MEDDLESOME MATTY ONE ugly trick has often spoiled Sometimes she'd lift the tea-pot lid, But turn your back a minute. Her grandmamma went out one day, Her spectacles and snuff-box gay Too near the little maid; "Ah! well," thought she, "I'll try them on, As soon as grandmamma is gone." Forthwith she placed upon her nose The glasses large and wide; "I know that grandmamma would say, So thumb and finger went to work Contented John For all at once, ah! woeful case, The snuff came puffing in her face. Poor eyes, and nose, and mouth beside In vain, as bitterly she cried, Her folly she repented. In vain she ran about for case; She could do nothing now but sneeze. She dashed the spectacles away, Her grandmamma she spies. Matilda, smarting with the pain, 105 Ann Taylor [1782-1866] CONTENTED JOHN ONE honest John Tomkins, a hedger and ditcher, Though cold was the winter, or dear was the food, “For why should I grumble and murmur?" he said; If John was afflicted with sickness or pain, If any one wronged him or treated him ill, Would be making two rogues when there need be but one. And thus honest John, though his station was humble, THINK BEFORE YOU ACT ELIZABETH her frock has torn, And pricked her finger too; Because Elizabeth will touch Whate'er comes in her way; I've seen her suffer quite as much, A dozen times a day. Yet, though so oft she feels the pain, The habit is so strong, That all our caution is in vain, I should not wonder if, at last, She meet some dreadful fate; When sorrow comes too late. Mary Elliott [18 "There Was a Little Girl" 107 ANGER ANGER in its time and place Close in tufted bush or brake Mean him good, or mean him harm, The vile snake will always sting you. Charles and Mary Lamb "THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL" THERE was a little girl, who had a little curl And when she was good, she was very, very good, She stood on her head, on her little trundle-bed, With nobody by for to hinder; She screamed and she squalled, she yelled and she bawled, And drummed her little heels against the winder. Her mother heard the noise, and thought it was the boys Playing in the empty attic, She rushed upstairs, and caught her unawares, And spanked her, most emphatic. Unknown THE BUTTERFLY AND THE BEE METHOUGHT I heard a butterfly "Poor child of vanity! those dyes, "Content I toil from morn till eve, And, scorning idleness, To tribes of gaudy sloth I leave The vanity of dress." William Lisle Bowles [1762-1850] TRY AGAIN 'Tis a lesson you should heed, Try again; If at first you don't succeed, Try again; Then your courage should appear, For if you will persevere, You will conquer, never fear; Try again. Once or twice, though you should fail, Try again; If you would at last prevail, Try again; If we strive, 'tis no disgrace Try again. |