Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories Part 47

THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM

It was a summer evening, Old Kaspar's work was done, And he before his cottage door Was sitting in the sun, And by him sported on the green His little grandchild Wilhelmine.

She saw her brother Peterkin Roll something large and round, Which he beside the rivulet In playing there had found; He came to ask what he had found, That was so large and smooth and round.

Old Kaspar took it from the boy, Who stood expectant by; And then the old man shook his head, And with a natural sigh, "'T is some poor fellow's skull," said he, "Who fell in the great victory.

"I find them in the garden, For there's many hereabout; And often, when I go to plow The plowshare turns them out!

For many thousand men," said he, "Were slain in that great victory."

"Now tell us what 't was all about,"

Young Peterkin he cries; While little Wilhelmine looks up With wonder-waiting eyes; "Now tell us all about the war, And what they killed each other for."

"It was the English," Kaspar cried, "Who put the French to rout; But what they killed each other for I could not well make out.

But everybody said," quoth he, "That 't was a famous victory.

"My father lived at Blenheim then, Yon little stream hard by; They burnt his dwelling to the ground, And he was forced to fly: So with his wife and child he fled, Nor had he where to rest his head.

"With fire and sword the country round Was wasted far and wide, And many a childing mother then And new-born baby died: But things like that, you know, must be At every famous victory.

"They say it was a shocking sight After the field was won; For many thousand bodies here Lay rotting in the sun: But things like that, you know, must be After a famous victory.

"Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won, And our good Prince Eugene."

"Why 't was a very wicked thing!"

Said little Wilhelmine.

"Nay--nay--my little girl," quoth he, "It was a famous victory.

"And everybody praised the Duke Who this great fight did win."

"And what good came of it at last?"

Quoth little Peterkin.

"Why, that I cannot tell," said he, "But 't was a famous victory."

ROBERT SOUTHEY

THE CHAMELEON

A FABLE

FROM M. DE LAMOTTE

Oft has it been my lot to mark A proud, conceited, talking spark, With eyes, that hardly served at most To guard their master 'gainst a post;

Yet round the world the blade has been To see whatever could be seen, Returning from his finished tour, Grown ten times perter than before; Whatever word you chance to drop, The traveled fool your mouth will stop: "Sir, if my judgment you'll allow, I've seen--and sure I ought to know,"

So begs you'd pay a due submission, And acquiesce in his decision.

Two travelers of such a cast, As o'er Arabia's wilds they pa.s.sed And on their way in friendly chat, Now talked of this, and then of that, Discoursed awhile, 'mongst other matter.

Of the chameleon's form and nature.

"A stranger animal," cries one, "Sure never lived beneath the sun.

A lizard's body, lean and long, A fish's head, a serpent's tongue, Its foot with triple claw disjoined; And what a length of tail behind!

How slow its pace; and then its hue-- Who ever saw so fine a blue?"

"Hold, there," the other quick replies, "'T is _green_, I saw it with these eyes, As late with open mouth it lay, And warmed it in the sunny ray: Stretched at its ease, the beast I viewed And saw it eat the air for food."

"I've seen it, sir, as well as you, And must again affirm it blue; At leisure I the beast surveyed, Extending in the cooling shade."

"'T is green, 't is green, sir I a.s.sure ye!"

"Green!" cries the other in a fury--

"Why, sir!--d'ye think I've lost my eyes?"

"'T were no great loss," the friend replies, "For, if they always serve you thus, You'll find them of but little use."

So high at last the contest rose, From words they almost came to blows; When luckily came by a third-- To him the question they referred, And begged he'd tell 'em, if he knew, Whether the thing was green or blue.

"Sirs," cries the umpire, "cease your pother!

The creature's neither one nor t' other.

I caught the animal last night, And viewed it o'er by candlelight: I marked it well--'t was black as jet-- You stare--but sirs, I've got it yet, And can produce it." "Pray, sir, do: I'll lay my life the thing is blue."

"And I'll be sworn, that when you've seen The reptile, you'll p.r.o.nounce him green."

"Well, then, at once to ease the doubt,"

Replies the man, "I'll turn him out: And when before your eyes I've set him, If you don't find him black, I'll eat him."

He said: then full before their sight Produced the beast, and lo!--'t was white.

Both stared, the man looked wondrous wise-- "My children," the chameleon cries, (Then first the creature found a tongue,) "You are all right, and all are wrong: When next you talk of what you view, Think others see as well as you; Nor wonder, if you find that none Prefers your eyesight to his own."

JAMES MERRICK

THE BLACKBERRY GIRL

"Why, Phebe, are you come so soon?

Where are your berries, child?

You cannot, sure, have sold them all, You had a basket piled."

"No, mother, as I climbed the fence, The nearest way to town, My ap.r.o.n caught upon the stake, And so I tumbled down.