PRIDE.

How proud we are, how fond to show
Our clothes, and call them rich and new,
When the poor sheep and silk-worm wore
That very clothing long before!
The tulip and the butterfly
Appear in gayer coats than I;
Let me be dressed fine as I will,

Flies, worms, and flowers exceed me still.

Watts.

GOOD GIRLS.

Two good little girls, Marianne and Maria, As happily lived as good girls could desire; And though they were neither grave, sullen, nor mute,

They seldom or never were heard to dispute. If one wants a thing that the other could get, They never are scratching or scrambling for it, But each one is willing to give up her right; They'd rather have nothing, than quarrel and fight.

If one of them happens to have something nice, Directly she offers her sister a slice;

Not acting like some greedy children I've known,

Who would go in a corner and eat it alone.

When papa or mamma had a job to be done, These good little girls would immediately run, And not stand disputing to which it belonged, And grumble and fret and declare they were wronged.

Whatever occurred in their work or their play, They were willing to yield and give up their own way:

Then let us all try their example to mind, And always, like them, be obliging and kind.

Taylor.

THE BEST WAY FOR MOLLY TO BE

HAPPY.

She said, "I should like to be happy to-day, If I could but tell which was the easiest way; But then I don't know any pretty new play:

And as to the old ones, why, which is the best? There's old blind-man's-buff, hide-and-seek, and the rest

Or pretending it's tea-time, when dollies are dressed.

But no; let me see-now I've thought of a way Which would really, I think, be still better than play:

I'll try to be good, if I can, the whole day,

Without any fretting or crying: Oh, no,
For that makes me wretched wherever I go;
And it would be a pity to spoil the day so.

I don't choose to be such a baby, not I,
To be peevish and cross, and just ready to cry;
And mamma will be pleased that at least I
should try.

GOOD-NIGHT.

Good-night, my dear mother-dear mother, good-night;

You may take out the lamp, and shut the door tight:

Your dear little Ellen will not be afraid, Though left quite alone in her own quiet bed.

Afraid, my dear mother, afraid, when I know God watches on high, while you watch below? And though the thick darkness all round me is spread,

I know that from him I never can be hid.

You say, my dear mother, whenever I pray, Although he's in heaven, he'll hear what I say; And so, if I should have some foolish fears rise, I'll pray in my heart when I shut up my eyes.

Good-night, my dear mother--dear mother,

good-night;

Please take out the candle, and shut the door tight:

Your dear little daughter will not be afraid, When left quite alone in her own little bed.

THE VAIN LITTLE GIRL.

What, looking in the glass again?
Why's my silly child so vain?
Do you think yourself as fair
As the gentle lilies are?

Is

your merry eye as blue
As the violet's, wet with dew?
Yet it loves the best to hide
By the hedge's shady side.

When your cheek the brightest glows,
Is it redder than the rose?

But the rose's buds are seen

Almost hid with moss and green.

Little flowers that open gay,
Peeping forth at break of day,
In the garden, hedge, or plain,
Do you think that they are vain?
Beauty soon will fade away,
Your rosy cheek must soon decay;
There's nothing lasting, you will find,
But the treasures of the mind.

O FIE, AMELIA.

"O fie, Amelia; I'm ashamed

To hear you quarrel so:

Leave off those naughty tricks, my child—

Go play with sister, go."

"I sha'n't, mamma, the little girl

May play with whom she can;

And while she lives, she shall not have

My waxen doll again."