Now had these children been at home, Or sliding on dry ground, Ten thousand pounds to one penny They had not all been drown’d. You parents all that children have, And you that eke have none, If you would have them safe abroad, Pray keep them safe at home. CARMEN CANINUM. Labentes super glaciem, In medio æstatis, Tres pueri sunt mersi, et Succubuêre fatis. Ah, si in terrâ lapsi sint, Vel domi si mansissent Sestertium ad denarium Non aquâ periisent. Parentes quibus nati sunt, Et vos qui non habetis Si salvos vultis foris hos, Clausos domi servetis. _The Hornet._ 1872. ――――:o:―――― THE COW. Thank you, pretty cow, that made Pleasant milk to soak my bread, Ev’ry day and ev’ry night, Warm, and fresh, and sweet, and white. Do not chew the hemlock rank, Growing on the weedy bank; But the yellow cowslips eat, They perhaps will make it sweet. Where the purple violet grows, Where the bubbling water flows, Where the grass is fresh and fine, Pretty cow, go there and dine. TO A PET REPTILE. Thank you, pretty spotted snake, Thus to as your mistress try me. What a charming pet you make, Cold and creepy, damp and slimy! How you wriggle up my sleeve. How you coil around my shoulder Causing visitors to leave, Terrifying each beholder. Come, then, where your breakfast waits, Reptile of eccentric habits; Come, and seal the several fates Of these frogs and two plump rabbits. ――――:o:―――― THE CAT. I love little Pussy, her coat is so warm, And if I don’t hurt her, she’ll do me no harm; So I’ll ne’er pull her tail, nor drive her away. But pussy and I together will play; She shall sit by my side, and I’ll give her some food, And she’ll love me because I am gentle and good. TO MY NEW PET. I love my ichneumon, Its tongue is so queer, Its ways are so human, It has such a leer. ’Tis fond of the emmet For dinner and tea; But ere you condemn it, Pray listen to me. And know that though _ants_ it Delights in so much; Its fiercest foe grants it An _uncle_ won’t touch. “Be lenient with lobsters, and ever kind to crabs, And be not disrespectful to cuttle-fish or dabs; Chase not the Cochin-China, chaff not the ox obese, And babble not of feather-beds in company with geese. Be tender with the tadpole, and let the limpet thrive, Be merciful to mussels, don’t skin your eels alive; When talking to a turtle don’t mention calipee―― Be always kind to animals wherever you may be.” ――――:o:―――― Speak roughly to your little boy, And beat him when he sneezes; He only does it to annoy, Because he knows it teases. _Alice in Wonderland._