THE HEN AND DUCKLINGS.

Allegretto. mf.

From the old barn floor

to the cottage door,

Struts forth the old white hen;

Very proud she feels,

for at her heels

She has a brood of ten.

She’s glad to get out

and roam about,

Quite tired of sitting still;

And now they will go,

For she tells them all so,

To the meadow down by the old mill.

For we there shall meet

Many worms to eat,

And beetles green and brown;

But, she says, “D’ye hear,

Don’t go too near

The mill-pond, or you’ll drown.”

They waddle along

The weeds among,

And learn to scratch and pick;

But each little fellow

Is covered with yellow,

And has a queer bill for a chick.

Very soon the hen,

With her brood of ten,

A beetle sees beyond;

As she runs to pin it,

In a minute

All jump into the pond.

She opens her eyes

In great surprise

To see them swim with ease,

And says, “Well, I never!

Now, pray, did you ever

See any such chickens as these?”