The Voice of Childhood, Or, The Influence and the Poetry, the Wrongs and the Wants of the Little Ones

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Obtainable from the Author at his residence, 1877 - 48 pages
 

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Page 15 - Come to me, O ye children ! And whisper in my ear What the birds and the winds are singing In your sunny atmosphere. For what are all our contrivings, And the wisdom of our books, When compared with your caresses, And the gladness of your looks ? Ye are better than all the ballads That ever were sung or said ; For ye are living poems, And all the rest are dead.
Page 18 - O columbine, open your folded wrapper, Where two twin turtle-doves dwell ! 0 cuckoopint, toll me the purple clapper That hangs in your clear green bell ! And show me your nest with the young ones in it ; I will not steal them away ; 1 am old ! you may trust me, linnet, linnet — I am seven times one today.
Page 17 - seven times" over and over — Seven times one are seven. I am old — so old I can write a letter ; My birthday lessons are done. The lambs play always — they know no better ; They are only one limes one.
Page 15 - That to the world are children ; Through them it feels the glow Of a brighter and sunnier climate Than reaches the trunks below. Come to me, 0 ye children ! And whisper in my ear What the birds and the winds are singing In your sunny atmosphere.
Page 19 - Though she saw him there like a ball of light, For she knew he had God's time to keep All over the world, and never could sleep.
Page 30 - A little elbow leans upon your knee, Your tired knee that has so much to bear; A child's dear eyes are looking lovingly From underneath a thatch of tangled hair. Perhaps you do not heed the velvet touch Of warm, moist fingers, folding yours so tight; You do not prize this blessing overmuch, You almost are too tired to pray to-night. But it is blessedness! A year ago I did not see it as I do to-day, We are so dull and thankless; and too slow To catch the sunshine till it slips away. And now it seems...
Page 18 - A fair little girl sat under a tree Sewing as long as her eyes could see; Then smoothed her work and folded it right, And said, " Dear work, good-night, good-night!" Such a number of rooks came over her head Crying, " Caw, caw ! " on their way to bed; She said, as she watched their curious flight, " Little black things, good-night, good-night!
Page 14 - CHILDREN. COME to me, 0 ye children ! For I hear you at your play, And the questions that perplexed me Have vanished quite away.
Page 9 - ... and make us good ; Make us strong for time of trial ; Teach us temperance, self-denial, Patience, kindness, fortitude ! Look into our childish faces ? See ye not our willing hearts ? Only love us — only lead us ; Only let us know you need us, And we all will do our parts.
Page 41 - I'll bid higher and higher,' Said Crime, with wolfish grin, ' For I love to lead the children Through the pleasant paths of sin ; They shall swarm in the streets to pilfer, They shall plague the broad highway, 'Till they grow too old for pity, And ripe for the law to slay.

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