coon has caught our chicks."

{186}

"He's on our roof a-making mouth,
And chatters when we would go near.
We wish you'd come
and take time home,
So that our chick need not fear."

{187}

So now he's chained; yet up he'll climb
The stake to which he's fastened tight,
And mutter low,
So pleading, Oh!
'T would make you sorry for him, quite.

Just see his nose, so pointed, sharp,--
His ears as keen as keen can be,--
His eyes so bright,
So full of light,
And see him leap right merrily!

His fur, you see, is yellowish gray,--
And he is nearly two feet long;
He lives on roots,
And nuts and fruits,
When he's his native woods among.

But here we give him bread and milk;
He never eats like dogs or lambs,
But takes it up
From out the cup
With his fore-foot, as we use hands.

{188}

You'd laugh to see him, I am sure;
Of strawberries, too, he's very fond;
Will poke around
Till he has found
Each one among the hulls out-thrown.

Then, too, he's fond of nice clean clothes,
Will spring for sheet hung out to dry;
And children dressed
In very best,
Are sure to please his dainty eye.

No matter where his feet have been,
He'll spring and plant them, little pest,
On something white,
And then will fight
To hold, and hide it in his nest.

* * * * *

{189}

You've "come again to see our Coon"?
Well, he is gone; he plagued us so,
We sent the "Rac"
To Central Park,
Where you can see him when you go.

Oh yes, they're glad to get him, there;
They have no clothes hung out to dry;
And children aye
Must stand away,
For there a keeper's always nigh.

* * * * *

A "Yes" and "No" are common, hard,
But "yes'm," "no-sir," choice;--
Let none but sweet and gentle words
Flow from your gift of voice.

{190}

_THE BANK-SWALLOWS._

In a village of Bank-Swallows,
You will find so many a nest,
"That you scarce can tell their number
Nor which one of them is best."

{191}

In the sand-hill, see the openings,
Round or oval odd-shaped, some,
Size and form depending often,
On how loose the sand become.

When with their short bills they pecked it,
Clinging fast with claws the while,
Till they made an open door-way
Suiting them in size and style.

Once within, they peck and peck it,--
Sometimes quite a ya