Mother Truth's Melodies Part 31

Their slender wings are hanging On every shrub, across; Their seats are dainty cushion-beds Of green and springy moss.

{314}

Their shrubbery of coral Is gray and scarlet-tipped; Their hair upon the maize is hung Each Summer, when 'tis clipped.

The mushroom forms their table, Their dishes, acorn cups; The ant-hills are their barracks high; Their cannon, "hemlock pops."

Their scarfs of plush are lying On ripening grape and peach; Their sea-sh.e.l.ls 'neath the apple trees, Each Spring bestrew their beach.

They paint the leaves in Autumn; They make a tiny rink Of every puddle, fen, and dike, And skate from nave to brink.

They brown the nuts in forests, The burrs they open wide; They lure the feathers from the clouds.

And pile them up, to slide.

{315}

They build along the way-side Their fairy palisades,-- The "h.o.a.r-frost" some have christened it,-- And hold West Point parades.

They sketch upon the windows Such pictures as no power Of man can ever execute, And on them pearl-dust shower.

{316}

All these and myriad fancies That never can be told, My childhood days so new and sweet, In memory infold.

But mother softly whispers, "Tis not the Fays, my dears, Tis old Dame Nature's song of songs, The 'Music of the Spheres.'

"List ever for it, children, Twill bring you close to G.o.d; Each sound but echoes Him who made, Each motion is His nod."

"Waste not, want not," be your motto,-- Little things bring weal or woe; Save the odds and ends, my children, Some one wants them, if not you.

{317}

_LIZZIE AND THE ANGELS._

Little Lizzie, thoughtful, earnest, Springing up at break of day, Thinks she heard the angels whisper Softly, as she knelt to pray.

{318}

"Yes, they whispered to me, mamma, And they told me lots of things,-- And they said, 'O Lizzie, Lizzie, 'Tis your temper trouble brings!'

"Then they said: You, child, can never Be a woman good and true, If you let your fiery temper And your own will govern you; And they told me 'even Jesus Said, 'Thy will, not mine, be done,'

And that if I grew up wilful, All my life I can but mourn.

And they told me, too, dear mamma, That if I were called to die, I could not be glad in heaven, For no heaven in me would lie.

Now, what shall I do, dear mamma, That I may be good and true?

How shall I my temper govern, And my wicked will subdue?"

"Lizzie, darling, if you listen, You will hear a voice within, {319} That will tell you every moment, What is Right, and what is Sin.

But you must not disobey it, Or it will grow faint and weak; You must watch to catch its whispers, Hurry when you hear it speak.

{320}

"For if you should linger waiting, There's another voice will say: Never mind, n.o.body'll know it, Even though you disobey.'

And this other voice, this Tempter, Sure will lead you to the wrong, While the voice of the good angel Fills your life with cheer and song.

"In your play and in your working, You the Golden Rule must heed; Do by others as you'd have them Do by you, if in their stead.

Better far to_ bear_ and _suffer_ Than to _do_ a wrong, my child; Better give up every pleasure, Than to be by sin beguiled.

"In your eating, in your drinking, In your clothing, in your talk, You can glorify the Father, Or in wickedness can walk.

For your little body, Lizzie, G.o.d has said, 'Keep holy, pure,' {321} Tis His 'temple' He has lent you, Keep its every gate secure,

"What you eat and drink makes muscles, Bones and nerves, and brain, and thought; And by food and drink improper, Fearful evils may be wrought.

Much of meat and spice and candies, Makes your blood impure, and then All your body's in a jangle, And your temper's wild again.

"And your clothes if tight or heavy, Help to make your blood impure; Help to make you weak and wicked, Into evil ways to lure.

Foul air, too, your blood will poison Sitting up too late at night; All these things will make it harder For you, child, to do the right.

"Bad companions also lead you To the wrong, and tempt you sore To defy the voice within you Till it, grieved, will speak no more,-- {322} Do not hesitate to tell them You cannot their ways approve.

Do not yield to their enticements; Tell them 'No!' with firmness, love.

"Do not ever let a single Word unkind, nor coa.r.s.e, impure, Pa.s.s your lips; for these will lead you Toward the bad, you may be sure.

Do not let a playmate tell you Anything that must be kept As a secret from your mother;-- Something's wrong, so don't accept.

"Always tell a thing precisely As it is; don't try to make It more fine and entertaining; Tell the truth for Truth's dear sake.

Never lay a finger, darling, On what is not quite your own, Lest temptation overtake you, And your honesty be gone.

"In the silence of your chamber, When no human being's nigh, {323} Don't forget that G.o.d is with you, Watching with all seeing-eye; Don't forget that He will know it If you do a thing that's wrong; Keep yourself so pure and perfect, That your life shall be His song.

"Now, dear child, the blessed Jesus Always, when you wish it, hears, Giving help to those who ask it, Lightening woes, and lessening fears.

Follow always His example; Take His precepts for your guide; Learn to trust Him, for He's walking Ever loving at your side."

{324}

_CHILD-MEMORIES._

Was ever so sweet the clover, Was ever so clear the brook, As my child-days, over and over, Found fresh in the dear home-nook?

{325}

Was ever such grace of motion, Or ever such trills of song.