20

THE DEATH OF MASTER TOMMY ROOK.

"I don't care one bit," said he,

"For any gun you see;

I am tired of the cautions you bestow :

I mean to have my way,

Whatever you may say,

And shall not ask when I may stay or go."

"But, my son," the mother cried,
"I only wish to guide

Till you are wise and fit to

go alone :

I have seen much more of life,

Of danger, woe, and strife,

Than you, my child, can possibly have known.

"Just wait ten minutes here,

Let that man disappear;

I am sure he means to do some evil thing;
I fear you may be shot

If you leave this sheltered spot;

So pray come back, and keep beside my wing."

But Master Tommy Rook

Gave another saucy look,

And chattered out, "Don't care! don't care! don't care!"

And off he flew with glee,

From his brothers in the tree,

And lighted on the field so green and fair.

And the wounded, silly bird

Rolled over, faint and dying, on the grass.

"There, there, I told you so!"
Cried his mother in her woe,

"I warned you with a parent's thoughtful truth;
And you see that I was right

When I tried to stop your flight,

And said you needed me to guide your youth."

Poor Master Tommy Rook

Gave a melancholy look,

And cried, just as he drew his latest breath: "Forgive me, mother dear,

And let my brothers hear

That disobedience caused my cruel death."

Now, when his lot was told,

The rooks, both young and old,

All said he should have done as he was bid,

That he well deserved his fate;

And I, who now relate

His hapless story, really think he did.

ELIZA COOK.

22

22

MY GOOD-FOR-NOTHING.

MY GOOD-FOR-NOTHING.

"What are you good for, my brave little man?
Answer that question for me, if you can,
You, with your fingers as white as a nun,
You, with your ringlets as bright as the sun.
All the day long, with your busy contriving,
Into all mischief and fun you are driving:
See if your wise little noddle can tell
What you are good for. Now, ponder it well."

Over the carpet the dear little feet

Came with a patter to climb on my seat;
Two merry eyes, full of frolic and glee,
Under their lashes looked up unto me;
Two little hands, pressing soft on my face,
Drew me down close in a loving embrace;
Two rosy lips gave the answer so true,

"Good to love you, mamma, — good to love you."

POSIES FOR CHILDREN.

Hearken, child, unto a story!
For the moon is in the sky,

And across her shield of silver

See two tiny cloudlets fly.

Watch them closely, mark them sharply,
As across the light they pass:
Seem they not to have the figures
Of a little lad and lass?

24

THE CHILDREN IN THE MOON.

See, my child, across their shoulders
Lies a little pole! and lo!
Yonder speck is just the bucket
Swinging softly to and fro.

It is said these little children,
Many and many a summer night,
To a little well far northward
Wandered in the still moonlight.

To the wayside-well they trotted,
Filled their little buckets there;
And the moon-man, looking downward,
Saw how beautiful they were.

Quoth the man, "How vexed and sulky
Looks the little rosy boy!

But the little handsome maiden
Trips behind him full of joy.

"To the well behind the hedgerow
Trot the little lad and maiden;
From the well behind the hedgerow
Now the little pail is laden.