But this is not my little bed; With strangers now I live instead, From dreary day to day. William Allingham TO A CHILD EMBRACING HIS MOTHER LOVE thy mother, little one! Kiss and clasp her neck again Hereafter she may have a son Will kiss and clasp her neck in vain. Love thy mother, little one! Gaze upon her living eyes, And mirror back her love for thee,- Press her lips the while they glow With love that they have often told,Hereafter thou mayst press in woe, And kiss them till thine own are cold. Press her lips the while they glow! Oh, revere her raven hair! Although it be not silver-gray Too early Death, led on by Care, Pray for her at eve and morn, That Heaven may long the stroke defer; For thou mayst live the hour forlorn When thou wilt ask to die with her. Pray for her at eve and morn! Thomas Hood WISHING RING-TING! I wish I were a Primrose, A bright yellow Primrose blowing in the spring! The stooping boughs above me, Nay-stay! I wish I were an Elm-tree, A great lofty Elm-tree, with green leaves gay! The winds would set them dancing, The sun and moonshine glance in, The birds would house among the boughs, And sweetly sing! Oh no! I wish I were a Robin. A Robin or a little Wren, everywhere to go; Till winter comes with icy thumbs Well-tell! Where should I fly to, Where go to sleep in the dark wood or dell? Before a day was over, Home comes the rover, For mother's kiss, sweeter this Than any other thing! William Allingham THE VISIT "Do you go to Norton, mamma, this next week? I wish you had leisure to listen to me, For when you are writing I don't like to speak, And that letter will never be finished, I see." "I will lay down my pen, then, my dear little child, For I see you have minded the lesson we read; Come, jump on my knee here," mamma said and smiled, As she kissed the soft hair on her Emily's head. "Yes, to Norton we are going, and what shall I say To your two little playmates there, Harriet and Ann? Shall I say you can read now as well as can play, And can pull out your needle as fast as they can?" "No, mamma, that was not what I wished you to hear! And I fear you won't like what I'm going to say; Stop, put down your head, let me speak in your ear, For to whisper, I think, is by much the best way." She asked to be taken her young friends to see, And to show them her work-box, her dolls, and her toys; She said she would try such a good child to be, And be well-bred and kind to the two little boys. She said if they teased her, or for her dolls cried, She would not forget she was older than they, If as boys they were rude, she would try not to chide, But would put up the dolls until they went away. From Ann she could learn how her bracelets to string, And with Harriet would practice doll's bonnets to make; She would give to the latter her favorite ring, And for dear little Ann, that Dutch doll she would take. "Then pray, dear mamma, pray do not say no; You are always so kind, do indulge me in this: I think if you like it, papa 'll let me go, And I shall be so good, I'll do nothing amiss." Papa was consulted, and though it was far, Little Emily's goodness and worth gained the day, |