LITTLE THINGS.

ANONYMOUS.

LITTLE drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean
And the pleasant land.

Thus the little minutes,
Humble though they be,
Make the mighty ages
Of eternity.

Thus our little errors
Lead the soul away
From the path of virtue
Off in sin to stray.

Little deeds of kindness,
Little words of love,
Make this earth an Eden,
Like the heaven above.

MOTHER'S SONG.

ANONYMOUS.

DON'T grow old too fast, my sweet!

Stay a little while

In this pleasant baby-land,

Sunned by mother's smile.

Grasp not with thy dimpled hands.
At the world outside;
They are still too rosy soft,
Life too cold and wide.

Be not wistful, sweet blue eyes!
Find your rest in mine,

Which through life shall watchful be
To keep all tears from thine.

Be not restless, little feet!
Lie within my hand;
Far too round these tiny soles
Yet to try to stand.

For awhile be mine alone,
So helpless and so dear;
By-and-by thou must go forth,
But now, sweet, slumber here!

FIRST FOOTSTEPS.

ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE.

A LITTLE way, more soft and sweet
Than fields aflower with May,
A babe's feet, venturing, scarce complete
A little way.

Eyes full of dawning day

Look up for mother's eyes to meet
Too blithe for song to say.

Glad as the golden Spring to greet
Its first live leaflet's play,
Love, laughing, leads the little feet
A little way.

THE BIRTHDAY WEEK.

ANONYMOUS.

MONDAY'S bairn is fair in the face;
Tuesday's bairn is full of grace;
Wednesday's bairn is the child of woe;

Thursday's bairn has far to go;

Friday's bairn is loving and giving;

Saturday's bairn works hard for a living;

But the bairn that is born on the Sabbath day Is lucky and bonny and wise and gay.

POLITENESS.

ANONYMOUS.

POLITENESS is to do and say
The kindest thing in the kindest way.

THE GOLDEN RULE.

NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.

BE you to others kind and true,
As you'd have others be to you.

SOLOMON AND MAMMA.

ANONYMOUS.

SOLOMON says, in words so mild,
"Spare the rod and spoil the child!
My mamma thinks, as well as he,
A little whipping's good for me.

THE GOLDEN RULE.

ANONYMOUS.

To do to others as I would

That they should do to me,
Will make me honest, kind, and good,
As children ought to be.

THE BABY.

GEORGE MACDONALD.

WHERE did you come from, baby dear?
Out of the everywhere into the here.

Where did you get your eyes so blue?
Out of the sky as I came through.

What makes the light in them sparkle and spin? Some of the starry spikes left in.

Where did you get that little tear?
I found it waiting when I got here.

What makes your forehead so smooth and high?
A soft hand stroked it as I went by.

What makes your cheek like a warm, white rose?
Something better than any one knows.

Whence that three-cornered smile of bliss?
Three angels gave me at once a kiss.

Where did you get that pearly ear?
God spoke, and it came out to hear.

Where did you get those arms and hands?
Love made itself into hooks and bands.

Feet, whence did you come, you darling things?
From the same box as the cherub's wings.

How did they all just come to be you?
God thought about me, and so I grew.

But how did you come to us, you dear?
God thought of you, and so I am here.

LITTLE KITTY.

ELIZABETH PRENTISS.

ONCE there was a little kitty,

Whiter than snow;

In the barn she used to frolic,

Long time ago.