"Dear little blossoms down under the snow, MOOLY' cow, mooly cow, home from the wood, The mooly cow only said, "Moo-o-o!" "Mooly cow, mooly cow, have you not been mooly, a cow without horns. 2 bars. In America, wooden bars are used in many places instead of gates. 8 regaling, feasting. "Mooly cow, mooly cow, where do you go When all the green pastures are covered with snow? She pats you, she loves you, she strokes your sleek hide 64 THE SQUIRRELS. RETTY Fifine and Jack lived up in a tree Their house was a hole, in the trunk hollowed out, And well furnished,' no doubt; Their carpet was velvet, red, russet and green Not such as is seen In cities, imported from over the seas; But from rocks and from trees, They gathered bright mosses and spread them with care In their parlour so fair. I furnished, stocked with furniture. Beneath this small parlour their cellar was stored And their couch was of thistle-down, silky and warm, They laughed at the roaring wind, fierce in the fight, Now when Spring-time returned, and, from tiny Peeped the flowers of the woods, While aroma of spice-wood and sassafras trees Perfumed sweetly the breeze, And the notes of the wild bird did joyously ring Said Jack to his mate, "Through the denses woods I'll go, Where the winter greens grow, And glean a few berries kept safe 'neath the snow, "And while you're away," answered Fifine "I'll clean "Then when I return, I will bring a nice treat So away bounded Jack, light-hearted and gay, For his work seemed but play; 'Mid star-flowers and ferns to search for a treasure Would simply be pleasure. 'Twas twilight, and Fifine, to gather some dew, Placed acorn cups two. The dear little housewife next put things in order, Brought walnuts all shelled, and a few grains of wheat, Lastly, in from the starlight the acorn cups bore, Then she sat down to wait, and lists to the breeze And grew lonely and anxious, and tired and afraid, That the stir of a leaflet flung over her eyes, Grew golden and rosy; when, thinking Jack dead, PART II. N the banks of a stream Jack loitered' all day, With comrades2 at play; Unmindful of duty, he ne'er sought a berry, But made himself merry; 'Mong violets fragant, white, yellow, and blue, How swift the time flew; Till out of the sky the last sunbeam was gone, And night coming on, O'ertaken by darkness, Jack speeds like the wind A short route for home. In the gloom he espics 8 list, listen. loiter, to linger, to stay idly. 3 unmindful, thoughtless. 5 fiery eyes, the eyes of an owl. 9 leaflet, a little leaf. 2 comrade, a companion. 4 fragrant, having a sweet smell. 6 With a rushing of wings the ogre swoops low- With talons and beak sharp whetteds for prey, The struggle was fierce. With a jerk and a bound Underneath a stone wall, a safe shelter all night; And wounded and bleeding he waited till day, Then, for home crawled away— So sore and so weary, the journey did seem Like a terrible dream! At last he arrived to find Fifine in grief, But glad for relief. "I deceived you," moaned Jack, "my fate I deserve, Thus from my duty to swerve! But vain this regret! While yet I do live!" Oh, my dearest forgive, "I have nought to forgive," was her loving reply, "And you must not die." With care Jack recovered, and never again Caused Fifine such pain: And so they lived happy as happy could be BUT pleasures are like poppies spread; A moment white-then melts for ever! ogre, a terrible monster. whetted, sharpened. 7 talons, claws. 're covered, got better. |