and long,
A fish's head, a serpent's tongue,
Its foot with triple claw disjoined;
And what a length of tail behind!
How slow its pace; and then its hue—
Who ever saw so fine a blue?"
"Hold, there," the other quick replies,"'T isgreen, I saw it with these eyes,As late with open mouth it lay,And warmed it in the sunny ray:Stretched at its ease, the beast I viewedAnd saw it eat the air for food.""I've seen it, sir, as well as you,And must again affirm it blue;At leisure I the beast surveyed,Extending in the cooling shade.""'T is green, 't is green, sir I assure ye!""Green!" cries the other in a fury—
"Hold, there," the other quick replies,
"'T isgreen, I saw it with these eyes,
As late with open mouth it lay,
And warmed it in the sunny ray:
Stretched at its ease, the beast I viewed
And saw it eat the air for food."
"I've seen it, sir, as well as you,
And must again affirm it blue;
At leisure I the beast surveyed,
Extending in the cooling shade."
"'T is green, 't is green, sir I assure ye!"
"Green!" cries the other in a fury—
"Why, sir!—d'ye think I've lost my eyes?""'T were no great loss," the friend replies,"For, if they always serve you thus,You'll find them of but little use."
"Why, sir!—d'ye think I've lost my eyes?"
"'T were no great loss," the friend replies,
"For, if they always serve you thus,
You'll find them of but little use."
So high at last the contest rose,From words they almost came to blows;When luckily came by a third—To him the question they referred,And begged he'd tell 'em, if he knew,Whether the thing was green or blue."Sirs," cries the umpire, "cease your pother!The creature's neither one nor t' other.I caught the animal last night,And viewed it o'er by candlelight:I marked it well—'t was black as jet—You stare—but sirs, I've got it yet,And can produce it." "Pray, sir, do:I'll lay my life the thing is blue.""And I'll be sworn, that when you've seenThe reptile, you'll pronounce him green.""Well, then, at once to ease the doubt,"Replies the man, "I'll turn him out:And when before your eyes I've set him,If you don't find him black, I'll eat him."He said: then full before their sightProduced the beast, and lo!—'t was white.
So high at last the contest rose,
From words they almost came to blows;
When luckily came by a third—
To him the question they referred,
And begged he'd tell 'em, if he knew,
Whether the thing was green or blue.
"Sirs," cries the umpire, "cease your pother!
The creature's neither one nor t' other.
I caught the animal last night,
And viewed it o'er by candlelight:
I marked it well—'t was black as jet—
You stare—but sirs, I've got it yet,
And can produce it." "Pray, sir, do:
I'll lay my life the thing is blue."
"And I'll be sworn, that when you've seen
The reptile, you'll pronounce him green."
"Well, then, at once to ease the doubt,"
Replies the man, "I'll turn him out:
And when before your eyes I've set him,
If you don't find him black, I'll eat him."
He said: then full before their sight
Produced the beast, and lo!—'t was white.
Both stared, the man looked wondrous wise—"My children," the chameleon cries,(Then first the creature found a tongue,)"You are all right, and all are wrong:When next you talk of what you view,Think others see as well as you;Nor wonder, if you find that nonePrefers your eyesight to his own."
Both stared, the man looked wondrous wise—
"My children," the chameleon cries,
(Then first the creature found a tongue,)
"You are all right, and all are wrong:
When next you talk of what you view,
Think others see as well as you;
Nor wonder, if you find that none
Prefers your eyesight to his own."
James Merrick
James Merrick
clover-leaves
[page 205]
"Why, Phebe, are you come so soon?Where are your berries, child?You cannot, sure, have sold them all,You had a basket piled.""No, mother, as I climbed the fence,The nearest way to town,My apron caught upon the stake,And so I tumbled down."I scratched my arm and tore my hair,But still did not complain;And had my blackberries been safe,Should not have cared a grain."But when I saw them on the ground.All scattered by my side,I picked my empty basket up,And down I sat and cried."Just then a pretty little MissChanced to be walking by;She stopped, and looking pitiful,She begged me not to cry."'Poor little girl, you fell,' said she,'And must be sadly hurt;''Oh, no,' I cried; 'but see my fruit,All mixed with sand and dirt.'"'Well, do not grieve for that,' she said;'Go home, and get some more,''Ah, no, for I have stripped the vines,These were the last they bore.[page 206]"'My father, Miss, is very poor,And works in yonder stall;He has so many little ones,He cannot clothe us all."'I always longed to go to church,But never could I go;For when I asked him for a gown,He always answered, "No."'"There's not a father in the worldThat loves his children more;I'd get you one with all my heart,But, Phebe, I am poor.""'But when the blackberries were ripe,He said to me one day,"Phebe, if you will take the timeThat's given you for play,"'"And gather blackberries enough,And carry them to town,To buy your bonnet and your shoes,I'll try to get a gown.""'Oh, Miss, I fairly jumped for joy,My spirits were so light;And so, when I had leave to play,I picked with all my might."'I sold enough to get my shoes,About a week ago;And these, if they had not been spilt,Would buy a bonnet, too."'But now they're gone, they all are gone,And I can get no more,And Sundays I must stay at home,Just as I did before.'[page 207]"And, mother, then I cried againAs hard as I could cry;And looking up, I saw a tearWas standing in her eye."She caught her bonnet from her head,'Here, here,' she cried, 'take this!''Oh, no, indeed—I fear your maWould be offended, Miss.'"'My ma! no, never; she delightsAll sorrow to beguile;And 't is the sweetest joy she feels,To make the wretched smile."'She taught me when I had enough,To share it with the poor;And never let a needy child,Go empty from the door."'So take it, for you need not fearOffending her, you see;I have another, too, at home,And one's enough for me,'"So then I took it—here it is—For pray what could I do?And, mother, I shall love that MissAs long as I love you."Unknown
"Why, Phebe, are you come so soon?Where are your berries, child?You cannot, sure, have sold them all,You had a basket piled."
"Why, Phebe, are you come so soon?
Where are your berries, child?
You cannot, sure, have sold them all,
You had a basket piled."
"No, mother, as I climbed the fence,The nearest way to town,My apron caught upon the stake,And so I tumbled down.
"No, mother, as I climbed the fence,
The nearest way to town,
My apron caught upon the stake,
And so I tumbled down.
"I scratched my arm and tore my hair,But still did not complain;And had my blackberries been safe,Should not have cared a grain.
"I scratched my arm and tore my hair,
But still did not complain;
And had my blackberries been safe,
Should not have cared a grain.
"But when I saw them on the ground.All scattered by my side,I picked my empty basket up,And down I sat and cried.
"But when I saw them on the ground.
All scattered by my side,
I picked my empty basket up,
And down I sat and cried.
"Just then a pretty little MissChanced to be walking by;She stopped, and looking pitiful,She begged me not to cry.
"Just then a pretty little Miss
Chanced to be walking by;
She stopped, and looking pitiful,
She begged me not to cry.
"'Poor little girl, you fell,' said she,'And must be sadly hurt;''Oh, no,' I cried; 'but see my fruit,All mixed with sand and dirt.'
"'Poor little girl, you fell,' said she,
'And must be sadly hurt;'
'Oh, no,' I cried; 'but see my fruit,
All mixed with sand and dirt.'
"'Well, do not grieve for that,' she said;'Go home, and get some more,''Ah, no, for I have stripped the vines,These were the last they bore.[page 206]
"'Well, do not grieve for that,' she said;
'Go home, and get some more,'
'Ah, no, for I have stripped the vines,
These were the last they bore.
"'My father, Miss, is very poor,And works in yonder stall;He has so many little ones,He cannot clothe us all.
"'My father, Miss, is very poor,
And works in yonder stall;
He has so many little ones,
He cannot clothe us all.
"'I always longed to go to church,But never could I go;For when I asked him for a gown,He always answered, "No.
"'I always longed to go to church,
But never could I go;
For when I asked him for a gown,
He always answered, "No.
"'"There's not a father in the worldThat loves his children more;I'd get you one with all my heart,But, Phebe, I am poor."
"'"There's not a father in the world
That loves his children more;
I'd get you one with all my heart,
But, Phebe, I am poor."
"'But when the blackberries were ripe,He said to me one day,"Phebe, if you will take the timeThat's given you for play,
"'But when the blackberries were ripe,
He said to me one day,
"Phebe, if you will take the time
That's given you for play,
"'"And gather blackberries enough,And carry them to town,To buy your bonnet and your shoes,I'll try to get a gown."
"'"And gather blackberries enough,
And carry them to town,
To buy your bonnet and your shoes,
I'll try to get a gown."
"'Oh, Miss, I fairly jumped for joy,My spirits were so light;And so, when I had leave to play,I picked with all my might.
"'Oh, Miss, I fairly jumped for joy,
My spirits were so light;
And so, when I had leave to play,
I picked with all my might.
"'I sold enough to get my shoes,About a week ago;And these, if they had not been spilt,Would buy a bonnet, too.
"'I sold enough to get my shoes,
About a week ago;
And these, if they had not been spilt,
Would buy a bonnet, too.
"'But now they're gone, they all are gone,And I can get no more,And Sundays I must stay at home,Just as I did before.'[page 207]
"'But now they're gone, they all are gone,
And I can get no more,
And Sundays I must stay at home,
Just as I did before.'
"And, mother, then I cried againAs hard as I could cry;And looking up, I saw a tearWas standing in her eye.
"And, mother, then I cried again
As hard as I could cry;
And looking up, I saw a tear
Was standing in her eye.
"She caught her bonnet from her head,'Here, here,' she cried, 'take this!''Oh, no, indeed—I fear your maWould be offended, Miss.'
"She caught her bonnet from her head,
'Here, here,' she cried, 'take this!'
'Oh, no, indeed—I fear your ma
Would be offended, Miss.'
"'My ma! no, never; she delightsAll sorrow to beguile;And 't is the sweetest joy she feels,To make the wretched smile.
"'My ma! no, never; she delights
All sorrow to beguile;
And 't is the sweetest joy she feels,
To make the wretched smile.
"'She taught me when I had enough,To share it with the poor;And never let a needy child,Go empty from the door.
"'She taught me when I had enough,
To share it with the poor;
And never let a needy child,
Go empty from the door.
"'So take it, for you need not fearOffending her, you see;I have another, too, at home,And one's enough for me,'
"'So take it, for you need not fear
Offending her, you see;
I have another, too, at home,
And one's enough for me,'
"So then I took it—here it is—For pray what could I do?And, mother, I shall love that MissAs long as I love you."
"So then I took it—here it is—
For pray what could I do?
And, mother, I shall love that Miss
As long as I love you."
Unknown
Unknown
clover-leaves
"Arise, my maiden, Mabel,"The mother said; "arise,For the golden sun of midsummerIs shining in the skies.[page 208]"Arise, my little maiden,For thou must speed away,To wait upon thy grandmotherThis livelong summer day."And thou must carry with theeThis wheaten cake so fine,This new-made pat of butter,This little flask of wine;"And tell the dear old body,This day I cannot come,For the goodman went out yestermorn.And he is not come home."And more than this, poor AmyUpon my knee doth lie;I fear me, with this fever painThe little child will die!"And thou canst help thy grandmother:The table thou canst spread;Canst feed the little dog and bird;And thou canst make her bed."And thou canst fetch the waterFrom the lady-well hard by;And thou canst gather from the woodThe fagots brown and dry;"Canst go down to the lonesome glen,To milk the mother ewe;This is the work, my Mabel,That thou wilt have to do."But listen now, my Mabel,This is midsummer day,When all the fairy peopleFrom elfland come away.[page 209]"And when thou 'rt in the lonesome glen,Keep by the running burn,And do not pluck the strawberry flower,Nor break the lady-fern."But think not of the fairy folk,Lest mischief should befall;Think only of poor Amy,And how thou lov'st us all."Yet keep good heart, my Mabel,If thou the fairies see,And give them kindly answerIf they should speak to thee."And when into the fir-woodThou goest for fagots brown,Do not, like idle children,Go wandering up and down."But fill thy little apron,My child, with earnest speed;And that thou break no living boughWithin the wood take heed."For they are spiteful browniesWho in the wood abide;So be thou careful of this thing,Lest evil should betide."But think not, little Mabel,Whilst thou art in the wood,Of dwarfish, willful brownies,But of the Father good."And when thou goest to the springTo fetch the water thence,Do not disturb the little stream,Lest this should give offense.[page 210]"For the queen of all the fairies,She loves that water bright;I've seen her drinking there myselfOn many a summer night."But she's a gracious lady,And her thou need'st not fear;Only disturb thou not the stream,Nor spill the water clear.""Now all this I will heed, mother,Will no word disobey,And wait upon the grandmotherThis livelong summer day."
"Arise, my maiden, Mabel,"The mother said; "arise,For the golden sun of midsummerIs shining in the skies.[page 208]
"Arise, my maiden, Mabel,"
The mother said; "arise,
For the golden sun of midsummer
Is shining in the skies.
"Arise, my little maiden,For thou must speed away,To wait upon thy grandmotherThis livelong summer day.
"Arise, my little maiden,
For thou must speed away,
To wait upon thy grandmother
This livelong summer day.
"And thou must carry with theeThis wheaten cake so fine,This new-made pat of butter,This little flask of wine;
"And thou must carry with thee
This wheaten cake so fine,
This new-made pat of butter,
This little flask of wine;
"And tell the dear old body,This day I cannot come,For the goodman went out yestermorn.And he is not come home.
"And tell the dear old body,
This day I cannot come,
For the goodman went out yestermorn.
And he is not come home.
"And more than this, poor AmyUpon my knee doth lie;I fear me, with this fever painThe little child will die!
"And more than this, poor Amy
Upon my knee doth lie;
I fear me, with this fever pain
The little child will die!
"And thou canst help thy grandmother:The table thou canst spread;Canst feed the little dog and bird;And thou canst make her bed.
"And thou canst help thy grandmother:
The table thou canst spread;
Canst feed the little dog and bird;
And thou canst make her bed.
"And thou canst fetch the waterFrom the lady-well hard by;And thou canst gather from the woodThe fagots brown and dry;
"And thou canst fetch the water
From the lady-well hard by;
And thou canst gather from the wood
The fagots brown and dry;
"Canst go down to the lonesome glen,To milk the mother ewe;This is the work, my Mabel,That thou wilt have to do.
"Canst go down to the lonesome glen,
To milk the mother ewe;
This is the work, my Mabel,
That thou wilt have to do.
"But listen now, my Mabel,This is midsummer day,When all the fairy peopleFrom elfland come away.
"But listen now, my Mabel,
This is midsummer day,
When all the fairy people
From elfland come away.
"And when thou 'rt in the lonesome glen,Keep by the running burn,And do not pluck the strawberry flower,Nor break the lady-fern.
"And when thou 'rt in the lonesome glen,
Keep by the running burn,
And do not pluck the strawberry flower,
Nor break the lady-fern.
"But think not of the fairy folk,Lest mischief should befall;Think only of poor Amy,And how thou lov'st us all.
"But think not of the fairy folk,
Lest mischief should befall;
Think only of poor Amy,
And how thou lov'st us all.
"Yet keep good heart, my Mabel,If thou the fairies see,And give them kindly answerIf they should speak to thee.
"Yet keep good heart, my Mabel,
If thou the fairies see,
And give them kindly answer
If they should speak to thee.
"And when into the fir-woodThou goest for fagots brown,Do not, like idle children,Go wandering up and down.
"And when into the fir-wood
Thou goest for fagots brown,
Do not, like idle children,
Go wandering up and down.
"But fill thy little apron,My child, with earnest speed;And that thou break no living boughWithin the wood take heed.
"But fill thy little apron,
My child, with earnest speed;
And that thou break no living bough
Within the wood take heed.
"For they are spiteful browniesWho in the wood abide;So be thou careful of this thing,Lest evil should betide.
"For they are spiteful brownies
Who in the wood abide;
So be thou careful of this thing,
Lest evil should betide.
"But think not, little Mabel,Whilst thou art in the wood,Of dwarfish, willful brownies,But of the Father good.
"But think not, little Mabel,
Whilst thou art in the wood,
Of dwarfish, willful brownies,
But of the Father good.
"And when thou goest to the springTo fetch the water thence,Do not disturb the little stream,Lest this should give offense.
"And when thou goest to the spring
To fetch the water thence,
Do not disturb the little stream,
Lest this should give offense.
"For the queen of all the fairies,She loves that water bright;I've seen her drinking there myselfOn many a summer night.
"For the queen of all the fairies,
She loves that water bright;
I've seen her drinking there myself
On many a summer night.
"But she's a gracious lady,And her thou need'st not fear;Only disturb thou not the stream,Nor spill the water clear."
"But she's a gracious lady,
And her thou need'st not fear;
Only disturb thou not the stream,
Nor spill the water clear."
"Now all this I will heed, mother,Will no word disobey,And wait upon the grandmotherThis livelong summer day."
"Now all this I will heed, mother,
Will no word disobey,
And wait upon the grandmother
This livelong summer day."
Away tripped little Mabel,With the wheaten cake so fine,With the new-made pat of butter,And the little flask of wine.And long before the sun was hot,And the summer mist had cleared,Beside the good old grandmotherThe willing child appeared.And all her mother's messageShe told with right good-will,How that the father was away,And the little child was ill.And then she swept the hearth up clean,And then the table spread;And next she fed the dog and bird;And then she made the bed.[page 211]"And go now," said the grandmother,"Ten paces down the dell,And bring in water for the day,—Thou know'st the lady-well."The first time that good Mabel went,Nothing at all saw she,Except a bird, a sky-blue bird,That sat upon a tree.The next time that good Mabel went,There sat a lady brightBeside the well,—a lady small,All clothed in green and white.A courtesy low made Mabel,And then she stooped to fillHer pitcher at the sparkling spring,But no drop did she spill."Thou art a handy maiden,"The fairy lady said;"Thou hast not spilt a drop, nor yetThe fairy spring troubled!"And for this thing which thou hast done,Yet mayst not understand,I give to thee a better giftThan houses or than land."Thou shalt do well whate'er thou dost,As thou hast done this day;Shalt have the will and power to please,And shalt be loved alway."Thus having said, she passed from sight,And naught could Mabel see,But the little bird, the sky-blue bird,Upon the leafy tree.[page 212]"And now go," said the grandmother,"And fetch in fagots dry;All in the neighboring fir-woodBeneath the trees they lie."Away went kind, good Mabel,Into the fir-wood near,Where all the ground was dry and brown.And the grass grew thin and sear.She did not wander up and down,Nor yet a live branch pull,But steadily of the fallen boughsShe picked her apron full.And when the wildwood browniesCame sliding to her mind,She drove them thence, as she was told,With home thoughts sweet and kind.But all that while the browniesWithin the fir-wood still,They watched her how she picked the wood,And strove to do no ill."And, oh, but she is small and neat,"Said one; "'t were shame to spiteA creature so demure and meek,A creature harmless quite!""Look only," said another,"At her little gown of blue;At her kerchief pinned about her head,And at her little shoe!""Oh, but she is a comely child,"Said a third; "and we will layA good-luck penny in her path,A boon for her this day,—Seeing she broke no living wood;No live thing did affray!"[page 213]With that the smallest penny,Of the finest silver ore,Upon the dry and slippery path,Lay Mabel's feet before.With joy she picked the penny up,The fairy penny good;And with her fagots dry and brownWent wandering from the wood."Now she has that," said the brownies,"Let flax be ever so dear,'T will buy her clothes of the very best,For many and many a year!""And go now," said the grandmother,"Since falling is the dew,Go down unto the lonesome glen,And milk the mother ewe!"All down into the lonesome glen,Through copses thick and wild,Through moist rank grass, by trickling streams,Went on the willing child.And when she came to the lonesome glen,She kept beside the burn,And neither plucked the strawberry flowerNor broke the lady fern.And while she milked the mother eweWithin this lonesome glen,She wished that little AmyWere strong and well again.And soon as she thought this thought,She heard a coming sound,As if a thousand fairy folkWere gathering all around.[page 214]And then she heard a little voice,Shrill as the midge's wing,That spake aloud,—"A human childIs here; yet mark this thing,—"The lady-fern is all unbroke,The strawberry flower unta'en!What shall be done for her who stillFrom mischief can refrain?""Give her a fairy cake!" said one;"Grant her a wish!" said three;"The latest wish that she hath wished,"Said all, "whate'er it be!"Kind Mabel heard the words they spake,And from the lonesome glenUnto the good old grandmotherWent gladly back again.Thus happened it to MabelOn that midsummer day,And these three fairy blessingsShe took with her away.'T is good to make all duty sweet,To be alert and kind;'T is good, like little Mabel,To have a willing mind.Mary Howitt
Away tripped little Mabel,With the wheaten cake so fine,With the new-made pat of butter,And the little flask of wine.
Away tripped little Mabel,
With the wheaten cake so fine,
With the new-made pat of butter,
And the little flask of wine.
And long before the sun was hot,And the summer mist had cleared,Beside the good old grandmotherThe willing child appeared.
And long before the sun was hot,
And the summer mist had cleared,
Beside the good old grandmother
The willing child appeared.
And all her mother's messageShe told with right good-will,How that the father was away,And the little child was ill.
And all her mother's message
She told with right good-will,
How that the father was away,
And the little child was ill.
And then she swept the hearth up clean,And then the table spread;And next she fed the dog and bird;And then she made the bed.
And then she swept the hearth up clean,
And then the table spread;
And next she fed the dog and bird;
And then she made the bed.
"And go now," said the grandmother,"Ten paces down the dell,And bring in water for the day,—Thou know'st the lady-well."
"And go now," said the grandmother,
"Ten paces down the dell,
And bring in water for the day,—
Thou know'st the lady-well."
The first time that good Mabel went,Nothing at all saw she,Except a bird, a sky-blue bird,That sat upon a tree.
The first time that good Mabel went,
Nothing at all saw she,
Except a bird, a sky-blue bird,
That sat upon a tree.
The next time that good Mabel went,There sat a lady brightBeside the well,—a lady small,All clothed in green and white.
The next time that good Mabel went,
There sat a lady bright
Beside the well,—a lady small,
All clothed in green and white.
A courtesy low made Mabel,And then she stooped to fillHer pitcher at the sparkling spring,But no drop did she spill.
A courtesy low made Mabel,
And then she stooped to fill
Her pitcher at the sparkling spring,
But no drop did she spill.
"Thou art a handy maiden,"The fairy lady said;"Thou hast not spilt a drop, nor yetThe fairy spring troubled!
"Thou art a handy maiden,"
The fairy lady said;
"Thou hast not spilt a drop, nor yet
The fairy spring troubled!
"And for this thing which thou hast done,Yet mayst not understand,I give to thee a better giftThan houses or than land.
"And for this thing which thou hast done,
Yet mayst not understand,
I give to thee a better gift
Than houses or than land.
"Thou shalt do well whate'er thou dost,As thou hast done this day;Shalt have the will and power to please,And shalt be loved alway."
"Thou shalt do well whate'er thou dost,
As thou hast done this day;
Shalt have the will and power to please,
And shalt be loved alway."
Thus having said, she passed from sight,And naught could Mabel see,But the little bird, the sky-blue bird,Upon the leafy tree.
Thus having said, she passed from sight,
And naught could Mabel see,
But the little bird, the sky-blue bird,
Upon the leafy tree.
"And now go," said the grandmother,"And fetch in fagots dry;All in the neighboring fir-woodBeneath the trees they lie."
"And now go," said the grandmother,
"And fetch in fagots dry;
All in the neighboring fir-wood
Beneath the trees they lie."
Away went kind, good Mabel,Into the fir-wood near,Where all the ground was dry and brown.And the grass grew thin and sear.
Away went kind, good Mabel,
Into the fir-wood near,
Where all the ground was dry and brown.
And the grass grew thin and sear.
She did not wander up and down,Nor yet a live branch pull,But steadily of the fallen boughsShe picked her apron full.
She did not wander up and down,
Nor yet a live branch pull,
But steadily of the fallen boughs
She picked her apron full.
And when the wildwood browniesCame sliding to her mind,She drove them thence, as she was told,With home thoughts sweet and kind.
And when the wildwood brownies
Came sliding to her mind,
She drove them thence, as she was told,
With home thoughts sweet and kind.
But all that while the browniesWithin the fir-wood still,They watched her how she picked the wood,And strove to do no ill.
But all that while the brownies
Within the fir-wood still,
They watched her how she picked the wood,
And strove to do no ill.
"And, oh, but she is small and neat,"Said one; "'t were shame to spiteA creature so demure and meek,A creature harmless quite!"
"And, oh, but she is small and neat,"
Said one; "'t were shame to spite
A creature so demure and meek,
A creature harmless quite!"
"Look only," said another,"At her little gown of blue;At her kerchief pinned about her head,And at her little shoe!"
"Look only," said another,
"At her little gown of blue;
At her kerchief pinned about her head,
And at her little shoe!"
"Oh, but she is a comely child,"Said a third; "and we will layA good-luck penny in her path,A boon for her this day,—Seeing she broke no living wood;No live thing did affray!"
"Oh, but she is a comely child,"
Said a third; "and we will lay
A good-luck penny in her path,
A boon for her this day,—
Seeing she broke no living wood;
No live thing did affray!"
With that the smallest penny,Of the finest silver ore,Upon the dry and slippery path,Lay Mabel's feet before.
With that the smallest penny,
Of the finest silver ore,
Upon the dry and slippery path,
Lay Mabel's feet before.
With joy she picked the penny up,The fairy penny good;And with her fagots dry and brownWent wandering from the wood.
With joy she picked the penny up,
The fairy penny good;
And with her fagots dry and brown
Went wandering from the wood.
"Now she has that," said the brownies,"Let flax be ever so dear,'T will buy her clothes of the very best,For many and many a year!"
"Now she has that," said the brownies,
"Let flax be ever so dear,
'T will buy her clothes of the very best,
For many and many a year!"
"And go now," said the grandmother,"Since falling is the dew,Go down unto the lonesome glen,And milk the mother ewe!"
"And go now," said the grandmother,
"Since falling is the dew,
Go down unto the lonesome glen,
And milk the mother ewe!"
All down into the lonesome glen,Through copses thick and wild,Through moist rank grass, by trickling streams,Went on the willing child.
All down into the lonesome glen,
Through copses thick and wild,
Through moist rank grass, by trickling streams,
Went on the willing child.
And when she came to the lonesome glen,She kept beside the burn,And neither plucked the strawberry flowerNor broke the lady fern.
And when she came to the lonesome glen,
She kept beside the burn,
And neither plucked the strawberry flower
Nor broke the lady fern.
And while she milked the mother eweWithin this lonesome glen,She wished that little AmyWere strong and well again.
And while she milked the mother ewe
Within this lonesome glen,
She wished that little Amy
Were strong and well again.
And soon as she thought this thought,She heard a coming sound,As if a thousand fairy folkWere gathering all around.
And soon as she thought this thought,
She heard a coming sound,
As if a thousand fairy folk
Were gathering all around.
And then she heard a little voice,Shrill as the midge's wing,That spake aloud,—"A human childIs here; yet mark this thing,—
And then she heard a little voice,
Shrill as the midge's wing,
That spake aloud,—"A human child
Is here; yet mark this thing,—
"The lady-fern is all unbroke,The strawberry flower unta'en!What shall be done for her who stillFrom mischief can refrain?"
"The lady-fern is all unbroke,
The strawberry flower unta'en!
What shall be done for her who still
From mischief can refrain?"
"Give her a fairy cake!" said one;"Grant her a wish!" said three;"The latest wish that she hath wished,"Said all, "whate'er it be!"
"Give her a fairy cake!" said one;
"Grant her a wish!" said three;
"The latest wish that she hath wished,"
Said all, "whate'er it be!"
Kind Mabel heard the words they spake,And from the lonesome glenUnto the good old grandmotherWent gladly back again.
Kind Mabel heard the words they spake,
And from the lonesome glen
Unto the good old grandmother
Went gladly back again.
Thus happened it to MabelOn that midsummer day,And these three fairy blessingsShe took with her away.
Thus happened it to Mabel
On that midsummer day,
And these three fairy blessings
She took with her away.
'T is good to make all duty sweet,To be alert and kind;'T is good, like little Mabel,To have a willing mind.
'T is good to make all duty sweet,
To be alert and kind;
'T is good, like little Mabel,
To have a willing mind.
Mary Howitt
Mary Howitt
clover-leaves
The spearmen heard the bugle sound,And cheer'ly smiled the morn;And many a brach, and many a hound,Attend Llewellyn's horn.[page 215]And still he blew a louder blast,And gave a louder cheer;"Come, Gelert! why art thou the lastLlewellyn's horn to hear?"Oh, where does faithful Gelert roam,The flower of all his race?So true, so brave—a lamb at home,A lion in the chase."That day Llewellyn little lovedThe chase of hart or hare,And scant and small the booty proved,For Gelert was not there.Unpleased, Llewellyn homeward hied,When, near the portal seat,His truant Gelert he espied,Bounding his lord to greet.But when he gained the castle door,Aghast the chieftain stood;The hound was smeared with gouts of goreHis lips and fangs ran blood!Llewellyn gazed with wild surprise;Unused such looks to meet,His fav'rite checked his joyful guise,And crouched, and licked his feet.Onward in haste Llewellyn passed(And on went Gelert too),And still, where'er his eyes were cast,Fresh blood gouts shocked his view!O'erturned his infant's bed he found,The blood-stained cover rent;And all around the walls and groundWith recent blood besprent.[page 216]He called his child—no voice replied;He searched with terror wild;Blood! blood! he found on every side,But nowhere found his child!"Hell-hound! by thee my child's devoured!"The frantic father cried;And to the hilt his vengeful swordHe plunged in Gelert's side.His suppliant, as to earth he fell,No pity could impart;But still his Gelert's dying yellPassed heavy o'er his heart.Aroused by Gelert's dying yell,Some slumberer wakened nigh;What words the parent's joy can tell,To hear his infant cry!Concealed beneath a mangled heap,His hurried search had missed,All glowing from his rosy sleep,His cherub boy he kissed!Nor scratch had he, nor harm, nor dread,But the same couch beneathLay a great wolf, all torn and dead,—Tremendous still in death!Ah, what was then Llewellyn's pain!For now the truth was clear;The gallant hound the wolf had slain,To save Llewellyn's heir.Vain, vain was all Llewellyn's woe;"Best of thy kind, adieu!The frantic deed which laid thee lowThis heart shall ever rue!"[page 217]And now a gallant tomb they raised,With costly sculpture decked;And marbles storied with his praisePoor Gelert's bones protect.Here never could the spearmen pass,Or forester, unmoved,Here oft the tear-besprinkled grassLlewellyn's sorrow proved.And here he hung his horn and spear,And oft, as evening fell,In fancy's piercing sounds would hearPoor Gelert's dying yell.William Robert Spencer
The spearmen heard the bugle sound,And cheer'ly smiled the morn;And many a brach, and many a hound,Attend Llewellyn's horn.
The spearmen heard the bugle sound,
And cheer'ly smiled the morn;
And many a brach, and many a hound,
Attend Llewellyn's horn.
And still he blew a louder blast,And gave a louder cheer;"Come, Gelert! why art thou the lastLlewellyn's horn to hear?
And still he blew a louder blast,
And gave a louder cheer;
"Come, Gelert! why art thou the last
Llewellyn's horn to hear?
"Oh, where does faithful Gelert roam,The flower of all his race?So true, so brave—a lamb at home,A lion in the chase."
"Oh, where does faithful Gelert roam,
The flower of all his race?
So true, so brave—a lamb at home,
A lion in the chase."
That day Llewellyn little lovedThe chase of hart or hare,And scant and small the booty proved,For Gelert was not there.
That day Llewellyn little loved
The chase of hart or hare,
And scant and small the booty proved,
For Gelert was not there.
Unpleased, Llewellyn homeward hied,When, near the portal seat,His truant Gelert he espied,Bounding his lord to greet.
Unpleased, Llewellyn homeward hied,
When, near the portal seat,
His truant Gelert he espied,
Bounding his lord to greet.
But when he gained the castle door,Aghast the chieftain stood;The hound was smeared with gouts of goreHis lips and fangs ran blood!
But when he gained the castle door,
Aghast the chieftain stood;
The hound was smeared with gouts of gore
His lips and fangs ran blood!
Llewellyn gazed with wild surprise;Unused such looks to meet,His fav'rite checked his joyful guise,And crouched, and licked his feet.
Llewellyn gazed with wild surprise;
Unused such looks to meet,
His fav'rite checked his joyful guise,
And crouched, and licked his feet.
Onward in haste Llewellyn passed(And on went Gelert too),And still, where'er his eyes were cast,Fresh blood gouts shocked his view!
Onward in haste Llewellyn passed
(And on went Gelert too),
And still, where'er his eyes were cast,
Fresh blood gouts shocked his view!
O'erturned his infant's bed he found,The blood-stained cover rent;And all around the walls and groundWith recent blood besprent.
O'erturned his infant's bed he found,
The blood-stained cover rent;
And all around the walls and ground
With recent blood besprent.
He called his child—no voice replied;He searched with terror wild;Blood! blood! he found on every side,But nowhere found his child!
He called his child—no voice replied;
He searched with terror wild;
Blood! blood! he found on every side,
But nowhere found his child!
"Hell-hound! by thee my child's devoured!"The frantic father cried;And to the hilt his vengeful swordHe plunged in Gelert's side.
"Hell-hound! by thee my child's devoured!"
The frantic father cried;
And to the hilt his vengeful sword
He plunged in Gelert's side.
His suppliant, as to earth he fell,No pity could impart;But still his Gelert's dying yellPassed heavy o'er his heart.
His suppliant, as to earth he fell,
No pity could impart;
But still his Gelert's dying yell
Passed heavy o'er his heart.
Aroused by Gelert's dying yell,Some slumberer wakened nigh;What words the parent's joy can tell,To hear his infant cry!
Aroused by Gelert's dying yell,
Some slumberer wakened nigh;
What words the parent's joy can tell,
To hear his infant cry!
Concealed beneath a mangled heap,His hurried search had missed,All glowing from his rosy sleep,His cherub boy he kissed!
Concealed beneath a mangled heap,
His hurried search had missed,
All glowing from his rosy sleep,
His cherub boy he kissed!
Nor scratch had he, nor harm, nor dread,But the same couch beneathLay a great wolf, all torn and dead,—Tremendous still in death!
Nor scratch had he, nor harm, nor dread,
But the same couch beneath
Lay a great wolf, all torn and dead,—
Tremendous still in death!
Ah, what was then Llewellyn's pain!For now the truth was clear;The gallant hound the wolf had slain,To save Llewellyn's heir.
Ah, what was then Llewellyn's pain!
For now the truth was clear;
The gallant hound the wolf had slain,
To save Llewellyn's heir.
Vain, vain was all Llewellyn's woe;"Best of thy kind, adieu!The frantic deed which laid thee lowThis heart shall ever rue!"
Vain, vain was all Llewellyn's woe;
"Best of thy kind, adieu!
The frantic deed which laid thee low
This heart shall ever rue!"
And now a gallant tomb they raised,With costly sculpture decked;And marbles storied with his praisePoor Gelert's bones protect.
And now a gallant tomb they raised,
With costly sculpture decked;
And marbles storied with his praise
Poor Gelert's bones protect.
Here never could the spearmen pass,Or forester, unmoved,Here oft the tear-besprinkled grassLlewellyn's sorrow proved.
Here never could the spearmen pass,
Or forester, unmoved,
Here oft the tear-besprinkled grass
Llewellyn's sorrow proved.
And here he hung his horn and spear,And oft, as evening fell,In fancy's piercing sounds would hearPoor Gelert's dying yell.
And here he hung his horn and spear,
And oft, as evening fell,
In fancy's piercing sounds would hear
Poor Gelert's dying yell.
William Robert Spencer
William Robert Spencer
clover-leaves
The ground was all covered with snow one day,And two little sisters were busy at play,When a snowbird was sitting close by on a tree,And merrily singing his chick-a-de-dee,Chick-a-de-dee, chick-a-de-dee,And merrily singing his chick-a-de-dee.He had not been singing that tune very long,Ere Emily heard him, so loud was his song:"Oh, sister, look out of the window," said she;"Here's a dear little bird singing chick-a-de-dee.Chick-a-de-dee, etc."Oh, mother, do get him some stockings and shoes,And a nice little frock, and a hat if he choose;I wish he'd come into the parlor and seeHow warm we would make him, poor chick-a-de-dee."Chick-a-de-dee, etc.[page 218]"There is one, my dear child, though I cannot tell who,Has clothed me already, and warm enough too.Good morning! Oh, who are so happy as we?"And away he went singing his chick-a-de-dee.Chick-a-de-dee, etc.Francis C. Woodworth
The ground was all covered with snow one day,And two little sisters were busy at play,When a snowbird was sitting close by on a tree,And merrily singing his chick-a-de-dee,Chick-a-de-dee, chick-a-de-dee,And merrily singing his chick-a-de-dee.
The ground was all covered with snow one day,
And two little sisters were busy at play,
When a snowbird was sitting close by on a tree,
And merrily singing his chick-a-de-dee,
Chick-a-de-dee, chick-a-de-dee,
And merrily singing his chick-a-de-dee.
He had not been singing that tune very long,Ere Emily heard him, so loud was his song:"Oh, sister, look out of the window," said she;"Here's a dear little bird singing chick-a-de-dee.Chick-a-de-dee, etc.
He had not been singing that tune very long,
Ere Emily heard him, so loud was his song:
"Oh, sister, look out of the window," said she;
"Here's a dear little bird singing chick-a-de-dee.
Chick-a-de-dee, etc.
"Oh, mother, do get him some stockings and shoes,And a nice little frock, and a hat if he choose;I wish he'd come into the parlor and seeHow warm we would make him, poor chick-a-de-dee."Chick-a-de-dee, etc.
"Oh, mother, do get him some stockings and shoes,
And a nice little frock, and a hat if he choose;
I wish he'd come into the parlor and see
How warm we would make him, poor chick-a-de-dee."
Chick-a-de-dee, etc.
"There is one, my dear child, though I cannot tell who,Has clothed me already, and warm enough too.Good morning! Oh, who are so happy as we?"And away he went singing his chick-a-de-dee.Chick-a-de-dee, etc.
"There is one, my dear child, though I cannot tell who,
Has clothed me already, and warm enough too.
Good morning! Oh, who are so happy as we?"
And away he went singing his chick-a-de-dee.
Chick-a-de-dee, etc.
Francis C. Woodworth
Francis C. Woodworth
clover-leaves
Is there for honest povertyWha hangs his head, and a' that?The coward slave, we pass him by;We dare be poor for a' that.For a' that, and a' that,Our toils obscure, and a' that;The rank is but the guinea's stamp,—The man's the gowd for a' that.What though on hamely fare we dine,Wear hoddin gray, and a' that?Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,—A man's a man for a' that.For a' that, and a' that,Their tinsel show, and a' that;The honest man, though e'er sae poor,Is king o' men for a' that.Ye see yon birkie ca'd a lord,Wha struts, and stares, and a' that—Though hundreds worship at his word,He's but a coof for a' that;For a' that, and a' that,His riband, star, and a' that;The man of independent mind,He looks and laughs at a' that.[page 219]A prince can mak a belted knight,A marquis, duke, and a' that;But an honest man's aboon his might,—Guid faith, he maunna fa' that!For a' that, and a' that;Their dignities, and a' that,The pith o' sense, and pride o' worth,Are higher ranks than a' that.Then let us pray that come it may,—As come it will for a' that,—That sense and worth, o'er a' the earth,May bear the gree, and a' that.For a' that, and a' that,It's coming yet, for a' that,—When man to man, the warld o'er,Shall brothers be for a' that!Robert Burns
Is there for honest povertyWha hangs his head, and a' that?The coward slave, we pass him by;We dare be poor for a' that.For a' that, and a' that,Our toils obscure, and a' that;The rank is but the guinea's stamp,—The man's the gowd for a' that.
Is there for honest poverty
Wha hangs his head, and a' that?
The coward slave, we pass him by;
We dare be poor for a' that.
For a' that, and a' that,
Our toils obscure, and a' that;
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,—
The man's the gowd for a' that.
What though on hamely fare we dine,Wear hoddin gray, and a' that?Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,—A man's a man for a' that.For a' that, and a' that,Their tinsel show, and a' that;The honest man, though e'er sae poor,Is king o' men for a' that.
What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin gray, and a' that?
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,—
A man's a man for a' that.
For a' that, and a' that,
Their tinsel show, and a' that;
The honest man, though e'er sae poor,
Is king o' men for a' that.
Ye see yon birkie ca'd a lord,Wha struts, and stares, and a' that—Though hundreds worship at his word,He's but a coof for a' that;For a' that, and a' that,His riband, star, and a' that;The man of independent mind,He looks and laughs at a' that.
Ye see yon birkie ca'd a lord,
Wha struts, and stares, and a' that—
Though hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a coof for a' that;
For a' that, and a' that,
His riband, star, and a' that;
The man of independent mind,
He looks and laughs at a' that.
A prince can mak a belted knight,A marquis, duke, and a' that;But an honest man's aboon his might,—Guid faith, he maunna fa' that!For a' that, and a' that;Their dignities, and a' that,The pith o' sense, and pride o' worth,Are higher ranks than a' that.
A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, and a' that;
But an honest man's aboon his might,—
Guid faith, he maunna fa' that!
For a' that, and a' that;
Their dignities, and a' that,
The pith o' sense, and pride o' worth,
Are higher ranks than a' that.
Then let us pray that come it may,—As come it will for a' that,—That sense and worth, o'er a' the earth,May bear the gree, and a' that.For a' that, and a' that,It's coming yet, for a' that,—When man to man, the warld o'er,Shall brothers be for a' that!
Then let us pray that come it may,—
As come it will for a' that,—
That sense and worth, o'er a' the earth,
May bear the gree, and a' that.
For a' that, and a' that,
It's coming yet, for a' that,—
When man to man, the warld o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that!
Robert Burns
Robert Burns
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T
HEREwas a man who once had a very handsome goose, that always laid golden eggs. Now, he thought there must be gold inside of her, so he wrung her neck straightway, and found she was exactly like all other geese. He thought to find riches, and lost the little he had.
The fable teaches that one who has anything should be content with it, and avoid covetousness, lest he lose what he has.
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A company of idle boys were watching some frogs by the side of a pond, and as fast as any of the frogs lifted their heads the boys would pelt them down again with stones.
"Boys," said one of the frogs, "you forget that, though this may be fun for you, it is death to us."
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A mouse happened to run into the mouth of a sleeping lion, who roused himself, caught him, and was just about eating him, when the little fellow begged him to let him go, saying, "If I am saved, I shall be everlastingly grateful." So, with a smile, the lion let him off. It befell him not long after to be saved by the mouse's gratitude, for when he was caught by some hunters and bound by ropes to a tree, the mouse, hearing his roaring groans,[page 221]came and gnawed the ropes, and set him free, saying, "You laughed at me once, as if you could receive no return from me, but now, you see, it is you who have to be grateful to me."
The story shows that there come sudden changes of affairs, when the most powerful owe everything to the weakest.
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A hungry fox discovered some bunches of grapes hanging from a vine high up a tree, and, as he gazed, longed to get at them, and could not; so he left them hanging there and went off muttering, "They're sour grapes."
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An ox, grazing in a swampy meadow, chanced to set his foot among a parcel of young frogs, and crushed nearly the whole brood to death. One that escaped ran off to his mother with the3 dreadful news. "O mother," said he, "it was a beast—such a big four-footed beast, that did it!" "Big?" quoth the old frog, "How big? was it as big"—and she puffed herself out—"as big as this?" "Oh, a great deal bigger than that." "Well, was it so big?" and she swelled herself out yet more. "Indeed, mother, but it was; and if you were to burst yourself, you would never reach half its size." The old frog made one more trial, determined to be as big as the ox, and burst herself, indeed.
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A cat and a monkey were sitting one day in the chimney corner watching some chestnuts which their master had laid down to roast in the ashes. The chestnuts had begun to burst with the heat, and the monkey said to the cat, "It is plain that[page 222]your paws were made especially for pulling out those chestnuts. Do you reach forth and draw them out. Your paws are, indeed, exactly like our master's hands." The cat was greatly flattered by this speech, and reached forward for the tempting chestnuts, but scarcely had he touched the hot ashes than he drew back with a cry, for he had burnt his paw; but he tried again, and managed to pull one chestnut out; then he pulled another, and a third, though each time he singed the hair on his paws. When he could pull no more out he turned about and found that the monkey had taken the time to crack the chestnuts and eat them.
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A country maid was walking slowly along with a pail of milk upon her head, and thinking thus:
"The money for which I shall sell this milk will buy me three hundred eggs. These eggs, allowing for what may prove addled, will produce at least two hundred and fifty chickens. The chickens will be fit to carry to market about Christmas, when poultry always brings a good price, so that by May-day I shall have money enough to buy a new gown. Let me see—green suits me; yes, it shall be green. In this dress I will go to the fair, where all the young fellows will want me for a partner, but I shall refuse every one of them." By this time she was so full of her fancy that she tossed her head proudly, when over went the pail, which she had entirely forgotten, and all the milk was spilled on the ground.
Moral. Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
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The Ass once dressed himself in the Lion's skin and went about frightening all the little beasts. Now he happened on the Fox, and tried to frighten him too; but the Fox chanced to hear[page 223]him speak, and said: "Well, to be sure, I should have been frightened too, if I hadn't heard you bray, and seen your ears sticking out."
So there are some men who make themselves appear very fine outwardly, but are betrayed as soon as they begin to talk.
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The Tortoise and the Hare.The Tortoise and the Hare.
The Tortoise and the Hare.
"What a dull, heavy creature," says the Hare, "is this Tortoise!" "And yet," says the Tortoise, "I'll run with you for a wager." "Done," says the Hare, and then they asked the Fox to be the judge. They started together, and the Tortoise kept jogging on still, till he came to the end of the course. The Hare laid himself down midway and took a nap; "for," says he, "I can catch up with the Tortoise when I please." But it seems he overslept himself, for when he came to wake, though he scudded away as fast as possible, the Tortoise had got to the post before him and won the wager.
Slow and steady wins the race.
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A jackdaw picked up some beautiful feathers left by the peacocks on the ground. He stuck them into his own tail, and, thinking himself too fine to mix with the other daws, strutted off to the peacocks, expecting to be welcomed as one of themselves.
The peacocks at once saw through his disguise, and, despising him for his foolishness and conceit, began to peck him, and soon he was stripped of all his borrowed plumes.
Very much ashamed, the jackdaw went sadly home, meaning to join his old friends as if nothing had happened. But they, remembering how he had scorned them before, chased him away and would have nothing to do with him.
"If you had been content," said one, "to remain as nature[page 224]made you, instead of trying to be what you are not, you would have neither been punished by your betters nor despised by your equals."
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The Fox without a Tail.The Fox without a Tail.
The Fox without a Tail.
A fox lost his tail in escaping from a steel trap. When he began to go about again, he found that every one looked down upon or laughed at him. Not liking this, he thought to himself that if he could persuade the other foxes to cut off their tails, his own loss would not be so noticeable.
Accordingly he called together the foxes and said: "How is it that you still wear your tails? Of what use are they? They are in the way, they often get caught in traps, they are heavy to carry and not pretty to look upon. Believe me, we are far better without them. Cut off your tails, my friends, and you will see how much more comfortable it is. I for my part have never enjoyed myself so much nor found life so pleasant as I have since I lost mine."
Upon this, a sly old fox, seeing through the trick, cried, "It seems to me, my friend, that you would not be so anxious for us to cut off our tails, if you had not already lost yours."
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A wolf put on the skin of a sheep, and getting in among the flock by means of this disguise, killed many of the sheep. The shepherd, who wondered why so many of his flock had disappeared, at last discovered the deceit. He fastened a rope cunningly round the pretended sheep's neck, led him to a tree, and there hanged him.
Some other shepherds passing that way and seeing what they thought was a sheep hanging from a tree, said, "What, brother! Surely you do not hang sheep?"
"No," answered the shepherd, "but I hang wolves when I catch them dressed up in sheep's skins!"
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Then he showed them their mistake, and they praised the justice of the deed he had done.
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A crow, whose throat was parched and dry with thirst, saw a pitcher in the distance. In great joy he flew to it, but found that it held only a little water, and even that was too near the bottom to be reached, for all his stooping and straining. Next he tried to overturn the pitcher, thinking that he would at least be able to catch some of the water as it trickled out. But this he was not strong enough to do. In the end he found some pebbles lying near, and by dropping them one by one into the pitcher, he managed at last to raise the water up to the very brim, and thus was able to quench his thirst.
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A man and his son were leading their ass to market. A girl, seeing them, cried, "Why walk when you can ride?" On hearing this, the man set his son upon the ass.
Going further, they heard an old man say, "Shame for the young to ride while old people walk!" Thereupon the man made his son get down and rode himself.
Presently they met some women who cried, "Look at the poor tired son and lazy father!" Hearing this, the man took his son up beside him and so they rode into the town.
There a young man called to them, "Two men on one beast! It seems to me you are more fit to carry the ass than he is to carry you."
Then they got down, tied the beast's legs to a pole, and carried him thus till they came to a bridge. As they went, the children shouted so loudly that the ass took fright—kicked his legs free, and jumped over the bridge into the river.
Thus having lost his ass, the man went home, crying, "Try to please everybody and you will please nobody, not even yourself!"
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A
CAMELsaid, "Nothing like being tall! See how tall I am." A pig who heard these words said, "Nothing like being short; see how short I am!"
The camel said, "Well, if I fail to prove the truth of what I said, I will give you my hump."
The pig said, "If I fail to prove the truth of what I have said, I will give up my snout."
"Agreed!" said the camel.
"Just so!" said the pig.
They came to a garden inclosed by a low wall without any opening. The camel stood on this side the wall, and, reaching the plants within by means of his long neck, made a breakfast on them. Then he turned jeeringly to the pig, who had been standing at the bottom of the wall, without even having a look at the good things in the garden, and said, "Now, would you be tall or short?"
Next they came to a garden inclosed by a high wall, with a wicket gate at one end. The pig entered by the gate, and, after having eaten his fill of the vegetables within, came out, laughing at the poor camel, who had had to stay outside, because he was too tall to enter the garden by the gate, and said, "Now, would you be tall or short?"
Then they thought the matter over, and came to the conclusion that the camel should keep his hump and the pig his snout, observing: