AN UNLUCKY DAY. 153 



everyday life, and made of it a complete picture. It 

 is a Teniers scene, if you will ; but it is a genuine 

 touch of Nature nevertheless. 



Fexatiotu 



Father 's so cross and grumpy, 



He keeps on scold, scold, scold ; 

 Just now he beat poor Trouncer, 



That is so good and old : 

 There 's nothing right, no nothing ; 



All in the house is wrong. 

 That Dobbin 's lame since Monday, 



Sure that won't vex him long ; 

 The after-math 's all in now, 



So he may well be spared. 

 What can then be the matter P 



To ask, if I but dared ! 



" He comes ! Be still, ye children !" 



The children all keep close, 

 And still as mice, and wonder 



What makes him so morose. 

 The old man cleaned his rifle, 



Then shoved it as it lay ; 

 Lolled in the chimney corner, 



And drove his dog away. 



'T is very late already ; 



At last he falls asleep, 

 When on tiptoe the youngest 



Into the room does creep, 

 And whispers to the others, 



" I Ve found it out, good luck ! 

 'T is not about old Dobbin, 



He has missed a chamois buck !" 



