"Bob-o-link, bob-o-link, reed-bird, butter-bird, All through the country his jingle is gaily heard; Reveling in rice-fields he sweeps through the South, While wheat, corn, and barley-fields welcome him North, And Bobby is wild with his singing and chatter, So saucily calling with rattle and clatter, Bob-o-link, bob-o-link, Tom-denny, Tom-denny, Come-now-and-pay-me-that-two-shillings-one-penny, No,-I'll-not-wait-for-a-day-nor-a-minute, So-pay-me-up-quick-or-you'll-get-your-foot-in-it;-- Chink-a-chee, chink-a-chee, chink-a-chee, chin-it, Yes,-pay-me-up-quick,-or-you'll-get-your-foot-in-it." {138} _LIMPY-DIMPY-DINGLE_. Limpy-dimpy-dingle, chicky-bid would stray To the trap that had been set for weasels, many a day, Limpy-dimpy-dingle, chicky-bid walked in, And the trap its teeth shut up, on chicky-biddy's shin. Limpy-dimpy-dingle, chicky-bid is brought, And her leg, so sore and big, we bathe with water hot. Limpy-dimpy-dingle, here's a broken bone, All so rough,--but close enough we bring the ends, right soon. {139} Limpy-dimpy-dingle, strips of paste-board cut, We will place with care and grace, from thigh to trembling foot Limpy-dimpy-dingle, softest cotton, too, Just within the paste-board thin, to fit around so true. Limpy-dimpy-dingle, now with tape or band, Neatly wind, and closely bind, with deft and skillful hand. Limpy-dimpy-dingle, nature'll do the rest, And soon will knit the bone to fit, as good as very best. {140} _CASTLE WONDERFUL_. I know a castle, curious, Of lovely form and make; That we may view the castle through, A hasty peep we'll take. {141} The framework of my castle proud, Is neither wood nor stone, But earthy matter mixed with lime And hardened into bone. This frame, of oddments is composed,-- In mind, the number fix,-- Of long and short and thick and thin, Two hundred just, and six. And these are fastened each to each, By hinges, like, or joints, Which, with an oil so soft and pure, The Builder wise, anoints. For garnishing this goodly frame, Quaint cushions, large and small, Are fitly fashioned, each in place, And pliant, one and all. For cushion covers, deftly wrought, A scarf so beautiful, So pinkish-white, so loose yet tight, So warm and yet so cool; Upon the smoothly rounded roof Is strewn the finest floss, A filmy veil, as soft as silk,-- Or is it fairy moss? {142} Two windows hath this castle fair, That shut and open wide, With cords and pulleys, curtains fringed, And fixtures fine beside. These wondrous windows even smile And speak and fairly dance, And play at anger, hate, and love, And mischief, too, perchance. These windows, too, are marvelous In that they let the light Both in and out for him who dwells Within, the lordly knight.