So long as you your crime conceal, Will tinge (3) your face with shame and heat." (1) Gladsome-happy. (2) Oppress'd-burthened. (3) Tinge-colour, mark. Endure anything rather than descend to utter an untruth or frame an equivocation. A just teacher, or a wise parent will readily forgive an offence, provided that it is confessed in an open and sincere manner. Remember as long as you live that a lie has never, or will ever, avail anything. It is sure to be discovered sooner or later, and the punishment will be severe but just. Little boys and girls, recollect Ananias and Sapphira. The Blind Boy's been at play, mother, And merry games we had; We led him on our way, mother, And every step was glad. But when we found a starry flower, And praised its varied hue, A tear came trembling down his cheek, We took him to the mill, mother, As golden sun-rays played; We asked him why he wept, mother, "Ah me!" he said, while tears ran down As fast as summer showers, "It is because I cannot see The sunshine and the flowers." Oh, that poor sightless boy, mother, On all I love the best, And when I see the dancing stream, I'll kneel upon the meadow sod, And thank my God for sight. E. COOK. A poor blind boy goes out to play with his companions, but he cannot see the beautiful blue sky, or the lovely flowers, or the green grass, and is sad poor boy when those with him shouted at the glorious scene; and hailed the clear blue sky! How thankful then should those little boys be that are not blind, and who can see the faces of those that love them, and every thing about them,―let them therefore remember the poor blind boy, and love the good God who gave them sight. A CHILD'S EVENING PRAYER. Ere on my bed my limbs I lay, God grant me grace my prayers to say ;- In strength and health for many a year; And, oh! preserve my father too, And may we always love each other, And still, O Lord, to me impart (2) An innocent and grateful heart, That after my last sleep I may Awake to thy eternal 3 day! AMEN. COLERIDGE. (1) Sloth-idleness. (2) Impart-teach. (3) Eternal-everlasting. LUCY GRAY. Oft had I heard of Lucy Gray, No mate, no comrade, Lucy knew, You yet may spy the fawn (2) at play, The hare upon the green; Will never more be seen. (1) Moor-a marsh, or wide extent of uncultivated ground. (2) Fawn-a young deer 'To night will be a stormy night,— That, father, will I gladly do; The minster clock has just struck two, At this, the father raised his hook, Not blither (3) is the mountain roe; The storm came on before its time e; And many a hill did Lucy climb, The wretched parents, all that night At day-break on a hill they stood, That overlooked the moor; And thence they saw the bridge of wood, A furlong from their door. (3) Blither-merrier, gayer. And turning homeward, now, they cried, Then downward from the steep hill's edge, 1 They followed, from the snowy bank, Into the middle of the plank, And further there were none ! Yet some maintain, that, to this day, That you may see sweet Lucy Gray, Upon the lonesome wild. O'er rough and smooth she trips along, And never looks behind; And sings a solitary song, That whistles in the wind. (4) Tracked-traced. WORDSWORTH. The subject of these verses is a little girl, who is bid by her Father on a winters' day, to take a lantern and light her mother home who is gone to the neighbouring town. She starts off in a cheerful manner in the afternoon, crosses the moor all covered with snow, the evening coming on she loses her way, her parents getting uneasy at her not returning sooner, seek her, follow her track into the middle of the plank, but further there were none!' Such was the sad fate of poor Lucy Gray. |