Without a word of warning
The old umbrella came,
Opened upside down before her,
And whispered soft her name. [{277}]
"Come, Nanny you've been longing
For a ride, and now's your time:
Jump in,--be quick! And careful, too,
For I'm o'erpast my prime."
So, springing in, she sat there
As happy as you please,
And through the open window,
Was borne upon the breeze.
The sparrows eyed her keenly,
The doves left off their cooing,
And children, cause they couldn't go,
Set up a grand boo-hoo-ing.
She bobbed against a clothes-line,
And all the wash went flying; [{278}] The good dame cried, "A witch! a witch!
The saints forefend my drying."
And next she got entangled
In the telegraphic wires;
And when she jerked away from them,
She bumped against the spires.
She hit the tallest chimneys,
And set the smoke a-curling,
Then knocked a flag-pole all awry,
The stars and stripes a-whirling.
Now, far beyond the city,
With mountains in her face,
An eagle pounced to catch her,
But she quickly won the race.
Within a mountain cavelet,
Two baby-bears so young,
Smiled on her as she passed them,
And greetings to her flung.
She heard the thunder rolling.
And saw the lightning's glare,
From clouds away beneath her,
While 'round her all was fair.