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XXIX. Mister Fly

What a sharp little fellow is Mister Fly,
He goes where he pleases, low or high,
And can walk just as well with his feet to the sky,
As I can on the floor;
At the window he comes
With a buzz 1 and a roar,
And o'er the smooth glass
Can easily pass
Or through the keyhole 2 of the door.
He eats the sugar and goes away,
Nor ever once asks what there is to pay ;
And sometimes he crosses the teapot's 3 steam,
And comes and plunges 4 his head in the cream ;5
Then on the edge of the jug he stands,
And cleans his wings with his feet and hands.
This done,6 through the window he hurries away,
And gives a buzz, as if to say,
" At present I haven't a minute to stay,
But I'll peep in again in the course of 7 the day."
Then again he'll fly
Where the sunbeams lie,
And neither stop to shake hands
Nor bid good-bye :
Such a strange little fellow is Mister Fly,
Who goes where he pleases, low or high,
And can walk on the ceiling 8
Without ever feeling
A fear of tumbling down " sky-high" ! 9
THOMAS MILLER.

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1 Bees and flies make a noise which we call buzzing. 2 A door is locked by means of a key, which is put into the keyhole. 3 Tea is made in a teapot. 4 Or : puts his head quickly into. 6 When good milk is left standing, the cream appears on top. s When he has done this. 7 Or : during. 8 The top of the room. 9 Or. from the sky.