Читать книгу Little Folks - Various - Страница 7

One cool and pleasant afternoon,

Before the sun was set,

A fox and other country folk

Upon the beach had met.

The creeping tide far out had ebb'd,

And by the shelving strand

There stretch'd a wide and level plain

Of glist'ning yellow sand.

The hare, the hound, the neighing steed,

The lowing ox, the deer,

The sheep, the hog, the braying ass,

The sea-gulls hovering near,

With groups of various birds and beasts,

Of sorts both tall and scrimp,

Were gather'd there upon the sands;

And thither came a shrimp.

Now Reynard, who was eager bent

Upon some cunning wile,

Did boldly challenge any beast

To race with him a mile.

But when nor horse, nor hare, nor hound

His challenge would receive,

Up started Shrimp, and cried, "Good sir,

To race you give me leave."

A burst of merriment then brake

From all the beasts around,

The westward-sinking sun did smile,

Though he utter'd not a sound.

Then out spoke Reynard, red with rage,

"Thou mak'st a mocking boast!"

But near him whisper'd Master Hare,

"Forget not how I lost."

The race anon was quickly plann'd,

Eftsoons a judge was nam'd,

And Fox and Shrimp quite ready stood,

Though Shrimp seem'd half-asham'd.

And now they start, one, two, away!

See, Reynard darts ahead,

Unconscious that sly Shrimp had jump'd

Upon his tail outspread.

There snug he lay, so close and warm,

While Reynard tore apace,

And laugh'd, as only shrimps can laugh,

In his comfortable place.

At length, as Reynard near'd the goal,

He slowly slacken'd speed,

And stopping, ere he touch'd the post,

He turn'd—he did indeed.

Then off hopp'd Shrimp, and stood at once

Up at the winning-place;

While Reynard still look'd back and cried,

"How now, who wins the race!

Where are you, villain? where are you?

Not e'en in sight, I trow!"

"Nay, pardon, sir," behind him cried

That sly Shrimp with a bow.

Then Reynard, all abash'd, did stare

To find himself outdone!

While the jeering crowd, in high delight,

Went wild at all the fun.

But Reynard could not bear their gibes:

He slunk in haste away;

Nor ever guess'd how Shrimp contriv'd

To win the race that day.