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THE DUTY OF CHILDREN

HAPPY THOUGHT

THE world is so full of a number of things,
I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.
Robert Louis Stevenson [1850-1894]

WHOLE DUTY OF CHILDREN

A CHILD should always say what's true
And speak when he is spoken to,

And behave mannerly at table;

At least as far as he is able.

Robert Louis Stevenson [1850-1894]

POLITENESS

GOOD little boys should never say

"I will," and "Give me these";

O, no! that never is the way,

But "Mother, if you please.”

And "If you please," to Sister Ann
Good boys to say are ready;
And, "Yes, sir," to a Gentleman,
And, "Yes, ma'am," to a Lady.

Elizabeth Turner [ ?-1846]

REBECCA'S AFTER-THOUGHT

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

A Rule for Birds' Nesters

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;

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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 grass 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 BİRDS' 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 passed them by, and blessed them all; I felt that it was good

To leave unmoved the creatures smail whose home was in the wood.

And here, even now, above my head, a lusty 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 LOVE LITTLE PUSSY"

I LOVE little pussy.

Her coat is so warm,
And if I don't hurt her,

She'll do me no harm.

So I'll not pull her tail,
Or drive her away,
But pussy and I

Very gently will play.

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TAKE your meals, my little man,

Always like a gentleman;

Wash your face and hands with care,

Change your shoes, and brush your hair;

Then so fresh, and clean and neat,

Come and take your proper seat:
Do not loiter and be late,
Making other people wait;

Do not rudely point or touch:
Do not eat and drink too much:
Finish what you have, before
You even ask, or send for more:
Never crumble or destroy
Food that others might enjoy;
They who idly crumbs will waste

Often want a loaf to taste!
Never spill your milk or tea,
Never rude or noisy be;

Never choose the daintiest food,
Be content with what is good:
Seek in all things that you can
To be a little gentleman.

THE CRUST OF BREAD

I MUST not throw upon the floor
The crust I cannot eat;
For many little hungry ones
Would think it quite a treat.

My parents labor very hard

To get me wholesome food;
Then I must never waste a bit
That would do others good.

For wilful waste makes woeful want,
And I may live to say,

Oh! how I wish I had the bread
That once I threw away!

"HOW DOTH THE LITTLE BUSY BEE"

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,

And gather honey all the day

From every opening flower!

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