Abroad | Page 7

you know, in our Zoo'?The swans of old England?Are just like you?"
"Don't tell me!"?Said a cross old bird;?"I know better,?The thing's quite absurd.
"Their figures, I'm sure,?Are not worth a glance:?If you want to see style,?You _must_ come to France."
With a scornful whisk?The swan turned tail,?Spread its wings to the breeze,?And was off full-sail.
"Ho! pretty swan,?Do you know, in our Zoo'?The swans are not half?So conceited as you?"
[Illustration]
A FLOWER STALL ON THE BOULEVARDS
Look at M��re Victorine?At her stall in the street,?With the lily and rose,?And the white _marguerite_,?She makes pretty _bouqu��ts_?The whole of the day:?There are buyers in plenty?Who pass by that way.?Little Basil and Am��lie,?Watching her, stand:?Up to M��re Victorine?Basil stretches his hand,?"Can't you spare me," says he,?"A morsel of green,?Or _one_ sweet little flower,?Good M��re Victorine?"?"If you come for a flower,?Pray where is your _sou_?"?Answers M��re Victorine,?"I can't _give_ one to you--?Such flowers as mine?Are for selling, you know;?You must go to the country,?Where _wild_ flowers grow."
[Illustration]
A DAY AT VERSAILLES.
At Versailles, as perhaps you have heard,
Countless pictures of fights
Form the chief of the sights:
Could so many great battles have ever occurred?
No wonder our children the gardens preferred:--?For the fountains were really so pretty a sight,?That Bertie declared--and I think he was right--
It was better to play
Like the fountains all day,
Than such terrible battles to fight.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
LA FONTAINE DES INNOCENTS
Round this pretty fountain here?Sparrows gather all the year;?In its sparkling waters dip,?From its basin freely sip,?Round about their fountain play,?Safe and happy all the day;--?Little "innocents" are they.?That is Antoine, bread in hand;?See him by his mother stand:?Saucy little birdies spy?Antoine's bread, and at it fly,?Trying each to get a share,?Frightening little Antoine there.?Antoine does not _wish_ to share,?Thinks the bread is all _his_ right,?Just to suit his appetite.?Mother says, "Be kind, my son,?There is more when this is done;?Bread enough for thee at home:--?Let the pretty sparrows come;?Give them each a little crumb."
Here our little family?Near the fountain too, we see,?Walking through the open space?To the covered market-place.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
THE MARKETS OF PARIS
Here from morning till night they are selling and buying, And from morning till night their market wares crying:
All around you will find there is food of each kind;?There are flesh, fowl, and fish here for every dish.?The fish-market you see on the opposite page:?On this stall that is nearest, the shell-fish appear;?But were I to begin, it would take me an age?To tell you the names of the fish you find here.?See! there's puss looking out for what she can get,?And that little boy who is laughing is Paul,--?The girl with the lobster is sister Lisette,?And he's watching to see if it nips her at all.?Madame Blaise, there, tells Nellie her mussels are good,?But Nellie smiles sweetly and goes on her way,?And I venture to doubt if she quite understood?All the funny French things Madame Blaise had to say.?Other parts of the market contain butchers meat,?And poultry, and fruit, and salads, and greens,?And here, if you want them, quite young, fresh and sweet, Are the _haric��ts verts_ which we know as "French beans."
For, from morning till night here they're selling and buying, And from morning till night their market wares crying.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
IN THE LUXEMBOURG GARDENS.
Rose and Bertie have a ride;?Mabel, walking at their side,?Carries both the dolls, and so?By the Luxembourg they go.
Over in that Palace soon--?For the clock is marking noon--?The "Senate" will together come?(Like our "House of Lords" at home).
Hear that woman, "Who will buy?Windmill, ball, or butterfly"--?Josephine and Phillipe, see,?Eager as they both can be.
Charles before her, silent stands,?With no money in his hands,?No more _sous_--he spent them all?On that big inflated ball.
Be content, my little friend,?Money spent you cannot spend;?With your good St. Bernard play,?Buy more toys another day.
[Illustration]
A MERRY-GO-ROUND IN THE CHAMPS ELYSEES
Here all the day long,?Are race-horses for hire,?That never go wrong.?And besides, never tire.?Here all the day long,?Are race-horses for hire.?Who will come for a ride??Horses, lions, all ready!?Bear or tiger astride,?You shall sit safe and steady.?Who will come for a ride??Lions, horses, all ready!
Round and round they canter slow--soon they fast and faster go; Look at Louis, all in white, Gaspard, almost out of sight, Rose and Mabel side by side;--Bertie watching while they ride. Dennis waits till they have done,--much too big to join the fun; Brother Paul, with serious air, minds his little sister Claire, Thinking if _he_ had a sou, _she_ should have some pleasure too.
[Illustration]
Now, with regret, they've said Good-bye to Paris bright and gay; To Calais they are drawing nigh--you see them on their way. To travel thus, all