Bobolink. Reed Bird. Rice Bird 



Up flies Bobolincon, perching on an apple tree; 



Startled by his rival's song, quickened by his raillery. 



Soon he spies the rogue afloat, curvetting in the air, 



And merrily he turns about and warns him to beware! 



" "Us you that would a wooing go, down among the rushes O ! 



Wait a week, till flowers are cheery; wait a week, and ere 



you marry, 



Be sure of a house wherein to tarry; 

 Wadolink, Whiskodink, Tom Denny, wait, wait, wait!" 



Every one's a funny fellow; every one's a little mellow; 

 Follow, follow, follow, follow, o'er the hill and in the hollow. 

 Merrily, merrily there they hie; now they rise and now they fly; 

 They cross and turn, and in and out, and down the middle 



and wheel about, 



With a "Phew, shew, Wadolincon; listen to me, Bobolincon! 

 Happy's the wooing that's speedily doing, 

 That's merry and over with the bloom of the clover; 

 Bobolincon, Wadolincon, Winsterseeble, follow, follow me!" 



O what a happy life they lead, over the hill and in the mead ! 

 How they sing, and how they play! See, they fly away, away! 

 Now they gambol o'er the clearing, off again, and then 



appearing : ; 

 Poised aloft on quivering wing, now they soar, and now they 



sing, 

 "We must all be merry and moving; we must all be happy 



and loving; 



For when midsummer is come, and the grain has ripened its ear, 

 The haymakers scatter our young, and we mourn for the 



rest of the year; 

 Then, Bobolincon, Wadolincon, Winterseeble, haste, haste 



WILSON FLAGG. 

 37 



