Mrs. Turner's Cautionary Stories Part 6

Poor thing! I grieved to see it swell.

"What will you put to make it well?"

"Why," said Mamma, "I really think Some sc.r.a.ped potato, or some ink,

"A little vinegar, or brandy, Whichever nurse can find most handy: All these are good, my little daughter, But nothing's better than cold water."

MARY ANNE'S KINDNESS

How mischievous it was, when Will Push'd his young sister down the hill, Then ran away, a naughty boy, Although he heard her sadly cry!

Their mother, who was walking out, Saw the rude trick, and heard him shout; With gentle voice, but angry nod, She threaten'd w.i.l.l.y with the rod.

But Mary Anne, afraid of this, Begg'd they might now be friends and kiss: She said, "Mamma, I feel no pain, And w.i.l.l.y won't do so again."

Then w.i.l.l.y call'd his sister "good,"

And said he "never, never would."

AMBITIOUS SOPHY

Miss Sophy, one fine sunny day, Left her work and ran away.

When she reach'd the garden-gate, She found it lock'd, but would not wait, So tried to climb and scramble o'er A gate as high as any door.

But little girls should never climb, And Sophy won't another time; For when upon the highest rail, Her frock was caught upon a nail: She lost her hold, and, sad to tell, Was hurt and bruised--for down she fell.

DRESSED OR UNDRESSED

When children are naughty and will not be dress'd, Pray, what do you think is the way?

Why, often I really believe it is best To keep them in night-clothes all day!

But then they can have no good breakfast to eat, Nor walk with their Mother or Aunt; At dinner they'll have neither pudding nor meat, Nor anything else that they want.

Then who would be naughty, and sit all the day In night-clothes unfit to be seen?

And pray, who would lose all their pudding and play, For not being dress'd neat and clean?

MRS. BIRCH'S INFLUENCE

"Indeed you are troublesome, Anne," said her aunt, "You begg'd me to bring you abroad, And now you are cross and pretend that you want To be carried the rest of the road.

"I hope you know better than cry in the street: The people will think it so odd, And if Mrs. Birch we should happen to meet, She will ask if we want a new rod.

"Then dry up your tears; with a smile on your face You will speak in a different tune.

And now you have cleverly mended your pace, We shall both be at home very soon."

REBELLIOUS FRANCES

The babe was in the cradle laid, And Tom had said his prayers, When Frances told the nursery-maid She would not go upstairs.

She cried so loud her mother came To ask the reason why, And said, "Oh, Frances, fie for shame!

Oh fie! Oh fie! Oh fie!"

But Frances was more naughty still, And Betty sadly nipp'd: Until her mother said, "I will-- I must have Frances whipp'd.

"For, oh! how naughty 'tis to cry, But worse, much worse to fight, Instead of running readily And calling out, 'Good-night!'"

Kindness and Cruelty

THE HARMLESS COW

A very young lady, And Susan the maid, Who carried the baby, Were one day afraid.

They saw a cow feeding, Quite harmless and still: Yet scream'd, without heeding The man at the mill,

Who, seeing their flutter, Said, "Cows do no harm; But send you good b.u.t.ter And milk from the farm."

THE HARMLESS WORM

As Sally sat upon the ground, A little crawling worm she found Among the garden dirt; And when she saw the worm she scream'd, And ran away and cried, and seem'd As if she had been hurt.

Mamma, afraid some serious harm Made Sally scream, was in alarm, And left the parlour then; But when the cause she came to learn, She bade her daughter back return, To see the worm again.