In My Nursery Part 19

A LEGEND OF LAKE OKEEFINOKEE.

There once was a frog, And he lived in a bog, On the banks of Lake Okeefinokee.

And the words of the song That he sang all day long Were, "Croakety croakety croaky."

Said the frog, "I have found That my life's daily round In this place is exceedingly poky.

So no longer I'll stop, But I swiftly will hop Away from Lake Okeefinokee."

Now a bad mocking-bird By mischance overheard The words of the frog as he spokee.

And he said, "All my life Frog and I've been at strife, As we lived by Lake Okeefinokee.

"Now I see at a glance Here's a capital chance For to play him a practical jokee.

So I'll venture to say That he shall not to-day Leave the banks of Lake Okeefinokee."

So this bad mocking-bird, Without saying a word, He flew to a tree which was oaky.

And loudly he sang, Till the whole forest rang, "Oh! Croakety croakety croaky!"

As he warbled this song, Master Frog came along, A-filling his pipe for to smokee, And he said, "'Tis some frog Has escaped from the bog Of Okeefinokee-finokee.

"I am filled with amaze To hear one of my race A-warbling on top of an oaky; But if frogs can climb trees, I may still find some ease On the banks of Lake Okeefinokee."

So he climbed up the tree; But alas! down fell he!

And his lovely green neck it was brokee; And the sad truth to say, Never more did he stray From the banks of Lake Okeefinokee.

And the bad mocking-bird Said, "How very absurd And delightful a practical jokee!"

But I'm happy to say He was drowned the next day In the waters of Okeefinokee.

GRANDPAPA'S VALENTINE.

I may not claim her lovely hand, My darling and my pride!

I may not ask her to become My bright and beauteous bride; The measure of my love for her May not be said or sung; And all because I'm rather old, And she is rather young.

I may not clasp her slender waist, And thread the mazy dance; I may not drive her in the Park, With steeds that neigh and prance.

I may not tempt her with my lands, Nor buy her with my gold; And all because she's rather young, And I am rather old.

She leaves me for a younger swain, A plump and beardless boy.

She slights me for a sugar-plum, Neglects me for a toy.

And worst of all, this state of things Can never altered be; For I am nearly sixty-eight, And she is only three.

ALIBAZAN.

All on the road to Alibazan, A May Day in the morning, 'Twas there I met a bonny young man, A May Day in the morning; A bonny young man all dressed in blue, Hat and feather and stocking and shoe, Ruff and doublet and mantle too, A May Day in the morning.

He made me a bow, and he made me three, A May Day in the morning; He said, in truth, I was fair to see, A May Day in the morning.

"And say, will you be my sweetheart now?

I'll marry you truly with ring and vow; I've ten fat sheep and a black-nosed cow, A May Day in the morning.

"What shall we buy in Alibazan, A May Day in the morning?

A pair of shoes and a feathered fan, A May Day in the morning.

A velvet gown all set with pearls, A silver hat for your golden curls, A pot of pinks for my pink of girls, A May Day in the morning."

All in the streets of Alibazan, A May Day in the morning, The merry maidens tripped and ran, A May Day in the morning.

And this was fine, and that was free, But he turned from them all to look on me; And "Oh! but there's none so fair to see, A May Day in the morning."

All in the church of Alibazan, A May Day in the morning, 'Twas there I wed my bonny young man, A May Day in the morning.

And oh! 'tis I am his sweetheart now!

And oh! 'tis we are happy, I trow, With our ten fat sheep and our black-nosed cow, A May Day in the morning.

THE THREE FISHERS.

John, Frederick, and Henry, Had once a holiday; And they would go a-fis.h.i.+ng, So merry and so gay.

They went to fish for salmon, These little children three; As in this pretty picture You all may plainly see.

It was not in the ocean, Nor from the river sh.o.r.e, But in the monstrous water-b.u.t.t Outside the kitchen door.

And John he had a fish-hook, And Fred a crooked pin, And Henry took his sister's net, And thought it was no sin.

They climbed up on the ladder, Till they the top did win; And then they perched upon the edge, And then they did begin.

But how their fis.h.i.+ng prospered, Or if they did it well, Or if they caught the salmon, I cannot, cannot tell.

Because I was not there, you know, But I can only say That I too went a-fis.h.i.+ng, That pleasant summer day.

It was not for a salmon, Or shark with monstrous fin, But it was for three little boys, All dripping to the skin.

PEEPSY.

[_After the manner of Jane Taylor._]

Our Julia has a little bird, And Peepsy is his name; And now I'll sing a little song To celebrate the same.

He's yellow all from head to foot, And he is very sweet, And very little trouble, for He never wants to eat.

He never asks for water clear, He never chirps for seed, For cracker, or for cuttlefish, For sugar or chickweed.

"Oh! what a perfect pet!" you cry, But there's one little thing, One drawback to the bonny bird,-- Our Peepsy cannot sing.