ft of grass, a thistle green,
Or cabbage-leaf so sweet,
Were all the dainties, he was seen
For twenty years to eat.

And as for sport, the sober soul
Was such a steady Jack,
He only now and then would roll,
Heels upward, on his back.

But all his sport, and dainties too,
And labours now are o'er.
Last night so bleak a tempest blew,
He could withstand no more.

He felt his feeble limbs grow cold,
His blood was freezing slow,
And presently you might behold
Him dead upon the snow.

Poor donkey! travellers passing by,
Thy cold remains shall view;
And 'twould be well if all who die
To duty were as true.

Anne Taylor

[Page 170--Moo Moo Land]

[Illustration: Oh my! What an Awful Long Cow.]

The Cow and The Ass

Beside a green meadow
A stream us'd to flow,
So clear one might see
The white pebbles below;
To this cooling brook
The warm cattle would stray,
To stand in the shade,
On a hot summer's day.

A cow, quite oppress'd
With the heat of the sun,
Came here to refresh
As she often had done,
And standing quite still,
Leaning over the stream,
Was musing, perhaps;
Or perhaps she might dream.

But soon a brown ass,
Of respectable look
Came trotting up also,
To taste of the brook,
And to nibble a few
Of the daisies and grass.
"How d'ye do?" said the cow:
"How d'ye do?" said the ass.

"Take a seat," cried the cow,
Gently waving her hand.
"By no means, dear madam,"
Said he, "while you stand."
Then stooping to drink,
With a complaisant bow,
"Ma'am, your health." said the ass;
"Thank you, sir," said the cow.

When a few of these compliments
More had been pass'd,
They laid themselves down
On the herbage at last;
And waited politely
(As gentlemen must),
The ass held his tongue,
That the cow might speak first.

Then, with a deep sigh,
She directly began,
"Don't you think, Mr. Ass,
We are injured by man?
'Tis a subject that lies
With a weight on my mind:
We certainly are much
Oppress'd by mankind.

"Now what is the reason
(I see none at all)
That I always must go
When Suke pleases to call?
Whatever I'm doing
('Tis certainly hard),
I'm forc'd to leave off
To be milked in the yard.

"I've no will of my own,
But must do as the