You foolish Child, did you but know The Way their Wealth was gained Your Cheeks with honest Shame would glow While youthful Life remained. For Lucy’s Father robb’d a Bank, And Fanny’s Sire a Church: Far from such Wealth you Heav’n may thank Your Name can None besmirch. THE SCHOOL FEAST Now Lady Emma at the Grange A School Feast has at Heart, And very kindly does arrange That we shall all take Part. Maria, to avert the Cold, Her velvet Spencer wears, And little Jane, of five Years old, A Sun-shade gravely bears. Edward, and Charles, and Sister Fan In Joy their Accents raise, And William Fry, the Garden man, Puts Dobbin in the Chaise. Papa assumes the Reins’ control, Mama her Shawl, and so Crack goes the Whip, the Wheels they roll, And now, away we go! How happy we, with Parents kind And Clothes so clean and neat: Oh! may we always bear in Mind ’Twas Virtue earn’d this Treat. COURAGE Mervyn and Charles and little Ann Rose early from their Rest; Who should be First, as out they ran, They joyfully contest. Mervyn was Senior by one Year To Charles, whose Summers six Exceeded Ann’s, it would appear, By Two, and Seven Weeks. Among the Flowers that smell so sweet They pluck’d a Posy gay, To give Mama a pleasant Treat Upon her Natal Day. [Illustration] But oh! from off a blooming Rose Ann gather’d with Delight, A cruel Wasp upon her Nose Did suddenly alight. She loudly scream’d, and Mervyn seiz’d The Insect in his Clasp, Nor loosed his Hold ere it was squeez’d And crush’d within his Grasp. Though painful Stings his Hand inflam’d He did not Cry nor Quail, And kind Mama with Pride exclaim’d When Charles told her the Tale. Such Youths grow up as Soldiers brave, Or Sailors bold and free; And thus Britannia’s Flag shall wave Supreme on every Sea. HEARTLESS FOLLY Pray, Richard, do you think it right To act as you did Tuesday Night And make of Age a Mock? The Admiral, whose Legs you tied Whilst he was sitting by my side, Is indisposed from Shock. As he fell prone upon the Floor I saw you spying through the Door With pert and shameless Smile; His Daughters kind, who tend his Couch, With one accord do freely vouch They marked your Purpose vile. E’en barbarous Turk or Cariboo, Or poor idolatrous Hindoo Before such Act would pause; What should you feel if Admiral Bligh Were taken from us to the Sky And you should be the Cause? Oh! wretched Boy, Elisha’s Bears May even now be on the Stairs Your Punishment to give: For those the Aged who offend Are like to come to fearful End, Or else in Chains to live.