Autumn Among the Birds

Peet-weet! Peet-weet!

I've such cold feet,

And nothing to eat!

The creek is so high

That I can't keep dry

Except when I fly!

Peet-weet!

Kildee! Kildee! Kildee!

This is no place for me!

The southland I must seek——

Kildee!

Link-a-link! Link-a-link!

My diet has made me weak;

The fields of rice must be so nice.

I'll go with you, I think——

Link-a-link!

Bobaree! Bobaree!

A frost you'll see——

You'll see to your sorrow,

If you wait until to-morrow——

Bobaree!

Chip-chip! Chip-chip! Chip-chip!

I'll give November the slip!

Sh! Sh! Sh!

Every one loves the Wren!

Wait, and just once again

I'll go, and, as still as a mouse,

Peep into the little house

They built for my use alone,

With a door and a porch like their own!

—Sh!

Witches here! Witches here!

And no wonder—so late in the year!

On! On! On!

Why should we longer stay?

On! Ere the peep of day

We should be leagues away,

Quite out of sight of land!

Our old gray Commodore

Will guide our gallant band

With the daintiest food in store!

To a pleasant southern shore,

On! On! On!

Zip! Zip! You may count on the Swallow!

We hear, and anear we will be;

The rest, if they like, may follow

O'er land and o'er sea.

Weary! Oh, weary! Oh, weary!

It's a long, long, long way, dearie!

Quip! Quip! Cheer up! Cheer up!

But I think we ought first to sup;

With such a long journey ahead,

Pilgrims should be well fed——

Quip! Quip!

A-wick-wick! wick-wick! wick-wick! wick! Yare-op!

If all this senseless chatter you would stop,

And listen, an announcement I would make:

Old Father Crane will soon be here to take

All you small folks upon his back—Wick-wick!

Peet-weet! Zit! Zit! Cheeree! Ittee! Be Quick!