Sister, fie for shame, no more! Give this ignorant babble o’er, Nor, with little female pride, Things above your sense deride. Why this foolish underrating Of my first attempts at Latin? Know you not each thing we prize Does from small beginnings rise? ’Twas the same thing with your writing Which you now take such delight in. First you learnt the down-stroke line, Then the hairstroke thin and fine, Then a curve and then a better, Till you came to form a letter; Then a new task was begun, How to join them two in one; Till you got (these first steps pass’d) To your fine text-hand at last. So, though I at first commence With the humble accidence, And my study’s course affords Little else as yet but words, I shall venture in a while At construction, grammar, style, Learn my syntax, and proceed Classic authors next to read, Such as wiser, better, make us, Sallust, Phædrus, Ovid, Flaccus: All the poets with their wit, All the grave historians writ, Who the lives and actions show Of men famous long ago; Even their very sayings giving In the tongue they used when living. Think not I shall do that wrong Either to my native tongue, English authors to despise, Or those books which you so prize; Though from them awhile I stray, By new studies call’d away, Them when next I take in hand, I shall better understand; For I’ve heard wise men declare Many words in English are From the Latin tongue derived, Of whose sense girls are deprived ’Cause they do not Latin know. But if all your anger grow From this cause, that you suspect, By proceedings indirect, I would keep (as miser’s pelf) All this learning to myself; Sister, to remove this doubt, Rather than we will fall out, (If our parents will agree) You shall Latin learn with me. [Illustration] [Illustration: ON THE LORD’S PRAYER] VII I have taught your young lips the good words to say over, Which form the petition we call The Lord’s Prayer, And now let me help my dear child to discover The meaning of all the good words that are there. “Our Father,” the same appellation is given To a parent on earth, and a Parent of all, O gracious permission! the God that’s in heaven Allows His poor creatures Him Father to call. To “hallow His name” is to think with devotion Of it, and with reverence mention the same; Though you are so young, you should strive for some notion Of the awe we should feel at the Holy One’s name.