THE FARMER IN RAGE, WAR DOTH WAGE.
The farmer heard the cawing sound,
And sent to all his neighbours round,
Begging of them every one
To bring a rifle or a gun,
If they would come the sport to see
Of shooting at the rookery;
And try to check the rural pest,
Which did the country so infest,
And stop the robbery of corn,
Which was no longer to be borne.
LITTLE CARE CROWS FOR THE SCARE-CROWS.
For though the farmers had a plan
To scare them with the form of man,
The Crows, at first much terrified,
And wheeling high in circles wide,
Had soon become too bold for that;
And even perched upon the hat,
And loud in mockery cried “Caw! Caw!
’Tis nothing but a man of straw.”
AN OLD CROW’S EYE DOTH MISCHIEF SPY.
The next day, as the picture shows,
The farmers met to shoot the Crows—
Their rustling underneath the trees
The young ones thought was but the breeze;
But an old Crow’s experienced eye
Discovered soon their enemy;
Whose purpose was not left in doubt,
For, uttering a murderous shout,
The shooters levelled each his gun—
Bang! Bang! the slaughter is begun.