THE GOOSE. I. I KNEW an old wife lean and poor, II. He held a goose upon his arm, He uttered rhyme and reason, Here, take the goose, and keep you warm, It is a stormy season." III. She caught the white goose by the leg, A goose - 't was no great matter. The goose let fall a golden egg With cackle and with clatter. IV. She dropt the goose, and caught the pelf, And ran to tell her neighbors; And blessed herself, and cursed herself, And rested from her labors. V. And feeding high, and living soft, Until the grave churchwarden doffed, The VI. So sitting, served by man and maid, VII. It cluttered here, it chuckled there; She shifted in her elbow-chair, VIII. "A quinsy choke thy cursed note! " "Go, take the goose, and wring her throat, I will not bear it longer." IX. Then yelped the cur, and yawled the cat; The goose flew this way and flew that, 1 X. As head and heels upon the floor They floundered all together, And it was windy weather: XI. He took the goose upon his arm, He uttered words of scorning; "So keep you cold, or keep you warm, It is a stormy morning." XII. The wild wind rang from park and plain, And round the attics rumbled, Till all the tables danced again, And half the chimneys tumbled. XIII. The glass blew in, the fire blew out, Her cap blew off, her gown blew up, XIV. And while on all sides breaking loose Her household fled the danger, Quoth she, "The Devil take the goose, And God forget the stranger!" THE EPIC. AT Francis Allen's on the Christmas-eve, - The game of forfeits done the girls all kissed |