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40

A LITTLE GOOSE.

And, one hand round her treasure, while
She slipped in mine the other,
Half-scared, half-confidential, said,

"Oh! please, I want my mother."
"Tell me your street and number, pet.
Don't cry: I'll take you to it."
Sobbing, she answered, "I forget:
The organ made me do it.

"He came and played at Miller's step, -
The monkey took the money;

I followed down the street because
That monkey was so funny.

I've walked about a hundred hours

From one street to another;

The monkey's gone; I've spoiled my flowers;
Oh, please, I want my mother."

"But what's your mother's name? and what The street? Now think a minute."

"My mother's name is Mother Dear;

The street

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I can't begin it."
"But what is strange about the house,
- not like the others?

Or new,
"I guess you mean my trundle-bed, -
Mine and my little brother's,

A LITTLE GOOSE.

"Oh dear! I ought to be at home To help him say his prayers, He's such a baby he forgets;

And we are both such players; And there's a bar between to keep From pitching on each other, For Harry rolls when he's asleep; Oh dear! I want my mother."

The sky grew stormy; people passed
All muffled, homeward faring.
"You'll have to spend the night with me,"
I said at last, despairing.

I tied a kerchief round her neck:

“What ribbon's this, my

blossom?

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"Why, don't you know?" she, smiling, said,

And drew it from her bosom.

A card with number, street, and name!
My eyes, astonished, met it;

"For," said the little

66
one, you see

I might some time forget it, And so I wear a little thing

That tells you all about it; For mother says she's very sure I should get lost without it."

ELIZA S. TURNER.

41

42

MARY'S LAMB.

MARY'S LAMB.

Mary had a little lamb,

Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.

He followed her to school one day, -
That was against the rule;

It made the children laugh and play,
To see a lamb at school.

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As if he said, "I'm not afraid,

You'll keep me from all harm:”

"What makes the lamb love Mary so?"
The eager children cry.

"Oh, Mary loves the lamb, you know,"
The teacher did reply.

MRS. HALE.

THE PET LAMB.

43

THE PET LAMB.

The dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink; I heard a voice: it said, "Drink, pretty creature, drink!"

And, looking o'er the hedge, before me I espied

A snow-white mountain lamb, with a maiden at its side.

No other sheep were near, the lamb was all alone,
And by a slender cord was tethered to a stone;
With one knee on the grass did the little maiden kneel,
While to that mountain lamb she gave its evening meal.

The lamb, while from her hand he thus his supper took, Seemed to feast with head and ears; and his tail with pleasure shook.

"Drink, pretty creature, drink," she said in such a tone, That I almost received her heart into my own.

'Twas little Barbara Lewthwaite, a child of beauty rare!
I watched them with delight: they were a lovely pair.
Now with her empty can the maiden turned away ;
But, ere ten yards were gone, her footsteps did she stay.

44

THE PET LAMB.

Towards the lamb she looked; and from that shady

place

I, unobserved, could see the workings of her face:

If Nature to her tongue could measured numbers bring, Thus, thought I, to her lamb that little maid might sing:

"What ails thee, young one? What? Why pull so at thy cord?

Is it not well with thee? well both for bed and board? Thy plot of grass is soft, and green as grass can be; Rest, little young one, rest: what is't that aileth thee?

"Rest, little young one, rest; thou hast forgot the day When my father found thee first in places far away: Many flocks were on the hills, but thou wert owned by none,

And thy mother from thy side for evermore was gone.

"He took thee in his arms, and in pity brought thee home:

A blessed day for thee! Then whither wouldst thou. roam?

A faithful nurse thou hast: the dam that did thee yean Upon the mountain-tops no kinder could have been.

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