A duet, if you please, between Norman and Grace;
Sister Olive is player; she's there in her place;
Tiny Grace is Soprano, and Norman is Bass.
[Illustration]
Little Grace is so eager she can not keep time,
But runs on ahead without reason or rhyme.
"Sing slower!" cries Norman; "it is not a race;
Still slower, Soprano, and _do_ keep your place."
"It is Olive," says Gracie; "what _is_ she about?
She waited too long there, and quite put me out."
"No, indeed," answers Olive, that mark means a 'rest';
You don't understand, Grace--indeed I know best."
"Try again. Ah! that's better, by far than before;
Now if people were here, they would cry out 'Encore,'
Which means, you know, Gracie, 'Please sing it once more.'"
"A MAN OF STRAW."
[Illustration]
Finch and Goldie,
Redpole fine,
In the corn field
Came to dine.
"Oh! what is that?"
They startled cry,
All in a flutter
Rushing by.
"Look, silly birds,
And you will know
It can not hurt,"
Cawed Father Crow.
"Tis but a thing
'Gainst nature's law,
Only a sham--
'A man of straw.'"