So onward trips the little Maid, All smiling sweet, and unafraid Of Gipsies, Tramps and Cows. Then back she comes, while Goody stands And raising up her wither’d Hands Calls down her Prayers and Vows. CREDULITY What Consternation fills the Hall! Young Master Frank is miss’d; All Day for him they seek and call Nor through the Night desist. Repeatedly had Frank been warned The Gipsies’ Camp to shun, For Truth and Cleanliness they scorned And left good Deeds undone. Alas for Frank! the Gipsy Queen Had met him by the Stile, With Tales of Fortune she’d foreseen She did the Youth beguile. “I’ll crown you King, and you shall ride In golden Coach,” said she, “You’ll ne’er repent if you decide To follow Gipsy Lee.” The foolish boy went off to roam In search of Wealth and Fame, And all forgot were Friends and Home To his eternal Shame. And now with limping Feet he toils Behind the Caravans, With Tinker’s Tools his Hand he soils And sells both Pots and Pans. His Parents fond their Son with Tears Distractedly deplore: They sought him o’er the World for Years, But saw him nevermore. [Illustration] THE CONSEQUENCES OF GREED Why, Edward! why this Cry of Pain? This Jacket all besmirched? Your strict Papa I’ll call again And have you soundly birched. This pastry, that indulgent Cook Had filled for you with Jam, With hasty Greed, and envious Look You down your Throat did cram. Now Gluttons! pray attend to me: I’ll send for Doctor Bell, A Child with Appetite too free He always doses well. PROFANITY A Sailor of the name of Park Gave Nurse a Parrot gay; I think I heard the Man remark It came from Paraguay. How strange a Sight in distant Lands, Where Wonders meet the Eye, To see the Works of Nature’s Hands From ev’ry Tree-top fly. But Oh! with Shame and Sorrow both, I scarce can lisp the Tale, Its brutal Jest and hideous Oath My infant Cheek turn’d pale. Alas! when all is bright and fair That Wickedness should lurk, Those sinful Words that filled the Air Were Man’s ignoble work. Nurse screamed aloud, the Sailor ran, The Bird spoke yet more plain; Oh! how I hope the shameless Man Will not come back again. How very careful we should be ’Mong those alone to move Who shunning, fly Profanity, And who our Hearts approve. [Illustration] ENVY Why, Ellen, such a pouting Face Is quite against the Rule: I fear you have incurr’d Disgrace, Or done amiss at School. What! Lucy Elton’s rich Pelisse Your envious Thoughts inspire? And Fanny Jones disturbs your Peace When dress’d in gay Attire?