LITTLE CHILDREN.
Bearing in its seeded pod
Cotton, white as snow.
Spin the cotton into thread,
Weave it in the loom ;
Wear it now, thou little child,
In thy happy home!
Thou hast worn it, little child,-
Wondrous cotton tree!
Did this paper-did this book
Spring and grow from thee?
Yes! God's gracious gift of mind
Made the cotton tree
Speed forth knowledge, peace, and love,
Over land and sea.
And ten thousand cotton trees
Spring up fresh and fair,
That unwritten thoughts of love
O'er all the world shall bear !
Sporting through the forest wide;
Playing by the water side;
Wand'ring o'er the heathy fells;
Down within the woodland dells;
All among the mountains wild,
Dwelleth many a little child!
In the baron's hall of pride;
By the poor man's dull fireside;
'Mid the mighty, 'mid the mean,
Little children may be seen;
Like the flowers that spring up fair,
Bright and countless everywhere!
Blessings on them! they in me
Move a kindly sympathy,
With their wishes, hopes, and fears;
With their laughter and their tears;
With their wonder so intense,
And their small experience !
Little children, not alone
On the wide earth are ye known;
'Mid its labours and its cares,
'Mid its suff'rings and its snares,
Free from sorrow, free from strife,
In the world of love and life-
Where no sinful thing hath trod,
In the
presence of your God-
Spotless, blameless, glorified,
Little children, ye abide !
THE SNOW-STORM.
Oh, mother, see the crumbs are flying,
Fast and thickly through the air!
On the branches they are lying,
On the walks and everywhere;
Oh how glad the birds will be,
When so many crumbs they see!"
"No, my little girl, 'tis snowing,
Nothing for the birds is here;
Very cold the air is growing,
"Tis the winter of the year:
Frost will nip the Robin's food,
"Twill no more be sweet and good.
"See the clouds the skies that cover,
'Tis from them the snowflakes fall;
Whit'ning hills and fields all over,
Hanging from the fir-trees tall.
Were it warm, 't would rain; but, lo!
Frost has chang❜d the rain to snow."
If the Robins food are needing,
Oh I hope to me they'll come;
I should like to see them feeding,
On the window of my room;
I'll divide with them my store,
Much I wish I could do more."
Mamma, dear mamma, here's a present for you!
I have search'd in my own little bower,
And have found what I think you will never despise,
This sweet little violet flower.
'Tis the first of the season, and amidst the green leaves It was hiding its delicate head;
And I found it, mamma, by the precious perfume
Which over my bower it spread.
Yes indeed, dearest child; I have prized among flowers
The first violet's beautiful blue,
But were it the humblest of weeds, dearest child,
It were sweet when presented by you.
And mark me, my love, as this violet now
You traced out by its fragrant perfume;
So good deeds have an odour undying, that spreads
From the lowliest spot where they bloom.
TO A LITTLE BOY ON HIS BIRTHDAY.
My love, I meet this happy day
With pleasure and with pain;
I wish to learn your future way,
But know the wish is vain.
A journey, which can never end,
You have but just begun ;
And hand in hand with many a friend,
This little way have run.
But friends, my love, how vain are they!
For one infected breath
May snatch the tenderest away,
And seal them up in death.
GOING TO SCHOOL.
Then whither should my darling fly?
In whom may he confide?
There is a Friend above the sky,
Who waits to be his Guide.
His eye the path of life can see,
And has as clear a view
Of hills and valleys yet to be,
As what are past to you.
He knows the point, the very spot
Where each of us shall fall;
And whose shall be the earliest lot,
And whose the last of all.
"I thank God for my breakfast," said little Miss Jane, As she cheerfully rose from her seat; "The clock I perceive will shortly strike nine, So I must go now, or be late.
Quickly to school, quickly to school,
For I must go now or be late."
Then taking her sampler, her bag, and her book,
She put on her gloves, shawl, and hat;
A heart-cheering kiss from her parents she took,
And nodded, Good bye to the cat.
Good bye to her cat, good bye to her cat,
And nodded good bye to her cat.
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