Page 141 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

140 THIRD BOOK OF
LESSON XIV.
THE THREE BLACK CROWS.
Two honest tradesmen meeting in the Strand,
One took the other briskly by the hand;
" Hark-ye," said he, "'tis an odd story this
About tlie crows!"-"I don't know what it is," Replied his iend.-"No! I'm surprised at that; Where I come om it is the common chat;
But you shall hear an odd a air, indeed !
And that it happened, they are all agreed:
Not to detain you om a thing so strange,
A gentleman who lives not r om 'Change,
This week, in short, as all the Alley knows,
A vomit took, and threw up three black crows !" "Impossible!"-" Nay, but 'tis really true;
I had it om good hands, and so may you."
"From whom, I pray ?"-So, having named the man, Straight to inquire, his curious comrade ran,
"Sir, did you tell ?''-relating the a air.
. "Yes, sir, I did; and if 'tis worth your care:
Ask Mr."-such a one-"be told it me;
But by-the-by, 'twas two black crows, not tkree !" Resolved to trace so wondrous an event,
Quick to the third the virtuoso went.
"Sir,"-and so rth-"Why, yes; the thing is fact, Though in regard to number not exact:
It was not two black crows, 'twas only one,·
The truth of that you may depend upon ;
The gen eman himself told me the case."-
" Where may I nd him?"-" Why, in"-such a
place.