30 



ZTbe jfragrant IRote Booft 



whom he gambols with reckless abandon and to whom he 

 has endeavoured time and again to introduce his master. 

 Only a few days ago, with incomprehension writ large over 

 his faithful face and a wistful look of his eyes, he made clear 

 to me his regret that I was no Melampus, able to understand 

 every woodland tongue as he does. He is a clever little 

 beast, but you see his education has not progressed beyond 

 the spelling of simple words like c-A-T — and r-a-t — , so 

 I have written out for him 



/I 



^ 



THE PUPPY S LAMENT 



See all the fairies, master, do look! 



Not up in the tree, sir, — down by the brook; 

 See them all dance, Heigh-diddle-diddle, 

 See them all prance to the tune of the fiddle. 



Master, you surely must see them by this! 



They're good Uttle friends of mine. Blow them a 

 They're smallish to look at and not good to eal 

 But surely they're plain as the boots on your feet 



I hope you'll forgive me, sir, if I say \ 



That you're not quite attending, — you look the wrong 



And please, sir, I feel that I'd like if I might \ \ 



To play with the fairies. They know me all right. 

 I'm really most gentle, because, don't you 

 If ever I hurt one, how sorry I'd be. 



Now, master, how can you sit on that loj 



Seeing no fairies but only your dog ! 









