A robin came one day in spring,
From South he flew with tired wing;
He looked around him then to see
An old familiar cherry-tree.
There grew one by the kitchen door,
Redbreast had seen that one before;
He flew about, then lit up high,
And watched to see some one pass by.
A girl came through the kitchen door,
Her years, I think, just numbered four;
She saw Redbreast, and called to him,
As he perched upon that cherry limb:—
"Oh, sweet robin! When did you come?
Are you hungry? Do you want a crumb?
Are you thirsty? Do you want a drink?
You must be very tired, I think.
"Say, Sir Robin, why don't you sing?
Or don't you know that this is spring?
Where have you been this winter long?
I missed, so much, your little song!"
"I flew about in a sunny clime,
Singing my 'cheer-up!' most the time.
And what did you, my little maid,
While I down South this winter stayed?"
"When Christmas came we had a tree,
And that was nice for Lisle and me;
'Twas hung so full of things all new,
I wish that you had seen it too.
"I got some blocks and he a drum,
I tell you then we had some fun!
We got some dolls and whistles too,
And then we played, and then we blew.
"We got a sled and went to slide;
We went to town and had a ride;
We popped some corn when days were cold,
And ate as much as we could hold.
"One doll got sick and had the croup,
Another coughed with dreadful whoop;
And so, Redbreast, I think you'll see
I've been as busy as I could be.
"And now, Redbreast, where is your mate?
What made her stay down South so late?
Why don't she come to build her nest,
And lay some eggs, and sit and rest?"
"Oh, she'll come soon, and then you'll see
We'll build right here in this same tree,
And here we'll stay till cherries are gone,
And then sing you a parting song." |