The sparrow builds her clever nest,

Of wool, and hay, and moss;
Who told her how to weave it best
And lay the twigs across?

Who taught the busy bee to fly
Among the sweetest flowers,
And lay his feast of honey by
To eat in winter hours?

'Twas God who showed them all the way,
And gave their little skill,

And teaches children, if they pray,

To do His holy will.

ANN TAYLOR

196

THE WONDERFUL WORLD

Great, wide, beautiful, wonderful world,
With the wonderful water round you curled,
And the wonderful grass upon your breast,
World, you are beautifully drest.

The wonderful air is over me,

And the wonderful wind is shaking the tree-
It walks on the water, and whirls the mills,
And talks to itself on the top of the hills.

You friendly Earth, how far do you go,

With the wheat-fields that nod, and the rivers that

flow,

With cities and gardens and cliffs and isles,

And people upon you for thousands of miles?

Ah! you are so great, and I am so small,

I hardly can think of you, World, at all;
And yet, when I said my prayers to-day,
My mother kissed me, and said, quite gay,

"If the wonderful World is great to you,
And great to father and mother, too,

You are more than the Earth, though you are such a dot!

You can love and think, and the Earth cannot!"

197

WILLIAM BRIGHTY RANDS

BE GOOD

What says the Lark,

As it mounts on high,
Singing sweet songs

In the bright morning sky?
What says the Linnet

That sings in the wood?
Let us listen, dear children!—
"Oh, try to be good!"

What says the River,

So noble and grand,

Rolling majestically

Throughout the broad land?
What says the Rose

As it springs from the bud?
Let us listen, dear children!-
"Oh, try to be good!"

What says the Bee,

That musical rover,

Humming old songs

In the rich, purple clover? What says the Oak

That long ages has stood? Let us listen, dear children!"Oh, try to be good!"

What says the Violet,

Dear child of the Spring,
With petals as rich

As the robe of a king?
What says the Snow-flake
That melts in the flood?
Let us listen, dear children!-
"Oh, try to be good!"

Yes, that is the song

Which each beautiful thing

Is sent by our Father

In Heaven to sing;

To teach us to act

As all mortals should:

Let us listen, dear children!—

66

Oh, try to be good!"

JOHN WESTALL

198

ADVICE TO THE YOUNG

My son, be this thy simple plan:
Serve God, and love thy brother man;
Forget not, in temptation's hour,
That sin lends sorrow double power;
Count life a stage upon thy way,
And follow conscience, come what may;
Alike with earth and Heaven sincere,
With hand and brow and bosom clear,
"Fear God, and know no other fear."

ANONYMOUS

199

MY TIME TABLE

Sixty seconds make a minute;
How much good can I do in it?
Sixty minutes make an hour;
All the good that's in my power.
Twenty hours and four, a day;
Time for sleep and work and play.
Days, three hundred sixty-five,
Make a year for me to strive
Right good things each day to do,
That I wise may grow and true.

ANONYMOUS

200

WHAT TIME IS IT?

What time is it?

Time to do well;

Time to live better;

Give up that grudge;

Answer that letter;

Speak that kind word, to sweeten a sorrow;

Do that good deed you would leave till to-morrow. Time to try hard

In that new situation;

Time to build up

A solid foundation.

Giving up needlessly changing and drifting,
Leaving the quicksands that ever are shifting.

What time is it?

Time to be earnest,

Laying up treasure;

Time to be thoughtful,

Choosing true pleasure;

Loving stern justice of truth being fond;

Making your word just as good as your bond.
Time to be happy,

Doing your best;

Time to be trustful,

Leaving the rest;

Knowing in whatever country or clime,

Ne'er can we call back one minute of time.

ANONYMOUS