OLD BALDY
The "Black Eagle" said, "I think it but fair,
That I should be ruler of both land and air,
And have all the other birds under my reign.
How great I shall be over such a domain."
The others protested, saying, "This you can't do;
We'll never submit to a swell-head like you.
Before we'll come under your despotic rod,
We'll fight to the very last drop of our blood."
But the "Black Eagle" answered: "I'll have what I wish;
I'll pay you for suckers, and catch a big fish;
I'll clip your wings off with a big pair of shears
That I have been grinding, the last forty years.
"I'll hook my big talons right into your breast,
And get a wild 'Turkey' to help do the rest.
We'll pluck that fine plumage all off from your back;
And you'll find desolation the brand of my track."
And so the fight started. It waxed fierce and long;
And proved the "Black Eagle" unusually strong.
With three years of fighting, he still was intact,
And seemed to be victor--in fight and in fact.
But at this very moment of luck for the "Black,"
A venerable eagle flew into his track.
He was gray, he was bald, he was ancient as well;
And just where he came from, there's no use to tell.
This "Bald-headed Eagle" was hailed with delight,
When the other birds saw he was going to fight;
But when they beheld the tactics employed,
By "Baldy the Great One," they were overjoyed.
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