THOU SHALT NOT STEAL. ON the goods that are not thine, Little child, lay not thy finger; Round thy neighbour's better things Let no wishful glances linger. Pilfer not the smallest thing; Touch it not, howe'er thou need it; Though the owner have enough, Though he know it not, nor need it. Taste not the forbidden fruit, Upright heart and honest name Better far than pomp and pleasure. Poor and needy though thou art, Gladly take what God has given; With clean hands and humble heart, Passing through this world to heaven. THE WATER-LILY. I AM the Lady of the Lake, While wild swans arch their necks of snow, Often on my leafy brink, The little birds will stand to drink, I need not turn my head to see, At myself I look all day, Can see the fishes under me play ; No queen has such a glass as I, That throws deep down the trees and sky, And all the birds that o'er it fly. I sit upon a silver ground, With silver I am hemmed all round, The water-hen shows me her brood, At night my coronet I close; The ripples murmur me to sleep, RASH PROMISES. RASH promises are often made, Of words thus promptly spoken. Some fault you promise to amend, To guard against some future snare, Of making promises beware, A promise is a solemn tie, When once the words are spoken, And bears the nature of a lie, If If subsequently broken. any faults you would resist, When conscience turns reprover, The good intentions that exist, Let deeds, not words, discover. THE WORKS OF GOD. GOD made the sun to shine by day, God made this world in which I live, And everything that lives and moves God made the flowers that bud and blow About my little feet; He made them look so very fine, And smell so very sweet. God made the little birds that sing God made the lambs that skip and run, In yonder mead all day; Good little lambs, they are so kind, God gives me life, and food, and clothes, And friends and all I need; I cannot tell how good He is, God bends His ear to all I say, God lives in heaven, that happy world, O may He take me there to dwell, GOOD MANNERS. Ir good manners you wish to attain, Let cleanliness always be seen, How simple soever your dress, For the child who is tidy and clean Will one point of good manners possess. Never speak unless first spoken to; Much talking will always offend; Be modest in all that you do, And you will never want for a friend. Never boast of the stores of your mind, A wish all nice dainties to share By good manners is always suppress'd, For a well-behaved child will take care That his friends shall partake of the best. If to these simple rules you attend, Will acknowledge good manners in you. |