Chapter M: M. Read

The Dog and the Wolf;
Or, BE CONTENT WITH YOUR LOT.

A lean, hungry wolf was prowling about in search of supper, when he met a big well-fed mastiff. “How do you manage to look so sleek, when I, who work ten times as hard, am half-starved?” inquired the wolf.

“Oh,” said the dog, “I watch the house at night and sleep all day.”

“Just the thing for me,” said the wolf, “but first tell me, what is that mark round your neck.”

“That's only made by my collar,” answered the dog. “I am chained up all day. They say I may bite, but that is all nonsense.”

“Good-bye,” said the wolf, turning back. “Chained up, indeed! No, thank you.”

Castles in the Air.

When you and I are bigger, Fred,
Say, what shall we do then?
What shall we do with ourselves all day,
When you and I are men?

We'll climb the biggest poplar tree
That stands against the wall.
You could touch the stars from the top, I think,
It is so straight and tall.

We'll spread our bread and butter thick,
(And Nurse shan't cut it then!)
And have raspberry jam whenever we like,
When you and I are men.

We'll go to bed quite late at night
And we won't get up till ten;
And we'll never let Jane put the soap in our eyes,
When you and I are men.

And we'll have two white horses, Fred
One each for me and you;
And we'll give up learning our A B C,
And twice times one are two.

We'll always wear our oldest clothes,
(Not wear our Sunday suits.)
We won't wash our hands when we've made mud pies,
And we'll walk in the sea in our boots.

We'll help ourselves to sugar, Fred;
It will be lovely then!
Oh! don't you wish that the time would come
When you and I'll be men?