"My dears," said he, "you must not pass Your form, and beautify defect." SECTION IV. SMART. The lamb and the pig; or, nature and education. CONSULT the moralist, you'll find That education forms the mind: But education ne'er supplied Meekness and love possess'd her soul, I The treach'rous slopes her fate foretell, The shepherd, wounded with her cries, And bore her to a neighb'ring brook. And bought provisions for the day; A purchase from a farmer's sty. The children round their parent crowd; They saw the stranger with surprise, Familiar grown, he shar'd their joys; Shar'd too the porridge with the boys. The females o'er his dress preside; They wash his face and scour his hide. For all these housewives e'er could do. SECTION V. COTTON. The bee and the ant; or, the advantages of application and diligence in early years. ON a bright dewy summer's morn, It chanc'd a frugal ant was near, A great economist was she, Nor less laborious than the bee: By pensive parents often taught On poverty the loss of friends. Hence, ev'ry day the ant is found The ant fulfil her parents' law ; Are independent of the great, Nor know the wants of pride and state. Why are our wants so very few ? Is not all nature busy too? Does not the sun with constant pace, Persist to run his annual race? Do not the stars which shine so bright, His patient neck, and draw the plough? SECTION VI. The doves. REAS'NING at ev'ry step he treads, Man yet mistakes his way, While meaner things, whom instinct leads, One silent eve I wander'd late, "Our mutual bond of faith and truth, Those blessings of our early youth, Shall cheer our latest age: COTTON. |