116 SELECT POETRY

——  “Crawled forth from some rubbish, and
winked with one eye;

Half opened the other, but could not tell why ;

Stretched out my left leg, as it felt rather queer,

Then drew all together and slept for a year.

Awakened, felt chilly—crept under a stone ;

Was vastly contented with living alone.

One toe became wedged in the stone like a pes,

Could not get it away—had the cramp in my leg;

Began half to wish for a neighbour at hand

To loosen the stone, which was fast in the sand ;

Pulled harder—then dosed, as I found ‘twas no
use ;—

Awoke the next summer, and lo! it was loose.

Crawled forth from the stone when completely
awake ;

Crept into a corner and grinned at a snake.

Retreated, and found that I needed repose ;

Curled up my damp limbs and prepared for a dose :

Fell sounder to sleep than was usual before,

And did not awake for a century or more ;

But had a sweet dream, as I rather believe :—

Methought it was light, and a fine summer's eve ;

And I in some garden deliciously fed

In the pleasant moist shade of a strawberry bed.

There fine speckled creatures claimed kindred with
me,

And others that hopped, most enchanting to see.

Here long I regaled.with emotion extreme ;—

Awoke—disconcerted to find it a dream ;

Grew pensive—discovered that life is a load ;

Began to get weary of being a toad ;

Was fretful at first, and then shed a few tears.”—

Here ends the account of the first thousand years.