, I am told.

Ah, Mary, she said, this is all very true,
But if half as much mischief were I to do,
Indeed people would love me no better than you.

Your face _is_ as clean, and your hair is as bright,
Your frock is as tidy, your hands are as white,
But there's one thing, dear Mary--you seldom do right.

If Mama bids less noise to be made when we play,
Or desires you be still whilst your lessons you say,
You never do try these commands to obey.

And when people are talking, you never care how
You interrupt what they're saying, which is ill-bred, you know,
And papa has so oft bid us not to do so.

You take grand-mama's pies, you climb on her chair,
You lay hold of the gowns as you go up the stair,
And you gather the flowers that on the beds are.

Now I am no taller, nor bigger, you see,
Yet nobody here is angry with me,
Because I have learnt so obedient to be.

I mind what mama says, whatever it is,
And when people are busy take care not to tease,
But endeavor, as much as I'm able, to please.

Then said Mary to Emma, O now do I see
Why you are more loved, and more happy than me;
And we're like mama's tale of the Wasp and the Bee.

I remember it said, little children beware,
Because like the Wasp if you ill behaved are,
You will never be loved, if you're ever so fair.

[Illustration]

THE GOOD SCHOLAR.

Joseph West had been told,
That if, when he grew old,
He had not learnt rightly to spell,
Though his writings were good,
'Twould be not understood:
And Joe said, I will learn my task well.

And he made it a rule
To be silent at school,
And what do you think came to pass?
Why he learnt it so fast,
That from being the last,
He soon was the first in the class.

[Illustration]

NAUGHTY SAM.

Tom and Charles once took a walk,
To see a pretty lamb;
And, as they went, began to talk
Of little naughty Sam.

Who beat his youngest brother, Bill,
And threw him in the dirt;
And when his poor mama was ill,
He teas'd her for a squirt.

And I, said Tom, won't play with Sam
Although he has a top:
But here the pretty little lamb
To talking put a stop.

[Illustration]

Two legs sat upon three legs,
With one leg in his lap;
In comes four legs,
And runs away with one leg;
Up jumps two legs,
Catches up three legs,
Throws it after four legs,
And makes him bring one leg back.

[Illustration]

As I was going up primrose Hill