Classic Poem

OF THE Boy AND THE P ARROT .

P ARROT , if I had your wings,
“I should do so many things.
“The first thing I should like to do
“If I had little wings like you,
“I should fly to uncle Bartle.”
“Don't you think 'twould make him startle,
“If he saw me when I came,
“Flapping at the window-frame,
“Exactly like the print of Fame?”
All this the wise old Parrot heard,
The Parrot was an ancient bird,
And paused and ponder'd every word.
First, therefore, he began to cough,
Then said,—“It is a great way off,—
“A great way off, My Dear:”—and then
He paused awhile, and cough'd again,—
“Master John, pray think a little,
“What will you do for beds and victual?”
—“Oh! parrot, uncle John can tell—
“But we should manage very well.
“At night we'd perch upon the trees,
“And so fly forward by degrees.”—
—“Does uncle John,” the parrot said,
“Put nonsense in his nephew's head?
“Instead of telling you such things,
“And teaching you to wish for wings,
“I think he might have taught you better;
“You might have learnt to write a letter:—
“That is the thing that I should do
“If I had little hands like you.”