The Green Woodpecker THERE was an old woman, so I've

been told,

Who carried more gossip than she could hold : She was terribly smart and she used to prink In emerald gowns, and her hats were pink.

Her knobbledy knuckles were worn quite sore Through tapping the paint of a neighbour's door- " Tippety tap ! Tippety tap Haven't you heard about Mrs. Yap ?

Tappety tip ! Tappety tip !

They say her nephew is such a rip ! "

Now who in a village could yet refuse To welcome the bringer of naughty news ? And who, in a cottage on earth, refrain

From asking a gossip to call again ?

No wonder her knuckles were sore : when those Were riddled past rapping she used her nose- " Tippety tap ! Tippety tap !

They say Miss Milligan likes her drap ! Tappety tip ! Tappety tip !

I've heard her sister can take a sip ! " She yammered all day till—I've heard it said— Her tongue was stretched to a writhing thread, And her nose, through tapping, grew hard as teak, Till, lengthened by prying, it turned to beak. But still she would tattle of things to scorch Respectable ears in her neighbour's porch- " Tippety tap ! Tippety tap !

They say Miss Meadows has set her cap ! Tappety tip ! Tappety tip !

There's many a slip 'twixt cap and lip ! "

Then someone at last, but I don't know who, Clapped magical hands and away she flew More swiftly than news, and it's said that she Still carries a message from tree to tree, And, burdened with gossip as aye before, She taps at the bark of a dryad's door-

" Tippety tap ! Tippety tap!

The birch is quickened with rising sap Tappety tip ! Tappety tip I A bumble clings to the bluebell's lip ! "

Oh ! long may she flutter and prink and preen Her suitable feathers of Lincoln green, And long may she gossip; who's grown so wise, Of goldeny shadows and azure skies :

And long may she ruffle her crimson crest,

And laugh at the fashions of trees, new-dressed- " Tippety tap ! Tippety tap !

The blackcap's courting a maid blackcap I Tappety tip ! Tappety tip !

I know of an egg that is going to chip ! "

BARBARA ELTPHAN TODD.