48

BUSY LITTLE HUSBANDMAN.

BUSY LITTLE HUSBANDMAN.

I'm a little husbandman,
Work and labor hard I can;
I'm as happy all the day

At my work as if 't were play:
Though I've nothing fine to wear,
Yet for that I do not care.

When to work I go along,
Singing loud my morning song,
With my wallet on my back,
And my wagon-whip to crack,
O, I'm thrice as happy then
As the idle gentleman.

I've a hearty appetite,
And I soundly sleep at night;.
Down I lie content, and say
I've been useful all the day:
I'd rather be a ploughboy than
A useless little gentleman.

KINDNESS TO SERVANTS.

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KINDNESS TO SERVANTS.

NURSERY SONGS OF SCOTLAND.

Now what was that you said to May
So pettishly yestreen?

O, well you may feel shame to tell
How saucy you have been.

There's nothing spoils a bonny face
Like sulks, in old or young,
And what can fit a lassie worse,
Than an ill-bred, saucy tongue?

It's not your part to scold at May,
To you she 's aye been kind,

And oft she's sung you to your sleep,
Long, long ere you can mind.

She cooks the meat, she does the work,
She cleans when you but soil,

And what would helpless bairnies be,
Without the hands that toil?

The kindly look, the gentle word,

Make friends of all who live,

And give a charm to every face

That nothing else can give.

It's well for bairns to have a friend,

Who watches them with care,

For when in fault, — they learn from him

In future to beware.

ALEXANDER SMART.

50

THE LITTLE TREE, ETC.

THE LITTLE TREE

THAT WANTED TO HAVE OTHER LEAVES.

A LITTLE tree stood up in the wood,
In bright and dirty weather;

And nothing but needles it had for leaves,
From top to bottom together.

The needles stuck about,

And the little tree spoke out:

"My companions all have leaves
Beautiful to see,

While I've nothing but these needles;

No one touches me.

Might I have my fortune told,

All my leaves should be pure gold."

The little tree 's asleep by dark,

Awake by earliest light;

And now its golden leaves you mark;

There was a sight!

The little tree says: "Now I'm set high;

No tree in the wood has gold leaves but I.”

And now again the night came back;

Through the forest there walked a Jew; With great thick beard and great thick sack, And soon the gold leaves did view.

THE LITTLE TREE, ETC.

He pockets them all, and away does fare,
Leaving the little tree quite bare.

The little tree speaks up distressed:
"Those golden leaves how I lament!
I'm quite ashamed before the rest,

Such lovely dress to them is lent.
Might I bring one more wish to pass,
I would have my leaves of the clearest glass."

The little tree sleeps again at dark,

And wakes with the early light;

And now its glass leaves you may mark ;-
There was a sight!

The little tree says: "Now I'm right glad,
No tree in the wood is so brightly clad."

There came up now a mighty blast,
And a furious gale it blew ;
It swept among the trees full fast,
And on the glass leaves it flew.

There lay the leaves of glass
All shivered on the grass.

The little tree complains:

"My glass lies on the ground;

Each other tree remains

With its green dress all round.

Might I but have my wish once more,

51

I would have of those good green leaves good store."

52

THE LITTLE TREE, ETC.

Again asleep is the little tree,

And early wakes to the light;

He is covered with green leaves fair to see, He laughs outright;

And says: "I am now all nicely drest,

Nor need be ashamed before the rest."

And now, with udders full,

Forth a wild she-goat sprung,

Seeking for herbs to pull,

To feed her young.

She sees the leaves, nor makes much talk,
But strips all clear to the very stalk.

The little tree again is bare,

And thus to himself he said:
"No longer for my leaves I care,
Whether green, or yellow, or red.
If I had but my needles again,

I would never more scold or complain."

The little tree slept sad that night,
And sadly opened his eye;--
He sees himself in the sun's first light,
And laughs as if he would die.

And all the trees in a roar burst out;

But the little tree little cared for their flout.

What made the little tree laugh like mad? And what set the rest in a roar?