Fourth Grade Read Aloud Banquet




Robert of Lincoln

Merrily swinging on brier and weed,

Near to the nest of his little dame,

Over the mountain-side or mead,

Robert of Lincoln is telling his name.

Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink,

Snug and safe is this nest of ours,

Hidden among the summer flowers.

Chee, chee, chee.


Robert of Lincoln is gayly dressed,

Wearing a bright, black wedding-coat;

White are his shoulders, and white his crest,

Hear him call in his merry note,

Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink,

Look what a nice, new coat is mine;

Sure there was never a bird so fine.

Chee, chee, chee.


Robert of Lincoln's Quaker wife,

Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings,

Passing at home a patient life,

Broods in the grass while her husband sings,

Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink,

Brood, kind creature, you need not fear

Thieves and robbers while I am here.

Chee, chee, chee.


Modest and shy as a nun is she;

One weak chirp is her only note;

Braggart, and prince of braggarts is he,

Pouring boasts from his little throat,

Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink,

Never was I afraid of man,

Catch me, cowardly knaves, if you can.

Chee, chee, chee.


Six white eggs on a bed of hay,

Flecked with purple, a pretty sight;

There as the mother sits all day,

Robert is singing with all his might,

Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink,

Nice good wife that never goes out,

Keeping house while I frolic about.

Chee, chee, chee.


Soon as the little ones chip the shell,

Six wide mouths are open for food;

Robert of Lincoln bestirs him well,

Gathering seeds for the hungry brood,

Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink,

This new life is likely to be

Hard for a gay young fellow like me.

Chee, chee, chee.


Robert of Lincoln at length is made

Sober with work, and silent with care;

Off is his holiday garment laid,

Half forgotten that merry air,

Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink,

Nobody knows but my mate and I,

Where our nest and our nestlings lie.

Chee, chee, chee.


Summer wanes; the children are grown;

Fun and frolic no more he knows;

Robert of Lincoln's a hum-drum crone;

Off he flies, and we sing as he goes,

Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink,

When you can pipe that merry old strain,

Robert of Lincoln, come back again.

Chee, chee, chee.



  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Week 31 Pirates at Their Own Funeral from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain The Fiery Cross from Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall The Viper and the Scorpion from The Story Book of Science by Jean Henri Fabre The Story of the DeDanaans from Our Little Celtic Cousin of Long Ago by Evaleen Stein Napoleon Bonaparte from The Struggle for Sea Power by M. B. Synge The Little Cabin Boy from Fairy Tales Too Good To Miss—Across the Lake by Lisa M. Ripperton Lazarus Raised to Life from Hurlbut's Story of the Bible by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut
Francesco Petrarch from Heroes of the Middle Ages by Eva March Tappan From T Wharf to Franklin Field from Summer by Dallas Lore Sharp The Continental Congress from Four American Patriots by Alma Holman Burton The Fox and the Piece of Meat from The Tortoise and the Geese and Other Fables of Bidpai by Maude Barrows Dutton Brynhild in the House of Flame from The Children of Odin: A Book of Northern Myths by Padraic Colum Young Wasps from Will o' the Wasps by Margaret Warner Morley Irene Behaves Like a Princess from The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald
Berries by Walter de la Mare   The Snake by Emily Dickinson   Little Bell from Poems by Thomas Westwood   A Prayer by Edwin Markham
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The Aesop for Children  by Milo Winter

The Fox and the Monkey

At a great meeting of the Animals, who had gathered to elect a new ruler, the Monkey was asked to dance. This he did so well, with a thousand funny capers and grimaces, that the Animals were carried entirely off their feet with enthusiasm, and then and there, elected him their king.

The Fox did not vote for the Monkey and was much disgusted with the Animals for electing so unworthy a ruler.

One day he found a trap with a bit of meat in it. Hurrying to King Monkey, he told him he had found a rich treasure, which he had not touched because it belonged by right to his majesty the Monkey.

The greedy Monkey followed the Fox to the trap. As soon as he saw the meat he grasped eagerly for it, only to find himself held fast in the trap. The Fox stood off and laughed.


[Illustration]

"You pretend to be our king," he said, "and cannot even take care of yourself!"

Shortly after that, another election among the Animals was held.

The true leader proves himself by his qualities.