Swim the stream and climb the mountain And kneel down beside my feet-- 'Lo, my master sends this gage, Lady, for thy pity's counting! What wilt thou exchange for it?' "And the first time I will send A white rosebud for a guerdon, And the second time, a glove; But the third time--I may bend From my pride, and answer--' Pardon, If he comes to take my love.' [Illustration: 0235] "Then the young foot-page will run, Then my lover will ride faster, Till he kneeleth at my knee: 'l ama duke's eldest son, Thousand serfs do call me master, But, O Love, I love but thee!' "He will kiss me on the mouth Then, and lead me as a lover Through the crowds that praise his deeds: And, when soul-tied by one troth, Unto him I will discover That swan's nest among the reeds." Little Ellie, with her smile Not yet ended, rose up gaily, Tied the bonnet, donned the shoe, And went homeward, round a mile, Just to "see, as she did daily, What more eggs were with the two. Pushing through the elm-tree copse, Winding up the stream, light-hearted, Where the osier pathway leads, Past the boughs she stoops--and stops. Lo, the wild swan had deserted, And a rat had gnawed the reeds. Ellie went home sad and slow. If she found the lover ever, With his red-roan steed of steeds, Sooth I know not; but I know She could never show him--never, That swan's nest among the reeds! ----E. B. Browning. [Illustration: 0236] THE THREE SAILORS |There were three sailors in Bristol city, Who took a boat and went to sea. But first with beef and captains' biscuit, And pickled pork they loaded she. There was guzzling Jack and gorging Jimmy, And the youngest he was little Billy. Now very soon they were so greedy, They didn't leave not one split pea. Says guzzling Jack to gorging Jimmy, I am confounded hung-ery. Says gorging Jim to guzzling Jacky, We have no wittles, so we must eat we. Says guzzling Jack to gorging Jimmy, Oh! gorging Jim, what a fool you be. There's little Bill as is young and tender, We're old and tough--so let's eat _he_. Oh! Bill, we're going to kill and eat you, So undo the collar of your chemie. When Bill he heard this information, He used his pocket-handkerchee. Oh! let me say my catechism, As my poor mammy taught to me. Make haste' make haste, says guzzling Jacky, Whilst Jim pulled out his snicker-snee. So Bill went up the main top-gallant mast, When down he fell on his bended knee. He scarce had said his catechism, When up he jumps; "There's land I see! "There's Jerusalem and Madagascar, And North and South _Ameri-key._ "There's the British fleet a-riding at anchor, With Admiral Napier, K.C.B." So when they came to the Admiral's vessel,