Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno Concluded.djvu/51

I] "Now that Bruno is fastened up from talking," she went on, turning to me, "I'll show you the Map he does his lessons on."

And there it was, a large Map of the World, spread out on the ground. It was so large that Bruno had to crawl about on it, to point out the places named in the 'King-fisher Lesson.'

"When a King-fisher sees a Lady-bird flying away, he says ' Ceylon, if you Candia! ' And when he catches it, he says 'Come to Media! And if you're Hungary or thirsty, I'll give you some Nubia! ' When he takes it in his claws, he says ' Europe! ' When he puts it into his beak, he says ' India! ' When he's swallowed it, he says 'Eton! ' That's all."

"That's quite perfect," said Sylvie. "Now you may sing the King-fisher Song."

"Will oo sing the chorus?" Bruno said to me.

I was just beginning to say "I'm afraid I don't know the words," when Sylvie silently turned the map over, and I found the words were all written on the back. In one respect it was a very peculiar song: the chorus to each verse came in the middle, instead of at the end of it. However, the tune was so easy that I