A Short History of Birds and Beasts for the Amusement and Instruction of Children
Whole book · 15 sections
FRONTISPIECE. — A SHORT HISTORY OF BIRDS & BEASTS , FOR THE Amusement and Instruction OF CHILDREN.
THE LION.
The Lion, the King of all Beasts,
How famous for Courage is he!
And you, as the King of Good Boys,
To learn your Book diligent be.
Adorned with Cuts.
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THE COCK.
THE Cock doth crow to let you know,
If you be wise, what time to rise.
There is no bird treated with so much cruelty as the Cock; for he, poor thing, (without the least offence,) is tied to a stake, and thrown at by a set of idle, wicked, barbarous fellows, till he is beaten in pieces. This is a custom the very heathens would blush at; and therefore I hope you, who are a christian, will never be guilty of any thing so inhuman.
THE PARROT.
THE Parrot prates he knows not what,
For all he says is got by rote.
The Parrot is a chattering bird, he talks a great deal, yet knows not what he says; and is therefore not unlike some silly boys, who prate without thinking, and learn their lesson without looking at their book.
THE CUCKOW.
THE Cuckow tells a merry tale,
Upon the hill and in the vale.
There’s the pretty Cuckow! This good-natured bird comes a long journey once every year to see all his friends, and sing them a song. And after he has obliged them with his company about three months, he takes his leave, and returns to his own country again.
THE COW.
EARLY the milkmaid to the meadow hies,
And the red Cow her empty pail supplies.
This is the good-natured Cow to which we are all so much obliged. She comes, poor thing! in the morning, and brings her udder full of milk for our breakfast, and the same at night for our supper. To her we are indebted for our custards, cheesecakes, curds and cream, as well as for our milk, butter, and cheese.
THE NIGHTINGALE.
THE Nightingale doth sweetly sing,
To welcome in the cheerful spring.
What a pretty bird the Nightingale is! How sweetly she sings! I could wish ’twas summer all the year for the sake of her good company.
THE LAMB.
THE little Lamb doth skip and play,
Always merry, always gay.
See the little Lamb! how innocent he looks! he never did any harm, and therefore is beloved by every body: but the fox and the wolf, who are always in mischief, are hated and despised.
THE LION.
THE Lion ranges round the wood,
And makes the lesser beasts his food:
Thus tyrants on their subjects prey,
And rule with arbitrary sway.
Though the Lion is such a strong devouring creature, yet Daniel was thrown into a den among several of them, and received no harm. For he was punished on account of his religion and virtue, he prayed unto God, and the Lord delivered him.
THE WHALE.
THE Whale’s the monarch of the main,
(As is the lion of the plain):
He keeps the lesser fish in awe,
And, tyrant-like, his will’s his law.
When the prophet Jonah attempted to fly over sea from the presence of the Lord there arose a great storm, and he being cast into the deep, was swallowed by this great fish, in whose belly he repented sincerely, and prayed unto God; wherefore the Lord commanded the fish, and he swam to shore, and cast him upon dry land.
THE BUTTERFLY.
THE Butterfly in gaudy dress,
The worthless coxcomb doth express,
Who not regarding whence he rose,
Is proud of what?—of his fine clothes.
This gaudy Butterfly owes its being to a poor worm, and has nothing to boast of but his fine wings, which perhaps will be lost the first frosty day: and then his case will be much like the coxcomb’s, who having lost his fine hat and bag wig, has nothing to support him but a head full of emptiness.
THE CROCODILE.
THE Crocodile, with watery eyes,
O’er man and every creature cries,
Then feeds with pleasure on his prey;
So hypocrites their friends betray.
This terrible creature is said to weep over his prey before he devours it, as if he was unwilling to destroy any thing; but in truth, that whining is only to bring other creatures to see what’s the matter, that Mr. Crocodile may get another snap for his belly.
THE ASS.
THE Ass, tho’ mean, will by his bray
Oblige your horse to run away.
Though this animal makes such a mean figure, yet Sampson, with the jawbone of an Ass, slew a thousand men. But then the Lord was with him, and God Almighty can do any thing.
THE ANT.
THE little Ant no labour spares,
Wisely preventing future cares;
For ere the hoary frost comes on,
Her stock’s laid up, and business done.
This little creature was a great favourite with the wise king Solomon, who much admired her industry and carefulness, and recommends her to the consideration of every idle person.
‘Arise thou sluggard, go to the Ant, consider her ways, and be wise.’
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