 | Tales in Verse for Young People |  |
91
THE MORNING DRIVE.
A PLAY FOR VERY LITTLE CHILDREN.
Oh, dear mamma! I'm glad you've come!
Pray look, for we pretend,
I'm riding in a pony chaise
To see an absent friend.
Pray look, for we pretend,
I'm riding in a pony chaise
To see an absent friend.
Now, is it not a famous scheme,
As like as chaise can be?
And such a noble horse as this
We very seldom see.
As like as chaise can be?
And such a noble horse as this
We very seldom see.
For 'tis a true Arabian,
As white as driven snow;
'Twas bounding o'er the desert sands
Not many months ago!
As white as driven snow;
'Twas bounding o'er the desert sands
Not many months ago!
92
And we pretend we speed along,
Like arrows in the wind;
And Charley is my servant lad,
Who gallops just behind.
Like arrows in the wind;
And Charley is my servant lad,
Who gallops just behind.
And so, mamma, we're driving out—
And 'tis a morn in May;
And we can scent the hawthorn flowers,
As we go by the way.
And 'tis a morn in May;
And we can scent the hawthorn flowers,
As we go by the way.
And we can see the bird-cherry
Upon the green hills wide,
And cowslips pale, and orchises,
And many flowers beside.
Upon the green hills wide,
And cowslips pale, and orchises,
And many flowers beside.
And little lambs are all at play,
And birds are singing clear;
Now is it not a charming thing
To be thus driving here?
And birds are singing clear;
Now is it not a charming thing
To be thus driving here?
And oh, mamma! we've seen such things!
Charley would have it so—
Although a little servant lad
Should not dictate, you know.
Charley would have it so—
Although a little servant lad
Should not dictate, you know.
93
And first we met a drove of pigs,
Great Irish pigs and strong;
And oh! I so much trouble had
To get the horse along!
Great Irish pigs and strong;
And oh! I so much trouble had
To get the horse along!
And then a great wild Highland herd
Filled all the narrow road;
They looked like mountain buffaloes,
And wildly stared and lowed;
Filled all the narrow road;
They looked like mountain buffaloes,
And wildly stared and lowed;
And 'neath their shaggy brows, on us
Such dismal looks they cast!
Mamma, 'twas really wonderful
How ever we got past!
Such dismal looks they cast!
Mamma, 'twas really wonderful
How ever we got past!
And coaches we have met, and carts,
And beggars lame and blind;
And all to please this serving-boy,
Who gallops just behind.
And beggars lame and blind;
And all to please this serving-boy,
Who gallops just behind.
Come up, my little horse, come up,
I'm sure you can't be tired;
You never must be weary, sir,
When you're so much admired!
I'm sure you can't be tired;
You never must be weary, sir,
When you're so much admired!
94
There, now we're at the turnpike-gate,
And now we're driven through;
Over the hill, my little horse,
And then the town's in view.
And now we're driven through;
Over the hill, my little horse,
And then the town's in view.
There, now we're in the town itself;
“Smith,” “Hopkins,” “Cook and Jones;”
One scarce can read these great gilt names,
For jumbling o'er the stones!
“Smith,” “Hopkins,” “Cook and Jones;”
One scarce can read these great gilt names,
For jumbling o'er the stones!
And now we pass “The Old Green Man,”
And now we pass “The Sun;”
And next across the market-place,
And then the journey's done.
And now we pass “The Sun;”
And next across the market-place,
And then the journey's done.
Ah! now I see the very house;
And there's the drawing-room;
Charley, alight, and give my card,
And ask if they're at home.
And there's the drawing-room;
Charley, alight, and give my card,
And ask if they're at home.
Oh yes! I see them every one,
There's Anne, and Jane, and Kate;
No, Charley, now you need not ring,
For they are at the gate.
There's Anne, and Jane, and Kate;
No, Charley, now you need not ring,
For they are at the gate.
95
And now, mamma, that we are here,
Will you pretend to be
The ladies all so kind and good,
Whom we are come to see?
Will you pretend to be
The ladies all so kind and good,
Whom we are come to see?
| Tales in Verse for Young People | |