Overconfidence

A peacock sat on ye garden wall (See picture here to ye right), An ye folk came crowding-great and small For it chanced that none in ye town at all Had ever seen such a sight If you'd have been there perhaps you'd have heard Ye folk talk thus, as they looked at ye bird:

"O crickety!--Law!-- O jimmeny me!-- I never yet saw!-- Who ever did see Such a beautiful sight in the world before, Since ye animals marched from ye old ark door? O! Look at ye spots In his tail! And ye lots Of green and of blue in his beautiful wings! I'd give a new shilling to know if he sings!"

Ye peacock says, "Surely, they'll greatly rejoice To hear but a touch of my delicate voice." (Sings.)

"O dear! O dear!-- O stop it!--O do!-- We never did hear Such a hullballoo! 'Tis worse than ye noise that ye carpenters make When they sharpen their saws!--Now, for charity's sake, Give over this squalling, And catermawalling!" Cried all ye good people who chanced to be near; Each thrusting a finger-tip into each ear.

You see ye poor dunce had attempted to shine In a way that was out of his natural line.

H. Pyle.

with the lady gazing up into the tree with the robin, and the lady warm in a house and robin outside in the snow at the bottom of the page.]