DADDY CRANE
Each child should be content to do
Some useful thing each day,
And not be thinking all the time
Of pleasure or of play.
DADDY CRANE
NED was so fond of swimming
No punishment nor rule
That mother made could keep him long
Out of the swimming pool.
One morning she had set him
To clear a flower bed,
“And do not stop till every weed
Is out of it,” she said.
But oh, that naughty Edward!
She scarce had turned away
When up he rose, and off he ran;
Soon, naked as a little frog,
With many a joyous shout,
He jumped into the swimming pool,
And kicked and swam about.
But while he played so gaily
Old Daddy Crane, unseen,
Stood watching him, and grinning,
Among the rushes green.
“I’ll wait until that funny thing
Has dressed, and then,” says he,
“I’ll catch him by the trousers seat
And take him home with me.”
Soon, cooled and freshened by his swim,
Young Ned comes splashing out.
In haste he gets into his clothes
And never looks about.
Now Daddy stretches out his neck!
“Oh! Oh,” poor Edward cries,
For Daddy has him in his beak,
And off with him he flies.
Far, far off by a river,
Where no one comes to see,
Old Daddy lives among the reeds,
He and his children three.
’Tis there he carries Edward.
“Look children! Look!” cries he.
“I’ve brought you such a funny thing.
It swims, as you shall see.”
And now with cackling laughter
He throws poor little Ned
Far, far out in the river,
Ker-splash! heels over head.
Then how the young ones clap their wings,
And laugh and dance about,
As, blowing water from his nose,
Poor Ned comes scrabbling out.
“Quick, Daddy, throw him in again,”
The youngsters cry with glee.
“There never was a froggy thing
As comical as he.”
In vain poor Edward struggles.
His cries are all in vain.
No sooner does he get on shore
Than splash! he’s in again.
“Oh dear!” he cries, while water
Is mingled with his tears,
“I’ve had enough of swimming
To last for years and years.”
And so, next time they throw him in,
Instead of swimming round
He hides himself among the reeds,
And hopes he won’t be found.
He hears old Daddy calling,
“Hi there! You frog, come out!
You needn’t try to hide from me.
I know what you’re about.”
He hears the young ones rustle round,
They bitterly complain,
“Oh Daddy, find our frog for us.
We want him back again.”
But quick Ned gathers lily leaves,
All broad and green and flat,
And fixes them to hide his head
As though they were a hat.
Then out beyond the reeds he floats;
The green leaves hide him still
As down the stream he swims away
Past meadow, wood and hill.
In vain old Daddy hunts about,
And little does he dream
That Ned was underneath the leaves
That floated down the stream.
Now Edward’s reached his home again.
He runs in through the door,
Leaving a trail of water
Across the kitchen floor.
“You need not scold me mother,”
With chattering teeth he says.
“I’ve had enough of swimming now
To last me all my days.”
