Alas! in Winter, dead and dark,
Where can poor Robin go?
Robin, Robin Redbreast,

O Robin dear!

And a crumb of bread for Robin,

His little heart to cheer.

William Allingham.

The Lark and the Rook

"Good-night, Sir Rook!" said a little lark.
"The daylight fades; it will soon be dark;
I've bathed my wings in the sun's last ray;
I've sung my hymn to the parting day;
So now I haste to my quiet nook

In yon dewy meadow-good-night, Sir Rook!"

66

Good-night, poor Lark," said his titled friend, With a haughty toss and a distant bend; "I also go to my rest profound,

But not to sleep on the cold, damp ground.
The fittest place for a bird like me

Is the topmost bough of yon tall pine-tree.

"I opened my eyes at peep of day
And saw you taking your upward way,
Dreaming your fond romantic dreams,
An ugly speck in the sun's bright beams;

Soaring too high to be seen or heard;

6

And I said to myself: What a foolish bird!'

"I trod the park with a princely air, I filled my crop with the richest fare; I cawed all day 'mid a lordly crew,

And I made more noise in the world than you! The sun shone forth on my ebon wing;

I looked and wondered-good-night, poor thing!"

66

Good-night, once more," said the lark's sweet voice.

"I see no cause to repent my choice;
You build your nest in the lofty pine,
But is your slumber more sweet than mine?
You make more noise in the world than I,
But whose is the sweeter minstrelsy?"

Unknown.

The Snowbird

In the rosy light trills the gay swallow,
The thrush, in the roses below;

The meadow-lark sings in the meadow,
But the snowbird sings in the snow.
Ah me!

Chickadee !

The snowbird sings in the snow!

The blue martin trills in the gable,
The wren, in the gourd below;
In the elm flutes the golden robin,
But the snowbird sings in the snow.
Ah me!

Chickadee !

The snowbird sings in the snow!

High wheels the gray wing of the osprey,
The wing of the sparrow drops low;
In the mist dips the wing of the robin,
And the snowbird's wing in the snow.
Ah me!

Chickadee !

The snowbird sings in the snow.

I love the high heart of the osprey,
The meek heart of the thrush below,
The heart of the lark in the meadow,
And the snowbird's heart in the snow.
But dearest to me,

Chickadee Chickadee !

Is that true little heart in the snow.

Hezekiah Butterworth

Who Stole the Bird's Nest?

"To-whit! to-whit! to-whee! Will you listen to me?

Who stole four eggs I laid,

And the nice nest I made?"

"Not I," said the cow, "Moo-00! Such a thing I'd never do.

I gave you a wisp of hay,

But didn't take your nest away.
Not I," said the cow, "Moo-00!
Such a thing I'd never do."

"To-whit! to-whit! to-whee!
Will you listen to me?

Who stole four eggs I laid,

And the nice nest I made?"

Now what do you think?

Who stole a nest away

From the plum-tree, to-day?"

"Not I," said the dog, "Bow-wow!

I wouldn't be so mean, anyhow!

I

gave hairs the nest to make,

But the nest I did not take.

Not I," said the dog, "Bow-wow!

I'm not so mean, anyhow."

"To-whit! to-whit! to-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?"

"Bob-o'-link! Bob-o'-link!
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plum-tree, to-day?"

"Coo-coo!

Coo-coo! Coo-coo!

Let me speak a word, too!

Who stole that pretty nest
From little yellow-breast?"

"Not I," said the sheep; "Oh, no!
I wouldn't treat a poor bird so.

I

gave wool the nest to line,

But the nest was none of mine.

Baa! Baa!" said the sheep, "Oh, no,

I wouldn't treat a poor bird so."

"To-whit! to-whit! to-whee! Will you listen to me?

Who stole four eggs I laid,

And the nice nest I made?"

Now what do you think?

Who stole a nest away

From the plum-tree, to-day?"