colby_fam_b1_f23_d29

Charade No

My first is a nickname, very common at school,
And belongs to a wild, rough, but good-natured boy;
Not slow at his lessons, a good hand at play,
And a practical joke he is sure to enjoy.

My second is a letter, one of the five,
That as a vowel ever is known,
The first on the list I believe -
An "indefinite article" when standing alone.

My third is a bird, somewhat famous in song,
(To this class our own noble eagle is said to belong,)
In Britons isle, with lords and ladies gay,
It shared the wild sports and hunter's fray,
Hooded and perched on a fair lady's hand,
It waited all patiently the word of command;
Then away, and away, with the speed of the wind
It flew, with eager haste, its prey to find,
But here a plebian bird, [sentence crossed out]
But here,[underlined] all untaught, it dwells a plebian bird,
No sooner 'round our barns its notes are heard,
But some sturdy boy with trusty gun
Is sure to take its life, if only "just for fun."
And careful housewifes are sure to say,
Chickens are safer, when this famous bird's away.

My whole is a weapon that savages use
In battle with their blood thirsty foes
And often with it their captives abuse
And torture till death ends their woes.