Then Star, Daggers, Parallels, Paragraph too, Started up, staring wildly about, {228} With "We rise to explain on the margin, 'tis plain, Or to point a new paragraph out." Of the whole Punctuation, each knew his own station. Each did his own duty, we see; If we do ours as well, and of their's, too, can tell, We shall soon learn good readers to be. * * * * * "All is not gold that glitters;" Yet think not, children mine, That all that glitters is not gold; The true must ring and shine. {229} _LITTLE MISCHIEF_. Little Master Mischief Lives in Nellie's eye, Sitting in the corner, Peeping out so sly; Now he's crossed the snow-ground And in chamber blue, Thinking he is hidden, Peek-a-boos at you. Now he drops the curtain, Sure that he is hid, But you see him dancing Even on the lid. Now, the curtains lifting, You can see he's crept To the inner chamber, Where the love-light slept. Watching now his moment He pops out, and see, Mamma's spools and thimble Quickly disagree. {230} {231} Shall we punish Mischief? Better teach the child How to hold and lead him, Running now so wild. Would she like her playthings Scattered here and there, When she had arranged them? Would she think it fair? Would she like her puzzle Portions of it, lost? Would she like her dishes Everywhere uptossed? Would she like her apron With a missing string, Mamma hunting, meanwhile, Thread and everything? Nellie, learn the lesson: Be to others true, Always do as you would Have them do to you. {232} This the dear Lord's precept,-- This the Golden Rule,-- This the highest lesson In our Nellie's school. * * * * * Be gentle and loving, Be kind and polite; Be thoughtful for others, Be sure and do right. {233} _GRANDMA'S CANARY._ Grandma loves her birdy, And when he gaily sings, She will laugh and chat with him, At which he hops and springs. Fearing though, that birdy Might not understand, Grandma from the toy-shop, Brought a whistle grand. Tuning now the whistle, To his sweet bird-note, He in singing back to her, Nearly burst his throat, {234} Birdy, free outflying, Often comes to light On Grandma's tip-of-finger Or chair-back, pretty sight! From her hand she feeds him, And he oft will take From her mouth the sugar, With a merry shake. Yester-morn the window Being open wide, Birdy thought it brighter On the outer side. Grandma mourning sadly, Shed of tears a few, Then she prayed the Father, "Show me what to do." Soon she set his cage out On the window-sill, Saying, "Birdy'll come now, Oh, I'm sure he will!" {235} Then she, hopeful, praying, "Bring my birdy home," Took the sweet bird-whistle, Playing "Birdy, come."