 | A merry-go-round of song |  |
98
THE UNLEARNT LESSON
“My dear, as you are getting strong,
'Tis time,” said Mrs Velvet Mouse,
“For you at last to come along
And spy the secrets of the house.
A little journey we will make
By passage, hole and larder-shelf,
That you may find what's best to take,
And henceforth learn to help yourself.
'Tis time,” said Mrs Velvet Mouse,
“For you at last to come along
And spy the secrets of the house.
A little journey we will make
By passage, hole and larder-shelf,
That you may find what's best to take,
And henceforth learn to help yourself.
“When you were tiny I was glad
To search with eagerness for crumbs;
And not infrequently your Dad
Found bits of rind or sugarplums;
But now that babyhood must stop,
'Tis wise to cultivate your wits
To dodge the under-housemaid's mop,
And also Whiskerando Spitz.
To search with eagerness for crumbs;
And not infrequently your Dad
Found bits of rind or sugarplums;
But now that babyhood must stop,
'Tis wise to cultivate your wits
To dodge the under-housemaid's mop,
And also Whiskerando Spitz.
“I've talked about this cat before,
So now, my love, I will explain
Why little cages on the floor
Delicious toasted cheese contain.
How many mice have had to pay
A bitter charge for silly pride,
Through lacking strength of mind to stay
And sniff the toasted cheese outside!
So now, my love, I will explain
Why little cages on the floor
Delicious toasted cheese contain.
How many mice have had to pay
A bitter charge for silly pride,
Through lacking strength of mind to stay
And sniff the toasted cheese outside!
99
“My lamb, if you would grow to be
In course of time a married mouse,
And teach a nimble family
To be a credit to the house,
Remember, steadfastly avoid
The toasted cheese's fragrant breath!
To nibble is to be destroyed,
For bait like this is, frankly, death!
In course of time a married mouse,
And teach a nimble family
To be a credit to the house,
Remember, steadfastly avoid
The toasted cheese's fragrant breath!
To nibble is to be destroyed,
For bait like this is, frankly, death!
“Observe this lump of Cheddar, hooked
To tempt your uninstructed eyes!”
The mouseling shivered as he looked,
And squeaked a promise to be wise.
But, later in the year, one night
He rashly thought he'd disobey,
And carry mother home a bite
Of toasted cheese for Christmas Day!
To tempt your uninstructed eyes!”
The mouseling shivered as he looked,
And squeaked a promise to be wise.
But, later in the year, one night
He rashly thought he'd disobey,
And carry mother home a bite
Of toasted cheese for Christmas Day!
The little goose (if I may call
A mouse a goose), to treat as naught
His gentle mother's care, and all
The gathered wisdom she had taught!
By chance his parent, hunting bread,
Was close enough to hear the snap
The cunning prison made, and said,
“That heedless boy is in the trap!”
A mouse a goose), to treat as naught
His gentle mother's care, and all
The gathered wisdom she had taught!
By chance his parent, hunting bread,
Was close enough to hear the snap
The cunning prison made, and said,
“That heedless boy is in the trap!”
Alas! how frequently we find
Our pleasure change to dismal shocks!
The child who bit that treacherous rind
Was Whiskerando's Christmas-box!
He never lived to frisk in glee,
Or settle down, a married mouse,
To teach a nimble family
To be a credit to the house!
Our pleasure change to dismal shocks!
The child who bit that treacherous rind
Was Whiskerando's Christmas-box!
He never lived to frisk in glee,
Or settle down, a married mouse,
To teach a nimble family
To be a credit to the house!
| A merry-go-round of song | |