 | A merry-go-round of song |  |
78
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Although his parents always tried
To make him happy in the nest,
A little thrush, dissatisfied,
His naughty temper still expressed.
At last, so wicked he became,
The tender-hearted mother-bird
Was forced with gentleness to blame
The dreadful things she overheard.
“Whatever's that I hear you mumble?
Why, darling, darling, do not grumble!
The nest you live in may be humble,
But it is also—home!
To make him happy in the nest,
A little thrush, dissatisfied,
His naughty temper still expressed.
At last, so wicked he became,
The tender-hearted mother-bird
Was forced with gentleness to blame
The dreadful things she overheard.
“Whatever's that I hear you mumble?
Why, darling, darling, do not grumble!
The nest you live in may be humble,
But it is also—home!
“Because they know there's love for all,
With food by day and warmth by night,
The wrens are wondering why you squall,
Instead of keeping good and bright.
They have a dozen babes, and fear
The bad example you have set;
So cease this misbehaviour, dear,
And in forgiving I'll forget.
I cannot bear to hear you mumble.
Why, darling, darling, do not grumble!
The nest you live in may be humble,
But it is also—home!”
With food by day and warmth by night,
The wrens are wondering why you squall,
Instead of keeping good and bright.
They have a dozen babes, and fear
The bad example you have set;
So cease this misbehaviour, dear,
And in forgiving I'll forget.
I cannot bear to hear you mumble.
Why, darling, darling, do not grumble!
The nest you live in may be humble,
But it is also—home!”
This shows that sometimes precious pearls
Of wisdom from a bill can drop
To help all grumbling boys and girls
To learn their naughtiness, and stop.
When Mother works and Father toils
To keep them snug from day to day,
Think how it grieves their hearts, and spoils
Their time of rest, to have to say,
“What's that? What's that we hear you mumble?
Why, Peter, Lizzie, do not grumble!
The house we live in may be humble,
But it is also—home!”
Of wisdom from a bill can drop
To help all grumbling boys and girls
To learn their naughtiness, and stop.
79
To keep them snug from day to day,
Think how it grieves their hearts, and spoils
Their time of rest, to have to say,
“What's that? What's that we hear you mumble?
Why, Peter, Lizzie, do not grumble!
The house we live in may be humble,
But it is also—home!”
| A merry-go-round of song | |