But, children, you should never let Your little hands were never made Let love through all your actions run, His soul was gentle as a Lamb; He grew in favour both with man And God, his Father, too. Now, Lord of all, he reigns above, And from his heavenly throne He sees what children dwell in love, And marks them for his own. WATTS. This is a piece which should be applied to every little boy and girl,-in order that they may learn how wicked it is to quarrel and fight. Those whom we quarrelled with yesterday may to-morrow, or next day be taken from us altogether, and how fearful then would be the recollection that that brother or sister is dead, whom the last time we saw on earth, we quarrelled with. Let it not be so with you. GRATITUDE TO GOD. Whene'er I take my walks abroad, How many poor I see! What shall I render to my God For all his gifts to me? Half naked I behold! While I am cloth'd from head to feet, And cover'd from the cold. While some poor wretches scarce can tell While others early learn to swear, And do thy holy will. Are these thy favours, day by day, To me above the rest? Then let me love thee more than they, And try to serve thee best. How thankful should those be who have food to eat, and comfortable clothing, and a pleasant home, and kind parents. Not only should they be grateful to God for his goodness to them, but they should seek at all times to do his will,-by serving him faithfully, and keeping his commandments. They should endeavour to assist those who are poorer than themselves, and should prefer giving a penny to a poor hungry child, than spending it upon sweetmeats or toys. THE DAISY. There is a flower, a little flower, The prouder beauties of the field, But this small flower, to nature dear, While moon and stars their courses run, It smiles upon the lap of May, To sultry August spreads its charms; And twines December's arms. (1) Crest-plume, head, or top. | (2) Wreathes-adorns. All poets have sung the praises of this small but beautiful flower. In the north it is called Bairnwort, because it is loved by children. The Daisy is not relished by cattle, and is disliked even by geese. Its leaves were in former times considered a valuable application to wounds. Its Latin name is Bellis perennis;-the French term it La petite Marguerite. The summer comes with flower and bee Where is my brother gone? The butterfly is glancing bright The flowers run wild-the flowers we sow'd Our vine is drooping with its load Oh! call him back to me. "He would not hear my voice, fair child- The face that once like spring-time smiled, "A rose's brief bright life of joy, Go, thou must play alone, my boy- And has he left the birds and flowers, And must I call in vain; And through the long, long summer hours, And by the brook, and in the glade, Are all our wand'rings o'er? Oh! while my brother with me play'd, MRS. HEMANS. A little girl is supposed to have lost her brother, but she does not at first understand that he is dead-that he will never come back to her again. The last verse is singularly beautiful. How often can we apply the last lines of the closing verse to many a dear relative and friend, now gone to their last home, who when with us we did not sufficiently love, and of whom we have afterwards bitterly said, Oh! that we had loved them more. Let then these few verses teach you to love more devotedly your parents, relatives and friends, so that this bitter regret may not pain you when they are gone. B AN EVENING HYMN. And now another day is gone, But how my childhood runs to waste, I lay my body down to sleep, Let angels guard my head; And thro' the hours of darkness keep With cheerful heart I close my eyes, Rejoicing in thy love. This Evening hymn might be learnt by every little boy, and girl, and repeated in the evening of each day. Let them not only remember it in their minds, and say it by their lips, but keep it in their hearts, and apply it to their lives. After praying to our Heavenly Father, our hearts will be lighter, and depend upon it our sleep will be more refreshing to the body. |