12. "Stand back! he's only just begun- But follow up and grab the reins!" 13. Now for the finish! At the turn, The old horse-all the rest astern- "The time was two-too mighty fast!" 14. The parson's horse had won the bet; And murmured, with a mild surprise If Brother Murray made the prayer!" The same that drew the one-horse shay. Robert of Lincoln. W. C. BRYANT. 1. Merrily swinging on brier and weed, Near to the nest of his little dame, Over the mountain-side or mead, Robert of Lincoln is telling his name: Spink, spank, spink; Snug and safe is that nest of ours, 2. Robert of Lincoln is gayly dressed, Wearing a bright black wedding coat, White are his shoulders and white his crest, Spink, spank, spink; Look, what a nice new coat is mine, 3. Robert of Lincoln's Quaker wife, Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings, Passing at home a patient life, Broods in the grass while her husband sings Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, Brood, kind creature; you need not fear 4. Modest and shy as a nun is she, Spink, spank, spink; Catch me, cowardly knaves, if you can. 5. Six white eggs on a bed of hay, Flecked with purple, a pretty sight! There, as the mother sits all day, Robert is singing with all his might: Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, Spink, spank, spink; Nice good wife, that never goes out, 6. Soon as the little ones chip the shell Six wide mouths are open for food; Robert of Lincoln bestirs him well, Gathering seed for the hungry brood. Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, Spink, spank, spink; This new life is likely to be Hard for a gay young fellow like me. 7. Robert of Lincoln at length is made Sober with work and silent with care; Off is his holiday garment laid, Half forgotten that merry air, Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, Nobody knows but my mate and I 8. Summer wanes, the children are grown; Spink, spank, spink; When you can pipe that merry old strain, The Bald-Headed Man. The other day a lady, accompanied by her son, a very small boy, boarded a train at Little Rock. The woman had a careworn expression hanging over her face like a tattered veil, and many of the rapid questions asked by the boy were answered by unconscious sighs. "Ma," said the boy, "that man's head is like a baby, aint it?" pointing to a bald-headed man sitting just in front of them. "Hush!" "Why must I hush?" After a few moments' silence, "Ma, what's the matter with that man's head?" “Hush, I tell you. He's bald.” 66 "Will you care?" 66 Don't ask so many questions." After another silence, the boy exclaimed, "Ma, there's a fly on that man's head." "If you don't hush, I'll whip you when we get home." "Look! There's another fly. Two flies, see 'em fight." "Madam," said the man, putting aside a newspaper and looking around, "what's the matter with that young hyena?" The woman blushed, stammered out something, and attempted to smooth back the boy's hair. "One fly, two flies, three flies," said the boy. "Here, you young hedgehog, if you don't hush I'll have the conductor put you off the train." The poor woman, not knowing what else to do, boxed the boy's ears, and then gave him an orange to keep him from crying. "Ma, have I got any red marks on my head?" "I'll whip you again if you don't hush." "Mister," said the boy, after a short silence, "does it hurt to be bald-headed ?" Youngster," said the man, "if you'll keep quiet, I'll give you a quarter." The boy promised, and the money was paid over. “This is my bald-headed money," said the boy. get bald-headed, I'm goin' to give boys money. all bald-headed men got money?” "When I Mister, have The Dead Doll. MARGARET VANDEGRIFT. 1. You needn't be trying to comfort me: I tell you my dolly is dead! There's no use in saying she isn't, with a crack like that in her head! It's just like you said it wouldn't hurt much to have my tooth out that day; And then, when the man most pulled my head off, you hadn't a word to say. |