A cautionary tale by Richard Scrafton Sharpe
A Silly young Mouse
Ventur’d out of the house,
In spite of his mother’s advice;
And, deaf to regard,
Ran along the farm-yard,
But return’d to the nest in a trice.
“O, i’m in such a fright!
And I’ve seen such a sight!”
Out of breath to her mother she cries:
“With tail, neck and head,
All frightful and red,
And wings of a wonderful size.
“Its great wings it spread,
And rear’d its head,
AndI heard, as I ran back to you,
It set up a roar,
Of a minute or more,
And cried, ‘Cock-a-doodle-doo!’
“I long’d much to stay,
For sleeping their lay
A creature so mild and demure;
With nice whiskers and tail,
O, it must, without fail,
Be a friend to our nation, I’m sure!”
“O child!” cried the old Mouse,
“Thou hast been bold Mouse,
‘Twas lucky your friend was asleep;
By this friend, as you thought,
You would soon have been taught,
Young folk oft pay dear for a peep.
But the creature you fear’d,
When its hight head it rear’d,
And sent forth such terrible cries;
Was a bird of great beauty,
Performing its duty,
In telling the servants to rise.
“In future, let me
Your monitor be,
Nor scorn a dear parent’s advice.”
Come, boys and girls, learn
Nor foolishly spurn
This lesson, though taught you by Mice.
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