"You little chicks, tho' you peck at my dress,
I will not get angry at that;
I know you would gobble me up if you could,
As quick as a worm or a gnat."
"Say, little snail, you had better go on,
They may try the same trick upon you."
"No, no," said the snail, with his hard coat of mail,
"I don't care a rush if they do.
"Little girl, there's no harm to cause me alarm,
I'll sit here and watch them a spell,
But as soon as they pounce, I'll cheat them at once,
By getting right into my shell."
"But listen, wise snail, the old hen in the coop
Has her eye very closely on you;
And if she gets out, it may put you about,
Now mind, what I tell you is true."
"But dear little girl, she is fast in her house;
No, no, she can't touch me, no, no.
But if that respectable fowl should get out,
Oho!" said the snail. "Oho!"