PAIRING TIME ANTICIPATED, A FABLE. I SHALL not ask Jean Jacques Rousseau *, (Tis clear that they were always able Must have a most uncommon skull. It chanced then on a winter's day, To forstal sweet St. Valentine, And with much twitter and much chatter, Began to agitate the matter. At length a Bulfinch, who could boast *It was one of the whimsical speculations of this philoso pher, that all fables which ascribe reason and speech to animals should be withheld from children, as being only vehi cles of deception. But what child was ever deceived by them, or can be, against the evidence of his senses? 234 PAIRING TIME ANTICIPATED. Entreated, opening wide his beak, My friends! be cautious how ye treat I fear we shall have winter yet. A Finch, whose tongue knew no control, By his good-will would keep us single Till death exterminate us all. My dear Dick Redcap, what say you? Dick heard, and tweedling, ogling, bridling, Turning short round, strutting and sideling, Attested, glad, his approbation Of an immediate conjugation. Influenced mightily the rest, All paired, and each pair built a nest. } } The wind, of late breathed gently forth, Stepping into their nests, they paddled, Grew quarrelsome, and pecked each other, Except that they had ever met, INSTRUCTION. Misses! the tale that I relate This lesson seems to carry- THE DOG AND THE WATER-LILY. ΝΟ FABLE. The noon was shady, and soft airs When, 'scaped from literary cares, My spaniel, prettiest of his race, (Two nymphs* adorned with every grace That spaniel found for me) Now wantoned lost in flags and reeds, Pursued the swallow o'er the meads It was the time when Ouse displayed With cane extended far I sought Beau marked my unsuccessful pains With fixt considerate face, But with a chirrup clear and strong, I thence withdrew, and followed long *Sir Robert Gunning's daughters, My ramble finished, I returned'; Beau tottering far before The floating wreath again discerned, I saw him with that lily cropped My quick approach, and soon he dropped Charmed with the sight, the world, I cried, But chief myself I will enjoin, Awake at duty's call, To shew a love as prompt as thine THE POET, THE OYSTER, AND SENSITIVE. PLANT." AN Oyster, cast upon the shore, Ah, hapless wretch! condemned to dwell |