3 THE FOX AND THE GEESE. THERE was once a Goose at the point of death, And desired them all, with her latest breath, "There's a Mr. Fox," said she, "that I know, Who lives in a covert hard by, To our race he has proved a deadly foe, "Build houses, ere long, of stone or of bricks, Thus saying, she died, and her daughters fair,— Of Mr. Fox, their enemy. But Gobble, the youngest, I grieve to say, For she made, with some boards, an open nest, For a roof took the lid of a box; Then quietly laid herself down to rest, And thought she was safe from the Fox. 6 Thought he, "Now I'll have some supper and fun, For of both I am really fond." Then on to the box he sprang in a trice, Her sisters at home felt anxious and low poor And Goosey, determined her fate to know, Went and sought all the field far and near. At last she descried poor Gobble's head, So she told Ganderee she had found her dead, Now Goosey was pretty, but liked her own way, Like Gobble, and some other birds. "Tis no matter," said she, "if I only obey of my mother's last words." A part So her house she soon built of nice red brick, And she thought that, however the fox might kick, He could not get e'en a paw. So she went to sleep, and at dead of night But he tumbled back, and against the wall Then, almost mad with the pain of his fall, So Goosey laughed, and felt quite o'erjoyed For Gobble had been his last dainty meat, And resolved in his mind to accomplish this feat, So he slyly lighted a bundle of straws, 7 And made no more noise than a mouse, |