LADY MOON.

THE JOURNEY.

DEAR mother, how pretty the moon looks to-night, She was never so cunning before!

Her two little horns are so sharp and so bright,
I hope she won't grow any more!

If I were up there, with you and my friends,
We'd have a nice rock, do you see;
We'd sit in the middle, and hold at both ends,
O, what a bright cradle 't would be!

We'd call to the stars to get out of our way,
Lest we should rock over their toes;
And then we would stay till the dawn of day,
And see where the pretty moon goes.

And then we would float through the beautiful skies,
And then through bright clouds we would roam,
And see the sun set, and see the sun rise,
And on the next rainbow come home.

41

CHOICE POEMS.

Old Rhyme.

LADY Moon, Lady Moon, where are you roving?
Over the sea.

Lady Moon, Lady Moon, whom are you loving?
All that love me.

Are you not tired with rolling, and never
Resting to sleep?

Why look so pale, and so sad, as forever
Wishing to weep?

Ask me not this, little child, if you love me;
You are too bold;

I must obey my dear Father above me,
And do as I'm told.

Lady Moon, Lady Moon, where are you roving?
Over the sea.

Lady Moon, Lady Moon, whom are you loving?
All that love me.

LADY BIRD.

R. M. MILNES.

LADY bird! lady bird! fly away home,
The field-mouse has gone to her nest,
The daisies have shut up their sweet, sleepy eyes,
And the bees and the birds are at rest.

Lady bird! lady bird! fly away home,
The glow-worm is lighting her lamp,
The dew's falling fast, and your finc speckled wings
Will be wet with the close-clinging damp.

THE WATCH-DOG.

Lady bird! lady bird! fly away home,

The fairy bells tinkle afar,

Make haste, or they 'll catch you, and harness you fast, With a cobweb, to Oberon's car.

43

CHOICE POEMS.

When we sleep sound,
He takes his round,
A sentry o'er us all.

Through the long, dark night,
Till broad daylight,

He scares the thieves from our wall.

44

LITTLE CHILDREN, LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

But through the whole day
With the bairns he 'll play,
And gambol in the sun;
On his back astride

They may safely ride,
For well he loves their fun.

By all he 's kenned

As a faithful friend,
No flattering tongue has he;
And we may all learn
From the great watch-dog
Both faithful and fond to be.

ALEXANDER SMART.

LITTLE CHILDREN, LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

A LITTLE girl, with a happy look,

Sat slowly reading a ponderous book,

All bound with velvet, and edged with gold,

And its weight was more than a child could hold;

Yet dearly she loved to ponder it o'er,

And every day she prized it more;

For it said, and she looked at her smiling mother,

It said: "Little children, love one another."

She thought it was beautiful in the book,
And the lesson home to her heart she took.
She walked on her way with a trusting grace,
And a dovelike look in her meek young face,

BEING KIND AND AFFECTIONATE.

Which said, just as plain as words could say:
The Holy Bible I must obey;

So, mamma, I'll be kind to my darling brother,
For "little children must love each other.”

I am sorry he 's naughty and will not play,
But I'll love him still; for I think the way
To make him gentle and kind to me

Will be better shown, if I let him see
I strive to do what I think is right.
And thus, when we kneel in prayer to-night,
I will clasp my arms about my brother,
And say: "Little children, love one another."

The little girl did as her Bible taught,

And pleasant, indeed, was the change it wrought;
For the boy looked up in glad surprise,

To meet the light of her loving eyes:
His heart was full; he could not speak,
But he pressed a kiss on his sister's cheek;
And God looks down on the happy mother
Whose "little children loved one another."

BEING KIND AND AFFECTIONATE.

45

THE God of heaven is pleased to see
A little family agree;

And will not slight the praise they bring,
When loving children join to sing.