Should teach thee Charity.-Now let it teach,
If yet thou hast to learn, that the bless'd source
Of lib'ral deeds, is wise Econ'omy.
This morn, like thee, I drew the stream too fast:
Now, when the parch'd glebe wants its wat❜ry aid,
The source is all exhausted."
CHAPTER III.
DI-DACTICK PIECES.
To some children listening to a Lark.
1. SEE the lark prunes his active wings,
Rises to heaven, and soars, and sings;
His morning hymns, his mid-day lays,
Are one continued song of praise.
He speaks his Maker all he can,
And shames the silent tongue of man.
2. When the declining orb of light
Reminds him of approaching night,
His wârb'ling vespers swell his breast;
And, as he sings, he sinks to rest.
3. Shall birds instructive lessons teach,
And we be deaf to what they preach ?—
No, ye dear nestlings of my heart;
Go act the wiser songster's part:
Spurn your wârm couch at early dawn,
And with your God begin the morn.
4. To him your grateful tribute pay,
Through every period of the day.
To him your evening songs di-rect';
His eye shall watch, his arm protect:
Though darkness reigns, he's with you still;
Then sleep, my babes, and fear no ill.
The advantages of early religion.
1. HAPPY the child, whose tender years
Receive instruction well;
Who hates the sinner's path, and fears
The road that leads to hell.
2. When we give up our youth to God,
"Tis pleasing in his eyes:
A flower, that's offer'd in the bud,
Is no vain sặc ri-fiçe.
3. "Tis easy work, if we begin
To fear the Lord betimes;
While sinners, who grow old in sin,
Are harden'd in their crimes.
4. "Twill save us from a thousand snares, To mind religion young;
It will preşĕrve' our foll'wing years,
And make our vir'tue strong.
5. To thee, Almighty God! to thee
Our childhood we resign;
"Twill please us to look back, and see
That our whole lives were thine.
6 Let the sweet work of prayer and praise
Employ our youngest breath;
Thus we're prepar'd for longer days,
Or fit for early death.
Peace and love recommended.
1. 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.
2. But, children, you should never let
Such angry passions rise;
Your little hands were never made
To tear each other's eyes.
3. 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.
4. 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.
To a young woman with a Watch.
1. WHILE this gay toy attracts thy sight,
Thy reason let it wârn;
And seize, my dear, that rapid time,
That never must return.
2. If idly lost, no art or care
The blessing can restore;
And Heav'n requires a strict account
For every mispent hour.
3 Short is our longest day of life,
And soon its prospect ends;
Yet on that day's uncertain date,
Eternity depends.
4. But equal to our being's aim,
The space to vir'tue giv'n;
And every minute, well improv❜d,
Secures an age in Heav'n.
Verses accompanying a Nosegay..
1. THOU canst not steal the rose's bloom,
To decorate thy face;
But the sweet blush of modesty,
Will lend an equal grace.
2. These violets scent the distant gale :
(They grew in lowly bed ;)
So real worth new merit gains,
By diffidence o'erspread.
3. Nor wilt thou e'er* that lily's white,
In thy complexion find;
Yet innocence may shine as fair.
The budding vir'tues in thy breast
Shall yield the best pĕrfüme'.*
5. This nosegay, in thy bo'şóm plac'd,
A moral may convey:
For soon its brightest tints shall fade,
And all its sweets decay.
6. So short liv'd àre the lovely tribes
Of Flo'rǎ's transient reign:
They bud, blow, wither, fall, and die;
Then turn to earth ǎgain'.
7. And thus, my dear, must every charm,
Which youth is proud to share,
Alike this quick succession prove,
And the same truth declare.
8. Sickness will change the roseate hue,
Which glowing health bespeaks;
And age will wrinkle with its cares,
The smile on beauty's cheeks.
9. But as that fragrant myrtlet wreath,
Will all the rest survive;
So shall the mental graces still,
Through endless ages live.
SECTION VI.
Duties of the Morning.
1. SEE the time for sleep has run;
Rise before or with the sun.
Lift thy hands and humbly pray,
The Fôûn'tain of ēter'nal day,
That as the light serenely fair,
Illumines all the tracts of air;
The sacred Spirit so may rest,
With quick'ning beams upon thy breast;
And kindly clean it all within,
From darker blemishes of sin :
And shine with grace, until we view
The realm it gilds with glory too.
2. See the day that dawns in air,
Brings ǎlong its toil and care.
From the lap of night it springs,
SECTION VII.
The mind to be cultivated.
1. HEAR, ye fair mothers of our isle,
Nor scorn your poet's homely style.
What though my thoughts be quaint or new,
I'll warrant that my doc'trine's true:
Or if my sentiments be old,
Remember, truth is sterling gold.
2. You judge it of important weight,
To keep your rising offspring straight?
For this such anxious moments feel,
And ask the friendly aid of steel;
For this import the distant cane,
Or slay the monarch of the main.
3. And shall the soul be wârp'd ǎside,
By passion, prejudice, and pride?
Deformity of heart I call
The worst deformity of all.
4. Your cares to body àre confin'd;
Few fear ob-liq'ui-ty of mind.
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