86

LITTLE BELL.

There is enough for every one,
And they lovingly agree;

We might learn a lesson, all of us,
Beneath the green-wood tree!

MARY HOWITT.

LITTLE BELL.

"He prayeth well who loveth well
Both man and bird and beast."

PIPED the Blackbird on the beechwood spray,

Pretty maid, slow wandering this way,

What's your name?" quoth he

"What's your name? O, stop and straight unfold
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
Half so gay a song from

birdany

Full of quips and wiles,

LITTLE BELL.

Now so round and rich, now soft and slow,
All for love of that sweet face below,

Dimpled o'er with smiles.

And the while the bonny bird did pour His full heart out, freely o'er and o'er, 'Neath the morning skies,

In the little childish heart below,

All the sweetness seemed to grow and grow,
And shine forth in happy overflow

From the blue, bright eyes.

87

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.

Little Bell sat down amid the fern:
"Squirrel, Squirrel, to your task return;
Bring me nuts!" quoth she.
Up, away! the frisky squirrel hies-
Golden woodlights glancing in his eyes —
And adown the tree,

Great ripe nuts, kissed brown by July sun,
In the little lap drop, one by one-
Hark, how Blackbird pipes to see the fun!
"Happy Bell!" pipes he.

88

66

LITTLE BELL.

Little Bell looked up and down the glade:
Squirrel, Squirrel, from the nut-tree shade,
Bonny Blackbird, if you 're not afraid,

Come and share with me !"

Down came Squirrel, eager for his fare,
Down came bonny Blackbird, I declare,
Little Bell gave each his honest share.
Ah, the merry three!

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,

All the sweetness seemed to grow and grow,
And shine out, in happy overflow,

From the blue, bright eyes.

By her snow-white cot, at close of day,
Knelt sweet Bell with folded palms, to pray-
Very calm and clear

Rose the praying voice to where, unseen
In blue heaven, an angel shape serene
Paused awhile to hear.

"What good child is this," the angel said,
"That with happy heart, beside her bed,
Prays so lovingly!"

Low and soft, O very low and soft,

Crooned the Blackbird in the orchard croft, "Bell, dear Bell!" crooned he.

KINDNESS TO ANIMALS.

"Whom God's creatures love," the angel fair Murmured," God doth bless with angel's care; Child, thy bed shall be

Folded safe from harm - love, deep and kind, Shall watch around, and leave good gifts behind, Little Bell, for thee."

T. WESTWOOD.

89

KINDNESS TO ANIMALS.

TURN, turn the hasty foot aside,
Nor crush that helpless worm;
The frame thy wayward looks deride,
Required a God to form.

The common Lord of all that move,
From whom thy being flowed,
A portion of his boundless love
On that poor worm bestowed.

The sun, the moon, the stars he made,
To all his creatures free;

And spreads o'er earth the grassy blade
For worms as well as thee.

Let them enjoy their little day,
Their lowly bliss receive;
O do not lightly take away

The life thou canst not give.

GISBORN.

90

THE OAK-TREE.

THE OAK-TREE.

SING for the Oak-tree,

The monarch of the wood;

Sing for the Oak-tree,

That groweth green and good;
That groweth broad and branching
Within the forest shade;

That groweth now, and yet shall grow
When we are lowly laid!

The Oak-tree was an acorn once,
And fell upon the earth;
And sun and showers nourished it,
And gave the Oak-tree birth.
The little sprouting Oak-tree!

Two leaves it had at first,

Till sun and showers had nourished it,

Then out the branches burst.

The little sapling Oak-tree!

Its root was like a thread,
Till the kindly earth had nourished it,
Then out it freely spread :

On this side and on that side

It grappled with the ground;
And in the ancient, rifted rock
Its firmest footing found.