 | Moral songs |  |
THE BIRD'S NEST.
When fading from our garden beds,
The snowdrops white did pass,
And violets, and primroses,
Come peeping through the grass;
The snowdrops white did pass,
And violets, and primroses,
Come peeping through the grass;
52
When blackthorn bush, and cherry tree,
With blossoms white were dressed;
Then robin red-breast, and his mate,
Began to build their nest.
With blossoms white were dressed;
Then robin red-breast, and his mate,
Began to build their nest.
A crevice in the garden wall,
Between the stones, there lay
Whereto they carried bits of stick,
And laid them every way.
Between the stones, there lay
Whereto they carried bits of stick,
And laid them every way.
About the hedges, moss, and wool,
And scraps of hair they found;
And made the inside snug and soft,
And lined it all around.
And scraps of hair they found;
And made the inside snug and soft,
And lined it all around.
Such curious thing I could not make,
With all my thought, and care;—
The little mother bird stepped in,
And laid her round eggs there.
With all my thought, and care;—
The little mother bird stepped in,
And laid her round eggs there.
Then o'er them many days she spread
Her wings with feathers brown;
And many nights she held them warm,
Against her breast of down.
Her wings with feathers brown;
And many nights she held them warm,
Against her breast of down.
Cock robin sat upon the bough,
And looked so very proud,
And out he puffed his scarlet breast,
And whistled clear, and loud.
And looked so very proud,
And out he puffed his scarlet breast,
And whistled clear, and loud.
A little child his cruel hand
Put in the nest one day,
And stole the pretty spotted eggs,
And carried them away.
Put in the nest one day,
And stole the pretty spotted eggs,
And carried them away.
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The birds flew round and round the place,
And perched, and flew again;
With ruffled wing, and piteous chirp,
Poor little cock and hen!
And perched, and flew again;
With ruffled wing, and piteous chirp,
Poor little cock and hen!
But if that careless child had thought
How cruel was the deed,
How much he pained that pretty pair,
And made their bosoms bleed;
How cruel was the deed,
How much he pained that pretty pair,
And made their bosoms bleed;
If he had thought how tender hearts
Love every living thing,
And would not hurt the lowest beast,
Or bird upon the wing;
Love every living thing,
And would not hurt the lowest beast,
Or bird upon the wing;
And how the good, and kind can feel,
E'en for a bird distressed;
I think he would have left the eggs,
In robin's curious nest.
E'en for a bird distressed;
I think he would have left the eggs,
In robin's curious nest.
| Moral songs | |