To him your ev'ning songs direct;

His

eye shall watch, his arm protect:

Though darkness reigns, he's with you still;

Then sleep, my babes, and fear no ill.

SECTION II.

The advantages of early religion.

HAPPY the child whose tender years,

Receive instruction well;

Who hates the sinner's path, and fears
The road that leads to hell.

When we give up our youth to God,
'Tis pleasing in his eyes:

A flow'r, that's offer'd in the bud,
Is no vain sacrifice.

'Tis easy work, if we begin

To fear the Lord betimes;

While sinners, who grow old in sin,
Are harden'd in their crimes.

"Twill save us from a thousand snares,

To mind religion young;

'Twill preserve our following years, And make our virtue strong.

COTTON.

To thee, Almighty God! to thee

Our childhood we resign;

'Twill please us to look back and see, That our whole lives were thine.

Let the sweet work of pray'r and praise,
Employ our youngest breath;

Thus we're prepar'd for longer days,

Or fit for early death.

SECTION III.

Peace and love recommended.

LET dogs delight to bark and bite;
For God has made them so:

Let bears and lions growl and fight;

For 'tis their nature too.

But, children, you should never let
Such angry passions rise;

Your little hands were never made
To tear each other's eyes.

Let love through all your

actions run,

And all your words be mild:

Live like God's well-beloved Son,

That sweet and lovely child.

WATTS.

His soul was gentle as a lamb ;

And as in age he grew,

He grew in favour both with man,
And God his Father too.

The Lord of all who reigns above,
Does from his heav'nly throne,
Behold what children dwell in love,

And marks them for his own.

SECTION IV.

To a young woman, with a watch.

WHILE this gay toy attracts thy sight,
Thy reason let it warn;

And seize, my dear, that rapid time,

That never must return.

If idly lost, no art or care

The blessing can restore;

And Heav'n requires a strict account

For ev'ry mispent hour.

Short is our longest day of life,

And soon its prospect ends;

Yet on that day's uncertain date,

Eternity depends.

WATTS.

But equal to our being's aim,

The space to virtue giv'n;

And ev'ry minute, well improv'd,

Secures an age in Heav'n.

SECTION V.

Verses accompanying a nosegay.

THOU can'st not steal the rose's bloom,

To decorate thy face;

But the sweet blush of modesty,
Will lend an equal grace.

Those vi❜lets scent the distant gale;
(They grew in lowly bed ;)

So real worth new merit gains,
By diffidence o'erspread.

Nor wilt thou e'er that lily's white,

In thy complexion find;
Yet innocence may shine as fair,
Within thy spotless mind.

Now, in the op'ning spring of life,
Let every flow'ret bloom:

The budding virtues in thy breast

Shall yield the best perfume.

CARTER.

This nosegay, in thy bosom plac'd,

A moral may convey:

For soon its brightest tints shall fade, And all its sweets decay.

So short-liv'd are the lovely tribes

Of Flora's transient reign :

They bud, blow, wither, fall, and die; They turn to earth again.

And thus, my dear, must ev'ry charm,
Which youth is proud to share,

Alike this quick succession prove,
And the same truth declare.

Sickness will change the roseate hue,
Which glowing health bespeaks;
age will wrinkle with its cares,
The smile on beauty's cheeks.

And

But as that fragrant myrtle wreath,
Will all the rest survive ;

So shall the mental graces still,
Through endless ages live.

SECTION VI.

Duties of the morning.

SEE the time for sleep has run ;

Rise before or with the sun.

Lift thy hands, and humbly pray,

The Fountain of eternal day,

K