 | A merry-go-round of song |  |
46
THE CANARY AND THE MOUSE
A very bright-eyed little mouse,
When running in my Auntie's house,
Perceived a cage, and overheard
The pipings of a golden bird:
When running in my Auntie's house,
Perceived a cage, and overheard
The pipings of a golden bird:
“Day in, day out, I have my fill
Of seed and sugar for my bill;
However hot the blazing sky,
My water-bowl is never dry.
Of seed and sugar for my bill;
However hot the blazing sky,
My water-bowl is never dry.
“My mistress sees that I am fed,
And loves to stroke my velvet head;
She tells that slinking wretch in fur
Canary bones are not for her!
And loves to stroke my velvet head;
She tells that slinking wretch in fur
Canary bones are not for her!
“I'm safe and happy when I cling
Upon the wires, or stand to sing,
For everyone who likes to hear,
A song that shakes the chandelier.
Upon the wires, or stand to sing,
For everyone who likes to hear,
A song that shakes the chandelier.
“No breezes put me in a fret,
No raindrops make my feathers wet;
Week in, week out, I have my fill
Of seed and sugar for my bill.”
No raindrops make my feathers wet;
Week in, week out, I have my fill
Of seed and sugar for my bill.”
On hearing this, the silky mouse
Began to look about the house
In hope of finding for her share
A cage supplied with pleasant fare.
Began to look about the house
In hope of finding for her share
A cage supplied with pleasant fare.
47
And in a corner near the fire
She found a house of wood and wire,
With not the smallest sign to say
That trespassers must go away!
She found a house of wood and wire,
With not the smallest sign to say
That trespassers must go away!
The friendly door was open wide,
A meal of cheese was spread inside;
Not waiting to reflect, the dunce
Decided to walk in at once.
A meal of cheese was spread inside;
Not waiting to reflect, the dunce
Decided to walk in at once.
On happy toes she crept along,
Encouraged by the goldbird's song;
But when she bit the cheese's rind
She heard a slapping noise behind!
Encouraged by the goldbird's song;
But when she bit the cheese's rind
She heard a slapping noise behind!
An inch beyond her grey-silk tail
The door had shut! The mouse went pale;
For now there was a sign to say
That trespassers were bound to stay!
The door had shut! The mouse went pale;
For now there was a sign to say
That trespassers were bound to stay!
The mouse's heart went pit-a-pat
As there in wretchedness she sat
And listened to the song-bird's clear
Announcement shake the chandelier:
As there in wretchedness she sat
And listened to the song-bird's clear
Announcement shake the chandelier:
“However hot the blazing sky,
My water-dish is never dry;
Year in, year out, I have my fill
Of seed and sugar for my bill.”
My water-dish is never dry;
Year in, year out, I have my fill
Of seed and sugar for my bill.”
Perhaps the little grey-silk mouse
Again is running in the house,
For Auntie Ada let her go
Because her heart was thumping so!
Again is running in the house,
For Auntie Ada let her go
Because her heart was thumping so!
48
She didn't linger there to say
“Good-bye” or “Thanks” or “Lovely day”!
But rushed along the cupboard's back
And tumbled headlong down a crack!
“Good-bye” or “Thanks” or “Lovely day”!
But rushed along the cupboard's back
And tumbled headlong down a crack!
“Year in, year out, I have my fill
Of seed and sugar for my bill,”
Canary cried. “But east or west,”
Quoth Auntie, “liberty is best!”
Of seed and sugar for my bill,”
Canary cried. “But east or west,”
Quoth Auntie, “liberty is best!”
| A merry-go-round of song | |