The Home Book of Verse
Chapter 27 : Matilda, smarting with the pain, And tingling still, and sore, Made many a promise to r

Matilda, smarting with the pain, And tingling still, and sore, Made many a promise to refrain From meddling evermore.

And 'tis a fact, as I have heard, She ever since has kept her word.

Ann Taylor [1782-1866]

CONTENTED JOHN

One honest John Tomkins, a hedger and ditcher, Although he was poor, did not want to be richer; For all such vain wishes in him were prevented By a fortunate habit of being contented.

Though cold were the weather, or dear were the food, John never was found in a murmuring mood; For this he was constantly heard to declare,-- What he could not prevent he would cheerfully bear.

"For why should I grumble and murmur?" he said; "If I cannot get meat, I'll be thankful for bread; And, though fretting may make my calamities deeper, It can never cause bread and cheese to be cheaper."

If John was afflicted with sickness or pain, He wished himself better, but did not complain, Nor lie down to fret in despondence and sorrow, But said that he hoped to be better to-morrow.

If any one wronged him or treated him ill, Why, John was good-natured and sociable still; For he said that revenging the injury done Would be making two rogues when there need be but one.

And thus honest John, though his station was humble, Pa.s.sed through this sad world without even a grumble; And I wish that some folks, who are greater and richer, Would copy John Tomkins, the hedger and ditcher.

Jane Taylor [1783-1824]

FRIENDS

How good to lie a little while And look up through the tree!

The Sky is like a kind big smile Bent sweetly over me.

The Suns.h.i.+ne flickers through the lace Of leaves above my head, And kisses me upon the face Like Mother, before bed.

The Wind comes stealing o'er the gra.s.s To whisper pretty things; And though I cannot see him pa.s.s, I feel his careful wings.

So many gentle Friends are near Whom one can scarcely see, A child should never feel a fear, Wherever he may be.

Abbie Farwell Brown [1875-1927]

ANGER

Anger in its time and place May a.s.sume a kind of grace.

It must have some reason in it, And not last beyond a minute.

If to further lengths it go, It does into malice grow.

'Tis the difference that we see 'Twixt the serpent and the bee.

If the latter you provoke, It inflicts a hasty stroke, Puts you to some little pain, But it never stings again.

Close in tufted bush or brake Lurks the poison-swelled snake Nursing up his cherished wrath; In the purlieus of his path, In the cold, or in the warm, Mean him good, or mean him harm, Wheresoever fate may bring you, The vile snake will always sting you.

Charles and Mary Lamb

"THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL"

There was a little girl, who had a little curl Right in the middle of her forehead, And when she was good she was very, very good, But when she was bad she was horrid.

She stood on her head, on her little trundle-bed, With n.o.body by for to hinder; She screamed and she squalled, she yelled and she bawled, And drummed her little heels against the winder.

Her mother heard the noise, and thought it was the boys Playing in the empty attic, She rushed upstairs, and caught her unawares, And spanked her, most emphatic.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow [1807-1882]

THE REFORMATION OF G.o.dFREY GORE

G.o.dfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore-- No doubt you have heard the name before-- Was a boy who never would shut a door!

The wind might whistle, the wind might roar, And teeth be aching and throats be sore, But still he never would shut the door.

His father would beg, his mother implore, "G.o.dfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore, We really do wish you would shut the door!"

Their hands they wrung, their hair they tore; But G.o.dfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore Was deaf as the buoy out at the Nore.

When he walked forth the folks would roar, "G.o.dfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore, Why don't you think to shut the door?"

They rigged out a Shutter with sail and oar, And threatened to pack off Gustavus Gore On a voyage of penance to Singapore.

But he begged for mercy, and said, "No more!

Pray do not send me to Singapore On a Shutter, and then I will shut the door!"

"You will?" said his parents; "then keep on sh.o.r.e!

But mind you do! For the plague is sore Of a fellow that never will shut the door, G.o.dfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore!"

William Brighty Rands [1823-1882]

THE BEST FIRM

A pretty good firm is "Watch & Waite,"

And another is "Att.i.t, Early & Layte;"

And still another is "Doo & Dairet;"