FORGET-ME-NOT.
When to the flowers so beautiful the Father gave a name
Back came a little blue-eyed one, all timidly it came;
And, standing at the Father’s feet and gazing in His face
It said, in low and trembling tones and with a modest grace,
“Dear God, the name Thou gavest me, alas, I have forgot.”
The Father kindly looked Him down and said, “Forget-me-not.”
—Anon.
WHO STOLE THE BIRD’S NEST.
“To-whit! To-whit! To-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?”
“Not I,” said the cow, “moo-oo!
Such a thing I’d never do.
I gave you a wisp of hay,
But I did not take your nest away:
Not I,” said the cow, “moo-oo!
Such a thing I’d never do.”
“Bob-o-link! Bob-o-link!
Now, what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plum tree to-day?”
“Not I,” said the dog, “bow-wow!
I wouldn’t be so mean, I vow.
I gave some hairs the nest to make,
But the nest I did not take.
Not I,” said the dog, “bow-wow!
I wouldn’t be so mean, I vow.”
“Coo-oo! Coo-coo! Coo-coo!
Let me speak a word or two:
Who stole that pretty nest,
From little Yellow-breast?”
“Not I,” said the sheep; “oh, no,
I would not treat a poor bird so;
I gave wool the nest to line,
But the nest was none of mine.
Baa! Baa!” said the sheep; “oh no;
I wouldn’t treat a poor bird so.”
“Caw! Caw!” cried the crow,
“I should like to know
What thief took away
A bird’s nest to-day.”
“Cluck! Cluck!” said the hen,
“Don’t ask me again;
Why, I haven’t a chick
Would do such a trick.
We all gave her a feather,
And she wove them together.
I’d scorn to intrude
On her and her brood.
Cluck! Cluck!” said the hen,
“Don’t ask me again.”
“Chirr-a-whirr! Chirr-a-whirr!
All the birds make a stir.
Let us find out his name,
And all cry, ‘For shame!’”
Said little Mary Green,
“I think I never heard
Of anything so mean!”
“It’s very cruel, too,”
Said little Alice Neal,
“I wonder if he knew
How sad the bird would feel.”
A little boy hung down his head,
And went and hid behind the bed:
For he stole that pretty nest
From little Yellow-Breast;
And he felt so full of shame
He did not like to tell his name.
—Anon.