* 36 * LITTLE BELL. I. PIPED the blackbird on the woodland spray,1 "Pretty maid, slowly wandering this way, What's your name?" Quoth he,2 "What's your name? Oh, stop, and straight unfold,3 Pretty maid with showery curls of gold." "Little Bell," said she. Little Bell sat down beneath the rocks, Tossed aside her gleaming golden locks, "Bonny bird!" quoth she, "Sing me your best song before I go." "Here's the very finest song I know, Little Bell," said he. And the blackbird piped; you never heard Full of quips and wiles: Now so round and rich, now soft and slow, Dimpled o'er with smiles. And the while 5 the bonny bird did pour 1 spray, sprig, twig. 3 straight unfold, quickly tell. 4 quips and wiles, odd and sly variations. 5 the while, during the time that, while. In the little childish heart below All the sweetness seemed to grow and grow, From the blue, bright eyes. Down the dell she tripped; and through the glade Peeped the squirrel from the hazel shade, And from out the tree Swung and leaped and frolicked, void of fear, While bold blackbird piped, that all might hear, "Little Bell!" piped he. II. Little Bell sat down amid the fern: 66 Squirrel, squirrel, to your task return; Up, away, the frisky squirrel hies, Golden wood lights glancing in his eyes; And adown the tree, Great ripe nuts, kissed brown by July sun, Hark, how blackbird pipes to see the fun! 66 66 Little Bell looked up and down the glade: Come and share with me!" Down came squirrel, eager for his fare, And the while those frolic playmates twain Piped and frisked from bough to bough again, 'Neath the morning skies, In the little childish heart below Alf the sweetness seemed to grow and grow, By her snow-white cot, at close of day, Rose the praying voice to where, unseen "What good child is this," the angel said, "That with happy heart beside her bed Prays so lovingly?" Low and soft, oh, very low and soft, 3 Crooned the blackbird in the orchard croft,4 "Bell, dear Bell!" crooned he. * 37 * A SHORT SERMON. CHILDREN who read my lay,5 1 twain, two. 1 shape, form. J. WESTWOOD. 3 crooned, hummed, or sang in a low tone. 4 orchard croft, patch of ground planted with fruit trees. 5 lay, song, poem. Each day, and every day, Right things in great and small, This further would I say: True things in great and small; Figs, as you see and know, Grapes never, never yet On the limbs of thorns were set: Life's journey through and through, Speaking what is just and true, Doing what is right to do Unto one and all, 1 get or receive good. When you work and when you play, Then peace shall gild your way, Though the sky should fall. ALICE CARY. * 38 * WHICH IS YOUR LOT? SOME children roam the fields and hills, Some dress in silks, and dance and play, Which is your lot, my girl and boy? * 39 * NEVER PUT OFF. WHENE'ER a duty waits for thee, With sober judgment view it, And never idly wish it done: |