through.

They said they burned their wings and feet
With the sides of the smoking pot.
He laughed, "Oh, nonsense! Now, my dears,
"We'll try something really hot."

[Illustration]

So he made a terrified goose jump through
A hoop all blazing alight,
While all the rest of the geese stood round
And screamed with all their might.

And he was just about to try
To teach them how to swim,
When all the geese made up their minds
They'd have some games with him.

[Illustration]

They put him on a spit, to roast
Before a blazing fire;
And one fat goose with bellows blew,
To make the flame go higher.

He woke up shrieking with fear and pain,
And, as he cuddled down
Between the sheets, he vowed he'd never
Become a cruel clown.

THE RACE.

Has anyone heard of the wonderful race
Of the frogs and the greyhounds, the rabbits and cats?
They rode it on bicycles, sixteen in all,
And the umpires were pugs, with cigars and high hats.

And the number of each kind of racer was four--
Four frogs dressed in green, four rabbits in brown,
Four greyhounds well brushed and with spotless shirt-fronts,
Four pussies with tails hanging gracefully down.

[Illustration: The frogs came up first, with their legs straddled
wide.]

The four solemn puggies inspected them all
And weighed them as gravely as if they were dead.
"The rabbits must carry the dinners for all;
It's a fair handicap, as they're quickest," they said.

(I've heard that the rabbits were angry at this;
And I think that it's true, for they never were seen
Any more by the umpires, although the cats say
They frequently meet them at night on the green.)

[Illustration: Then up came the greyhounds]

And now they are ready, and "Go!" cried the first
Of the four solemn pugs as he lit his cigar.
"I shall act for the rabbits; you choose from the rest,
And carefully watch who first passes the bar."

"The cats shall be mine," says the fourth with a wag
Of his tightly curled tail as he sat on the grass.
"I speak for the frogs," said the third, "for I'm sure
They're cunning enough to let nobody pass."

[Illustration: The rabbits rode off with the food to the woods]

"So the greyhounds are mine, then," says pug Number Two,
And he put hi