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The Call to Arms.
The gallant soldiers, here they come!
A crowd of girls and boys,
Dot walks in front, and beats the drum,
It makes a splendid noise!
Sue has a flag, and Rose a gun,
So very fierce is she,
She _will_ take aim at ev'ryone,
And nearly shoots a tree!
But “Who goes there?” shouts little Jack,
“Speak, is it friend or foe?
I've got my gun—they're going back,
I heard a cart, I know!”
“_My_ cart,” says Sergeant Tom, with pride,
“Take care, you musn't shake,
I've got six wounded men inside,
Who badly need some cake!
“I'm 'fraid this one is rather bad,
He's lost a lot of paint.”
“Poor fellow,” Rosie cries, “how sad,
I hope that he won't faint!
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“Some tea will quickly cure his pain,
And here's a currant bun.”
So soon, they're all quite well again,
And joining in the fun.
“Now back to war!” shouts Captain Jim,
“Come on to do or die!”
His soldiers bravely follow him,
And wave their flags on high.
Hurrah! Hurrah! they've seized the fort,
As Captain Jimmy said!—
“Oh dear, why _are_ the days so short?
Nurse says it's time for bed!”
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“Lieutenant Sue's the best I've found,
I noticed in the fight,
With bullets flying all around,
She kept our flag upright.”
He sighs, for, though the bugle blows,
The soldiers want their tea,
“My tea set's new, do come,” cries Rose,
“And have a cup with me!”
Then Captain Jimmy with a smile
Says “Yes, my men, all right,
You're all “off duty” for a while,
The rest will help you fight.”
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Jim rides a chair—I mean a horse—
And reads the paper too,
For captains have to learn, of course,
What other armies do;
The way to rout the enemy,
And bring the wounded in.
“My fellows are so brave,” says he,
“I'm certain they will win!”
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[Illustration]
To London Town.
To London town, to London town,
Which is the way to London Town?
One foot up, and one foot down,
That is the way to London town.
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A Home in the Wainscot.
One day two little mice entered an old house where they hoped to settle
down and make their home, Mr. and Mrs. Mousey by name.
After looking about for some time they decided on a corner close to the
kitchen wainscot, and not far from the larder.
They made a cosy little nest of string and paper, working hard all day,
hardly resting till late at night. As to food, Mr. Mousey soon found
where that was to be got. Many were the visits he paid to the larder,
and delicious were the biscuits and cheese that he found there. It
almost seemed as if things were left for them, for the biscuits were in
bags and the cheese uncovered.
At last the nest was finished and they lay down to rest.
The very next morning six very tiny pinkish-looking things were to be
seen in the nest. They had bright eyes and long tails, and would soon
grow into brown little animals like their father and mother. Oh, how
proud the latter were! Mr. Mousey could hardly keep his eyes off them,
and Mrs. Mousey danced round squeaking with delight. “They are
beautiful, my dear,” said Mr. Mousey, “just like you.”
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“Pardon me, my love,” said his wife, with a proud look at their
darlings, “they are likely to be as handsome as you.” The parents
embraced each other tenderly, and then Mr. Mousey started off to find
food for the little family.
Every day the children grew bigger and stronger, and merry games they
had, as they chased each other round the nest.
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But, alas! their happiness was not to continue. One sad day a terrible
disappointment awaited Mr. Mousey. He had started off on his usual visit
to the larder. He returned almost at once, saying,
“My dear, we must move. I heard the Cook say everything was to be put in
tins, so we shall starve if we stay, and,” with a shudder, “worse still,
she has got a cat. I fear she will hear the children's voices, and we
shall be caught.”
So gathering their family around them they told the sad news, and
glancing tearfully at their cosy nest, they crept sadly away.