Part 45 (2/2)

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!”

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