n]

Wild with fury, up he started,
With his yard-stick out he darted;
For once more that frightful jeer,
"Muck! muck! muck!" rang loud and clear.

[Illustration]

On the bridge one leap he makes;
Crash! beneath his weight it breaks.

[Illustration]

Once more rings the cry, "Muck! muck!"
_In_, headforemost, plumps poor Buck!
While the scared boys were skedaddling,
Down the brook two geese came paddling.

[Illustration]

On the legs of these two geese,
With a death-clutch, Buck did seize;

[Illustration]

And, with both geese _well in hand_,
Flutters out upon dry land.

[Illustration]

For the rest he did not find
Things exactly to his mind.

[Illustration]

Soon it proved poor Buck had brought a
Dreadful belly-ache from the water.

[Illustration]

Noble Mrs. Buck! She rises
Fully equal to the crisis;
With a hot flat-iron, she
Draws the cold out famously.

[Illustration]

Soon 'twas in the mouths of men,
All through town: "Buck's up again!"

* * * * *

This was the bad boys' third trick,
But the fourth will follow quick.

TRICK FOURTH.

AN old saw runs somewhat so:
Man must learn while here below.--
Not alone the A, B, C,
Raises man in dignity;
Not alone in reading, writing,
Reason finds a work inviting;
Not alone to solve the double
Rule of Three shall man take trouble:
But must hear with pleasure Sages
Teach the wisdom of the ages.

[Illustration]

Of this wisdom an example
To the world was Master Laempel.
For this cause, to Max and Maurice
This man was the chief of horrors;
For a boy who loves bad tricks
Wisdom's friendship never seeks.
With the clerical profession
Smoking always was a passion;
And this habit without question,
While it helps promote digestion,
Is a comfort no one can
Well begrudge a good old man,
When the day's vexations close,
And he sits to seek repose.--
Max and Maurice, flinty-hearted,
On another tric