The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-05-22
FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
The silly Goose.


There's a queer old story which you shall hear
It happened, once on a time, my dear,
That q goose went swimming on q pond.
A pleasure Of which all geese are fond.
She sailed about, and to and fro,
The waves bent under her breast OF snow,
And her red feet padded about below,
But she wasn't 8 happy ~goose-oh no!
It troubled her more than she could tell,
That in the town where she CHANGED to dwell
The saying Of "stupid as a goose"
Was one that was very much IN use.
For sneers and snubbing are hard to bear,
Be he man or beast, I do not care,
Or pinnoned fowl Of the earth or air,
We're all Of the same opinion there.
Now. az she pondered the matter Ger,
A fox came walking along the shore:
With q pleasant smile he bowed his head,
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 his tricks, he could not swim;
And. indeed, his voice was sweet and kind:
dear Mrs. Goose, you've a troubled mind.
I only wish I could help you through
There's nothing I would not gladly do
For such q beautiful bird as you
Which sounded nice, and was really true.
"Wel, then Mr.. Fox" the goose replied,
"It hurts my feelings, and wounds my pride
That in these days my sisters and l,
Who saved old Rome by our warning cry.
Should be called the silly geese. All, me!
If I could learn something fine, you see,
Like writing, or reading the A, B, Q,
What a happy, happy goose I'd be-
"Now, would you, indeed !" Rensrd replied,
As the floating fowl he slyly eyed;
~ hardly know what tbs best to say,
Let's think about it a moment, pray,
may help you yet, my dear, who knows:
So he struck a meditative pose.
Aud thoughtfully laid his small, red toes,
Up by the side Of his pointed nose.
"Ah, yes ~ he cried, 81 have it at last:
Your troubles, dear Mrs. Goose, are past;
There is q school-master, wise and good,
I know where he lives in yonder wood,
Tomorrow evening, you shall see,
In yon broad meadow his school will be,
He'll bring you a book with the A, B, C,
And he'll give his little lesson Free"
But now Just listen, and you shall hear
About that fox; he went off, my dear,
And he bought q coat, and a beaver hat,
And q pair Of specs. and a black cravat.
Next evening he came dressed up to charm,
With the little Reader under his arm,
Where the goose stood waiting without alarm.
For. indeed, she hadn't a thought Of harm.
Had she looked at all, you would have thought
She need not have been 80 quickly caught,
For the long red bushy fox's tail
Swept over the meadow like q trail.
But twas rather dark, fo' night was near,
And another thing, I greatly fear,
She felt too anxious to see quite clear;
She WAS simply a goose Of one idea.
The s~chool-master opens wide his book,
The goose makes a long, long neck, to look;
He opens his mouth as if to cough,
When, snippety-snap! her head flies of.
Now, cackle loudly her sisters fond,
Who are watching proudly from the pond,
While of to the town that lies beyond,
The whole Of the frightened flock abscond.
That day, the geese made a solemn VOW,
Which their faithful children keep till 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
II they say some hard things, or appear
To show q certain degree Of fear;
Is always so with geese, my dear.
e. A. Smaller, 81. Nicholas.