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SONGS FOE CHILDHOOD. |
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LITTLE LUCY.
A. D. F. Randolph.
A little child, six summers old,
So thoughtful and so fair There seemed about her pleasant ways
A more than childish air, Was sitting, on a summer's eve,
Beueath a spreading tree, Intent upon an ancient book
That lay upon her knee.
She turned each page with careful hand,
Aud strained her sight to see, Uutil the drowsy shadows slept
Upon the grassy lea; Then closed the book, and upward looked,
And straight began to sing A simple verse of hopeful love�
This very childish thing: " While here below, how sweet to know
His wondrous love and story, Aud then, through grace, to see his face,
And live with him in glory!"
That little child, one dreary night
Of winter wind and storm, Was tossing on a weary couch
Her weak and wasted form; And in her pain, and in its pause,
But clasped her hand in prayer� Strange that we had no thoughts of heaven,
While hers were only there�
Until she said, " O mother dear,
How sad you seem to be! Have you forgotten that he said,
' Let children come to me ?' Dear mother, bring the blessed Book; 1 Come, mother, let us sing." And then again, with faltering tongue,
She sung that childish thiug: " While here below, how sweet to know
His wondrous love and story; Aud then, through grace, to see his face,
And live with him in glory!"
Underneath a spreading tree
A uarrow mound is seen, Which first was covered by the snow,
Then blossomed into green. |
Here first I heard that childish voice,
That sings on earth no more ; In heaven it hath a richer tone,
And sweeter than before : " For those who know his love below "�
So runs the wondrous story� " In heaven, through grace, shall see his face,
And dwell with him in glory!" |
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BISHOP HATTO.
Robert Southey.
The summer and autumn had been so wet That in winter the corn was growing yet; 'Twas a piteous sight to see all around The grain lie rotting on the ground.
Every day the starving poor Crowded around Bishop Hatto's door; For he had a plentiful last year's store, Aud all the neighborhood could tell His granaries were furnished well.
At last Bishop Hatto appointed a day
To quiet the poor without delay ;
He bid them to his great barn repair,
Aud they should have food for the winter them
Kejoiced such tidings good to hear, The poor folk flocked from far and near; The great barn was full as it could hold Of women and children, and young and old.
Then, when he saw it could hold no more, Bishop Hatto he made fast the door; And while for mercy on Christ they call, He set fire to the barn and burned them all.
" I' faith, 'tis an excellent bonfire!" quoth he, "And the country is greatly obliged to me For ridding it, in these times forlorn, Of rats that only consume the corn." .
So then to his palace returned he,
And he sat down to supper merrily ;
And he slept that night like an innocent man %
But Bishop Hatto never slept again.
In the morning, as he entered the hall, Where his picture hung against the wall, |
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