The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-11-20
FOR GIRLS AND BOYS.
NAUGHTY DICK.

SAN OAAN1/0 n1yD IN ~
| NAUGHTY DICK.
This ness Is 30 narrow"
Said little Dick Sparrow.
I've got quito q pain in my wings;
Can't yon squeeze up bit,
And Just let me sit
On the outside. you tirosome things"
So selfish young Dick
Made them move pretty quick,
And soon he sat pcrched on tho odge:
| A little brown ball,
| Atyrant, though small,
Surveying tho world from his ledge.
There's garden down there
| Looks wOndrousIy fair,
How nice Ii must be 'monR the fiowersl
I've good mind to try,
| It's quite easy to fly,
To bird Of my courage and powers"
mo. DON'T" said his brother,
| I'VE promised our mother
That we'd certainly stay In the nest
/ While she Is away:
i So do not pray
Disobey her, for mother knows best.
.She says II we're good,
/ And ent plenty OF food.
Our wings will DO sure to grow strong.
i And then by and by
/ She will teach us to fly
we're patient. the time won't seem long.
/ But Dick said: pooh. pooh.
I'm bigger than you.
| And fatter and stronger, you see;
| Such counsel Is 4 rod
/ For feel le young brood,
But can't be Intended for me-"
| "Why. yonder's Tom TIT
Hill there, stop bit.
With you In that garden I'll roam.
| TIA, ia, little dears.
You need have no fears,
III be back before mother comes home"
| Giving one or two springs.
And fntterInG mis- wings,
Down he spun like wild shuttlecock;
With q desperate bound
His feet touched the ground.
But it gave him terrible shock.
Now little Tom Tit
Did not want him bit
He had plenty VI plans OF his own:
So In very great haste.
For he'd no time to waste,
Far over the garden he'd flown.
Dick felt rather sighted,
But soon was delighted
He spent some gay hours
Among the sweet flowers,
Oflibertv taking his Ill.,
Then no rested awhile
In luxurious style
On couch Of the softest green moss.
For sweet contemplation
And wise meditation
Young Dick thought himself at no loss.
elbow very absurd"
Thought this foolish young ,lrd.
'.Are the cautions and fears Of the old;
There's nothing like pluck.
A I'd trying ones luck.
Oh, it's fine to be daring and bold"
Then he fell fast asleep
Till the shadows grew deep.
For the sun had gone down in the west;
Then hc woke cold and cross,
From that soft bed OF moss.
And wished himself back In the nest
He wendell his way
Through the twilight gray,
To the place where ne first had alishted.
Twas not easy to find,
1t had slipped from his mind,
And coon master Dick was benighted.
In the d eepest despair,
He ran here and there,
And OFT nau HIS steps 10 fetFacet
Then faint. sad and tied,
As the twilight expired.
At last he discovered the place.
The nest was so high,
But yet he must try.
TO reach the snug home he had spurned.
He flew up once or twice,
But fell down in u trice,
For. al as. he'd not properly learned.
1t was all to no good,
IL. might try AS he would,
The nest was still far out OF reach.
ITO every child
Who is willful and wild,
This story y lesson should tcach)
" hen Dicks parents returned.
And his absence had learned,
For the trnant they set OF In quest;
But no Dick could they ind.
And in great " ief OF mind
They were forced to return to the nest.
Dick spent ali that night
In pitiful plight
He was frightened half out of his Wits;
Cats were prowling around.
And at every sound
lie shivered as il he had htA
Then, to add 10 his woes,
A wild storm arose,
And down came tho pitiless rain:
He was wet to the skin,
For his feathers were thin;
He was sick with cold. hunger and pain.
Poor little Dick Sparrow,
In penitent sorrow,
Deep remorse and repentance keen,
Then humbly confessed:
"Ah, mother knows best,
What naughty young bird have been.'
Report said he died,
But next day espied
Two birds, who were kissing each other;
drew near to see.
II indeed IL could be,
And surely It was Dick and hts mother.
Nina Flassendaie, In lie eds Mercury.