The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-05-09

TIE LITTLE FOLKS.
- cnnan An Old storv Retold.

The silly Goose-An Old Story Retold.
There's a queer old story which you shall hear.
Tt happened, once on time, my dear,
That goose went swimming on pond,
A pleasure of which all geese are fond.
She sailed about, and to and tro;
The waves bent under her breast of snow,
And her red feet padded about below,
But She wasn't happy goose--oh no!
II troubled her more than she could tell,
That. In the town where she CHANGED to dwell,
Tbe saving of stupid as goose"
was one that was very much in use.
For aneers and snubbing are hard to bear,
BE he man or beast, do not care,
Or pinioned fowl of the earth or air,
We're all of the same opinion there.
Now, as she pondered the matter DER,
"A fox came walking along the shore;
with pleasant smile he bowed his head
g Good-evening, Mrs. Goose" he said.
Good evening, Mr.. Fox !" quoth she,
Looking across at him tremblingly,
And, fearing he had not had his tea,
Pushed q trife farther out to sea.
She had little harm to fear from him
For, with all mis- tricks, he could not swim;
And, indeed, his voice was sweet and kind.
Z" Dear Mrs. Goose, you've a troubled mind
only wish could help you through.
For such beautiful bird as you"
Which SCUM led nice, and was really true.
D." Well, then, Mr.. Fox, =" the goose replied,
{" 1t hurts my feelings, and wounds my pride,
That in these days my sisters and I,
Who saved old Rome by our warning cry,
Should be called the silly geese. All me
If l could learn something fine, you see,
Like writing, or reading the A, b, O,
What happy, happy goose I'd be !"
Now, would you, indeed ?" Renard replied,
AS the floating fowl he slyly eyed;
" hardly know what it's best to say,
Let's think about it moment, pray,
may help you yet. my dear, who knows ?"
so he struck a meditatiYe pose,
And thoughtfully laid his small, red toes
Up by the side OF his pointed nose.
&" All, yes I" he cried, 81 have it at last;
Your troubles, dear Mrs. Goose, are past
There is a school-master, wise and good;
J. know where he lives in yonder wood.
Tomorrow evening, you shall see
In yon broad meadow his school will be,
He'll bring you book with the A, B, @,
And he'll give his little lesson free"
But now just listen, and you shall hear
About the fox he went off, my dear
And he bought coat, and beaver hat,
And pair OF specs, and black craVat.
Next evening ne came, dressed up TO charmg
With the little Reader" under his arm,
Where the goose stood waiting without alarm,
For, indeed, she hadn't thought Of harm.
Had she looked at all, you would have thought
She need noC have been so quickly caught
For the long red bushy fox's tail
Swept over the meadow like trail
But twas rather dark, for night was near,
And another thing, greatly fear
She Felt too anxious to see quite clear;
she vas simply goose Of one idea.
The school-master opens wide his book,
The goose makes long, long neck, to look,
He opens his mouth, as if TO cough,
When, snippety-snap her head flies off.
Now Cackle loudly her sisters fond,
who are watching proudly from the pond,
While eff to the town that lies beyond
The whole of the frightened flock abscond.
That day the geese made q solemn VOW,
Which their faithful children keep ill now,
THAT never shall goose or gosling look
At any schOol-master or his book.
So, if ever you should chance to hear
Them talking of school, don't think it queer
If they say some hard things, or appear
10 show certain degree of fear;
1T is always so with geese, my dear.
., d. S3llU6ler IN ST. Nicholas for M0y.