III.
MY CHILD WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN.
(FROM THE GERMAN OF HEINE.)
My child when we were children,
Two children small and gay,
We crept into the hen-house
And hid us under the hay.
We crowed, as do the cockerels,
When people passed the road,
"Kikeriki!" and they fancied
It was the cock that crowed.
The chests which lay in the court-yard,
We papered them so fair,
Making a house right famous,
And dwelt together there.
The old cat of our neighbor,
Came oft to make a call;
We made her bows and courtesies,
And compliments and all.
We asked with friendly question,
How her health was getting on:
To many an ancient pussy
The same we since have done.
In sensible discoursing
We sat like aged men,
And told how in our young days
All things had better been.
That Truth, Love and Religion
From the earth are vanished quite—
And now so dear is coffee,
And money is so tight!