202

THE MOUSE AND THE CAKE.

"Had you shared it, the treat had been wholesome enough;

But all eaten by one, it was dangerous stuff;

So prepare for the worst," and the word had scarce fled, When the doctor turn'd round, and the patient was dead.

Now all little people the lesson may take,

And some large ones may learn from the mouse and the cake;

Not to be over-selfish with what we may gain,

Or the best of our pleasures may turn into pain. ELIZA COOK.

189. DO A GOOD TURN WHEN YOU CAN.

Ir needs not great wealth a kind heart to display,—
If the hand be but willing it soon finds a way;
And the poorest one yet in the humblest abode
May help a poor brother a step on his road.
Oh! whatever the fortune a man may have won,
A kindness depends on the way it is done;

And though poor be our purse, and though narrow our span,

Let us all try to do a good turn when we can,

The bright bloom of pleasure may charm for a while,
But its beauty is frail, and inconstant its smile;
Whilst the beauty of kindness, immortal in bloom,
Sheds a sweetness o'er life, and a grace o'er the tomb!
Then if we enjoy life, why, the next thing to do,
Is to see that another enjoys his life too;

And though poor be our purse, and though narrow our

span,

Let us all try to do a good turn when we can.

SWAIN.

OLD CHRISTMAS.

190. OLD CHRISTMAS.

Now he who knows old Christmas,
He knows a carle of worth;
For he is as good a fellow
As any upon the earth.

He comes warm-cloaked and coated,
And buttoned up to the chin,
And soon as he comes a-nigh the door,
We open and let him in.

We know that he will not fail us,
So we sweep the hearth up clean;
We set him the old armed-chair,
And a cushion whereon to lean.

And with sprigs of holly and ivy
We make the house look gay,
Just out of an old regard to him,—
For it was his ancient way.

We broach the strong ale barrel,
And bring out wine and meat;
And thus we have all things ready,
Our dear old friend to greet.

And soon as the time wears round,
The good old carle we see,
Coming a-near-for a creditor
Less punctual is than he!

He comes with a cordial voice
That does one good to hear;
He shakes one heartily by the hand,
As he hath done many a year.

203

204

OLD CHRISTMAS.

And after the little children
He asks in a cheerful tone,
Jack, Kate, and little Annie,-
He remembers them every one!

What a fine old fellow he is!

With his faculties all as clear,
And his heart as warm and light
As a man's in his fortieth year!

What a fine old fellow, in troth!
Not one of your griping elves,
Who, with plenty of money to spare,
Think only about themselves.

Not he! for he loveth the children;
And holiday begs for all;

And comes with his pockets full of gifts
For the great ones and the small.

With a present for every servant ;-
For in giving he doth not tire ;-
From the red-faced, jovial butler,
To the girl by the kitchen-fire.

And he tells us witty old stories;
And singeth with might and main ;
And we talk of the old man's visit
Till the day that he comes again.

Oh! he is a kind old fellow;
For though the beef be dear,
He giveth the parish paupers
A good dinner once a year!

OLD CHRISTMAS.

And all the workhouse children
He sets them down in a row,
And giveth them rare plum-pudding,
And two-pence a-piece also.

Oh, could you have seen those paupers,
Have heard those children young,
You would wish with them that Christmas
Came often and tarried long!

He must be a rich old fellow,—
What money he gives away!
There is not a lord in England
Could equal him any day!

Good luck unto old Christmas,
And long life, let us sing,

For he doth more good unto the poor

Than many a crowned king!

205

MARY HOWITT.

191. CHRISTMAS IN THE OLDEN TIME. FROM AN OLD SONG.

A MAN might then behold

At Christmas, in each hail,
Good fires to curb the cold,

And meat for great and small.

The neighbours were friendly bidden,

And all had welcome true,

The poor from the gates were not chidden

When this old cap was new.

ΑΝΟΝ.

T

206

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

192. HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

Home for the Holidays, here we go;
Bless me! the train is exceedingly slow!
Pray, Mr. Engineer, get up your steam,
And let us be off, with a puff and a scream!
We have two long hours to travel, you say ;
Come, Mr. Engineer, gallop away!

Two hours more! why the sun will be down
Before we reach dear old London town!

And then what a number of fathers, and mothers,
And uncles, and aunts, and sisters, and brothers,
Will be there to meet us-oh! do make haste,

For I'm sure, Mr. Guard, we have no time to waste!
Thank goodness, we shan't have to study and stammer
Over Latin, and sums, and that nasty French Grammar;
Lectures, and classes, and lessons are done,

And now we'll have nothing but frolic and fun.
Home for the holidays, here we go!

But this Fast Train is really exceedingly slow.

We shall have sport when Christmas comes,

When "snap-dragon" burns our fingers and thumbs:
We'll hang mistletoe over our dear little cousins,
And pull them beneath it and kiss them by dozens:
We shall have games at "blind-man's-buff,"
And noise and laughter, and romping enough:
We'll crown the plum-pudding with bunches of bay,
And roast all the chestnuts that come in our way;
And when Twelfth Night falls, we'll have such a cake,
That as we stand round it the table shall quake.
We'll draw" King and Queen," and be happy together,
And dance old "Sir Roger" with hearts like a feather..
Home for the holidays, here we go!

But this Fast Train is really exceedingly slow!

And we'll go and see Harlequin's wonderful feats,
Changing by magic whatever he meets;

And Columbine, too, with her beautiful tripping,
And clown, with his tumbling, and jumping, and slipping,
Cramming all things in his pocket so big,

And letting off crackers in Pantaloon's wig.

The horses that danced too, last year in the ring,

We remember the tune, it was sweet "Tink-a-Ting;"