Chapter I: LOVE you, Dear, I love you, Dear,

You can't think how I love you, Dear!
Supposing I
Were a Butterfly,
I'd waver around and above you, Dear.

A long way off I spied you, Dear,
No bonnet or hat could hide you, Dear,
If I were a Bird,
Believe my word,
I'd sing every day beside you, Dear.

When you're away I miss you, Dear,
And now you're here I'll kiss you, Dear,
And beg you will take
This flow'r for my sake,
And my love along with this, you Dear!

SEASONS.

IN Spring-time, the Forest,
In Summer, the Sea,
In Autumn, the Mountains,
In Winter,--ah me!

How gay, the old branches
A-swarm with new buds,
The primrose and bluebell
Fresh-blown in the woods,
All green things unfolding,
Where merry birds sing!
I love in the Woodlands
To wander in Spring.

What joy, when the Sea-waves,
In mirth and in might,
Spread purple in shadow,
Flash white into light!
The gale fills the sail,
And the gull flies away;
In crimson and gold
Sets the long Summer Day.

O pride! on the Mountains
To leave earth below;
The great slopes of heather,
One broad purple glow;
The loud-roaring torrent
Leaps, bound after bound,
To plains of gold Autumn,
With mist creeping round

Ah, Wind, is it Winter?
Yes, Winter is here;
With snow on the meadow,
And ice on the mere.
The daylight is short,
But the firelight is long;
Our skating's good sport;
Then story and song.

In Spring-time, the Forest,
In Summer, the Sea,
In Autumn, the Mountains,--
And Winter has glee.

THE CAT AND THE DOG.

THERE once lived a Man, a Cat, and a Dog,
And the Man built a house with stone and log.
"If you'll help to take care of this house with me,
One indoors, one out, your places must be."
Said both together, "Indoors I'll stay!"
And they argued the matter for half-a-day.

"Come, let us sing for it!" purrs the Cat;
"No!" barks the Dog, "I won't do that."
"Come, let us fight for it!" growls Bow-wow;
"Nay!" says Pussy, "mee-ow, mee-ow!"
"Well, let us race for it!"--said and done.
The course is mark'd out, and away they run.

Puss bounded off; the Dog ran fast;
Quickly was Puss overtaken and pass'd;
But a Beggar who under the hedge did lie
Struck the poor Dog as he gallop'd by
A blow with his staff, and lessen'd his pace
To a limp: so Pussy won the race.

The Beggar went on his way to beg;
Dog was cured of his limping leg;
And Cat keeps the inside of the house,
Watching it well from rat and mouse,
Dog keeps the outside, ever since then,
And always barks at beggar-men.

HERE AND THERE.

(A JUVENILE CHORUS.)

Where's Lucy? where's Lucy?
Far, far in the wood,
With wild birds for playmates,
And beechnuts for food?

CHORUS.

_No, here she is! here she is!
Happy and gay,
With singing and ringing
To join in our lay._

Where's Gerald? where's Gerald?
He's out in the snow;
The stars shining keenly,
The cold wind doth blow.

_No, here he is! here he is!
Happy and gay;
With singing and ringing
To join in our lay!_

Where's Evey? where's Evey?
She's lost in the fog;
Go seek her, go find her,
With man and with dog.

_No, here she is! here she is!
Happy and gay;
With singing and ringing,
To join in our lay!_

Where's Henry? where's Henry?
Poor Henry's afloat;
The sea-waves all round him,
High tossing his boat.

_No, here he is! here he is!
Happy and gay;
With singing and ringing
To join in our lay!_

Where's Charley? where's Charley?
In China dwells he;
He wears a long pig-tail,
Perpetually drinks tea.

_No, here he is! here he is!
Happy and gay;
With singing and ringing,
To join in our lay!_

Where's Johnny? where's Johnny?
In Nubia, I know;
He has climb'd a tall palm-tree,--
A lion's below.

_No, here he is! here he is!
Happy and gay;
With singing and ringing,
To join in our lay!_

Where's Mary? where's Mary?
Young Mary's asleep;
And round her white pillow
The little dreams creep.

_No, here she is! here she is!
Happy and gay;
With singing and ringing,
To join in our lay!_

Where's Bertha? where's Bertha?
She has wings--she can fly!
She has flown to the bright moon--
Look up there and spy!

_No, here she is! here she is!
Happy and gay;
With sinking and ringing,
To join in our lay!_

[AD INFINITUM.]

THE BIRD.

"BIRDIE, Birdie, will you pet?
Summer-time is far away yet,
You'll have silken quilts and a velvet bed,
And a pillow of satin for your head!"

"I'd rather sleep in the ivy wall;
No rain comes through, tho' I hear it fall;
The sun peeps gay at dawn of day,
And I sing, and wing away, away!"

"O Birdie, Birdie, will you pet?
Diamond-stones and amber and jet
We'll string for a necklace fair and fine
To please this pretty bird of mine!"

"O thanks for diamonds, and thanks for jet,
But here is something daintier yet,--
A feather-necklace round and round,
That I wouldn't sell for a thousand pound!"

"O Birdie, Birdie, won't you pet?
We'll buy you a dish of silver fret,
A golden cup and an ivory seat,
And carpets soft beneath your feet!"

"Can running water be drunk from gold?
Can a silver dish the forest hold?
A rocking twig is the finest chair,
And the softest paths lie through the air,--
Good-bye, good-bye to my lady fair!"

WISHING.

RING-TING! I wish I were a Primrose,
A bright yellow Primrose blowing in the Spring!
The stooping boughs above me,
The wandering bee to love me,
The fern and moss to creep across,
And the Elm-tree for our king!

Nay--stay! I wish I were an Elm-tree,
A great lofty Elm-tree, with green leaves gay!
The winds would set them dancing,
The sun and moonshine glancing,
The Birds would house among the boughs,
And sweetly sing!

O--no! I wish I were a Robin,
A Robin or a little Wren, everywhere to go;
Through forest, field, or garden,
And ask no leave or pardon,
Till Winter comes with icy thumbs
To ruffle up our wing.

Well--tell! Where should I fly to,
Where go to sleep in the dark wood or dell?
Before a day was over,
Home comes the rover,
For Mother's kiss,--sweeter this
Than any other thing!

I SAW A LITTLE BIRDIE FLY.