Birds and All Nature, Vol. IV, No 5, November 1898

<h2><SPAN name="THE_ENVIOUS_WREN" id="THE_ENVIOUS_WREN"></SPAN>THE ENVIOUS WREN.</h2> <div class="poetry-container"> <div class="poetry"> <div class="stanza"> <div class="verse indent-1_5">On the ground lived a Hen,</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">In a tree lived a Wren,</div> <div class="verse">Who picked up her food here and there;</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">While Biddy had wheat</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">And all nice things to eat</div> <div class="verse">Said the Wren, "I declare, 'tisn't fair!</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="verse indent-1_5">"It is really too bad!"</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">She exclaimed&mdash;she was mad&mdash;</div> <div class="verse">"To go out when it's raining this way!</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">And to earn what you eat,</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">Doesn't make your food sweet,</div> <div class="verse">In spite of what some folks may say.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="verse indent-1_5">"Now, there is that Hen,"</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">Said this cross little Wren,</div> <div class="verse">"She's fed till she's fat as a drum;</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">While I strive and sweat</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">For each bug that I get,</div> <div class="verse">And nobody gives me a crumb.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="verse indent-1_5">"I can't see for my life</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">Why the old farmer's wife.</div> <div class="verse">Treats her so much better than me.</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">Suppose on the ground</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">I hop carelessly round</div> <div class="verse">For awhile, and just see what I'll see."</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="verse indent-1_5">Said this cute little Wren,</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">"I'll make friends with the Hen,</div> <div class="verse">And perhaps she will ask me to stay;</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">And then upon bread</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">Every day I'll be fed,</div> <div class="verse">And life will be nothing but play."</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="verse indent-1_5">So down flew the Wren,</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">"Stop to tea," said the Hen;</div> <div class="verse">And soon Biddy's supper was sent;</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">But scarce stopping to taste,</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">The poor bird left in haste,</div> <div class="verse">And this was the reason she went:</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="verse indent-1_5">When the farmer's kind dame</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">To the poultry yard came,</div> <div class="verse">She said&mdash;and the Wren shook with fright&mdash;</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">"Biddy's so fat she'll do</div> <div class="verse indent-1_5">For a pie or a stew,</div> <div class="verse">And I guess I shall kill her to-night."</div> <div class="verse ar">&mdash;<i>Ph&oelig;be Cary.</i></div> </div></div> </div> <hr class="chap" /> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</SPAN></span></p> </div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />