Читать книгу The Remarkable Adventures of an Old Woman and Her Pig - Unknown - Страница 1

A little old woman, who lived in a house,

Too small for a giant, too big for a mouse,—

Was sweeping her chambers, (though she had not many,)

When she found, by good fortune, a bright silver penny!

Delighted she seized it, and, dancing a jig,

Exclaim’d, “With this money I’ll purchase a pig.”

So saying, away to the market she went,

And the fruits of her fortunate sweeping she spent

On a smooth-coated, black-spotted, curly-tailed thing,

Which she led off in triumph, by means of a string.

But how shall I paint her vexation and toil,

When, in crossing a meadow, she came to a stile,

And found neither threats nor persuasions would do

To induce Mr. Piggy to climb or creep through?

She coax’d him, she strok’d him, she patted his hide,

She scolded him, threaten’d him, thump’d him beside;

But coaxing, and scolding, and thumping proved vain,

Whilst the evening grew dark, and ’twas likely to rain.

The dame, out of patience, now cried, in a fright,

To a dog which came up, “Pray, give Piggy a bite,

“And over the stile, Sir, compel him to go,

“Or here I may stay till ’tis midnight, you know.”

This request Mr. Bow-wow, of course, must have heard,

But he silently stood, without saying a word.

“Well, well,” said the dame, “I’ll be even with you,—

“Unkindness like this you may happen to rue.”

Then pausing and anxiously looking around,

She saw a stout crab-stick lie flat on the ground.

“Kind stick,” she exclaim’d, “I entreat you to flog

“This cruel, regardless, unmannerly dog,

“Who will not bite Piggy, though plainly you see