FOR CHILDREN. 15

“Walk in, walk in, mother,” said he,
And shut the door behind—

She thought, for such a gentleman,
That he was wondrous kind.

But ere the midnight clock had tolled,
Like a tiger of the wood,

He had eaten the flesh from off her bones,
And drunk of her heart's blood !

Now after this fell! deed was done,
A little season’s space,

The burly? Baron of Bluebottle
Was riding from the chase.

The sport was dull, the day was hot,
The sun was sinking down,
When wearily the Baron rode
Into the dusty town.
Says he, “ I'll ask a lodging,
At the first house I come to;”
With that,3 the gate of Web-Spinner
Came suddenly in view.

Loud was the knock the Baron gave—
Down came the churl+ with glee ;
Says Bluebottle, “ Good Sir, to-night
I ask your courtesy ;
I am wearied with a long day’s chace—~
My friends are far behind.”
‘You may need them all,” said Web-Spinner.
“Ttrunneth in my mind.”
1 Fell—fatal, murderous,
? Burly—pompous and big.
3 With that—-with that time, just at that moment.
* Churt—an ill-mannered, miserly person.