INVITATION TO THE LITTLE SPARROWS OF CASTELNAU LODGE

TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF Le CHEVALIER DE CHATELAIN, BY JOHN MacCARTHY.

orne, little sparrows, corne !

See hère your breakfast table spread, Behold, I scatter many a crumb

Of whitest bread.

Corne sparrows, come to me,

Come breakfast hère to-day, And let the libéral payment be

Your matin lay.

Come, little sparrows, hère,

And on my window sill Yovril fmd, be sure, abundant cheer :

Come, take your fill.

Corne, little sparrows, hère,

Glad little gipsies ail, Corne, my sweet pets, my favorites dear,

Come at my call !

ni.

Come, little sparrows gay,

To Castelnau draw near ; A friendly welcome every day

Awaits y ou hère.

Sing your glad songs to me,

Sing me your loves' success, Ah, happy birds, that seem to be

The type of tenderness !

Come, little sparrows, come !

So dear you are to me, That were your tuneful voices dumb,

And chilled your gentle glee, I then would feel that from the earth

One cherished joy had flown — Bring the poor poet still your mirth,

And make your joy his own.