 | Bits of Talk, in verse and prose, for young folks |  |
176
A SHORT CATECHISM.
At sunset of a summer's day,
All curled up in a funny heap,
Beneath the currant-bushes lay
A boy named Willy, half asleep.
All curled up in a funny heap,
Beneath the currant-bushes lay
A boy named Willy, half asleep.
But peeping through his sleepy eyes
He watched all things as if he dreamed,
And did not feel the least surprise
However strange and queer they seemed.
He watched all things as if he dreamed,
And did not feel the least surprise
However strange and queer they seemed.
And every creature going by
He hailed with questions from the grass,
And laughed and called out sleepily,
“Unless you answer you can't pass.”
He hailed with questions from the grass,
And laughed and called out sleepily,
“Unless you answer you can't pass.”
“O caterpillar, now tell me
Why you roll up so tight and round;
You are the drollest thing to see,
A hairy marble on the ground.”
Why you roll up so tight and round;
You are the drollest thing to see,
A hairy marble on the ground.”
177
“I roll me up to save my bones
When I fall down; young man, if you
Could do the same, the stumps and stones
Would never bruise you black and blue.”
When I fall down; young man, if you
Could do the same, the stumps and stones
Would never bruise you black and blue.”
‘O spider, tell me why you hide
The ropes and ladders which you spin,
And keep them all locked up inside
Your little body slim and thin.”
The ropes and ladders which you spin,
And keep them all locked up inside
Your little body slim and thin.”
“I hide my ropes and ladders fine
Away from neighbors' thievish greed;
If you kept yours as I keep mine,
You'd always have one when you need.”
Away from neighbors' thievish greed;
If you kept yours as I keep mine,
You'd always have one when you need.”
“Why do you buzz so, busy bee?
Why don't you make your honey still?
You move about so boisterously,
I'm sure you must much honey spill.”
Why don't you make your honey still?
You move about so boisterously,
I'm sure you must much honey spill.”
“I buzz and buzz, you silly boy,
Because I can work better so;
Just as you whistle for pure joy
When on the road to school you go.”
Because I can work better so;
Just as you whistle for pure joy
When on the road to school you go.”
178
“O robin, wicked robin, why
Did you my mamma's cherries eat?
You thought no mortal soul was nigh;
But I saw you from bill to feet.”
Did you my mamma's cherries eat?
You thought no mortal soul was nigh;
But I saw you from bill to feet.”
“And I saw you, my fine young lad,
And waited till you'd left the tree;
I thought when you your fill had had,
There would be little left for me!”
And waited till you'd left the tree;
I thought when you your fill had had,
There would be little left for me!”
“O big bull-frogs, why do you make
Such ugly noises every night!
Nobody can a half-nap take;
You make our baby cry with fright.”
Such ugly noises every night!
Nobody can a half-nap take;
You make our baby cry with fright.”
“O Willy, we suppose the noise
Is not a pleasant noise to hear;
But we've one hundred little boys,—
Frog-boys so cunning and so dear;
Is not a pleasant noise to hear;
But we've one hundred little boys,—
Frog-boys so cunning and so dear;
“And it is not an easy task,
You may believe, to put to beds
A hundred little frogs who ask
All questions which pop in their heads.”
You may believe, to put to beds
A hundred little frogs who ask
All questions which pop in their heads.”
| Bits of Talk, in verse and prose, for young folks | |