ed me before I could tell
Who it was that so tenderly smiled;
But now that I know it so well,
I _should_ be a dutiful child.

I am sorry that ever I should
Be naughty and give you a pain;
I hope I shall learn to be good,
And so never grieve you again.

But, for fear that I should dare
From all your commands to depart,
Whenever I'm saying my prayer
I'll ask for a dutiful heart.

THE APPLE-TREE.

[Illustration: L]

Let them sing of bright red gold;
Let them sing of silver fair;
Sing of all that's on the earth,
All that's in the air;
All that's in the sunny air,
All that's in the sea;
And I'll sing a song as rare,
Of the apple-tree!

The red-bloomed apple-tree;
The red-cheeked apple-tree;
That's the tree for you and me,
The ripe, rosy apple-tree!

Learned men have learned books,
Which they ponder night and day;
Easier leaves than theirs I read,--
Blossoms pink and white;
Blossom-leaves all pink and white,
Wherein I can see
Charactered, as clear as light,
The old apple-tree;

The gold-cheeked apple-tree;
The red-streaked apple-tree;
All the fruit that groweth on
The ripe, rosy apple-tree!

[Illustration: W]

Winter comes, as winter will,
Bringing dark days, frost and rime;
But the apple is in vogue
At the Christmas-time;
At the merry Christmas-time
Folks are full of glee;
Then they bring out apples prime,
Of the primest tree;

Then you the roast apple see,
While they toast the apple-tree,
Singing, with a jolly chime,
Of the brave old apple-tree!

[Illustration]

RUFUS MERILL
Opposite Gass' American House,
CONCORD, N.H.

KEEPS A GENERAL ASSORTMENT OF
School, Classical, and Miscellaneous Books,
Bibles, Testaments, Hymn Books, &c. &c.

[Illustration]

R.M. is also engaged in publishing Toys for Children, suitable for
Presents for Teachers and Parents, who will find a larger assortment of
Toys and Children's Books, at his Store, that at any other place in the
State, and on the most liberal terms.

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEMS OF POETRY, FOR GIRLS AND BOYS***

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