The hungry spider sat and watched It saw all round about its head It had so many eyes. Round about and round about, "I am hungry, very hungry," But round about and round about, For all the flies were much too wise Round about and round about, And round about went they; -Selected. THE WANDERINGS OF THE BIRDS. AUTUMN has come, so bare and gray, The woods are brown and red, The flowers all have passed away, The forest leaves are dead. The little birds at morning dawn, Clothed in warm coats of feather, Conclude that they away will roam, To seek for milder weather. The robin gives his last sweet strain, The cuckoo, thrush, and yellowbird, The wild goose, teal, and sparrow, The oriole hastens in his flight, Tribe after tribe with leaders fair, All spread their wings for flight. The fig-tree and the orange bowers, But when the voice of spring they hear, And back they'll come our hearts to cheer, હ. Tu-whit, tu-whit, tu-whee." -Songs for Little Ones at Home. THE SPARROW'S NEST. NAY, only look what I have found! A sparrow's nest upon the ground; And what a medley thing it is! But put together, odds and ends, See, hair of dog and fur of cat, And shreds of silks, and many a feather Well, here has hoarding been and living, Before a home of peace and ease Was fashioned out of things like these! Think, had these odds and ends been brought To some wise man renowned for thought, Some man, of men the very gem, Pray, what could he have done with them? If we had said: "Here, sir, we bring That they have scarcely size at all; And out of these, you must contrive Neat, warm, and snug; with comfort stored; How would the man of learning vast And vowed that such a thing had been Ah! man of learning, you are wrong; And here in this uncostly nest, Poor simple dwelling as it is! -Mary Howitt. |