* * * * *

WORDS.

TELL me the name of something, dear;
As book, or ball, or kite;
Now tell some quality of each,
As big, or round, or light.
And now some word that means _to be_
Yes, _is_, my child, you're right.

The ink is black, The snow is white,
The ice is hard--is cold:
The sky is blue, The air is light,
Sometimes the child is bold. {130}
And thus let names of everything
Afar or near be told;
And Qualities of each and all
Let memory infold.

* * * * *

NOW give one name, and tell me all
Its qualities as well;
As, coal is black, and coal is hard,
And coal's inflammable.

And now, you children should be taught
That we need not repeat
The name, with every word that tells
Its qualities complete.

Coal's black, hard, and inflammable,
We say; but all so fast,
A comma follows after each,
With _and_ before the last.

And now use iron, chalk, and clay,
Use water, snow, and ice,
Use thread and needle, pin and pen,
Use every word that's nice.--

{131}

ANOTHER lesson now attend--
We'll find some quality
Embraced by several different things,
As you will plainly see.

Snow is cold, ice is cold,
Salt is cold as well;
Snow, ice, and salt are cold, my child,
As every one can tell.

* * * * *

A SMILE.

"SHE smiled on me, she smiled on me!"
In ecstacy exclaimed
A little waif in tattered gown,
With form so halt and maimed.
Remember, even a smile may cheer,
A cup of water, bless;
A kindly word, sow seeds of joy,
Whose fruit is happiness.

{132}

_TWINKLE, TWINKLE._

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
Up above the world so far,
Whisper now and tell me, pray,
What you are, and how you stay."

"Some of us away so far,
Planets like your own Earth, are;
And we shine with borrowed light,
Borrowed from the Sun, so bright.

"Some of us are silvery moons,
Shining all the nightly noons;
Some of us are jelly, soft,
Shooting, falling, from aloft.

{133}

Some of us are Nebulae,--
Faint and misty stars we be;--
Some are Suns to other worlds;
Here and there a Comet whirls.

"Having each our time and place,
Swinging in the wondrous space;
Held in line by Him who planned,
And who holds you in His hand."

{134}

OLD SOL IN A JINGLE.

Hi-diddle-diddle,
The Sun's in the middle