"For My Youngest Readers" offers a poetic invitation to a bird, which originally appeared in another periodical. Reprinting works from other periodicals was a common practice among early 19th-century American magazines; Parley's Magazine was itself often reprinted. Two children's magazines called Rose Bud were published in 1833, one in Massachusetts; the poem was likely reprinted from Caroline Gilman's periodical, published in South Carolina.


http://www.merrycoz.org/parleys/LITLBIRD.HTM

FOR MY YOUNGEST READERS, reprinted from the Rose Bud (from Parley's Magazine, 14 September 1833, p. 17)

Little bird, roam
Quick to my home.
I'll give you to eat,
Every thing sweet;
Sugar and cake,
I'll save for your sake;
Melon and plum,
You shall have some;
A peach and a pear,
And every thing rare;
Some straw for your nest,
And what you like best;
A nice little house,
As snug as a mouse.
Come away from the tree,
And live here with me;
I will give you a brush,
To smooth down each feather,
And brother shall hush,
While we sing together.
Come away from the tree,
And live here with me.

Copyright 1999-2006, Pat Pflieger
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