LESSON 14 THE SCARECROW

THE SCARECROW

A scarecrow stood in a field one day,

Stuffed with straw,

Stuffed with hay;

He watched the folk on the king's highway,

But never a word said he.

Much he saw, but naught did heed,

Knowing not night,

Knowing not day,

For having naught, did nothing need,

And never a word said he.

A little grey mouse had made its nest,

Oh, so wee,

Oh, so grey,

In a sleeve of a coat that was poor Tom's best,

But the scarecrow, naught said he.

His hat was the home of a small jenny wren,

Ever so sweet,

Ever so gay;

A squirrel had put by his fear of men

And kissed him, but naught heeded he.

Ragged old man, I love him well,

Stuffed with straw,

Stuffed with hay;

Many's the tale that he could tell,

But never a word says he.

—MICHAEL FRANKLIN