Oh! a bare, brown
Stood up in the sea,
The waves at its
Dancing merrily.
A little
Once came sailing by,
And thus to the
Did it gayly cry,—"Ho! clumsy brown stone,
Quick, make way for me:
I'm the fairest
That floats on the sea."See my rainbow-robe,
See my crown of light,
My glittering form,
So airy and bright."O'er the waters blue,
I'm floating away,
To dance by the
With the foam and spray."Now, make way, make way;
For the waves are strong,
And their rippling
Bear me fast along."But the great rock
Straight up in the sea:
It looked gravely down,
And said pleasantly—"Little friend, you
Go some other way;
For I have not stirred this many a long day."Great billows have dashed,
And angry winds blown;
But my sturdy
Is not overthrown."Nothing can stir
In the air or sea;
Then, how can I move,
Little friend, for thee?"Then the waves all
In their voices sweet;
And the sea-birds looked,
From their rocky seat,
At the bubble gay,
Who angrily cried,
While its round cheek
With a foolish pride,—"You
LL move for me;
And you shall not
At the words I say,
You ugly, rough rock."Be silent, wild birds!
While stare you so?
Stop laughing, rude waves,
And help me to go!"For I am the
Of the ocean here,
And this cruel
Cannot make me fear."Dashing fiercely up,
With a scornful word,
Foolish Bubble broke;
But Rock never stirred.
Then said the sea-birds,
Sitting in their
To the little
Leaning on their breasts,—"Be not like Bubble,
Headstrong, rude, and vain,
Seeking by
Your object to gain;"But be like the rock,
Steadfast, true, and strong,
Yet cheerful and kind,
And firm against wrong."Heed, little birdlings,
And wiser you'll
For the lesson
To-day by the sea."
