The Home Book of Verse
Chapter 24 : Come when you're called, Do what you're bid, Close the door after you, Never

Come when you're called, Do what you're bid, Close the door after you, Never be chid.

Seldom "can't,"

Seldom "don't;"

Never "shan't,"

Never "won't."

LITTLE FRED

When little Fred Was called to bed, He always acted right; He kissed Mama, And then Papa, And wished them all good-night.

He made no noise, Like naughty boys, But gently up the stairs Directly went, When he was sent, And always said his prayers.

THE LOVABLE CHILD

Frisky as a lambkin, Busy as a bee-- That's the kind of little girl People like to see.

Modest as a violet, As a rosebud sweet-- That's the kind of little girl People like to meet.

Bright as is a diamond, Pure as any pearl-- Everyone rejoices in Such a little girl.

Happy as a robin, Gentle as a dove-- That's the kind of little girl Everyone will love.

Fly away and seek her, Little song of mine, For I choose that very girl As my Valentine.

Emilie Poulsson [1853-

GOOD AND BAD CHILDREN

Children, you are very little, And your bones are very brittle; If you would grow great and stately, You must try to walk sedately.

You must still be bright and quiet, And content with simple diet; And remain, through all bewild'ring, Innocent and honest children.

Happy hearts and happy faces, Happy play in gra.s.sy places-- That was how, in ancient ages, Children grew to kings and sages.

But the unkind and the unruly, And the sort who eat unduly, They must never hope for glory-- Theirs is quite a different story!

Cruel children, crying babies, All grow up as geese and gabies, Hated, as their age increases, By their nephews and their nieces.

Robert Louis Stevenson [1850-1894]

REBECCA'S AFTER-THOUGHT

Yesterday, Rebecca Mason, In the parlor by herself, Broke a handsome china basin, Placed upon the mantel-shelf.

Quite alarmed, she thought of going Very quietly away, Not a single person knowing, Of her being there that day.

But Rebecca recollected She was taught deceit to shun; And the moment she reflected, Told her mother what was done;

Who commended her behavior, Loved her better, and forgave her.

Elizabeth Turner [?--1846]

KINDNESS TO ANIMALS

Little children, never give Pain to things that feel and live; Let the gentle robin come For the crumbs you save at home,-- As his meat you throw along He'll repay you with a song; Never hurt the timid hare Peeping from her green gra.s.s lair, Let her come and sport and play On the lawn at close of day; The little lark goes soaring high To the bright windows of the sky, Singing as if 'twere always spring, And fluttering on an untired wing,-- Oh! let him sing his happy song, Nor do these gentle creatures wrong.

A RULE FOR BIRDS' NESTERS

The robin and the red-breast, The sparrow and the wren; If ye take out o' their nest, Ye'll never thrive again!

The robin and the red-breast, The martin and the swallow; If ye touch one o' their eggs, Bad luck will surely follow!

"SING ON, BLITHE BIRD"

I've plucked the berry from the bush, the brown nut from the tree, But heart of happy little bird ne'er broken was by me.

I saw them in their curious nests, close couching, slyly peer With their wild eyes, like glittering beads, to note if harm were near; I pa.s.sed them by, and blessed them all; I felt that it was good To leave unmoved the creatures small whose home was in the wood.

And here, even now, above my head, a l.u.s.ty rogue doth sing; He pecks his swelling breast and neck, and trims his little wing.

He will not fly; he knows full well, while chirping on that spray, I would not harm him for the world, or interrupt his lay.

Sing on, sing on, blithe bird! and fill my heart with summer gladness; It has been aching many a day with measures full of sadness!

William Motherwell [1797-1835]

"I LIKE LITTLE p.u.s.s.y"