A robin had come to bid me good-by,
And up in a tree had perched himself high;
He seemed not to mind that the day was cold,
But sang his sweet song the same as of old.
The morning was drear and leafless the tree,
But dear old robin! so happy was he!
I said to him, "Robin, why do you wait?
It seems to me you are staying too late.
"The weather is cold, the flowers are dead,
The trees all their leaves have long ago shed;
You'd better be going before the snow comes,
Or hungry you'll be, and looking for crumbs.
"And old Jack Frost will be after your feet,
Then you'll need your wing to cover your beak.
So, Robin, please hurry away, or you'll freeze
If you stay around here in the leafless trees."
But robin sang on, and, nodding his head,
"Don't worry for me," he knowingly said,
"I'm not a bit 'fraid of Jack or the snow,
That's why I have been in no hurry to go.
"It won't take me long to fly away there,
Where trees are all green and balmy the air;
It's just a nice trip for this time of year,
And I've made it before, so I haven't a fear."
"But, Robin, you know that the rain might fall,
And the day might end in a dreadful squall;
So I cannot see why you have been so slow,
For the rest have flown there long ago.
"Say, what do you do in that far sunny clime?
Does Santa Claus come there at Christmas time?
You cannot go coasting, or skating on ice,
So I don't think the South can be very nice."
"When you are watching for Santa Claus' sleigh,
He travels down South in a far differ'nt way.
In a great air ship, with fairies for guides,
From chimney to chimney he quietly rides.
"When you are coasting adown some hill,
I'll be drinking from some rippling rill;
When you are freezing your feet on your skates,
I'll be sailing o'er beautiful lakes.
"When you are making a man out of snow,
I'll be tending some wild-flower show;
When you are trying your best to keep warm,
I'll be away from Jack Frost's harm.
"But now I am going to say good-by,
So, dear little girl, for me do not cry.
I'll not be afraid though the journey is long,
For my body is warm and my wings are strong.
"But if I grow tired and think 'twill be best,
I'll stop on the way and take a short rest;
And in the glad spring I'll come flying back,
And others will follow right on in my track.
"So watch for my coming and list for my song,
For winter is short and you won't wait long";
Then he sang unto me a robin's adieu,
And opened his wings and southward he flew.

THE FOOLISH FLOWERS

Miss Chrysanth'um gave a party
On a cool October night,
And invited in the flowers
That had tender buds in sight.
Then she whispered to the Pansy
That old Jack was coming soon,
And he'd nip her tender budlets
If she left them out to bloom.
Then she told the grand Nasturtium,
That was climbing up the wall,
That if Jack should overtake her
She was sure to have a fall.
And she said to Miss Petunia:
"You must find a hiding-place,
For if Jack should chance to kiss you
He would spoil your pretty face."
And the other summer flowers,
That were blooming rather late,
She told them all to hide away,
Or they'd meet a frosty fate.
So they put their heads together,
All the flowers that were wise,
And they planned to fool old Jack
With his sparkling, piercing eyes.
But the flowers that were foolish,
When she bade them take advice,
Shook their heads of flowery beauty
And they laughed at frost and ice.
Miss Chrysanth'um helped the wise ones
In the plans that they had laid:
So they gathered leaves of maple,
And some coverlets then made.
When old Jack came stealing onward,
With the stars all shining bright,
Not a flower among the wise ones
Was there left to greet his sight.
All were hidden under covers
Made from leaves of Autumn's gold;
And Jack then failed to find them
Though he was so sharp and old.
But the Marigold was laughing,
When he chanced to pass her by;
And Nasturtium still was climbing
O'er the wall so old and high.
Then he blew his breath upon them
And they both began to sneeze;
Soon the tender buds and blossoms
Of the flowers began to freeze.
When the sun shone out next morning
O'er the pretty flower-bed,
All the wise ones were rejoicing
But the foolish ones—were dead.

GRANDPA AND PET

Grandpa was holding his pet on his lap,
Grandpa and pet were taking a nap.
Off in far dreamland were grandpa and May,
Looking for goodies for Thanksgiving Day.
Jogging along, he was holding her hand,
Viewing the sights in funny dreamland.
Looking for turkeys, dressed up in gowns,
Shooing at goblins wearing bright crowns.
Smiling at puddings a-walking on legs,
Laughing at dumplings a-sitting on pegs.
Onward and onward went grandpa and May,
Looking for goodies for Thanksgiving Day.
Hunting for turkeys stuffed and roasted,
Longing for bread buttered and toasted.
'Round and 'round went grandpa and May,
Hungry as two little children at play.
Finding at last a table all spread,
Grandpa and May sat down at the head.
Looking it o'er some goodies they spied,
"See! Grandpa, see!" little May cried:
"There's a turkey stuffed and roasted!
There's some bread buttered and toasted!
"There's some dumplings sitting on pegs!
There's a pudding standing on legs!
"There's a clock that's mountains high,
Reaching up against the sky!"
Soon the clock began to chime,
Everything marched off in line.
'Round and 'round in giddy whirl,
Passed the man and little girl.
Pet and grandpa watched them all,
Wond'ring that they did not fall.
He helped himself and little May,
As the turkey came their way;
Piled their plates up full and high,
As the rest came marching by.
Just as grandpa took a bite,
Sleeping pet then moved a mite,
Slipped and fell from grandpa's lap,
Right then ended grandpa's nap.
Back from dreamland came the two,
Sorry that their trip was through.