Then came home again to his dear mother's cot, And joyfully gave her the wages he'd got.
And, Oh, how she lov'd him! how great was her joy, To think her dear Jem was a dutiful boy! Her arms round his neck she would tenderly cast, And kiss his red cheek, while the tears trickled fast,
O then, was not little Jem happier far, Than naughty, and idle, and wicked boys are? For, long as he liv'd, 'twas his comfort and joy, To think he'd not been an undutiful boy.
LOVE AND DUTY TO PARENTS,
My Father, my Mother, I know, I cannot your kindness repay, But I hope, that as older I grow, I shall learn your commands to obey.
You lov'd 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 lest, after all, I should dare To act an undutiful part;
May I often wish in my pray'r
For an humble and teachable heart.
A CHILD'S LAMENTATION FOR THE DEATH OF A DEAR MOTHER.
A Poor afflicted child I kneel
Before my heav'nly Father's seat,
To tell him all the grief I feel, And spread my sorrows at his feet.
Yet I must weep: I cannot stay These tears, that trickle while I bend, Since thou art pleas'd to take away So dear, so very dear a friend.
And now I recollect with pain
The many times I griev'd her sore; Oh, if she would but come again, I think I'd vex her so no more.
How I would watch her gentle eye! "Twould be my play to do her will! And she should never have to sigh Again, for my behaving ill!
But since she's gone so far away And cannot profit by my pains, Let me this Child-like duty pay To that dear parent who remains.
Let me console his broken heart, And be his Comfort, by my care; That when at last we come to part, I may not have such grief to bear.
OH smile on those whose time and care Are spent on our instruction here, And let our conduct ever prove We're grateful for their generous love.
Through life may we perform thy will, Our humble stations wisely fill; Then join the friends we here have known, In nobler songs around thy throne.
Thou shalt not steal thy neighbour's right, Nor covet what is not thine own; The pilfering thief, that shuns the light, Brings on his head the vengeance down.
When children in their early days Begin to cheat, defraud, and steal, By swift degrees they find the ways Which lead to infamy and heH.
CREATION AND PROVIDENCE.
I SING th' almighty power of God, That made the mountains rise, That spread the flowing seas abroad, And built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordain'd The sun to rule the day; The moon shines full at his command, And all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the Lord,
That fill'd the earth with food; He form'd the creatures with his word, And then pronounc'd them good.
Lord, how thy wonders are display'd Where'er I turn my eye, If I survey the ground I tread, Or gaze upon the sky.
There's not a plant or flow'r below But makes thy glories known; And clouds arise, and tempests blow, By order from thy throne.
Creatures (as numerous as they be) Are subject to thy care;
There's not a place where we can flee, But God is present there.
In heav'n he shines with beams of love, With wrath in hell beneath:
Tis on his earth I stand or move, And 'tis his air I breathe.
His hand is my perpetual guard, He keeps me with his eye; Why should I then forget the Lord, Who is for ever nigh?
GOD OUR FATHER AND OUR FRIEND.
COME let us join our God to praise, Whose mercy knows no end; To him our cheerful voices raise, Our Father, and our Friend.
In tender infancy his care,
Preserved our lives from harm; And now he keeps us from the snare Of sin's deceitful charm.
He gently draws our mind to heaven, By kind instructions given - And, by his reverential fear, We seek the way to heaven.
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