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النشر الإلكتروني

ROBERT OF LINCOLN.

115

THE OAK.

THE oak for grandeur, strength, and noble size,
Excels all trees that in the forest grow;

From acorn small that trunk, those branches rise,
To which such signal benefits we owe.
Behold what shelter in its ample shade,

From noon-tide sun, or from the drenching rain;
And of its timber stanch, vast ships are made,
To sweep rich cargoes o'er the watery main.

ROBERT OF LINCOLN.

MERRILY Swinging on briar and weed,
Near to the nest of his little dame,
Over the mountain side or mead,

Robert of Lincoln is telling his name:
Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink;

Snug and safe is that nest of ours,
Hidden among the summer flowers;
Chee, chee, chee.

Robert of Lincoln is gaily drest,

Wearing a bright black wedding-coat; White are hls shoulders, and white his crest; Hear him call in his merry note,

Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink;

Look what a nice new coat is mine,

Sure there was never a bird so fine.
Chee, chee, chee..

Robert of Lincoln's quaker wife,

Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings, Passing at home a patient life,

Broods in the grass while her husband sings,
Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link ;

Brood, kind creature, you need not fear
Thieves and robbers while I am here.
Chee, chee, chee.

Modest and shy as a nun is she;
One weak chirp is her only note;
Braggart, and prince of braggarts is he,
Pouring boasts from his little throat-
Never was I afraid of man,

Catch me, cowardly knaves, if you can.

Six white eggs on a bed of hay,
Freckled with purple, a pretty sight!
There as the mother sits all day,

Robert is singing with all his might,—
Nice good wife, that never goes out,
Keeping house while I frolic about.

Soon as the little ones chip the shell,
Six wide mouths are open for food;

117

COME HERE, LITTLE ROBIN.

Robert of Lincoln bestirs him well,

Gathering seeds for the hungry brood.

This new life is likely to be

Hard for a young fellow like me.

Robert of Lincoln at length is made

Sober with work, and silent with care; Oft in his holiday garment laid

Half forgotten that merry air,Nobody knows but my mate and I Where our nest and our nestlings lie.

Summer wanes, the children are grown:
Fun and frolic no more he knows,
Robert of Lincoln's a humdrum crone ;
Off he flies, and we sing as he goes,-
When you can pipe that merry old strain,
Robert of Lincoln come back again.

W. C. BRYANT.

COME HERE, LITTLE ROBIN.

COME here, little Robin, and do n't be afraid,
I would not hurt even a feather;

Come here, little Robin, and pick up some bread,
To feed you this very cold weather.

I don't mean to hurt you, you poor little thing, And pussy-cat is not behind me;

So hop about pretty, and put down your wing, And pick up the crumbs, and do n't mind me!

Cold winter is come, but it will not last long,
And summer we soon shall be greeting;
Then remember, sweet Robin, to sing me a song,
In return for the breakfast you 're eating'

THE CHILD'S WISH IN JUNE.

MOTHER, mother, the winds are at play,
Prithee let me be idle to-day.
Look, dear mother, the flowers all lie
Languidly under the bright blue sky.
See, how slowly the streamlet glides;
Look, how the violet roguishly hides;
Even the butterfly rests on the rose,

And scarcely sips the sweets as he goes.
Poor Tray is asleep in the noon-day sun,
And the flies go about him one by one;
And pussy sits near with a sleepy grace,
Without ever thinking of washing her face.
There flies a bird to a neighboring tree,
But very lazily flieth he,

1

TABLE RULES.

And he sits and twitters a gentle note,
That scarcely ruffles his little throat.

You bid me be busy; but mother, hear
How the humdrum grasshopper soundeth near,
And the soft west wind is so light in its play,
It scarcely moves a leaf on the spray.

I wish, oh, I wish I was yonder cloud,
That sails about with its misty shroud;
Books and work I no more should see,

And I'd come and float, dear mother, o'er thee.

119

MRS. GILMAN.

TABLE RULES FOR LITTLE FOLK

IN silence I must take my seat,

And give God thanks before I eat;
Must for my food in patience wait,
Till I am asked to hand my plate;
I must not scold, nor whine, nor pout,
Nor move my chair or plate about;
With knife, or fork, or any thing,
I must not play; nor must I sing;
I must not speak a useless word,
For children must be seen-not heard;

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