Why here's a foolish little man!
Laugh at him, Donkey, if you can:
And Cat and Dog, and Cow and Calf
Come, ev'ry one of you and laugh!
For, only think, he runs away,
If honest Donkey does but bray;
And when the Bull begins to bellow
He's like a crazy little fellow!
Poor Brindle Cow can hardly pass
Along the hedge to nip the grass,
Or wag her tail to lash the flies,
But off the little booby hies!
And when old Tray comes running too,
With bow, wow, wow, for how d'ye do,
And means it all for civil play,
'Tis sure to make him run away!
But all the while you're thinking, may be
Ah! well, but this must be a baby.
O, cat and dog, and cow and calf,
I'm not surpris'd to see you laugh,
He's five years old, and almost half!
Idle Children.
Children who with idle habits
From the school-room haste away,
Wishing out of doors to ramble
Ere they do their lessons say--
They shall have no tasks or reading,
But they must to school be sent,
Because they are a bad life leading,
And this shall be their punishment.
But those who quickly say their lessons,
By mama shall still be taught,
And afterwards, nice stories telling,
Shall hear the books papa has bought.
[Illustration]