So do, mamma, tell me at once, and you 'll see What a good, very good little child I shall be, To try and remember my A, B, C, D. Taylor. THE BLIND BOY. "Dear Mary," said the poor blind boy, "The flowers, you say, are very fair, And bright green leaves are on the trees, And pretty birds are singing thereHow beautiful for one who sees. "Yet I the fragrant flowers can smell, And I can feel the green leaf's shade, And I can hear the notes that swell From those dear birds that God has made. "So, sister, God to me is kind, Though sight to me he has not given; But tell me, are there any blind Among the children up in heaven ?" Come, come, mister peacock, you must not be proud, Although you can boast such a train; For many a bird far more highly endowed Is not half so conceited and vain. Let me tell you, gay bird, that a suit of fine clothes The nightingale certainly wears a plain coat, But she cheers and delights with her song; While you, though so vain, cannot utter a note To please by the use of your tongue. The hawk cannot boast of a plumage so gay, But piercing and clear is her eye; And while you are strutting about all the day, The dove may be clad in a plainer attire, And her love and affection more pleasure inspire, Than all your fine purple and gold. So you see, mister peacock, you must not be proud, Although you can boast such a train; For many a bird is more highly endowed, And not half so conceited and vain. See THE LITTLE BOY. me, I am a little boy For I can count one, two, three, four, Say one and two make three; Take one away, and two remain, As you may plainly see. Twice one are two, twice two are four, And six is three times two; Twice four are eight, twice five are ten, And more than this I do: For I have learned some little songs And sing them very sweetly too, I know that A does stand for Ape, C stands for Cake and Cooper too, E Eagle is, our country's arms, I know there are two sorts of things: Nor hears, nor sees, nor moves. But better still, I learn that God He made the earth, he made the sky, I WILL BE GOOD TO-DAY. "I will be good, dear mother," She lifted up her bright young eyes, And when night came, that little one, Oh, many, many bitter tears "T would save us, did we say, Like that dear child, with earnest heart, "I will be good to-day." The Child's Paper. |