THE BIRD. "BIRDIE, Birdie, will you pet? Summer-time is far away yet, You'll have silken quilts and a velvet bed, And a pillow of satin for your head!" "I'd rather sleep in the ivy wall; No rain comes through, tho' I hear it fall; The sun peeps gay at dawn of day, And I sing, and wing away, away!" "O Birdie, Birdie, will you pet? Diamond-stones and amber and jet We'll string for a necklace fair and fine To please this pretty bird of mine!" "O thanks for diamonds, and thanks for jet, But here is something daintier yet,-- A feather-necklace round and round, That I wouldn't sell for a thousand pound!" "O Birdie, Birdie, won't you pet? We'll buy you a dish of silver fret, A golden cup and an ivory seat, And carpets soft beneath your feet!" "Can running water be drunk from gold? Can a silver dish the forest hold? A rocking twig is the finest chair, And the softest paths lie through the air,-- Good-bye, good-bye to my lady fair!" WISHING. RING-TING! I wish I were a Primrose, A bright yellow Primrose blowing in the Spring! The stooping boughs above me, The wandering bee to love me, The fern and moss to creep across, And the Elm-tree for our king! [Illustration] Nay--stay! I wish I were an Elm-tree, A great lofty Elm-tree, with green leaves gay! The winds would set them dancing, The sun and moonshine glancing, The Birds would house among the boughs, And sweetly sing! [Illustration] O--no! I wish I were a Robin, A Robin or a little Wren, everywhere to go; Through forest, field, or garden, And ask no leave or pardon, Till Winter comes with icy thumbs To ruffle up our wing. Well--tell! Where should I fly to, Where go to sleep in the dark wood or dell? Before a day was over, Home comes the rover, For Mother's kiss,--sweeter this Than any other thing! [Illustration] I SAW A LITTLE BIRDIE FLY. I SAW a little Birdie fly, Merrily piping came he; "Whom d'ye sing to, Bird?" said I; "Sing?--I sing to Amy!" "Very sweet you sing," I said; "Then," quoth he, "to pay me, Give one little crumb of bread, A little smile from Amy." "Just," he sings, "one little smile; O, a frown would slay me! Thanks, and now I'm gone awhile,-- Fare-you-well, dear Amy!" [Illustration] [Illustration] A MOUNTAIN ROUND. (_Tyrol._) [Illustration: Music] TAKE hands, merry neighbours, for dancing the round! Moonlight is fair and delicious the air; From valley to valley our music shall sound, And startle the wolf in his lair. From summits of snow to the forest below, Let vulture and crow hear the echoes, O-ho! (O-ho!) While shadow on meadow in dancing the round Goes whirligig, pair after pair!