EMPLOYMENT. "WHO'LL Come here and play with me under the tree? My sisters have left me alone: Ah! sweet little sparrow, come hither to me, "Oh no, little lady, I can't come, indeed, I've got all my dear little children to feed, "Pretty bee, do not buzz in that marigold flower, "Oh no, little lady, for do not you see, Those must work who would prosper and thrive? If I play, they will call me a sad idle bee, And perhaps turn me out of the hive." Stop, stop, little ant, do not run off so fast, I hope I shall find a companion at last, "Oh no, little lady, I can't stay with you, "What, then! they all have some employment but me, Whilst I loiter here like a dunce: Oh, then, like the sparrow, the ant, and the bee, I'll go to my lesson at once." TAYLOR. LITTLE WILLIE AND THE APPLE. LITTLE Willie stood under an apple tree old; Said he, "I don't see why my father should say, "He would never find out if I took but just oneAnd they do look so good shining out in the sun; There are hundreds and hundreds, and he wouldn't miss So paltry a little red apple as this." He stretched forth his hand, but a low, mournful strain Came wandering dreamily over his brain; In his bosom a beautiful harp had long laid, That the angel of conscience quite frequently played. And he sung, "Little Willie, beware! oh, beware! you Then Willie turned round, and, as still as a mouse, In his own little chamber he knelt down to pray say, "Little Willie almost stole an apple to-day." ANON. WELCOME, LITTLE ROBIN. WELCOME, little robin With the scarlet breast; Pale, and cold, and still, Whether true or not, robin, Robin knows the children And though little robin Yet he can a lesson To the children teach; For their bread from heaven. COMMON THINGS. THE sunshine is a glorious thing, The moonlight is a gentle thing; It shines upon the fisher's boat, Or where the little lambkins lie, The dewdrops on the summer morn The village children brush them off, There are no gems in monarchs' crowns Poor Robin on the pear tree sings Beside the cottage door; The heath flower fills the air with sweets Upon the pathless moor. There are as many lovely things, As many pleasant tones, For those who sit by cottage hearths, MY LITTLE BROTHER. LITTLE brother, darling boy, When your smiling face I see. How I wish that you could speak, To amuse you every day; All about the honey-bees, Lambs that in the meadows run. Shake your rattle-here it is- MARY L. DUNCAN. THE SNAKE AND THE KITTENS. CLOSE by the threshold of a door nailed fast, At the three kittens cast a careless eye. Not much concerned to know what they did there, Nor deeming kittens worth a poet's care. But presently a loud and furious hiss Caused me to stop, and to exclaim, "What's this?" |