Three Little Sailors

You have heard of the three wise Gotham men
Who went to sea in a bowl? But then
Nobody knows where they found a port,
For the bowl was weak and the story short.

                                             But one little chick, and two little chicks,
                                             Soft and yellow, and plump as ticks
                                             Sailed away, one April day,
                                             On the funniest boat that was ever afloat
                                             Upon any sea or bay.

It was off in a land of wooden shoes,
On a river’s bank; and the water rose
From the melting snows
Till it reached their house and wet their toes;
It was late to choose
What ship to take, you may well suppose!

                                             Close by the door was a wooden shoe,
                                             And they hopped on that, the one, and the two
                                             For nobody knew what else to do —
                                             Not even the bragging “Coo-ca-doo,”
                                             Who sprang to the roof and seemed to say,
                                             In his pompous way, —
                                             “You silly birds, see! as I do, do you!”
                                             Some old folks think that their babies may.

Adrift, adrift, now slow, now swift,
The little scared sailors go,
Ever and ever adown the river
Along the overflow,
Till by and by they are high and dry
In a garden far below!

                                             A little miss found them there alone,
                                             And she took them in to be her own,
                                             Made them a bed, and gave them bread,
                                             And, “Little chicks, what have you seen?” she said.

“You have travelled so far I am sure you are
As wise as owls!”  But, poor little fowls,
They had travelled and travelled, and knew no more
Than they did before!