The Little Gentleman I'll not pinch her ears, nor tread on her paw, 97 Jane Taylor [1783-1824] LITTLE THINGS LITTLE drops of water, Little grains of sand, Make the mighty ocean So the little moments, So our little errors Lead the soul away From the path of virtue, Little deeds of kindness, Help to make earth happy Like the heaven above. Julia Fletcher Carney [1823-1908] THE LITTLE GENTLEMAN From "Little Derwent's Breakfast" TAKE your meals, my little man, Always like a gentleman; Wash your face and hands with care, Change your shoes, and brush your hair; Then so fresh, and clean, and neat, Come and take your proper seat: Do not loiter and be late, Do not rudely point or touch: THE CRUST OF BREAD I MUST not throw upon the floor My parents labor very hard For wilful waste makes woeful want, Oh! how I wish I had the bread That once I threw away! "HOW DOTH THE LITTLE BUSY BEE" How doth the little busy bee Improve each shining hour, And gather honey all the day From every opening flower! "Let Dogs Delight to Bark and Bite" 99 How skilfully she builds her cell! With the sweet food she makes. In works of labor or of skill, I would be busy too; For Satan finds some mischief still For idle hands to do. In books, or work, or healthful play, That I may give for every day Some good account at last. Isaac Watts [1674-1748] "LET DOGS DELIGHT TO BARK AND BITE" LET dogs delight to bark and bite, For God hath made them so; But, children, you should never let Your little hands were never made Let love through all your actions run, Live like the Blessed Virgin's Son, His soul was gentle as a lamb, He Now Lord of all, He reigns above, Isaac Watts [1674-1748] THE SLUGGARD 'Tis the voice of a sluggard; I heard him complain, Turns his sides, and his shoulders, and his heavy head. "A little more sleep, and a little more slumber"; Thus he wastes half his days, and his hours without number; I passed by his garden, and saw the wild brier I made him a visit, still hoping to find That he took better care for improving his mind; Said I then to my heart, "Here's a lesson for me; THE VIOLET Down in a green and shady bed A modest violet grew; Its stalk was bent, it hung its head, And yet it was a lovely flower, Its colors bright and fair; It might have graced a rosy bower, Dirty Jim Yet there it was content to bloom, And there diffused a sweet perfume, Then let me to the valley go, That I may also learn to grow In sweet humility. ΙΟΙ Jane Taylor [1783-1824] DIRTY JIM THERE was one little Jim, 'Tis reported of him, And must be to his lasting disgrace, That he never was seen With hands at all clean, Nor yet ever clean was his face. His friends were much hurt To see so much dirt, And often they made him quite clean; But all was in vain, He got dirty again, And not at all fit to be seen. It gave him no pain To hear them complain, Nor his own dirty clothes to survey; His indolent mind No pleasure could find In tidy and wholesome array. The idle and bad, Like this little lad, May love dirty ways, to be sure; But good boys are seen, To be decent and clean, Although they are ever so poor. Jane Taylor [1783-1824] |