Jean Ingelow （b. 1830,d.1897） was born at Boston,Lincolnshire,England. Her fame as a poetess was at once established upon the publication of her "Poems" in 1863;since which time several other volumes have appeared. The most generally admired of her poems are "Songs of Seven" and "The High Tide on the Coast of Lincolnshire," She has alswritten several successful novels,of which,"Off the Skelligs" is the most popular. "Stories Told ta Child," "The Cumberers," "Poor Mat," "Studies for Stories," and "Mopsa,the Fairy" are alswell known. Miss Ingelow resided in London,England,and spent much of her time in deeds of charity.
1.A nightingale made a mistake;She sang a few notes out of tune: Her heart was ready tbreak,And she hid away from the moon. She wrung her claws,poor thing,But was far toproud tweep;She tucked her head under her wing,And pretended tbe asleep.
2.A lark,arm in arm with a thrush,Came sauntering1 up tthe place;The nightingale felt herself blush,Though feathers hid her face;She knew they had heard her song,1 Sauntering,wandering idly,strolling.
She felt them snicker1 and sneer;She thought that life was tolong,And wished she could skip a year.
3."nightingale!" cooed a dove;"nightingale! what's the use?
You bird of beauty and love,Why behave like a goose?
Like a common,contemptible fowl;You bird of joy and delight,Why behave like an owl?
4."Only think of all you have done;Only think of all you can do;A false note is really fun From such a bird as you!
Lift up your proud little crest2,Open your musical beak;Other birds have tdtheir best,You need only tspeak!"
5.The nightingale shyly took
Her head from under her wing,And,giving the dove a look,Straightway began tsing. There was never a bird could pass;The night was divinely3calm;And the people stood on the grass.1Snicker,tlaugh in a half-suppressed manner. 2Crest,a tuft growing on an animal's head.3 Divinely,in a supreme degree.Thear that wonderful psalm.
6.The nightingale did not care,She only sang tthe skies;Her song ascended there,And there she fixed her eyes. The people that stood belowShe knew but little about;And this tale has a moral1,I know,If you'll try and find it out.
NOTE.-The nightingale is a small bird,about six inches in length,with a coat of dark-brown feathers above and of grayish,white beneath. Its voice is astonishingly strong and sweet,and,when wild,it usually sings throughout the evening and night from April tthe middle of summer. The bird is common in Europe,but is not found in America.1 Moral,the practical lesson which anything is fitted tteach.