" A beggar-child " (let's hear this third !) 

 " Sat on a quay's edge : like a bird 

 Sang to herself at careless play, 

 And fell into the stream. ' Dismay ! 

 Help, you the standers-by ! ' None stirred. 



" Bystanders reason, think of wives 

 And children ere they risk their lives. 

 Over the balustrade has bounced 

 A mere instinctive dog, and pounced 

 Plumb on the prize. ' How well he dives ! 



" ' Up he comes with the child, see, tight 

 In mouth, alive too, clutched from quite 

 A depth of ten feet — twelve, I bet ! 

 Good dog ! What, off again ? There's yet 

 Another child to save ? All right ! 



" ' How strange we saw no other fall ! 

 It's instinct in the animal. 

 Good dog ! But he's a long while under : 

 If he got drowned I should not wonder— 

 Strong current, that against the wall ! 



" ' Here he comes, holds in mouth this time 

 — What may the thing be ? Well, that's prime ! 

 Now, did you ever ? Reason reigns 

 In man alone, since all Tray's pains 

 Have fished — the child's doll from the slime !' 



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