 | Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds |  |
104
THE USE OF SIGHT.
“What, Charles returned!” papa exclaimed;
“How short your walk has been.
But Thomas—Julia—where are they?
Come, tell me what you've seen.”
“How short your walk has been.
But Thomas—Julia—where are they?
Come, tell me what you've seen.”
“So tedious, stupid, dull a walk!”
Said Charles, “I'll go no more;
First stopping here, then lagging there
O'er this and that to pore.
Said Charles, “I'll go no more;
First stopping here, then lagging there
O'er this and that to pore.
“I crossed the fields near Woodland House,
And just went up the hill:
Then by the river-side came down,
Near Mr. Fairplay's mill.”
And just went up the hill:
Then by the river-side came down,
Near Mr. Fairplay's mill.”
Now Tom and Julia both ran in:
“Oh, dear papa,!” said they,
“The sweetest walk we both have had;
Oh, what a pleasant day!
“Oh, dear papa,!” said they,
“The sweetest walk we both have had;
Oh, what a pleasant day!
105
“Near Woodland House we crossed the fields,
And by the mill we came.”
“Indeed!” exclaim'd papa, “how's this?
Your brother took the same;
And by the mill we came.”
“Indeed!” exclaim'd papa, “how's this?
Your brother took the same;
“But very dull he found the walk.
What have you there? let's see:—
Come, Charles, enjoy this charming treat,
As new to you as me.”
What have you there? let's see:—
Come, Charles, enjoy this charming treat,
As new to you as me.”
“First look, papa, at this small branch,
Which on a tall oak grew,
And by its slimy berries white,
The mistletoe we knew.
Which on a tall oak grew,
And by its slimy berries white,
The mistletoe we knew.
“A bird all green ran up a tree,
A woodpecker we call,
Who with his strong bill wounds the bark,
To feed on insects small.
A woodpecker we call,
Who with his strong bill wounds the bark,
To feed on insects small.
“And many lapwings cried ‘peewit;’
And one among the rest
Pretended lameness, to decoy
Us from her lowly nest.
And one among the rest
Pretended lameness, to decoy
Us from her lowly nest.
“Young starlings, martins, swallows, all
Such lively flocks, and gay;
A heron, too, which caught a fish,
And with it flew away.
Such lively flocks, and gay;
A heron, too, which caught a fish,
And with it flew away.
106
“This bird we found, a kingfisher,
Though dead, his plumes how bright!
Do have him stuffed, my dear papa,
'Twill be a charming sight.
Though dead, his plumes how bright!
Do have him stuffed, my dear papa,
'Twill be a charming sight.
“When reached the heath, how wide the space,
The air how fresh and sweet!
We plucked these flowers and different heaths,
The fairest we could meet.
The air how fresh and sweet!
We plucked these flowers and different heaths,
The fairest we could meet.
“The distant prospect we admired,
The mountains far and blue;
A mansion here, a cottage there:
And see the sketch we drew.
The mountains far and blue;
A mansion here, a cottage there:
And see the sketch we drew.
“A splendid sight we next beheld,
The glorious setting sun,
In clouds of crimson, purple, gold;
His daily race was done.”
The glorious setting sun,
In clouds of crimson, purple, gold;
His daily race was done.”
“True taste with knowledge,” said papa,
“By observation's gained;
You've both used well the gift of sight,
And thus reward obtained.
“By observation's gained;
You've both used well the gift of sight,
And thus reward obtained.
“My Julia in this desk will find
A drawing-box quite new:
And, Thomas, now this telescope,
I think, is quite your due.
A drawing-box quite new:
And, Thomas, now this telescope,
I think, is quite your due.
107
“And toys, or still more useful gifts,
For Charles, too, shall be bought,
When he can see the works of God,
And prize them as he ought.”
For Charles, too, shall be bought,
When he can see the works of God,
And prize them as he ought.”
| Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds | |