"And will you have him, Jenny,

Your husband now to be?" "Yes, I will," says Jenny,

"And love him heartily.”

Then on her finger fair

Cock Robin put the ring;

"You're married now," says Parson Rook, While the Lark aloud did sing: "Happy be the bridegroom,

And happy be the bride!

And may not man, nor bird, nor beast,
This happy pair divide."

The birds were asked to dine;

Not Jenny's friends alone,

But every pretty songster

That had Cock Robin known.

They had a cherry pie,

Beside some currant wine,

And every guest brought something,

That sumptuous they might dine.

Now they all sat or stood

To eat and to drink; And every one said what

He happened to think: They each took a bumper, And drank to the pair: Cock Robin, the bridegroom, And Jenny Wren, the fair.

The dinner-things removed,
They all began to sing;
And soon they made the place
Near a mile round to ring.

The concert it was fine;
And every bird tried

Who best could sing for Robin

And Jenny Wren, the bride.

"WHY, Phoebe, are you come so soon?
Where are your berries, child?
You cannot, sure, have sold them all:
You had a basket piled."

"No, mother, as I climbed the fence,

The nearest way to town, My apron caught upon a stake,

And so I tumbled down.

"I scratched my arm, and tore my hair
But still did not complain:
And, had my blackberries been safe,
Should not have cared a grain.

"But when I saw them on the ground,

All scattered by my side,

I picked my empty basket up,

And down I sat and cried.

"Just then a pretty little Miss
Chanced to be walking by:
She stopped, and looking pitiful,
She begged me not to cry.

"Poor little girl, you fell,' said she, 'And must be surely hurt.'

'Oh, no!' I cried, ‘but see my fruit— All mixed with sand and dirt.'

"Well, do not grieve for that,' she said: 'Go home, and get some more.' 'Ah, no! for I have stripped the vines: These were the last they bore.

"My father, Miss, is very poor,
And works in yonder stall:
He has so many little ones,
He cannot clothe us all.

"I always longed to go to church,
But never could I go;

For when I asked him for a gown,
He always answered. "No.

"""There's not a father in the world
That loves his children more:
I'd get you one with all my heart,
But, Phoebe, I am poor."

"But when the blackberries were ripe,

He said to me one day,

"Phoebe, if you will take the time

That's given you for play,

"""And gather blackberries enough,

And carry them to town,

To buy your bonnet and your shoes,
I'll try to get a gown,"

The Blackberry Girl

"Oh, Miss, I fairly jumped for joy,

My spirits were so light!

And so, when I had leave to play,
I picked with all my might.

"I sold enough to get my shoes,

About a week ago;

And these, if they had not been spilt,

Would buy a bonnet, too.

"But now they're gone, they all are gone,

And I can get no more,

And Sundays I must stay at home,

Just as I did before.'

"And, mother, then I cried again

As hard as I could cry;

And, looking up, I saw a tear
Was standing in her eye.

"She caught her bonnet from her head,
'Here, here,' she cried 'take this!'
'Oh, no, indeed! I fear your ma

Would be offended, Miss.'

"My ma! no never-she delights All sorrow to beguile;

And 'tis the sweetest joy she feels

To make the wretched smile.

"She taught me, when I had enough,

To share it with the poor:

And never let a needy child
Go empty from the door.

"So take it, for you need not fear

Offending her, you see;

I have another, too, at home,

And one's enough for me,'

177

"So then I took it-here it is;

For pray what could I do?
And, mother, I shall love that Miss

As long as I love you."

Nancy Dennis Sproat [ ? ]

WHAT THE BLACKBERRY GIRL LEARNED AT

CHURCH

"WHAT have you in that basket, child?"
"Blackberries, Miss, all picked today;
They're very large and fully ripe;

Do look at them and taste them, pray."

"O yes: they're very nice, indeed,

Here's fourpence-that will buy a few;
Not quite as many as I want-
However, I must make it do."

"Nay, Miss, but you must take the whole."
"I can't, indeed, my money's spent;

I should be glad to buy them all,
But I have not another cent."

"And if you had a thousand, Miss,
I'd not accept a one from you.
Pray take them, they are all your own,
And take the little basket, too.

"Have you forgot the little girl

You last year gave a bonnet to?
Perhaps you have-but ever will

That little girl remember you.

"And ever since, I've been to church,
For much do I delight to go;

And there I learn that works of love
Are what all children ought to do.

"So then I thought within myself,
That pretty basket, Billy wove,
I'll fill with fruit for that dear Miss,
For sure 'twill be a work of love.