_BO-PEEP AND THE ROOK._
[Illustration]
Little Bo-peep sat down on a heap
Of hay--she was tired with running;
When up came a rook, who at her did look,
And nodded his head and looked cunning.
Little Bo-peep said, "Why do you keep
So near to me every day, sir?
With your very sharp beak, pray what do you seek,
For you always seem just in my way, sir?"
"Little Bo-peep, it is your sheep,
Not you, that I come to see, ma'am;
Their wool is so soft, that I want it oft
In my nest for my young ones and me, ma'am."
Said little Bo-peep, "The wool you may sweep
From the hedges and many a thorn, sir;
But don't make your attacks upon my sheep's backs,
For I will not have their wool torn, sir."
The rook he cawed, and he hummed and hawed,
And muttered, "What matter, what matter?"
Bo-peep she said, "Go--I have said no, no;
So it's useless for you to chatter."
* * * * *
"There's a merry brown thrush sitting up in the tree;
He's singing to me! He's singing to me!"
"And what does he say, little girl, little boy?"
"'Oh, the world's running over with joy!
Don't you hear? Don't you see?
Hush! Look! In my tree
I'm as happy as happy can be.'"