XVII.

LOVE BETWEEN BROTHERS AND

SISTERS.

WHATEVER brawls disturb the street,
There should be peace at home;
Where sisters dwell and brothers meet,
Quarrels should never come.

Birds in their little nests agree:

And 'tis a shameful sight,

When children of one family

Fall out, and chide, and fight.

Hard names at first, and threat'ning words

That are but noisy breath,

May grow to clubs or naked swords,

To murder and to death.

The devil tempts one mother's son
To rage against another;

So wicked Cain was hurried on
Till he had kill'd his brother.

The wise will make their anger cool,
At least before 'tis night;
But in the bosom of a fool

It burns till morning light.

Pardon, O Lord, our childish rage,
Our little brawls remove;
That, as we grow to riper age,
Our hearts may all be love.

XVIII.

AGAINST SCOFFING AND CALLING NAMES.

OUR tongues were made to bless the Lord,
And not speak ill of men ;
When others give a railing word,
We must not rail again.

Cross words and angry names require

To be chastis'd at school; And he's in danger of hell-fire, That calls his brother, fool.

But lips that dare be so profane,
To mock, and jeer, and scoff,

At holy things or holy men,
The Lord shall cut them off.

When children, in their wanton play,

Serv'd old Elisha so;

And bid the prophet go his way,

"Go up, thou baldhead, go:"

God quickly stopp'd their wicked breath,
And sent two raging bears,

That tore them limb from limb to death,

With blood, and groans, and tears.

Great God, how terrible art thou
To sinners ne'er so young!

Grant me thy grace, and teach me how
To tame and rule my tongue.

XIX.

AGAINST SWEARING AND CURSING, AND TAKING GOD'S NAME IN VAIN.

ANGELS, that high in glory dwell,
Adore thy name, Almighty God!
And devils tremble down in hell,
Beneath the terrors of thy rod.

And yet how wicked children dare
Abuse thy dreadful glorious name!
And when they're angry, how they swear,
And curse their fellows, and blaspheme!

How will they stand before thy face,
Who treated thee with such disdain,
While thou shalt doom them to the place
Of everlasting fire and pain?

Then never shall one cooling drop

To quench their burning tongues be given; But I will praise thee here, and hope Thus to employ my tongue in heaven.

My heart shall be in pain to hear
Wretches affront the Lord above:
'Tis that Great God whose power I fear;
That heavenly Father whom I love.

If my companions grow profane,

I'll leave their friendship, when I hear Young sinners take thy name in vain, And learn to curse, and learn to swear.

XX.

AGAINST IDLENESS AND MISCHIEF.

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower!

How skilfully she builds her cell!
How neat she spreads the wax!
And labors hard to store it well

With the sweet food she makes.

In works of labour or of skill,

I would be busy too;

For Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do.

In books, or work, or healthful play,

Let

my first years

be past,

That I may give for every day
Some good account at last.

XXI.

AGAINST EVIL COMPANY.

WHY should I join with those in play, In whom I've no delight;

Who curse and swear, but never pray; Who call ill names and fight?

I hate to hear a wanton song;
Their words offend my ears;

I should not dare defile my tongue
With language such as their's.

Away from fools I'll turn my eyes,
Nor with the scoffers go;

I would be walking with the wise,

That wiser I may grow.