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RHYMES 
 AND FANCIES 
 
 BY A BOY 
 
 LIONEL MEREDITH REED 
 
 RICHARD G. BADGER 
 
 THE GORHAM PRESS 
 BOSTON 
 
Copyright, 1913, by A. J. Reid 
 All rights reserved 
 
 
 The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. 
 
 ^/<H> 
 
 CU3o71S2 
 ^60 I 
 
 ■■■^^B^B 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 T the suggestion of the PubHsher a 
 few words of an explanatory character 
 are prefaced to these verses. 
 
 Lionel Meredith Reid, second son 
 of the Reverend A. J. Reid, was born m Clayton, 
 New York, on the banks of the St. Lawrence, 
 March 15, 1900, his father at that time being 
 rector of the Episcopal Church. When he was 
 about two years old the family returned to 
 Canada, where Mr. Reid accepted the rectorship 
 of Christ Church, Campbellford, with its old- 
 fashioned rectory, large grounds and orchards, 
 overlooking the quaint vine-covered church and 
 the picturesque Trent River. Here Lionel at- 
 tended the public school till he was eleven and 
 produced most of the verses found in this collec- 
 tion. Some eighteen months ago Mr. Reid was 
 transferred to the rectory of St. Mark's, Toronto, 
 and Lionel is now a pupil in the Western Avenue 
 public school. It may afford some explanation 
 of his creative imagination to say that his grand- 
 fathers were both Irishmen, his mother's father 
 being the late E. A. Meredith, LL. D., a distin- 
 guished graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, who 
 will be remembered in Canada, as being one of the 
 early principals of McGill University, Montreal, 
 and afterwards closely associated with the ad- 
 
ministration of the Federal Government of the 
 Dominion for thirty years either as Under-Secre- 
 tary of State or Deputy Minister of the Interior. 
 
 Lionel's first attempt at versification was at the 
 age of seven and a half, when he brought to his 
 mother on a scrap of wrappmg paper, "Jack's 
 Early Mommg Scare." Since then till now on 
 the verge of his thirteenth birthday, he has from 
 time to time as the spirit moved him, or his read- 
 ing or environment suggested, produced these 
 varied rhymes, generally dashed off in a few 
 minutes and brought to his mother, who has pre- 
 served the originals in nearly every case. 
 
 Four years ago the late Mr. George Murray, 
 B. A. Oxon, F. R. S. C, literary editor of the 
 Montreal Star and the Montreal Standard, 
 thus expressed his opinion of some of the 
 early verses in the Standard of IVIarch 27, 1909. 
 
 SOME VERSES BY A CANADIAN CHILD 
 
 The verses published by the younger Canadian 
 would-be poets are at times far from being satis- 
 factory, and I have sometimes felt pain when, as 
 The Star reviewer, I have felt it my duty to state 
 my opinion, and prove it correct by quotation. 
 Some youthful writers seem to think that every- 
 thing that is not actually prose must be verse, 
 and accordingly, without any previous study of 
 
the mere elements of poetry, and evidently with 
 no knowledge whatever of the masters of the art 
 they send to press compositions which ought never 
 to be set in type. In saying this I am far from 
 denying that among Canadians there is, no doubt, 
 much latent poetic genius which must in time 
 see light, and I rejoice for the sake of my adopted 
 country that this is so. But that this genius re- 
 quires careful training, to gain the approval of 
 competent judges, cannot and must not be de- 
 nied. I recently received from an Anglican Rec- 
 tor in Ontario some specimens of verse written by 
 his little boy, accompanied by a request that I 
 would give my opinion of them. As I have, of 
 course, mentioned no name, I think there can be 
 no harm in letting readers of The Standard see a 
 specimen of the verse produced by a child of eight 
 years and a half old. The lines are reproduced 
 exactly as they came from his pen, and are as 
 follows. They are entitled "The Adventure of 
 Princess Beautiful, Prince Charming and Sir 
 James." 
 
 "Come for a ride, your Highness!" 
 
 "Of course I will, Sir James, 
 And we'll see the lovely pigeon 
 
 That the Princess Beautiful tames. 
 Why, goodness! There's the pigeon 
 
 With a letter in its beak. " 
 
"Why, Prince, what is the matter? 
 Your face looks pale and weak." 
 
 "The Princess' letter!" gasped the Prince, 
 
 Give it to me. Sir James, 
 And keep the lovely pigeon 
 
 That the Princess Beautiful tames." 
 Sir James then took the pigeon. 
 
 Prince Charming took the letter; 
 When he'd read it, Sir James did say 
 
 That he looked a little better. 
 
 "It's just to ask us to go to hunt," 
 
 Said the Prince with a httle smile, 
 "There are two hons not far away. 
 
 Perhaps not more than a mile. 
 So get the spears and guns ready. 
 
 And get the horses, too, 
 And we wdll have a jolly time, 
 
 Though we are just a few. 
 
 There are the hons! There are the lions! 
 
 They do not see us, James, 
 Now be careful of the pigeon ^ 
 
 That the Princess Beautiful tames." 
 They have killed one hon — ^they know they 
 have — 
 The other is too tough: 
 They throw ten spears; then "Hip, hurrah!" 
 The Hon begins to puff. 
 
The lion springs on both Prince and Knight, 
 
 And bears them to the ground: 
 But then the Hon falls to earth. 
 
 And dies with an awful sound. 
 The Princess Beautiful has killed it, 
 And the Prince loved her so well 
 That, if you had been where they were then, 
 You'd have heard their Wedding Bell. 
 
 George Murray. 
 
 This little book is now sent to the Press, 
 hoping that other children will be entertained 
 by rhymes, in which one of their number has 
 voiced some of their fancies. 
 
 A. J. R. 
 St. Mark's Rectory, 
 
 Toronto, Canada. March 5, 1913. 
 
' 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 Jack's Early Morning Scare 11 
 
 Six Little Wishes 12 
 
 A Little Piece 13 
 
 Call the Drum 14 
 
 A Morning Song 15 
 
 A Christmas Song 16 
 
 The Adventure of Princess Beautiful, Prince 
 
 Charming and Sir James 17 
 
 Autumn 19 
 
 The Ballad of Sir Roland and Sir Hugh 20 
 
 The Sad Fate of Jimmy Gory 22 
 
 The Captain's Death 23 
 
 To the Sparrow 25 
 
 The Charge 26 
 
 A Christmas Verse 2^* 
 
 A War Song 28 
 
 "Castles in the Air" 29 
 
 The Drummer Lad 30 
 
 The Queen of Spring 32 
 
 A Toast 33 
 
 Night and Day 34 
 
 The Fall of Tyrant Turkey 35 
 
Earliest Verses^ icritien during Sepieniber, 1907. 
 
 JACK'S E.\RLY MORXING SCAEE 
 
 "Jack, come upstairs and go to bed 
 For it is time to rest your head." 
 
 Jack ran upstairs, took off his clothes 
 But first he had to wipe his nose. 
 
 And went to sleep 
 
 While people went by dri\'ing sheep. 
 
 The morning came with its lovely air 
 Jack got up early and gave them a scare. 
 
 11 
 
SIX LITTLE WISHES 
 
 I wish I had a pig with a Httle curly tail 
 
 So it would follow me down to the mail. 
 
 I wish I had a hen, a piece of paper and a pen. 
 
 I wish I had a mouse in a little round house. 
 
 I wish I had a rat I'd make it awful fat 
 
 And if I was as tough I think it would be enough. 
 
 i 
 
 12 
 
 — CTgpa owmj swr aT^jy ^w/wtAWjg ULJ wr' 
 
A LITTLE PIECE 
 
 The winds do blow, and sheep do go, 
 And the blossoms are off the trees. 
 And the bees have gone, the busy bees, 
 Sweet hot summer has passed away 
 And Winter has come but not to stay. 
 
 U 
 
Verses written during 1908 
 "CALL THE DRUM" 
 
 Call the drum, boys, call the drum, boys 
 
 Call the drum! 
 \Mien the bullets go thickly through the ak. 
 Jack and I are the joUiest pair. 
 The soldiers have their packets. 
 And all of them their jackets 
 Call the drum, boys, call the drima, boys, 
 
 Call the drum! 
 
 The soldiers have their caps of red 
 So hghtly set upon their head. 
 The bugle calls wdth its mighty call 
 And the man who blows it is very tall 
 Call the drmn, boys, call the drum, boys. 
 Call the drum! 
 
 14 
 
A MORNING SONG 
 
 The dew's on the daisy, 
 
 The cock he is crowing, 
 Nobody's lazy, 
 
 The mowers are mowing. 
 
 The blacksmith is hammering 
 
 Cling! Clang! Cling! 
 The birds are up 
 
 And beginning to sing. 
 
 1 
 
 The sailors are laughing and joking ] 
 
 And doing their work on the deck, 
 Each other's ribs they are poking. ' 
 
 And giving a pinch in the neck. 
 
 i 
 The soldiers are marching to war 
 
 Leaving their children at home. 
 
 Every one feeling so sore, j 
 
 That they are obhged to roam. j 
 
 15 
 
"A CHRISTIVIAS SONG" 
 
 Come let us sing, come let us sing, 
 And presents like the Wise Men bring, 
 
 Our gifts are Hymns 
 And they are to our Lord, our King. 
 
 16 
 
Verses written during 1909 
 
 THE ADVENTURE OF PRINCESS BEAUTI- 
 FUL, PRINCE CHARMING AND SIR 
 JAMES 
 
 "Come for a ride your Highness." 
 
 "Of course, I will, Sir James, 
 
 And we'll see the lovely pigeon 
 
 That the Princess Beautiful tames 
 
 Why goodness! There's the pigeon 
 
 With a letter in its beak." j 
 
 "Why, Prince, what is the matter? | 
 
 Your face looks pale and weak." j 
 
 I 
 "The Princess' letter!" gasped the Prince i 
 
 " Give it to me, Sir James, j 
 
 And keep the lovely pigeon ■ 
 
 That the Princess Beautiful tames. " 
 
 Sir James took the pigeon 
 
 Prince Charming took the letter. 
 
 When he'd read it. Sir James did say j 
 
 That he looked a little better. j 
 
 I 
 "It's just to ask us to go to hunt," ' 
 
 Said the Prince with a little smile, 
 
 "There are two lions not far away 
 
 Perhaps not more than a mile. ^ 
 
 So get the spears and guns ready | 
 
 17 ! 
 
And get the horses, too, 
 
 And we will have a jolly time, 
 
 Though we are just a few." 
 
 "There are the lions! There are the Hons! 
 They do not see us, James, | 
 
 Now be careful of the pigeon | 
 
 That the Princess Beautiful tames." | 
 
 They have killed one lion, they know they | 
 
 have 
 The other is too tough 
 They throw ten spears, then hip hurrah! 
 The hon begins to puff. 
 
 The hon springs on both Prince and Knight 
 
 And bears them to the ground 
 
 But then the hon falls to earth 
 
 And dies with an awful sound. 
 
 The Princess Beautiful has killed it 
 
 And the Prince loved her so well 
 
 That if you had been where they were then 
 
 You'd have heard their wedding bell. 
 
 18 
 
AUTUMN 
 
 The trees are bending in the wind, 
 The leaves are falling fast. 
 
 The cold drear winter has set in 
 And summer has gone past. 
 
 The lofty pine is sorry for 
 
 The dead leaves on the ground, 
 
 But he himself has nought to fear 
 From Jack Frost on his roimd. 
 
 19 
 
THE BALLAD OF SIR ROLAND AND 
 SIR HUGH 
 
 The moon was brightly shinmg. 
 
 The stars were very Hght, 
 WTien out into the moonbeams 
 
 There stepped a lonely knight. 
 
 His charger was a white one, 
 
 And on his golden hair 
 He wore a golden helmet, 
 
 His face was young and fair. 
 
 The moon turned sick and ghastly, 
 The stars they lost their light, 
 
 Wien out into the darkness 
 There stepped another knight. 
 
 I think I ViiW not speak to you 
 
 About this a\^'ful knight, 
 But I know that he was ugly 
 
 And very hard to fight. 
 
 They fought because of glory 
 For Glory, Glory great! 
 
 And in that battle gory 
 
 They fought till it was late. 
 
 20 
 
And when 'twas found tliat neither 
 
 Could thus the other slay, 
 They wiped the sweat from off their brows 
 
 Fair Roland then did say: — 
 
 "I trow 'tis proved we're equals," 
 Sir Hugh laughed loud and long. 
 
 "We both belong to England 
 So now let's sing a song." 
 
 21 
 
Verses composed during 1910, and published for 
 the family in a Child's Paper ''Teddy White/* 
 edited by himself. 
 
 THE SAD FATE OF JIMMY 
 GORY 
 
 I 
 
 I had a very nice young friend 
 His name was Jimmy Gory, 
 
 And as I liked him very much 
 I think I'll tell his story. 
 
 Alas, it is a sad one 
 This story of his fate. 
 
 I hardly Uke to tell it 
 At this very fearful rate. 
 
 As I said it is a sad one 
 This story of my friend, 
 
 (I haven't got a kerchief 
 Have you got one to lend?) 
 
 But the moral of my story 
 Is to give and not receive. 
 
 To never eat green apples, 
 And 'tis lastly not to grieve. 
 
 22 
 
 fyy<nfiF?yiouyw<ywofWft ftw r:: 
 
Verses Composed during 1911 
 THE CAPTAIN'S DEATH 
 
 The Captain was dead the doctors had said, 
 All the regiment mourned his loss, 
 
 While the death-dealing shells were whirling 
 romid 
 They laid him down on the moss. 
 
 They laid him down on the moss and wept. 
 
 Those soldiers strong and brave, 
 Then through the powdery hazy air 
 
 A ringing cheer they gave. 
 
 A ringing cheer they gave and dashed 
 
 Upon the Russians stem, 
 Right through the awful ranks they tore 
 
 Like falcon killing hern. 
 
 Like falcon killing hem they dashed 
 
 To avenge their noble leader. 
 And cut the Russians down that day, 
 
 Like weeds cut by the weeder. 
 
 But many a mother mourned her son, 
 
 And many a sister her brother, 
 And the Captain was dead and never again 
 
 Could his place be filled by another. 
 
 23 
 
Could his place be filled by another man, 
 TMio was strong enough to stand, 
 
 Against six thousand Russians 
 With so few men at hand. 
 
 24 
 
 ^:xM[ 
 
TO THE SP.\RROW 
 
 Little valiant happy bird, 
 
 Thou art spumed by most, 
 But I love thee httle chirper, 
 *Tis no empty boast. 
 
 Bold thou art when fair aroused 
 By the black-plumed robber, 
 
 Thou dost often beat him sore, 
 The proud and haughty mobber. 
 
 "\Mien the naughty squirrel comes 
 
 Down upon thy nest. 
 Thou dost often make him think, 
 
 Discretion is the best. 
 
 Thou hast manv enemies, 
 Some thou'dst better shun, 
 
 But of friends thou hast still more 
 Of the last I'm one. 
 
 (May, 1911.) 
 
 25 
 
THE CHARGE 
 
 Blow, bugler brave! ring out the notes. 
 
 The British bjigle blow. 
 While gallant scarlet warriors 
 
 File onward row on row. 
 
 Roll out the drum ! bold drummer lad, 
 Like thunder make it sound. 
 
 The cavalry all clad in grey. 
 Are dashing o'er the ground. 
 
 But what is yonder great black cloud 
 Lying darkly 'neath the sun.? 
 
 That is the Russian Army, lad. 
 All gathered like as one. 
 
 The battle rages fierce and strong 
 
 What is it now we see? 
 Great men in black are running fast, 
 
 'Tis for their Uves they flee. 
 
 Hurrah! Hurrah! the Russian wolves 
 Are stricken down like sheep. 
 
 We Britons sing and laugh with joy, 
 The Russians do but weep. 
 
 26 
 
A CHRISTMAS VERSE 
 
 0*er all the world the chimes are rung. 
 
 Oh! sweetly do they ring. 
 The Hymns by all the choirs are sung, 
 
 Oh! sweetly do they sing. 
 And all the earth to praise gives tongue. 
 
 The praise of Christ our King. 
 
 27 
 
u 
 
 Verses Composed during 1912 
 A WAR SONG 
 
 Gird on thine iron coat of mail 
 
 Thy buckler and thy sword. 
 Be foremost in the struggle 
 
 For Freedom, King and Lord. 
 
 Fight on, the tyrant's bonds shall break. 
 
 His chains shall burst asunder. 
 The very cannon speak of fame. 
 
 While belching forth their thunder. 
 
 Fight on, no more shall we be slaves. 
 
 And bondsmen, nay no more. 
 For Freedom is our cause, and free, 
 
 We'll be from shore to shore. 
 
 "For King and Lord," "For King and Lord" 
 
 Our watchword it shall be. 
 With paling face the foe doth watch. 
 
 With quaking hearts they flee. 
 
 From ocean unto ocean 
 
 Pursue we with the sword. 
 And ever shall our watchword be 
 "For Freedom, King and Lord." 
 
 28 
 
 :d 
 
"CASTLES IN THE AIR" 
 
 Far from the busy throbbing world, 
 
 Far from its torturing care, 
 
 Are those entrancing mansions J 
 
 *'The castles in the air." j 
 
 Alas but few are strongly built, •; 
 
 Few have foundations laid, f 
 
 Their one-time splendour vanishes, \ 
 
 They crumble and they fade. ' 
 
 \ 
 
 The castles of the mighty, \ 
 
 The castles of the low. 
 Are brought to earth; their glory 
 
 Is lessened, fast or slow. 
 
 ) 
 
 ■1 
 
 Think of the hopes that on them rest, ' 
 
 The hopes which all must fall. 
 The bricks decay, the mortar rots. 
 
 They crumble one and all. 
 
 29 
 

 THE DRUMMER LAD 
 
 Not the Colonel, nor the Captain 
 
 Of the regiment was he, 
 Of the regiment from Abershire, 
 
 The gallant Forty-three, 
 But just a little drummer lad 
 
 In scarlet coat arrayed, 
 In scarlet coat and trousers blue, 
 And on his drum he played 
 
 "Rat tat, rat tat too, 
 Rat tat too.'* 
 
 'Tis just a little drummer lad. 
 
 Laid low upon the ground, 
 In his stiffened hand the stick is clenched 
 
 That stick gives forth no sound. 
 While shot and shell burst round about, 
 
 The Captain sadly said. 
 As he glanced upon the little form, 
 "Our drummer boy is dead." 
 
 "Rat tat, rat tat too. 
 Rat tat too." 
 
Eftsoon the fight was over, 
 
 They sought among the dead, 
 They sought and found his mangled form 
 
 Shot through the breast and head, 
 And many a tear was in an eye, 
 
 When they saw his httle drum, 
 They knew no more they'd hear him play 
 
 For them to go and come: — 
 
 "Rat tat, rat tat too, 
 Rat tat too.'* 
 
 SI 
 
Composed during 1913 
 
 THE QUEEN OF SPRING 
 
 Hold ! cease your clamour, tempests of the north, 
 The mighty Queen of Spring is coming forth 
 
 In beauty drest. 
 With loving hand she decks the naked trees, 
 Hark ! hear them, murm'ring in the gentle breeze 
 
 From out the West. 
 
 Your day is o'er, back to your frozen home 
 Of wondrous palaces, of crystal dome. 
 
 And glittering spire. 
 The icy North wdth joy will meet you there, 
 While here awaits the Queen of Spring so fair, 
 
 A welcome higher. 
 
 All nature wakens as with lightning wings 
 She nearer draws; how sweet the robin siags, 
 
 How sweet the air! 
 0*er all the land there hangs a wistful haze 
 All hail the bearer of these springtime days. 
 
 The Spring Queen fair! 
 
 32 
 
A TOAST 
 
 Was there iver such a fellow 
 
 As Joseph Henry Bellow, 
 
 A trooper in the Tiger's Light Brigade? 
 
 I'm sure I'm not mistaken, 
 
 But in years to come he's makin' 
 
 Fame and fortune with his courage and his 
 
 blade 
 As a Captain in the Tiger's Light Brigade. 
 
 Was there iver such a Briton? 
 
 Well you ought to see him hittin' 
 
 At the cursin' growlin' gunners of the foe, 
 
 Slashin', choppin', woundm', stunnin', 
 
 Till he sets the spalpeens runnin', 
 
 Was there iver such a chap as 'ero Joe 
 
 No there wasn't, nor there niver will be, No ! 
 
TJie following lines were written before dressing 
 one December morning after a sleepless night during 
 which a friend and neighbor lay between life and 
 death, 
 
 NIGHT AND DAY 
 
 The stifling silence of the gloomy night, 
 Contrasting strongly ■^'ith the hours of Hght, 
 Is like unto the Angels Death and Life. 
 
 The darkness slowly gathering dark and drear, 
 Is hke life's end, death drawing near, 
 The man departs in peace, above. 
 
 Then once again the dawn when bright it breaks 
 Is hke a new-bom child when first he wakes. 
 And growing as the brightness, quickly grows to 
 man. 
 
 34 
 
THE FALL OF TYRANT TURKEY 
 
 Note: — This little play is a parody of human 
 life. The characters are supposed to be people. 
 
 The Principal Characters 
 
 The Gamecock The hero 
 
 The Gander and Drake Villains 
 
 The Turkey The tyrant 
 
 The Rooster The hero's friend 
 
 Hens, Cockerels, etc. 
 
 Act The First 
 
 Scene. The farm yard. The Gamecock, the 
 Gander and the Drake are gathered together, 
 talking. 
 
 Gamecock {pointing to Turkey who is in the dis- 
 tance) 
 Ah, there he goes, the proud and haughty fool! 
 Shall we, his equals, cringe beneath his rule? 
 Or shall we overthrow his lawless power. 
 And claim our rights this very noon-day hour.^^ 
 
 Gander 
 And who shall be the sovereign then, my friend? 
 Who shall be he before whom we must bend? 
 
 35 
 
 M^iw— ■■ m lllii^Mfl— ■■gggrS 
 
Gamecock 
 Thou dullard! use thy small and foolish brain. 
 And hark! I will in nearing future reign! 
 
 Drake {angrily) 
 You knave, if anyone shall be the king 
 'Twill not be you — ^you gaudy feathered thing! 
 
 Gander (aside) 
 Come, comrade, let us teach the rogue his place. 
 His silver tongue — ah, welcome here, your Grace. 
 
 Turkey (just coming up) 
 How now! why all these angry words and eyes. 
 Why fight (turning to Gander and Drake) with 
 one so weak and small of size? 
 
 Drake 
 Oh, King, that wicked creatm-e standing there 
 To overthrow thy rule, to us did swear. 
 But we determined to frustrate his schemes. 
 And put to flight his vain and wicked dreams. 
 
 Turkey {calling guards) 
 Here, take this villain to the deepest cell. 
 He is a dangerous rebel, guard him well. 
 
 {Gamecock attempts to expostulate but is led off, 
 
 struggling) 
 36 
 
 1 
 
Turhey 
 I've heard them say he is the Master's pride, 
 I trow 'twill not be so when he hath died. 
 For when a thing is laid within the grave, 
 The man forgets the pleasures that it gave. 
 
 Drake {'pretending to he horrified) 
 Wliat! think, sire, what in wrath you chance 
 
 to say 
 Surely you will not take his life away! 
 
 Turkey 
 It must be so. My cro^Ti and life's at stake. 
 Now farewell, Gander, fare thee well, good Drake ! 
 
 {Exit Turkey) 
 
 Drake 
 I thought that he was wise, he is a fool. 
 Hark, comrade, we will use him as our tool. 
 When he has killed our enemy, the cock, 
 He will be executed on the block. 
 The Master loves not those who kill his stock. 
 Thus we shall be well ridded of both foes 
 And then the power of ruling to us goes! 
 
 Gander {admiringly) 
 Thou, Drake, my friend, a wondrous schemer art. 
 I see thy plans. I'll try to act my part. 
 
 {Exit Gander and Drake.) 
 FALL OF CURTAIN 
 S7 
 
Act The Second 
 
 Scene. The farm yard. Rooster is addressing 
 the hens and cocks. 
 
 Rooster 
 He lies within a dungeon, cold and dark, 
 For aught we know the last remaining spark, 
 Of life has almost altogether fled 
 Perhaps our only champion is dead. 
 
 Cockerel {bursting in) 
 Ho! comrades, come the warders are asleep. 
 E'en now they rest in slumber calm and deep. 
 Come to the Gamecock's rescue e'er they wake. 
 Make haste! The king, at dawn his life will 
 take! 
 
 Rooster 
 Come, friends, the night is drawing to an end. 
 How many here the Gamecock will befriend? 
 
 {Everybody steps forward) 
 
 Rooster {addressing hens) 
 Nay, wait you here — come, friends, let us away, 
 We'll rescue him before the dawn of day. 
 
 {Exit all but hens) 
 
 {In a few moments they bring Gamecock) 
 
 38 
 
 "'^fWvS'^'^ 
 
Gamecock {listening) 
 They're on my track! Come let us fly away. 
 For if we're caught 'twill be a sorry day. 
 
 Rooster 
 Aye, hasten, they are drawing near, 
 Their cries and shouts I plainly hear. 
 And shortly now they will appear! 
 
 {Exit everyone) 
 {Guards appear soon after hut after gazing angrily 
 around they leave ^ beaten.) 
 
 {Exit Guards.) 
 
 CURTAIN 
 
 Act The Third 
 
 Scene. Hayloft, slightly resembling a court. 
 The Turkey is sitting on a box-throne and the 
 Gander and Drake stand beside. A messenger 
 suddenly bursts in and hands Turkey a letter. 
 
 Turkey {reading it) 
 What! have they let the villain fly away? 
 Then, by my head, the guards shall rue this day. 
 Ho sirrah, send the varlets here, at once. 
 Their heads shall pay the forfeit — haste, thou 
 dunce. {Exit messenger hastily) 
 
 39 
 
Gander 
 He is a dangerous rebel, this, O King, 
 It would be best — when caught — to let him swing. 
 
 Drake {with a harsh laugh) 
 Or better still, to cut away his head, 
 For then we could be sure that he was dead. 
 
 Turkey 
 You two, are very quick to make a jest. 
 And of my friends I know you are the best 
 
 Drake (aside) Donkey! 
 (Aloud:) Yes, sire, we are the most sincere of 
 
 friends. 
 And only Death, which friendship always rends, 
 Can take us from you. 
 
 (Gander laughs immoderately) 
 
 Turkey (angrily) 
 Why are you laughing at so wrong a place? 
 Be careful, friend, and try subdue that face. 
 Or else thou' It lose it for all time to come, 
 And then thy cackling laughter will be dumb. 
 (At this critical moment messenger appears) 
 Messenger (sarcastically) 
 Your Grace, the guards refuse to you obey. 
 And even now they all have gone away 
 To join the rebel Gamecock's swelling force, 
 And, Tyrant, to him I will go of course. 
 (He shakes his fist exuUingly and leaves.) 
 
 40 
 
Turkey {leaping from throne) 
 The knaves! The traitors! oh the treacherous 
 
 hounds. 
 My head! their insolence has burst all bounds! 
 {He turns to Gander and Drake, who are crouching 
 
 in terror.) 
 And you, w'ill you too, join this villain's band? 
 Get up, you cowards, where are those tongues so 
 
 grand? 
 
 Drake {to Gander) 
 There is no course to choose but this, I fear, 
 (Aloud:) es sire, we still will stay beside you here. 
 
 Turkey {pacing to and fro) 
 Here ! no we must not hide within this court 
 *T will neither be a refuge, nor a fort. 
 But let us seek the open fields outside. 
 And there, or 'mid the corn-stalks we may hide. 
 Against me, friends, is turned the hand of Fate; 
 But Fate and Fortune favour him I hate! 
 
 {Exit) 
 
 CURTAIN 
 
 Act The Fourth 
 
 Scene. The farm yard. The Gamecock sur- 
 rounded by everybody is proceeding to the barn. 
 
 41 
 
 mimmfa mNi3iwMAi\iJw ;ifmr'^9m «MKW i ^aaj^^u mmmm 
 
M 
 
 Rooster 
 
 ■i^' 
 
 Your day of triumph hast at last arrived, 
 
 Your foes are vanquished but you have survived. | 
 
 But what is that I see, look yonder — ^there ! 
 
 It is the guards — come, friends, let us prepare 
 
 To meet them for they seem of hostile air. 
 
 Gamecock 
 Nay, look, their leader bears a flag of white, 
 They come on friendly errand — ^not to fight. 
 
 {Guards ap^pear with a white flag) 
 
 Leader (Jbowing deferentially) 
 We come, O King, to join you and your men. 
 The tyrant's fled — ^you'll see him ne*er again, 
 Gone are those lying knaves he calls his friends. 
 And all the world of creatures to you bends. 
 
 Gamecock (aside) 
 How strange it is — the iron hand of Fate. 
 It pulls the lowest to the best and great. 
 How soon those feeble warders change their 
 
 course. 
 And leave the losing for the gaining force! 
 (Aloud) I thank you, warders, for your help 
 
 and aid, 
 ^^^lere was it that the former monarch stayed.^ 
 
 42 
 
Leader 
 The castle court is high above our home 
 We will conduct your grace if you will come. 
 
 {Guards form an escort. Exit) 
 
 {The Turkey, Gander and Drake appear on the 
 stage bent with weariness.) 
 
 Turkey 
 Woe's me! from this day forth my life shall be, 
 Like as a stricken vessel out at sea. 
 Tossed to and fro, a helpless, friendless thing, 
 Yet but an hour ago I was the King. 
 
 Gander {repentfully) 
 We are two utter devils, comrade Drake, 
 Two lying scoundrels of the vilest make. 
 Will we deceive the wretched creature still. 
 Or shall we tell him all! we must, we will. 
 
 Drake 
 
 Nay, nay, what other line is there to choose? 
 When told he will be like a fiend let loose. 
 A wretch you say? but harken, what are we? 
 Besides, what other friend in life have we? 
 You've heard the saying "birds alike in feather. 
 Are always known to meet and flock together!" 
 
 48 
 
Gander 
 You're right, I fear. Since we have sunk so low. 
 We cannot raise ourselves — come, let us go. 
 
 {They call to Turkey ^ who has been sitting dis- 
 mally in a corner). Exit. 
 
 CURTAIN 
 
 Act The Fifth 
 
 Scene. Gamecock's force are resting. They 
 are getting ready to go forward, when a cock 
 rushes in. 
 
 Cock 
 Back! Back! there is a gruesome sight before. 
 The traitors, Drake and Gander, lie in gore. 
 Their headless bodies lie beside the block, 
 And soon the sure and death-deciding knock 
 Shall stretch the Tyrant Turkey on the ground. 
 Back! Back! I say, or we shall all be found! 
 
 Rooster 
 
 No, no, our useless lives they do not seek. 
 
 But soon there comes — some day this coming 
 
 week, 
 A dinner, so I heard the Master speak, 
 
 44 
 
At which they need three plump and hearty fowls. 
 There are the three. Ah, harken to his howls! 
 
 {Turkey is screaming) 
 
 Gamecock 
 Poor wretch. His life of tyranny is o'er. 
 And we shall feel his cruel hand no more. 
 And those deep villains — gone are all their 
 
 schemes. 
 At one quick blow are dashed away their dreams. 
 
 Rooster 
 You have no cause to pity them, my lord. 
 They would have stopp'd your life by but a word. 
 If such could be the case — and by my head, 
 I am at least right glad that they are dead. 
 
 {Everybody applauds) 
 
 Gamecock 
 Come, let us turn our faces from the sight. 
 And end our journey e'er the start of night. 
 
 {Exit everyone) 
 CURTAIN 
 
 Act The Sixth and Last 
 
 Scene. The hayloft. The Gramecock is on 
 the throne. Everybody is present. 
 
 45 
 
Gamecock {rising) 
 My friends, I have but risen from the ranks, 
 I am but one of you — mayhap the clanks 
 Of chains might still soimd on my prisoned form. 
 Or, hanging on the gallows, gale and storm 
 Might sweep my lifeless body to and fro, 
 The victim of my former haughty foe. 
 Instead I am the monarch of the land. 
 And, friends, one thing from you I must demand. 
 In all the country round all crime and vice 
 Must leave the land, and since to me the dice 
 Has thrown so well, all fowls must own my sway. 
 And help me sweep all deeds of WTong away. 
 
 {Clapping of wings) 
 Rooster 
 I speak, I know, for every creature here, 
 We will obey you. Comrades, give an ear. 
 And Ust to me. Know ye our Hves are short? 
 That sometime we must leave the field and court? 
 That we must, sometime, leave the grassy field. 
 And to a higher being than us yield? 
 Then, why not let our hves though short be sweet. 
 Until the time we all be killed for meat? 
 The man may think we are bereft of brain. 
 Now, let us show him his mistake, this reign. 
 
 Gamecock 
 Now let me thank you all. You've been most 
 kind, 
 
 46 
 
I also will do much for you, I bind 
 Myself as strongly as I was before, 
 To do the right — and I can do no more. 
 
 CURTAIN FALLS 
 
 Lionel Reid, 
 
 February, 1913. 
 
 47 
 
.: 
 
>^^S4ayv?-%W«S£!!2.SLyW.^Q«*Wff 
 
SEP 29 1918 
 
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