﻿COCK ROBIN AND THE SPARROW. 215 



Cock Robin and the Sparrow. 



DID you ever hear the story 

 Of a wicked little sparrow, 



Who killed a poor cock robin 

 With a cruel bow and arrow ! 



How the fly looked on with anguish, 

 And with his " wee bit" eye 



Saw the little birdie languish, 

 And at last lie down and die. 



How the thrifty Madam Beetle 

 Made a shroud that very night, 



Plying her thread and needle 

 Until the morning light. 



And the Owl, with tears of sorrow, 



Made little Bobby's grave, 

 And called the cruel Sparrow 



A wicked little knave. 



I know you 've heard the story, 



How birds of every feather 

 Came to Cock Robin's funeral, 



And mourned and wept together. 



'T is sad, you say, and truly, 



For birds to kill each other ; 

 But would it not be sadder far 



If boys should kill a brother * 



They may do this when angry 

 For anger equals madness 



May fight and kill some little boy, 

 Then pass their days in sadness. 



I hope all little children 



Who see this bow and arrow, 



Will pray that they may never be 

 So wicked as the Sparrow. 



COUSIN MARY. 



