78 SELECT POETRY

So it swept with a bustle right through a great
town,

Cracking the signs and scattering down

Shutters ; and whisking, with merciless squalls,

Old women’s bonnets and gingerbread stalls.

There never was heard a much lustier shout,

As the apples and oranges trundled about ;

And the urchins that stand with their thievish eyes

For ever on watch, ran off each with a prize.

Then away to the field it went, blustering and
humming, .

And the cattle all wondered whatever was coming;

It plucked by the tails the grave matronly cows,

And tossed the colts’ manes all about their brows ;

Till, offended at such an unusual salute,

They all turned their backs, and stood sulky and
mute.

So on it went capering and playiug its pranks,

Whistling with reeds on the broad river's banks,

Puffing the birds as they sat on the spray.

Or the traveller grave on the king’s highway.

It was not too nice to hustle the bags

Of the beggar, aud flutter his dirty rags ;

*Twas so bold, that it feared not to play its joke

With the doctor’s wig or the gentleman’s cloak.

Through the forest it roared, and cried, gaily,
« Now, ,

You sturdy old oaks, I'll make you bow !”

And it made them bow without more ado,

Or it cracked their great branches through and
through.