The Project Gutenberg EBook of Think Before You Speak, by Catherine Dorset

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Title: Think Before You Speak
The Three Wishes

Author: Catherine Dorset

Release Date: June 4, 2008 [EBook #25698]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK ***

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[Illustration: FRONTISPIECE]

THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK:

OR, THE THREE WISHES.

A TALE.

BY THE AUTHOR OF THE
PEACOCK AT HOME.

THIRD EDITION.

LONDON:
PRINTED FOR M. J. GODWIN,
AT THE JUVENILE LIBRARY, NO. 41, SKINNER STREET;
AND TO BE HAD OF ALL BOOKSELLERS.

1810.

London: Printed by B. McMillan, }
Bow Street, Covent Garden. }

PREFACE.

The following Tale is principally taken from the admirable Work of
Madame de Beaumont (_Le Magazin des Enfans_), which formed almost the
whole library and the delight of the children of the last generation,
and has hardly been surpassed by the many excellent productions which
supply the nurseries and school-rooms of the present.

The story is there told with the simplicity and sprightliness of which
the French language is so peculiarly capable, but which a literal
translation would render not only insipid but vulgar.

In a poetical dress it may possibly give to the young reader a part of
that amusement, which it once afforded the infancy of the author.

THE THREE WISHES.

The sun withdrew his last pale ray,
And clos'd the short and chearless day;
Loud blew the wind, and rain and sleet
Against the cottage casement beat.

The busy housewife trimm'd her fire,
And drew the oaken settle nigher,
And welcom'd home her own good man
To his clean hearth, his pipe, and can;
For Homespun and his bustling wife
Were honest folks in humble life,
Who liv'd contented with their lot,
And lov'd the comforts of their cot.
With willing hand and chearful heart,
Each of life's burden bore their part,
With patience all its ills withstood,
And thankfully receiv'd the good.

Yet, they we