The mouse that gnawed the oak-tree down
Began his task in early life.
He kept so busy with his teeth
He had no time to take a wife.
He gnawed and gnawed through sun and rain
When the ambitious fit was on,
Then rested in the sawdust till
A month of idleness had gone.
He did not move about to hunt
The coteries of mousie-men.
He was a snail-paced, stupid thing
Until he cared to gnaw again.
The mouse that gnawed the oak-tree down,
When that tough foe was at his feet
Found in the stump no angel-cake
Nor buttered bread, nor cheese, nor meat
The forest-roof let in the sky.
This light is worth the work, said he.
Ill make this ancient swamp more light,
And started on another tree.
