 | Flowers for children |  |
Part II.
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THE NEW-ENGLAND BOY'S SONG
ABOUT THANKSGIVING DAY.
Over the river, and through the wood,
To grandfather's house we go;
The horse knows the way,
To carry the sleigh,
Through the white and drifted snow.
To grandfather's house we go;
The horse knows the way,
To carry the sleigh,
Through the white and drifted snow.
Over the river, and through the wood,
To grandfather's house away!
We would not stop
For doll or top,
For 't is Thanksgiving day.
To grandfather's house away!
We would not stop
For doll or top,
For 't is Thanksgiving day.
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Over the river, and through the wood,
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes,
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes,
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.
Over the river, and through the wood,
With a clear blue winter sky,
The dogs do bark,
And children hark,
As we go jingling by.
With a clear blue winter sky,
The dogs do bark,
And children hark,
As we go jingling by.
Over the river, and through the wood,
To have a first-rate play—
Hear the bells ring
Ting a ling ding,
Hurra for Thanksgiving day!
To have a first-rate play—
Hear the bells ring
Ting a ling ding,
Hurra for Thanksgiving day!
Over the river, and through the wood—
No matter for wind that blow;
Or if we get
The sleigh upset,
Into a bank of snow.
No matter for wind that blow;
Or if we get
The sleigh upset,
Into a bank of snow.
THE SPRING BIRDS.
Now we know that winter's done,
For a troop of swallows come,
Twitter, twitter, in the air,
Twitter, twitter, everywhere.
For a troop of swallows come,
Twitter, twitter, in the air,
Twitter, twitter, everywhere.
Oh, they are sweet pretty things!
Flying round with rapid wings,
Twitter, twitter, in the air,
Twitter, twitter, everywhere.
Flying round with rapid wings,
Twitter, twitter, in the air,
Twitter, twitter, everywhere.
The swallow knows no other tune,
But always sings to May and June,
Twitter, twitter, in the air,
Twitter, twitter, everywhere.
But always sings to May and June,
Twitter, twitter, in the air,
Twitter, twitter, everywhere.
THE AUTUMN BIRD.
When the summer is getting old,
And nights and mornings growing cold,
Then comes and sits upon the spray
The friendly little chick-a-day.
And nights and mornings growing cold,
Then comes and sits upon the spray
The friendly little chick-a-day.
She is a chubby little bird,
And all day long her song is heard,
Her friendly chick-a-day,
Chick-a-day, day, day.
And all day long her song is heard,
Her friendly chick-a-day,
Chick-a-day, day, day.
She never minds a cloudy sky,
But ever singeth cheerily,
Her friendly chick-a-day,
Chick-a-day, day, day.
But ever singeth cheerily,
Her friendly chick-a-day,
Chick-a-day, day, day.
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When cold winter draweth near,
Dearly do I love to hear
Her friendly chick-a-day,
Chick-a-day, day, day.
Dearly do I love to hear
Her friendly chick-a-day,
Chick-a-day, day, day.
Blessings on the happy bird,
With her pleasant little word,
Her friendly chick-a-day,
Chick-a-day, day, day.
With her pleasant little word,
Her friendly chick-a-day,
Chick-a-day, day, day.
FATHER IS COMING!
Hark, hark!” say the children, “hark, hark!”
And out of doors they go;
For they hear the dog begin to bark,
And father comes, they know.
And out of doors they go;
For they hear the dog begin to bark,
And father comes, they know.
Jane, and Lucy, and Charley dear,
All love the noisy Tray;
And quick they spring his bark to hear,
At close of summer's day.
All love the noisy Tray;
And quick they spring his bark to hear,
At close of summer's day.
For when Tray jumps the orchard wall,
Their hearts are full of bliss,
And forth they scamper, one and all,
To gain a father's kiss.
Their hearts are full of bliss,
And forth they scamper, one and all,
To gain a father's kiss.
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And dearly father loves to take
His babies on his knee,
While one calls out for “patty cake,”
Another cries, “Take me!”
His babies on his knee,
While one calls out for “patty cake,”
Another cries, “Take me!”
Jane runs to bring the milk and bread,
And Lucy takes his hat,
While Charley shakes his silky head,
And brings his pussy cat.
And Lucy takes his hat,
While Charley shakes his silky head,
And brings his pussy cat.
The happy boy, and Lucy too,
Will father's supper share;
Then Jane unties each little shoe,
And mother combs their hair.
Will father's supper share;
Then Jane unties each little shoe,
And mother combs their hair.
And this is why, at set of sun,
They every one will hark,
To see who first will call, “Run, run!
For Tray begins to bark!”
They every one will hark,
To see who first will call, “Run, run!
For Tray begins to bark!”
THE HEN AND HER DUCKS.
There was a little hen,
Very small and thick,
And this little hen
Never had a chick.
Very small and thick,
And this little hen
Never had a chick.
But in the straw, one day,
She began to scratch,
And four eggs she did lay,
Some young ones to hatch.
She began to scratch,
And four eggs she did lay,
Some young ones to hatch.
The farmer heard her cluck,
And he thought it best,
To put the eggs of a duck
Into biddy's nest.
And he thought it best,
To put the eggs of a duck
Into biddy's nest.
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And soon the hen marched out,
With a pretty young brood,
But what she led about,
She never understood.
With a pretty young brood,
But what she led about,
She never understood.
Proud was the little biddy,
When she called chuck, chuck;
She did not know, the niddy,
A chicken from a duck.
When she called chuck, chuck;
She did not know, the niddy,
A chicken from a duck.
The first pond they came nigh,
The ducks waddled in,
While poor biddy did cry,
And make a loud din.
The ducks waddled in,
While poor biddy did cry,
And make a loud din.
But the ducks did not know
What frightened their mother,
Or what made her scream so,
And make such a pother.
What frightened their mother,
Or what made her scream so,
And make such a pother.
For they liked it right well,
To splash in the waters,
While the hen could not tell
What on earth ailed her daughters
To splash in the waters,
While the hen could not tell
What on earth ailed her daughters
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So she spread out her wings,
And went screaming about,
Till the fat little things
Had all paddled out.
And went screaming about,
Till the fat little things
Had all paddled out.
The poor hen did not know,
For nobody taught her,
That young ducks always go
Right into the water.
For nobody taught her,
That young ducks always go
Right into the water.
And she never understood
That farmers play tricks;
So she thought her little brood
Were all honest chicks.
That farmers play tricks;
So she thought her little brood
Were all honest chicks.
And hard she did strive
To teach them aright,
For to see them all dive,
Gave her many a fright.
To teach them aright,
For to see them all dive,
Gave her many a fright.
But the ducklings grew strong,
And she stopped her cries;
For she thought she was wrong,
And the little ones wise.
And she stopped her cries;
For she thought she was wrong,
And the little ones wise.
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They grew up and went away,
And biddy lived alone,
Till she laid some eggs one day,
Under the barn-door stone.
And biddy lived alone,
Till she laid some eggs one day,
Under the barn-door stone.
She kept her eggs full warm,
And brooded them so well,
That by and bye a swarm
Of chickens broke the shell.
And brooded them so well,
That by and bye a swarm
Of chickens broke the shell.
Proud was the hen, and fond,
But little she did know,
For down unto the pond,
She made the young ones go.
But little she did know,
For down unto the pond,
She made the young ones go.
When she saw they would not dive,
She made a great ado,
For she thought she ought to drive
Her little chickens through.
She made a great ado,
For she thought she ought to drive
Her little chickens through.
The poor little timid things,
They were afraid to go,
But she beat them with her wings;
She thought she must do so.
They were afraid to go,
But she beat them with her wings;
She thought she must do so.
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They knew not what she meant;
She drove them round and round,
Till into the pond they went,
And there her chickens drowned.
She drove them round and round,
Till into the pond they went,
And there her chickens drowned.
Poor little biddy couldn't think
What made her first brood thrive,
And all the others sink,
Before they learned to dive.
What made her first brood thrive,
And all the others sink,
Before they learned to dive.
It was a pity she didn't know
It could not bring good luck,
To train a little chicken up
As if it were a duck.
It could not bring good luck,
To train a little chicken up
As if it were a duck.
WHO STOLE THE BIRD'S NEST?
To whit! To whit! To whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?
Not I, said the cow, Moo oo!
Such a thing I'd never do.
I gave you a wisp of hay,
But didn't take your nest away.
Not I, said the cow, Moo oo!
Such a thing I'd never do.
Such a thing I'd never do.
I gave you a wisp of hay,
But didn't take your nest away.
Not I, said the cow, Moo oo!
Such a thing I'd never do.
To whit, To whit, To whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?
128
Bob-a-link! Bob-a-link!
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plumb-tree to-day?
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plumb-tree to-day?
Not I, said the dog, Bow wow,
I wouldn't be so mean, I vow.
I gave hairs the nest to make,
But the nest I did not take.
Not I, said the dog, Bow wow!
I wouldn't be so mean, I vow.
I wouldn't be so mean, I vow.
I gave hairs the nest to make,
But the nest I did not take.
Not I, said the dog, Bow wow!
I wouldn't be so mean, I vow.
To whit! To whit! To whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?
Bob-a-link! Bob-a-link!
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plumb-tree to-day?
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plumb-tree to-day?
Coo coo! Coo coo! Coo coo!
Let me speak a word, too.
Who stole that pretty nest,
From little yellow breast?
Let me speak a word, too.
Who stole that pretty nest,
From little yellow breast?
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Not I, said the sheep; oh no,
I wouldn't treat a poor bird so.
I gave wool the nest to line,
But the nest was none of mine.
Baa baa! said the sheep, oh no,
I wouldn't treat a poor bird so.
I wouldn't treat a poor bird so.
I gave wool the nest to line,
But the nest was none of mine.
Baa baa! said the sheep, oh no,
I wouldn't treat a poor bird so.
To whit! To whit! To whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?
Bob-a-link! Bob-a-link!
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plumb-tree to-day?
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plumb-tree to-day?
Coo coo! Coo coo! Coo coo!
Let me speak a word, too.
Who stole that pretty nest
From little yellow breast?
Let me speak a word, too.
Who stole that pretty nest
From little yellow breast?
Caw! Caw! cried the crow,
I should like to know,
What thief took away
A bird's nest to-day?
I should like to know,
What thief took away
A bird's nest to-day?
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Cluck, cluck, said the hen,
Don't ask me again.
Why I haven't a chick
Would do such a trick.
Don't ask me again.
Why I haven't a chick
Would do such a trick.
We all gave her a feather,
And she wove them together.
I'd scorn to intrude
On her and her brood.
Cluck, cluck, said the hen,
Don't ask me again.
And she wove them together.
I'd scorn to intrude
On her and her brood.
Cluck, cluck, said the hen,
Don't ask me again.
Chirr-a-whirr! Chirr-a-whirr!
We will make a great stir!
Let us find out his name,
And all cry for shame!
We will make a great stir!
Let us find out his name,
And all cry for shame!
I would not rob a bird,
Said little Mary Green;
I think I never heard
Of any thing so mean.
Said little Mary Green;
I think I never heard
Of any thing so mean.
'Tis very cruel, too,
Said little Alice Neal;
I wonder if he knew
How sad the bird would feel
Said little Alice Neal;
I wonder if he knew
How sad the bird would feel
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A little boy hung down his head,
And went and hid behind the bed;
For he stole that pretty nest,
From poor little yellow breast;
And he felt so full of shame,
He didn't like to tell his name.
And went and hid behind the bed;
For he stole that pretty nest,
From poor little yellow breast;
And he felt so full of shame,
He didn't like to tell his name.
MY SISTER MARY.
A Talk between an Uncle and his Niece.
UNCLE.Louise, Mary must live with me,
And I'll give you, for company,
A pretty bird with glossy wings,
That hops about and sweetly sings.
Her garden filled with lovely flowers,
Shall have two honey-suckle bowers,
And golden fish, in sparkling water,
If she will come and be my daughter.
LOUISA.
But she's my sister, uncle Carey;
My own sweet loving sister Mary.
I cannot spare her for a day;
She helps me at my work and play.
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I could not dress my doll alone.
Therefore, dear uncle, I do pray
You will not make her go away.
Good cousin Jane may live with you;
She has no little sister Loo.
You may give her the bright Canary,
And let me keep dear sister Mary.
I'm very sure she will not go
From little Loo who loves her so
UNCLE.
Now blessings on your gentle heart!
I should be loth to see ye part.
You need not cling to her in fear;
You shall not lose your playmate, dear.
My words were merely meant to prove
How dearly you your sister love.
I will give her the bright Canary,
And she shall be your sister Mary
OUR PLAYTHINGS.
Susan has a waxen doll,
With little bright blue eyes,
And Mary has a pretty Poll,
That chatters, laughs, and cries.
With little bright blue eyes,
And Mary has a pretty Poll,
That chatters, laughs, and cries.
Dear James has made a handsome ship,
With famous mast and sails,
And father bought for little Phip
A wooden cow and pails.
With famous mast and sails,
And father bought for little Phip
A wooden cow and pails.
Louisa has a milk-white dove,
And little china boys;
But I have something that I love
Better than birds or toys.
And little china boys;
But I have something that I love
Better than birds or toys.
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It never speaks a single word,
Yet tells me many things,
About some darling little bird,
That makes its nest and sings;
Yet tells me many things,
About some darling little bird,
That makes its nest and sings;
About good little children too,
And little babies dear,
It tells me many stories new,
And some are very queer.
And little babies dear,
It tells me many stories new,
And some are very queer.
Of all my things I like it best.
Peep in and take a look!
'Tis prettier than all the rest,
My little story book.
Peep in and take a look!
'Tis prettier than all the rest,
My little story book.
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