 | A merry-go-round of song |  |
86
THE HAPPY SWAN
I often think the snowy swan
Has very few expenses:
He never seems to pay a fine,
Whatever his offences.
Has very few expenses:
He never seems to pay a fine,
Whatever his offences.
Along the merry stream he floats,
A blest and happy sailor
Who never needs to have his chest
Examined by a tailor.
A blest and happy sailor
Who never needs to have his chest
Examined by a tailor.
His coat, mysteriously supplied,
Is such he never folds it;
No seams upon the garment show,
And not a button holds it.
Is such he never folds it;
No seams upon the garment show,
And not a button holds it.
Instead of brush and comb, his beak
Among his plumage passes;
And all the places where he swims
Have lovely looking-glasses.
Among his plumage passes;
And all the places where he swims
Have lovely looking-glasses.
The children run to offer him
Both bread and cake together,
And try their best to make him plump
In days of browning weather.
Both bread and cake together,
And try their best to make him plump
In days of browning weather.
If life upon the surface gets
By chance a little harder,
He simply stands upon his head
And searches in his larder.
By chance a little harder,
He simply stands upon his head
And searches in his larder.
87
'Tis needless for the swan to keep
A penny in his pocket!
Why, if he has a chick, the lake
For love is glad to rock it!
A penny in his pocket!
Why, if he has a chick, the lake
For love is glad to rock it!
From Christmas time till Christmas time
Again with snow commences,
'Tis very plain the happy swan
Has next to no expenses!
Again with snow commences,
'Tis very plain the happy swan
Has next to no expenses!
| A merry-go-round of song | |