The Boy, delighted with his game, At last they found that they were cheated. He cried, "Wolf! wolf!"-the neighbors heard, "We need not go from our employ,-- The little Boy cried out again, "Help, help! the Wolf!" he cried in vain. This shows the bad effect of lying, Your cries could give me no alarm; They would not make me move the faster, I should be sorry when I came, But you yourself would be to blame. John Hookham Frere [1769-1846] THE STORY OF AUGUSTUS, WHO WOULD NOT HAVE ANY SOUP AUGUSTUS was a chubby lad; Fat, ruddy cheeks Augustus had; And never let his soup get cold. The Story of Little Suck-a-thumb 123 But one day, one cold winter's day, He screamed out- "Take the soup away! I won't have any soup to-day." Next day begins his tale of woes; The third day comes; O what a sin! I won't have any soup to-day." Look at him, now the fourth day's come! He scarcely weighs a sugar-plum; He's like a little bit of thread, And on the fifth day, he was dead! From the German of Heinrich Hoffman [1798-1874] THE STORY OF LITTLE SUCK-A-THUMB ONE day, mamma said: "Conrad dear, He takes his great sharp scissors out You know, they never grow again." Mamma had scarcely turned her back, The great, long, red-legged scissors-man. Snip! snap! snip! They go so fast, From the German of Heinrich Hoffman [1798–1874] WRITTEN IN A LITTLE LADY'S LITTLE ALBUM HEARTS good and true Have wishes few In narrow circles bounded, And hope that lives On what God gives Is Christian hope well founded. Small things are best; Grief and unrest To rank and wealth are given; But little things On little wings Bear little souls to heaven. Frederick William Faber [1814-1863] MY LADY WIND My Lady Wind, my Lady Wind, And drove the chimney soot in. A Farewell And then one night when it was dark That all the town was bothered; From it she raised such flame and smoke And many more were smothered. And thus when once, my little dears, 125 Unknown TO A CHILD SMALL service is true service while it lasts: Of humblest friends, bright creature! scorn not one: William Wordsworth [1770-1850] A FAREWELL My fairest child, I have no song to give you; I'll tell you how to sing a clearer carol Than lark who hails the dawn on breezy down; Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever; Charles Kingsley [1819-1875] RHYMES OF CHILDHOOD REEDS OF INNOCENCE PIPING down the valleys wild, And he laughing said to me: 'Pipe a song about a lamb!” So I piped with merry cheer. "Piper, pipe that song again;" So I piped: he wept to hear. "Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe; Sing thy songs of happy cheer!" While he wept with joy to hear. "Piper, sit thee down and write And I made a rural pen, And I stained the water clear, William Blake [1757-1827] THE WONDERFUL WORLD GREAT, wide, beautiful, wonderful World, |