The dog will run, when he is told,
To fetch the stick, or ball, if bowl'd ;
And so should we, as God doth say,
Our parents love, and them obey.
The dog will growl, and bark, and bite,
And cruel people make them fight;
But we should never angry be,
Nor scratch, nor fight, but all agree.
The dog will sit and beg for bread,
And be most glad when he is fed ;
But we should all for wisdom pray,
As well as bread, from day to day.
I'll never hurt my little dog,
But stroke and pat his head ;
I like to see him wag his tail,
I like to see him fed.
For little dogs are very good,
And very useful too;
And do you know, that they will mind
What they are told to do.
Then I will never hurt my dog,
Nor never give him pain:
Poor fellow, I will give him food,
And he'll love me again.
A faithful friend he ever is,
Nor e'er forsakes his trust;
O then for all the care he takes
I'll love my dog-I must.
The cat is useful, quiet, shy,
In ev'ry corner it will pry;
Nor leave a mouse that can destroy
Her master's food and property.
But if the cat is very sly,
And oft accus'd of treachery,
'Tis hunger makes it so; nor can
It ask for what it wants of man.
It's services it gladly gives
To all beneath whose roof it lives;
And none but naughty boys will joy
A cat to torture or destroy.
I love little pussey, her coat is so warm,
And if I don't hurt her, she'll do me no harm ;
So I'll ne'er pull her tail, nor drive her away,
But pussey and I together will play ;
She shall sit by my side, and I'll give her some food,
And she'll love me because I am gentle and good.
The dog will come when he is call'd,
The cat will walk away;
The monkey's cheek is very bald,
The goat is fond of play.
The noble horse, grey, brown, or black,
Will bear you on the road;
The camel's hunch is on his back,
He kneels to take his load.
The pig is not a feeder nice;
The squirrel nuts will eat;
The wolf would bite you in a trice;
The harmless lamb doth bleat.
The lion roars so very loud,
He'd fill you with surprise;
The spotted tiger's fond of blood,
The elephant is wise.
In Germany they hunt the boar;
The mice will eat your cheese ;
The false hyena cries or roars ;
The bear will rob the bees.
The buck gives us a ven'son dish;
The weasel's long and lank;
The beaver builds with mud and sticks;
The ass's milk is drank.
THE SWALLOW.
The swallows come from far,
And swiftly fly about
In search of flies, insects, and worms,
When May-buds first do sprout.
They form their knotted nests
Of mud, and straw, and hair; Their forked tails, black wings, white breast, Dart swiftly through the air.
Into the stream they dip,
Then roll themselves in dust,
With this they plaister o'er the nest
In which their young are nursed.
Just seven inches long,
With woodnut coloured eyes;
Their mouths are wide, their bills are strong,
And shrill and harsh their cries.
When Autumn's nearly gone,
And Winter's frosts draw nigh,
They o'er the seas in multitudes
To warmer countries fly.
When night comes on, and pretty birds
Have enter'd on their rest,
The owl's harsh voice from far is heard
Disturbing every nest.
All day it sits in hollow trees,
Church-steeples, rocks, or barns ;
Old castles, too, where at its ease
It sleeps secure from harm,
At night it hunts and catches birds,
Bats, rabbits, hares, rats, mice,
Insects, and fish, and, in a word,
Cheese, butter, all that's nice.
'Tis tawney-red, its wings are long,
Its tail is short, legs thick,
Hooked its beak, head large and strong,
Eyes sunk, and action quick.
With talons curved it takes its prey;
'Tis large as hen or goose;
In keeping mice and rats away
We see it has its use.
See the pretty robin redbreast,
How warm it sits within the nest ;
That is its name, but more I've heard,
So hear about this little bird.
You see its wings and feathers fair,
With those it flies up in the air;
With beak it picks up worms so long,
And sings its pretty evening song.
It builds its nest with moss and leaves,
And wool, and little twigs of trees;
It lays its eggs, and rears its young,
And sings to God a grateful song.
Oh, what a lesson for a child
When they are naughty, vain, and wild;
They sometimes sleep, and eat their food,
Without their song of praise to God,
But you, my little schoolmates here,
Forget not God to love and fear;
And for your legs to run or walk,
Your eyes to see, your tongue to talk,
Your ears to hear, on bended knees
Forget not God who gave you these;
Your food, and clothes, and parents dear,
'Tis God alone that sends them here.
Then like the little robin be
Pleasant to yourself and me;
And sing to Him who reigns above,
The song of gratitude and love.
See the little bantam hen,
With her little chicks around,
Picking up the scatter'd grain
As it lies upon the ground.
Tho' she takes so many up,
Very soon she lets them fall,
Crying loudly-cluck, cluck, cluck,
That's her little brood to call.
Worms, and insects, too, she seeks,
Scratching up the ground with care :
Thus she feeds her little chicks,
Picking one up here and there.
All her care is for her young,
Guarding them both night and day:
See, she watches every one,
Fearful they should go astray.
When in danger she'll defend,
Cov'ring them beneath her wings;
Many foes their steps attend,
Foxes, rats, and other things.
Hawks and eagles, in their flight,
Oft descend and take the chicks ;
Cruel children take delight,
Throwing at them stones or bricks.
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