Pretty Lessons in Verse for Good Children; with Some Lessons in Latin, in Easy Rhyme. By Sara Coleridge. The Fourth Edition, with Many Cuts |
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THE SUSPICIOUS COCK AND HEN. |
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 | Pretty Lessons in Verse |  |
THE SUSPICIOUS COCK AND HEN.
A Cock and a Hen
Stepp'd out of their pen,
And quickly beginning to chat,
Said Cock to his wife,
“My dear little life,
Pray look at that ugly old cat
Stepp'd out of their pen,
And quickly beginning to chat,
Said Cock to his wife,
“My dear little life,
Pray look at that ugly old cat
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“She's prowling about,
There can be no doubt,
To steal our sweet Chickens away;”
The Hen upon that
Went up to the Cat,
And told her no longer to stay.
There can be no doubt,
To steal our sweet Chickens away;”
The Hen upon that
Went up to the Cat,
And told her no longer to stay.
Miss Puss had been bent
On no bad intent,
But merely on catching of Mice;
What silly Hen said
First put in her head
To seize a poor Chick in a trice.
On no bad intent,
But merely on catching of Mice;
What silly Hen said
First put in her head
To seize a poor Chick in a trice.
The Cock and his dame,
In sorrow and shame
Set up a most terrible clacking;
The Pigs began squeaking,
The Peacock was shrieking,
The Ducks in the pond fell a quacking;
In sorrow and shame
Set up a most terrible clacking;
The Pigs began squeaking,
The Peacock was shrieking,
The Ducks in the pond fell a quacking;
The Cattle hard by
Soon joined in the cry,
The Gander must add to the clatter;
The Turkey-cock gobbled,
The old Woman hobbled
To see what on earth was the matter.
Soon joined in the cry,
The Gander must add to the clatter;
The Turkey-cock gobbled,
The old Woman hobbled
To see what on earth was the matter.
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As soon as she heard
What 'twas that had stirr'd
This terrible racket and riot,
She said “Fie, for shame!
You all are to blame,
I'll beat you to make you be quiet.”
What 'twas that had stirr'd
This terrible racket and riot,
She said “Fie, for shame!
You all are to blame,
I'll beat you to make you be quiet.”
The Cat slunk away,
And gave up her prey,
The Cock and Hen flew to their coop;
Each beast hung his head,
The birds quickly fled,
Their feathers beginning to droop.
And gave up her prey,
The Cock and Hen flew to their coop;
Each beast hung his head,
The birds quickly fled,
Their feathers beginning to droop.
This story may teach,
That ill-natured speech
Provokes an ill-natured return;
And making a noise
In birds, beasts, and boys,
It is but a silly concern.
That ill-natured speech
Provokes an ill-natured return;
And making a noise
In birds, beasts, and boys,
It is but a silly concern.
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