The brother's return, and other storiesA. L. O. E.
General
The brother's return, and other stories
A. L. O. E.
Children's stories
"I am not sure of that," replied Alice; "nor, perhaps, would you think
so, were you to read this beautiful Life. Agnes left a bright, happy
home, to watch as a nurse by the sick-beds of the poor. Though she
was a lady born and bred, she shrank from no drudgery, grumbled at no
hardship: she worked hard, and she worked cheerfully, looking for no
reward upon earth. Agnes had to struggle against great difficulties;
but she mastered them just as she had mastered the kangaroo when she
was a child."
"And got nothing by it," said Theodore Vassy. "One might suffer, and
struggle, and conquer difficulties, if, like Harry the Fifth, one had a
crown to make it worth while."
"There was a crown for Agnes," observed Alice gravely; "but not one
that man could give, or that she could wear upon earth. The artist who
drew that picture—" Alice glanced as she spoke at the print in the hand
of her brother—"has made Prince Henry look upwards, as if praying to
be made worthy to have a crown. Agnes Jones's was a life-long looking
upwards—a life-long trying on, as it were, of the crown prepared for
such as love their Heavenly King;—and I believe," added Alice, as she
closed her volume, "that after her brave struggles and her victories,
Agnes Jones has gone to wear that crown."
Beware of the Wolf.
YOU never need fear, little children, to meet
A wolf in the garden, the wood, or the street;
Red Riding-hood's story is only a fable,—
I'll give you its moral as well as I'm able:
Bad Temper's the wolf which we meet everywhere—
Beware of this wolf! Little children, beware!
I know of a boy, neither gentle nor wise,
If you tell him a fault, he gives saucy replies;
If kept from his way, in a fury he flies—
Ah! Passion's the wolf with the very large eyes;
'Tis ready to snap and to trample and tear—
Beware of this wolf! Little children, beware!
I know of a girl always trying to learn
About things with which she should have no concern:
Such mean Curiosity really appears
To me like the wolf with the very large ears,
All pricked up to listen, each secret to share—
Beware of this wolf! Little children, beware!
And Greediness, that's like the wolf in the wood
With the very large mouth, ever prowling for food,
That eats so much more than for health can be good;
That would clear a whole pastry-cook's shop if it could;
That never a dainty to others will spare—
Beware of this wolf! Little children, beware!
PASSION, PRYING, and GREEDINESS, each thus appears
As a wolf with fierce eyes, a large mouth, or big ears;
They bring to our nurseries fighting and fears,
They cause bitter quarrelling, trouble, and tears.
Oh! Chase them and cudgel them back to their lair—
Beware of the wolves! Little children, beware!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account