Nell and Her Bird

Good-by, little birdie!
Fly to the sky,
Singing and singing
A merry good-by.

Tell all the birdies,
Flying above,
Nell, in the garden,
Sends them her love.

Tell how I found you,
Hurt, in a tree;
Then, when they're wounded,
They'll come right to me.

I'd like to go with you
If I could fly;
It must be so beautiful
Up in the sky!

Why, little birdie!
Why don't you go?
You sit on my finger,
And shake your head, "No!"--

He's off! Oh! how quickly
And gladly he rose!
I know he will love me
Wherever he goes.

I know--for he really
Seemed trying to say,
"My dear little Nelly,
I can't go away."

But just then some birdies
Came flying along,
And sang as they neared us
A chirruping song;

And he felt just as I do
When girls come and shout
Right under the window,
"Come, Nelly! come out!"

It 's wrong to be sorry;
I ought to be glad;
But he's the best birdie
That ever I had.