POETRY AND MUSIC.

The utility of simple rhymes and moral songs in the instruction of young children is so universally admitted, that we need say nothing here to advocate it; but should any of the following songs be thought puerile, we can only say that experience has proved them to be suited to the infant mind. Yet we think the subject still open to great improvement, and worthy the attention of those who, possessing the power, may not deem it beneath them to write poems for the amusement and instruction of infants. To teachers we would recommend the practice of questioning their pupils on the subject of each poem, so as to make sure that they comprehend it, and, when necessary, to give the meaning in prose; as by these means much greater interest will be excited in the minds of the children, who, when afterwards required to repeat or sing the words, will do so understandingly, and not by rote. Much at

tention should be given to the tone of voice, and also to secure a distinct pronunciation of the words, as bad habits are easily formed, and are difficult to be eradicated. In an infant school, rhymes are often repeated or sung to relieve the length of the lesson, and the teacher should then endeavour to select words in harmony with, or relating to the subject of the lesson in hand; and, in the same manner, moral songs may be chosen to suit the feelings of the children at the time, or the events of the day.

VERSES FOR VERY LITTLE CHI

God lives on high,
Beyond the sky;
And angels bright,
All cloth'd in white,
The praises sing
Of heaven's King.

This God can see
Both you and me ;
Can see at night
As in the light;
And all we do
Remembers too.

"Tis he bestows

My food and clothes;
And my soft bed
To rest my head;
And cottage neat,
And mother sweet.

And should not I

For ever try
To do what he

Has ordered me,

And dearly love

This Friend above?

I always should

Be very good;

At home should mind

My parents kind;

At school obey

What teachers say.

Now if I fight,

And scratch and bite,

In passions fall,

And bad names call,

Full well I know

Where I shall co

That grief alone is true,
And shall not be in vain,
Which makes us most sincerely
To never sin again.

When with a contrite heart
To God we strongly pray,
In love and kindness he will hea
And cleanse our faults away.

Jesus the Saviour died,

And went again to heaven, That when we look to him, we m Have all our sins forgiven.

He will his spirit give,

And penitence impart,

And cause within our breasts to g

A pure and sinless heart.

T. J

O! that it were my chief delight
To do the things I ought!
Then let me strive with all my mig
To mind what I am taught.

Whatever I am told to do,
I'll cheerfully obey;

Nor will I mind it much, although
I leave a pretty play.

And when I learn my hymns to say,
And work, and read, and spell,
I will not think about my play,
But try and do it well.

For God looks down from heaven on high,
Our actions to behold;

And he is pleased when children try

To do as they are told.

BROTHERLY LOVE.

The God of heaven is pleased to see
That little children all agree,

And will not slight the praise they bring
When loving children join to sing.

For love and kindness please him more
Than if we gave him all our store,
And children here, who dwell in love,
Are like his happy ones above.

The gentle child who tries to please,
Who hates to quarrel, fret, and tease,
And would not say an angry word-
That child is pleasing to the Lord.

O Lord! forgive, whenever we
Forget thy will and disagree,
And grant that each of us may find
The sweet delight of being kind.

Mrs. Gilbert.

CHILDREN BROUGHT TO JESUS.

As infants once to Christ were brought,
That he might bless them there,

So now we little children ought
To seek the same by prayer.