Runaway Donkey and Other Rhymes for Children

<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</SPAN></span></p> <h2>THE KINDLY DEER</h2> <div class="poem1"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Trottety trot! Oh, the ponies prance<br/></span> <span class="i2">And gayly their little hoofs sound!<br/></span> <span class="i0">For they caper and frisk as they trot along,<br/></span> <span class="i2">Away to the tethering ground.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Stampety stamp! Yes, they must be tied<br/></span> <span class="i2">Or else they will scamper away;<br/></span> <span class="i0">For it's "Oh! for a gallop and good free run!"<br/></span> <span class="i2">These frolicsome ponies would say.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Trampety tramp! Now the master comes!<br/></span> <span class="i2">Sweet hay he is bringing to each.<br/></span> <span class="i0">But there's one hungry pony whose share all goes<br/></span> <span class="i2">Far out of the poor fellow's reach.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Pullety pull! How the pony pulls!<br/></span> <span class="i2">He stretches and tugs, might and main.<br/></span> <span class="i0">But the hay, every wisp, so far away lies<br/></span> <span class="i2">That all Pony's tugging is vain.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Leapety leap! On his four long legs<br/></span> <span class="i2">Comes bounding a tall stately deer;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Not a <i>wild</i> deer is he, but the master's pet,<br/></span> <span class="i2">The ponies' friend, many a year.<br/></span></div> </div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</SPAN><br/><SPAN name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</SPAN></span></p> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/043.jpg" alt="Not a wild deer is he, but the master's pet, the ponies' friend, many a year." style="width: 50%" /></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</SPAN></span></p> <div class="poem1"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Stridety stride! Then the deer stands still<br/></span> <span class="i2">And stares with his gentle brown eyes,<br/></span> <span class="i0">As the poor hungry pony tries, all in vain,<br/></span> <span class="i2">To reach where the fragrant hay lies.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Tossety toss! With his great big horns<br/></span> <span class="i2">The deer begins working away;<br/></span> <span class="i0">And he tosses and lifts till at Pony's feet<br/></span> <span class="i2">Is lying the long-wished-for hay!<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Munchety munch! Oh, the hay is sweet!<br/></span> <span class="i2">And Pony is happy once more;<br/></span> <span class="i0">And the beautiful deer for his wise, kind deed,<br/></span> <span class="i2">Is loved more than ever before.<br/></span></div> </div> <hr class="chap" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />