Golden Numbers Part 52

But soon a wonder came to light, That show'd the rogues they lied:-- The Man recovered of the bite, The Dog it was that died!

OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

_The Walrus and the Carpenter_

The sun was s.h.i.+ning on the sea, s.h.i.+ning with all his might: He did his very best to make The billows smooth and bright-- And this was odd, because it was The middle of the night.

The moon was s.h.i.+ning sulkily, Because she thought the sun Had got no business to be there After the day was done-- "It's very rude of him," she said, "To come and spoil the fun!"

The sea was wet as wet could be, The sands were dry as dry.

You could not see a cloud, because No cloud was in the sky: No birds were flying overhead-- There were no birds to fly.

The Walrus and the Carpenter Were walking close at hand: They wept like anything to see Such quant.i.ties of sand: "If this were only cleared away, They said, "it _would_ be grand!"

"If seven maids with seven mops Swept it for half a year, Do you suppose," the Walrus said, "That they could get it clear?"

"I doubt it," said the Carpenter, And shed a bitter tear.

"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"

The Walrus did beseech.

"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, Along the briny beach: We cannot do with more than four, To give a hand to each."

The eldest Oyster looked at him, But never a word he said: The eldest Oyster winked his eye, And shook his heavy head-- Meaning to say he did not choose To leave the oyster-bed.

But four young Oysters hurried up, All eager for the treat: Their coats were brushed, their faces washed, Their shoes were clean and neat-- And this was odd, because, you know, They hadn't any feet.

Four other Oysters followed them, And yet another four; And thick and fast they came at last, And more, and more, and more-- All hopping through the frothy waves, And scrambling to the sh.o.r.e.

The Walrus and the Carpenter Walked on a mile or so, And then they rested on a rock Conveniently low: And all the little Oysters stood And waited in a row.

"The time has come," the Walrus said, "To talk of many things: Of shoes--and s.h.i.+ps--and sealing-wax-- Of cabbages--and kings-- And why the sea is boiling hot-- And whether pigs have wings."

"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried, "Before we have our chat; For some of us are out of breath, And all of us are fat!"

"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.

They thanked him much for that.

"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said, "Is what we chiefly need: Pepper and vinegar besides Are very good indeed-- Now, if you're ready, Oysters dear, We can begin to feed."

"But not on us!" the Oysters cried, Turning a little blue.

"After such kindness, that would be A dismal thing to do!"

"The night is fine," the Walrus said.

"Do you admire the view?

"It was so kind of you to come!

And you are very nice!"

The Carpenter said nothing but "Cut us another slice.

I wish you were not quite so deaf-- I've had to ask you twice!"

"It seems a shame," the Walrus said, "To play them such a trick.

After we've brought them out so far, And made them trot so quick!"

The Carpenter said nothing but "The b.u.t.ter's spread too thick!"

"I weep for you," the Walrus said: "I deeply sympathize."

With sobs and tears he sorted out Those of the largest size, Holding his pocket-handkerchief Before his streaming eyes.

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter, "You've had a pleasant run!

Shall we be trotting home again?"

But answer came there none-- And this was scarcely odd, because They'd eaten every one.

LEWIS CARROLL.

_Song of the Turtle and Flamingo_

A lively young turtle lived down by the banks Of a dark rolling stream called the Jingo, And one summer day, as he went out to play, Fell in love with a charming flamingo-- An enormously genteel flamingo!

An expansively crimson flamingo!

A beautiful, bouncing flamingo!

Spake the turtle in tones like a delicate wheeze: "To the water I've oft seen you in go, And your form has impressed itself deep on my sh.e.l.l, You perfectly modeled flamingo!

You tremendously 'A1' flamingo!

You inex-pres-_si_-ble flamingo!

To be sure I'm a turtle, and you are a belle, And _my_ language is not your fine lingo; But smile on me, tall one, and be my bright flame, You miraculous, wondrous flamingo!

You blazingly beauteous flamingo!

You turtle-absorbing flamingo!

You inflammably gorgeous flamingo!"

Then the proud bird blushed redder than ever before, And that was quite un-nec-ces-sa-ry, And she stood on one leg and looked out of one eye, The position of things for to vary,-- This aquatical, musing flamingo!

This dreamy, uncertain flamingo!

This embarra.s.sing, hara.s.sing flamingo!

Then she cried to the quadruped, greatly amazed: "Why your pa.s.sion toward _me_ do you hurtle?

I'm an ornithological wonder of grace, And you're an illogical turtle,-- A waddling, impossible turtle!

A low-minded, gra.s.s-eating turtle!

A highly improbable turtle!"

Then the turtle sneaked off with his nose to the ground, And never more looked at the la.s.ses; And falling asleep, while indulging his grief, Was gobbled up whole by Aga.s.siz,-- The peripatetic Aga.s.siz!

The turtle-dissecting Aga.s.siz!

The ill.u.s.trious, industrious Aga.s.siz!

Go with me to Cambridge some cool, pleasant day, And the skeleton lover I'll show you: He's in a hard case, but he'll look in your face, Pretending (the rogue!) he don't know you!

Oh, the deeply deceptive young turtle!

The double-faced, gla.s.sy-cased turtle!

The _green_, but a very _mock_-turtle!

JAMES T. FIELDS.

_Captain Reece_