[Illustration: Slow circuit of room, mother singing, child now and then
uttering happy peeps.
In 2nd circuit mother often pauses, anxiously craning her head about,
scanning sky for hawks, “Peeps” and “Craws” at pleasure, in the singing.]
O, here comes a Hen
With a most happy mind,
Her one little chick
Close a-walking behind.
The morning is warm
And the sun is on high,
No hawk to be seen
In the blue summer sky.
Her chicken and she
Are out for a walk;
“_Craw, craw, kr-kr-craw_,”
And “_Peep_,” goes the talk.
She scans heaven and earth,
High a-craning her head;
“All’s well!” says the Hen,
“My chick shall be fed.”
[Illustration: 3d. circuit is interspersed with running steps and darts
of the head. Child runs at all “calls” with outstretched arms and chirps.
In the 4th circuit, side by side they sip from hands, uplifting heads at
each swallow. Finish circuit, child walking behind mother.]
Now quickly she runs,
Darting here, darting there,
For bugs in the grass
Or a fly in the air;
She calls to her chick
As she scratches the ground,
And the chicken’s soft chirp
Is the loveliest sound!
They sip from the leaves
The bright drops of the dew,
And lift up their heads
Ever thankfully too.
Then homeward she goes,
And her chick close behind,
This dear Mother Hen
With a most happy mind.