When the Goose arrived she began to laugh There were dancing bears, and a tall giraffe, A monkey was weighing out apples and roots; An ostrich, too, sold by retail; There were bees and butterflies tasting the fruits, And a pig drinking out of a pail. Ganderee went into an elephant's shop, Ere, however, she got about half the way, And now she hissed with fear and dismay, For she knew not which way to go. But at last of a capital plan she bethought, The churn was placed on the brow of a hill, And with Ganderee's weight down it rolled, Passing the Fox, who stood perfectly still, Quite alarmed, though he was very bold. For the Goose's wings flapped strangely about, And the noise was fearful to hear; And so bruised she felt she was glad to get out, When she thought that the coast was clear. So safely she reached her own home at noon, And cried out in a terrible way: "Quick, quick, let me in! oh, for once be kind, For the huntsman's horn I hear; Oh, hide me in any snug place you can find, So the Goose looked out in order to see Then, knowing that he in her power would be, "I'll hide you," she said, “in my nice new churn:" "That will do very well," said he ; "And thank you for doing me this good turn, Most friendly and kind Ganderee." Then into the churn the Fox quickly got; A kettle she brought of water quite hot, And poured in every drop. Then the Fox cried out, "Oh! I burn, I burn, And I feel in a pitiful plight;" But the Goose held fast the lid of the churn, So Reynard he died that night. MORAL. Mankind have an enemy whom they well know, Who tempts them in every way; But they, too, at length shall o'ercome this foe, If wisdom's right law they obey. |