Читать книгу: «The Nursery, July 1873, Vol. XIV. No. 1», страница 5

THE CATCHER CAUGHT

First Sparrow (the one standing with both wings spread).—Oh, look here! Come all. See what has happened! Here is old Scratch-claw with his tail caught fast in the door.

Second Sparrow.—Where is he? Let me see. Oh, isn't this jolly! Halloo, Sparrows! Come and see. Come one, come all.

Third Sparrow.—That's the rascal that killed and ate three of my little ones.

Fourth Sparrow.—He came near catching me, the other day. Didn't he spit viciously when he saw me get out of his way?

Fifth Sparrow (the one on the ground).—How are you, old Sneezer? How are your folks? Don't you find yourself comfortable?

Pussy.—Siss-ss-siss-ss! Mee-ow? mee-ow!

Fifth Sparrow.—Oh! wouldn't you like to, though? Spit away, old fellow! It's music to us sparrows.

Sixth Sparrow.—You are the brute that killed my dear little Spotted-wing.

Seventh Sparrow.—He also murdered my precious little Twitterwit.

Eighth Sparrow.—He is a bad fellow; and it is not surprising he has come to grief.

Ninth Sparrow.—Pull away, old boy! Sha'n't we come and help you? I love you so, I would like a lock of your hair.

Tenth Sparrow (the one on the lowest bough).—Children, hush! It is not good sparrow morality to jeer at an enemy in affliction,—even a cat.

Fifth Sparrow.—O grandfather, you shut up your bill! Just you go within reach of his claws, and see what cat-gratitude is.

Tenth Sparrow.—My children, we must not exult over the pains even of an enemy. A cat has feelings.

Pussy.—Siss-hiss-hoo! Mee-ow! Fitt! Fitt!

Fifth Sparrow.—What a lovely voice!

Sixth Sparrow.—The expression of his face, too, how charming!

Tenth Sparrow.—Fly back, all of you, to your bushes and trees; for here comes a little boy who will see that Pussy is rescued.

First Sparrow.—Well, I wouldn't have missed this spectacle for a good deal.

Fifth Sparrow.—It is better than Barnum's exhibition any day.

First Sparrow.—Yes, and it costs us nothing.

Tenth Sparrow.—There! Fly away, all of you! Fly away! You have said enough. I am ashamed of you all. You ought to know better than to be revengful. You are quite as bad as boys and men.

Fifth Sparrow.—Grandfather is getting to be abusive. Let us fly off. Good-by, Pussy! Pull away!

Alfred Selwyn.

THE BIRDS AND THE POND-LILY

 
Four little birds came out to greet
The first pond-lily, so fair and sweet,
The first that opened its petals white
To the wooing breeze and the golden light.
They flew around, then sat on the tree,
And sang, "You are sweet as sweet can be:
O dear Pond-lily! we do not jest:
Now, which of us all do you love best?"
Pond-lily spoke not, but, instead,
Dipped in the water her beautiful head,
As much as to say, "I'm well content
In this my own pure element."
The birds they sang in their very best style,
But got no answer, not even a smile;
For Pond-lily knew it was safest and best
To keep where she was, on the wave's cool breast,
And never to listen to flattering words
From idle suitors and wandering birds.
 

Emily Carter.

EDWIN'S DOVES

Edwin has two doves. They were given to him by his uncle. He has a nice little house for them. There are two doors in it, where they go in and out. In front of the doors there is a shelf, on which they perch.

The doves are free to go where they please; but they always come home at night. They are quite tame. Sometimes they fly up to Edwin's window, and light on the sill. They tap on the pane to let him know they are hungry.

Then he opens the window, and feeds them. He gives them corn, crumbs of bread, and sometimes oats. They like the corn best. One of them is rather apt to be greedy; and both get so much to eat that they are very plump and fat.

Here are the doves looking at the turkeys. They do not know what to make of such birds.

W. O. C.

THE LITTLE FORTUNE-SEEKERS

Young as Alan was, he had heard from his uncle Paul many a story about people seeking their fortune: so, one fine summer day, he set off with his brother Owen and his sister Amy a-fortune-seeking. Alan carried a stick; and Amy had a little basket on her arm.

Alan led the way, telling Owen and Amy to keep close to him, and to fear nothing. As they passed by Lakin's pond, a duck gave a loud quack; when they came to the great ash-tree, a bee buzzed by them: but neither the quacking nor the buzzing frightened the bold Alan; and on he went, holding up his stick.

They had almost reached the sawyer's cottage, when a black animal ran out towards them. Alan asked if he should attack the tiger? Owen would have it that it was only a puppy dog: but Alan said that did not matter; for it had four legs and a head and a tail, and so had a tiger. Owen thought he had better let it alone; and Amy tamed the tiger at once by giving it a bit of bread from her basket.

Suddenly they came to a spot where five or six geese and a few goslings were waddling about. The gander came towards them, stretching out his neck, and hissing loudly. Owen and Amy ran back, followed by Alan, who told them, that, if he had hit the gander with his stick, he would have frightened the goslings.

As there was a stile near, leading into a field, they all got over the stile, and thus passed the geese.

"I wonder how that gander would like it," said Alan, "if I were to turn back, and lay hold of him by his long neck, and shake him?" Amy begged of him by no means to think of such a thing; and so Alan told her that he would not. Little did the gander know of his narrow escape!

Ah, me! what perils await those who go on their travels to seek their fortunes! A little brook was now before them; and Alan said, "This river must be crossed, and I hope that none of us will be carried away by the current. What we shall do if an Indian springs from behind the bushes, or a crocodile comes out of the sedge, I don't know. Here is the narrowest part of the river. I will lay my stick across it; and, if we make believe very much, it will do for a bridge."