Over in the meadow, Where the grass is so even, Lived a gay mother-cricket And her little crickets seven. "Chirp," said the mother; "We chirp," said the seven; So they chirped cheery notes In the grass soft and even. Over in the meadow, By the old mossy gate, Lived a brown mother-lizard And her little lizards eight. "Bask," said the mother; "We bask," said the eight; So they basked in the sun On the old mossy gate. Over in the meadow, Where the quiet pools shine, Lived a green mother frog And her little froggies nine. "Croak," said the mother, "We croak," said the nineSo they croaked and they splashed Where the quiet pools shine. MOON, SO ROUND AND YELLOW Moon, so round and yellow, Looking from on high, How I love to see you Shining in the sky. Where you go at morning, When you think I'm sleeping -Matthias Barr. WHAT THE MOON SAW Hans Christian Andersen Listen to what old Mr. Moon told me. "I have seen many happy people as I travel about," said the Moon, "but I have never seen greater joy than I saw last night. I peeped in a window, and there stood a child, a little four-year-old girl. "She had on a very pretty new dress and a pink hat. They had just been put on, and the people who stood about were calling for lights. My own light, as it shown through the window, was not strong enough for them to see her. They must have something brighter altogether to look at anything so pretty. "When the candles came and were all ablaze, there stood the little girl as stiff as any doll. She was holding her arms away from the dress so as not to touch it, and each finger stuck out straight and stiff. Oh! how her eyes shone and her whole face beamed with gladness. 'Tomorrow you shall go out in your new clothes,' said the mother; and the little one looked down at her frock and smiled so happily. 'Mother,' she said, 'what do you suppose the DOGS will think when they see me in all my pretty things!' |