Since no denial word was said,

In came the nose, in came the head;
And sure as sermon follows text,
The long and scraggy neck came next;
And then, as falls the threatening storm,
In leaped the whole ungainly form.

Aghast the owner gazed around,
And on the rude invader frowned;
Convinced as closer still he pressed,
There was no room for such a guest;
Yet, more astonished, heard him say,
"If thou art troubled, go away,
For in this place I choose to stay."

O youthful hearts to gladness born,
Treat not this Arab lore with scorn!
To evil habits' earliest wile,

Lend neither ear, nor glance, nor smile;
Choke the dark fountain ere it flows,

Nor e'en admit the camel's nose!

LYDIA H. SIGOURNEY

188

SUPPOSE.

Suppose the little cowslip

Should hang its golden cup,

And say, "I'm such a tiny flower,
I'd better not grow up";

SUPPOSE

How many a weary traveller
Would miss its fragrant smell,

And many a little child would grieve
To miss it from the dell.

Suppose the little breezes

Upon a summer's day,

Should think themselves too small to cool

The traveller on his way;

Who would not miss the smallest

And softest ones that blow,

And think they made a great mistake
If they were talking so?

Suppose the little dew-drop

Upon the grass should say, "What can a little dew-drop do? I'd better roll away."

The blade on which it rested,

Before the day was done, Without a drop to moisten it, Would wither in the sun.

How many deeds of kindness
A little child can do,

Although it has but little strength,

And little wisdom, too!

It wants a loving spirit

Much more than strength, to prove How many things a child may do For others, by its love.

367

ANONYMOUS

189

EVERY LITTLE HELPS

Suppose a little twinkling star,

Away in yonder sky,

Should say,

"What light can reach so far

From such a star as I?

Not many rays of mine so far

As yonder earth can fall;
The others so much brighter are,

I will not shine at all."

Suppose a bright-green leaf that grows
Upon the rose-bush near,

Should say,

66

Because I'm not a rose,

I will not linger here."

Or that a dew-drop, fresh and bright
Upon that fragrant flower,
Should say, "I'll vanish out of sight,
Because I'm not a shower."

Suppose a little child should say,

66

Because I'm not a man,

I will not try, in word or play,

To do what good I can."

Dear child, each star some light can give,

Though gleaming faintly there;

Each rose-leaf helps the plant to live;

Each dew-drop keeps it fair.

SUPPOSE

And our good Father, who's in Heaven,

And doth all creatures view,

To every little child has given
Some needful work to do.

369

Kind deeds towards those with whom you live, Kind words and actions right,

Shall, 'mid the world's worst darkness, give

A little precious light.

190

SUPPOSE

ANONYMOUS

Suppose, my little lady,

Your doll should break her head;
Could you make it whole by crying
Till your eyes and nose were red?
And wouldn't it be pleasanter
To treat it as a joke,

And say you're glad 'twas Dolly's,
And not your head, that broke?

Suppose you're dressed for walking,
And the rain comes pouring down,
Will it clear up any sooner

Because you scold and frown?
And wouldn't it be nicer

For you to smile than pout,

And so make sunshine in the house
When there is none without?

Suppose your task, my little man,

Is very hard to get,

Will it make it any easier

For you to sit and fret? And wouldn't it be wiser

Than waiting like a dunce, To go to work in earnest,

And learn the thing at once?

Suppose that some boys have a horse,
And some a coach and pair,
Will it tire you less while walking
To say it isn't fair?

And wouldn't it be nobler

To keep your temper sweet, And in your heart be thankful

You can walk upon your feet?

And suppose the world don't please you,
Nor the way some people do,
Do you think the whole creation
Will be altered just for you?
And isn't it, my boy or girl,

The wisest, bravest plan,

Whatever comes, or doesn't come,

To do the best you can?

PHOEBE CARY