 | Poems for children |  |
36
THE BUTCHER-BIRD.
I'll tell you a story, children,
The saddest you ever heard,
About Rupert, the pet canary,
And a terrible butcher-bird.
The saddest you ever heard,
About Rupert, the pet canary,
And a terrible butcher-bird.
There was such a blinding snow-storm
One could not see at all.
And all day long the children
Had watched the white flakes fall;
One could not see at all.
And all day long the children
Had watched the white flakes fall;
And when the eldest brothers
Had kissed mamma good-night,
And up the stairs together
Had gone with their bedroom light,
Had kissed mamma good-night,
And up the stairs together
Had gone with their bedroom light,
Of a sudden their two fresh voices
Rang out in a quick surprise,
“Mamma! papa! come quickly
And catch him before he flies!”
Rang out in a quick surprise,
“Mamma! papa! come quickly
And catch him before he flies!”
On a picture-frame perched lightly,
With his head beneath his wing,
They had found a gray bird sitting;
That was a curious thing!
With his head beneath his wing,
They had found a gray bird sitting;
That was a curious thing!
37
Down stairs to the cosy parlor
They brought him, glad to find
For the storm-tossed wanderer shelter;
Not knowing his cruel mind!
They brought him, glad to find
For the storm-tossed wanderer shelter;
Not knowing his cruel mind!
And full of joy were the children
To think he was safe and warm.
And had chosen their house for safety
To hide from the raging storm!
To think he was safe and warm.
And had chosen their house for safety
To hide from the raging storm!
“He shall stay with the pretty Rupert,
And live among mother's flowers,
And he'll sing with our robin and sparrow;”
And they talked about it for hours.
And live among mother's flowers,
And he'll sing with our robin and sparrow;”
And they talked about it for hours.
Alas, in the early morning
There rose a wail and a cry,
And a fluttering wild in the cages,
And Rupert's voice rang high.
There rose a wail and a cry,
And a fluttering wild in the cages,
And Rupert's voice rang high.
We rushed to the rescue swiftly;
Too late! On the shining cage,
The home of the happy Rupert,
All rough with fury and rage,
Too late! On the shining cage,
The home of the happy Rupert,
All rough with fury and rage,
Stood the handsome, horrible stranger,
With black and flashing eye,
And torn almost to pieces
Did poor dead Rupert lie!
With black and flashing eye,
And torn almost to pieces
Did poor dead Rupert lie!
38
Oh, sad was all the household,
And we mourned for Rupert long.
The fierce wild shrike was prisoned
In a cage both dark and strong;
And we mourned for Rupert long.
The fierce wild shrike was prisoned
In a cage both dark and strong;
And would you like, O children,
His final fate to know?
To Agassiz's Museum
That pirate bird did go!
His final fate to know?
To Agassiz's Museum
That pirate bird did go!
| Poems for children | |