[This piece may be given by a little girl, the whole class joining in the refrain.] There was a wee chicken, just out of the shell— Along with her mother this chicken did dwell- That good lady told her, by night or by day, That far from her home she must never more stray; 2 One morn, when the mother was out of her sight- This daughter went out with the greatest delight- She wandered along till she came to a brook, "Oh, you're such a beauty !" the froggie then said— This flattered her so that it quite turned her head- "You're queen of the birds, and should wear a gold crown,' Said sly little froggie, "pray, on me don't frown!" She dropped in the brook, and sank down, derry down— Chickery, chickery, chick! WHAT? KATE PUTNAM OSGOOD. [Deliver in a questioning manner.} What was it that Charlie saw to-day, The fly and the fish were there, indeed; Some willows droop to the brooklet's bed: You have not read me the riddle yet, Not even the wing of a wounded bee, Now answer, you who have grown so wise- LADY MOON. LORD HOUGHTON. [Deliver in a questioning manner the first and third lines of 1st, 2d and "Lady Moon, Lady Moon, where are you roving ?" "Lady Moon, Lady Moon, whom are you loving?" "Are you not tired with rolling, and never Why look so pale and so sad, as forever "Ask me not this, little child, if you love me; I must obey my dear father above me. "Lady Moon, Lady Moon, where are you roving?" "Lady Moon, Lady Moon, whom are you loving ?" [To be recited in a thoughtful, though animated manner.] Ring-ting! I wish I were a primrose, 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 sun and moonshine glance in, O, no! I wish I were a robin-- A robin or a little wren, everywhere to go: And ask no leave or pardon Till winter comes with icy thumbs Well, tell! Where should I fly to, Home would come the rover, For mother's kiss! sweeter this Than any other thing. WHO TO CHOOSE COMPANIONS, ANON. [Change the voice, if possible, in order to imitate the two supposed to be in conversation.] "By your leave, sir," said a water rat to the kingfisher, "this is my house." And he sat in the doorway to prevent the kingfisher from entering. "Nay, but I want to come in," said the kingfisher, “I have paid you my visits before, and why not now? Think how handsome I am, and how much my family is sought after." "You have been in before, sir; but to tell you the truth, that's the very reason I prefer to keep you out now, notwithstanding your fine clothes and your fine family. You have an awkward habit of eating fish and leaving the bones at my door. Now, I don't want anything laid to me that I don't deserve, and as I don't catch and eat fish I won't have the credit of it. I consider no company worth having that takes away my character!" |