 | Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds |  |
TIT FOR TAT.
“Tit for tat” is a very bad word,
As frequently people apply it;
It means, as I've usually heard,
They intend to revenge themselves by it:
Yet places there are where 'tis proper and pat,
And there I permit them to say “tit for tat.”
As frequently people apply it;
It means, as I've usually heard,
They intend to revenge themselves by it:
Yet places there are where 'tis proper and pat,
And there I permit them to say “tit for tat.”
Old Dobbin, that toils with his load,
Or gallops with master or man,
Don't lash him so fast on the road,
You see, he does all that he can:
How long has he served you? do recollect that,
And treat him with kindness, 'tis but “tit for tat.”
Or gallops with master or man,
Don't lash him so fast on the road,
You see, he does all that he can:
How long has he served you? do recollect that,
And treat him with kindness, 'tis but “tit for tat.”
77
Poor Brindle, that lashes her tail,
And trudges home morning and night,
Till Dolly appears with her pail,
To milk out the fluid so white:
Don't kick the poor creature, and beat her, and that,
To be kind to poor Brindle is but “tit for tat.”
And trudges home morning and night,
Till Dolly appears with her pail,
To milk out the fluid so white:
Don't kick the poor creature, and beat her, and that,
To be kind to poor Brindle is but “tit for tat.”
Grey Donkey, the sturdy old ass,
That jogs with his panniers so wide,
And wants but a mouthful of grass,
Or perhaps a green thistle beside;
Be merciful, master, he can't carry that:
Poor donkey, they surely forget “tit for tat.”
That jogs with his panniers so wide,
And wants but a mouthful of grass,
Or perhaps a green thistle beside;
Be merciful, master, he can't carry that:
Poor donkey, they surely forget “tit for tat.”
There's honest old Tray in the yard,
What courage and zeal has he shown!
'Twould be both ungrateful and hard,
Not to throw the poor fellow a bone.
He carries your basket, and fetches your hat;
I'm sure that to starve him is not “tit for tat.”
What courage and zeal has he shown!
'Twould be both ungrateful and hard,
Not to throw the poor fellow a bone.
He carries your basket, and fetches your hat;
I'm sure that to starve him is not “tit for tat.”
Poor Puss, that runs mewing about,
Her white bosom sweeping the ground;
The mother abused and kicked out,
And her innocent little ones drowned:
Remember, she catches the mischievous rat:
Then be kind to poor Pussy, 'tis but “tit for tat.”
Her white bosom sweeping the ground;
The mother abused and kicked out,
And her innocent little ones drowned:
Remember, she catches the mischievous rat:
Then be kind to poor Pussy, 'tis but “tit for tat.”
78
Whatever shows kindness to us,
With kindness we ought to repay!
Brindle, Donkey, Tray, Dobbin, and Puss,
And everything else in its way:
In cases like these it is proper and pat
To make use of the maxim, and say “Tit for tat.”
With kindness we ought to repay!
Brindle, Donkey, Tray, Dobbin, and Puss,
And everything else in its way:
In cases like these it is proper and pat
To make use of the maxim, and say “Tit for tat.”
| Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds | |