The Tiger’s Petition

The King sat on his Throne one day,
  His Crown upon his brow;
To him, in most obsequious way,
  The Tiger made his bow.

His long petition he unrolled,
  With names all written down;
The courtiers stared—­their blood ran cold—­
  King Leo gave a frown.

“What have we here?” demanded he,
  “And what does he require?”
The Elephant said, “Here I see
  A traitor, royal sire!”

The Brown Bear murmured, “So do I—­
  He’s right, without a doubt!”
The monarch cried, with flashing eye,
  “Turn this intruder out!”

[Illustration:  Presenting A petition to the King]

At midnight, in an empty hut,
  Deep in the forest old,
The Rebels met with doors close shut,
  Their dark schemes to unfold.

“Friends!” Tiger cried, “no more we’ll brook
  This despot’s cruel reign;
Our charter lies before us—­look! 
  The plan of our campaign!”

Mr. Fox’s Armoury.

Directly Brother Fox was told,
  He ransacked all his stores,
And soon was making bags of gold
 And selling guns in scores.

The Brown Bear bought a blunderbuss;
  And when they saw the arm,
The Bunnies all cried, “Don’t shoot us! 
  We’ve not done any harm!”

The Tiger thought revolvers best,
  So he bought half a score;
“No guns I’ve had,” said Fox, with zest,
“Went off so well before!”

“Don’t fear, my Bunnies, you’ll be shot,
  Though each has bought a gun;
I’ll whisper this,” said Fox:  “they’ve got
  Blank cartridge ev’ry one!”

[Illustration:  The armory]

Raising the Standard.

From lair to lair the news soon spread,
And one and all leapt out of bed,
And sallied forth, with loud hurrays,
The Standard of Revolt to raise.

The Bear looked fierce, the Crocodile
Put on his most bloodthirsty smile;
The Leopard and the Wolf were there,
And cheers resounded in the air.

The Tiger roared a lengthy speech,
And called, in loudest tones, on each
To do his best when came the fray,
Not be afraid, nor run away.

Cried he:  “Now, onward to the field,
To make this tyrant monarch yield!”
“Charge, Leopard, charge—­on, Tiger, on!”
Were the first words of Rebellion.

[Illustration:  Raising the Standard of revolt]

Next morn a Scout the Camp alarms,
The Lion’s soldiers fly to arms. 
“The enemy advance!” he cries,
“And means to take you by surprise!”
In Leo’s Camp, on Zootown plains,
The utmost consternation reigns.

In Leo’s Camp.

This startling news the peaceful Camp
  With preparation fills,
Resounding with the soldiers’ tramp,
  The noise of many drills.