ilX0£5. 127 
Soon with some daring tugs, I brought a lumbering 
volume slap 
Down on the floor ! I sat down too, and dragged it on 
my lap. 
The binding was antique and worn — the title-page was 
out. 
And yet the treasure won from me a child's exultant 
shout ; 
For there were pictures many, of beast, and fish, and 
bird ; 
And thou wert there, thou good Reindeer, of whom so 
much I'd heard. 
And that great heavy ancient book was such a prize 
to me! 
It told me of the monstrous whale, and the small good 
honey-bee ; 
It told me of the elephant, the tiger, the gazelle, 
Of the vast luxuriant jungles, and the lone, bright 
desert well ; 
Of humming-birds that sip the dew of flowers as they fly, 
Of prairies wild, and wide, and green ; of snowy moun- 
tains high : 
I read there of the Northern sea, where iceberg islands 
float, 
And crush the great three-masted ship, as 'twere a 
cockle-boat ; 
I read about the harmless seals, and the shaggy Polarbcar, 
And the mighty troops of hungry wolves that roam and 
riot there. 
I read of Nature's glorious works, and wondering went on. 
And found before me pleasures, whose round will ne'er 
be done. 
