 | Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds |  |
RUIN AND SUCCESS.
Part I.—The Race-Horse.
“Indeed!” said my lord to his steward, “'tis droll!
The mare and the she-ass, you say,
This morning have each had a beautiful foal,
Two capital gifts in one day!
The mare and the she-ass, you say,
This morning have each had a beautiful foal,
Two capital gifts in one day!
“I've promised the first to my neighbour, the 'squire,
The other bestow as you will.”
The steward, fulfilling his lordship's desire,
Gave Jack to poor Joe near the mill.
The other bestow as you will.”
The steward, fulfilling his lordship's desire,
Gave Jack to poor Joe near the mill.
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With care and expense the fine colt was brought up,
So elegant, sleek, and so slim;
What joy when he started and won a prize cup;
Then no horse was equal to him!
So elegant, sleek, and so slim;
What joy when he started and won a prize cup;
Then no horse was equal to him!
Expense was increased: he was exercised, trained;
At first many matches he won:
But once losing more than he ever had gained,
His master, the 'squire, was undone.
At first many matches he won:
But once losing more than he ever had gained,
His master, the 'squire, was undone.
Part II.—The Ass.
The other present, poor Jack Ass,
A different training had:
And thus with him it came to pass,
His lot was very bad.
A different training had:
And thus with him it came to pass,
His lot was very bad.
No groom had he; nor oats, nor hay,
Were offered to his taste;
And hot or cold, through night and day,
He wandered on the waste.
Were offered to his taste;
And hot or cold, through night and day,
He wandered on the waste.
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His master's sons, three ragged boys,
At once upon him rode!
And as they had no other toys,
They teased him with a goad.
At once upon him rode!
And as they had no other toys,
They teased him with a goad.
Although his usage was unkind,
He never did them wrong;
He ate his thistles, never pined,
And grew up stout and strong.
He never did them wrong;
He ate his thistles, never pined,
And grew up stout and strong.
Poor Joe cut faggots in the wood,
And carried them to sell;
But for the ass to bear the load,
He thought might be as well.
And carried them to sell;
But for the ass to bear the load,
He thought might be as well.
To dig his garden he would stay,
And send to town his son;
Thus gained more money every day
Than he before had done.
And send to town his son;
Thus gained more money every day
Than he before had done.
His garden now had beans and peas,
Potatoes sweet and big:
He bought a hen, and ducks and geese:
At length he bought a pig.
Potatoes sweet and big:
He bought a hen, and ducks and geese:
At length he bought a pig.
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And off the waste, with money earned,
He bought a piece of land:
And this same Joe—a farmer turned—
Had always cash in hand.
He bought a piece of land:
And this same Joe—a farmer turned—
Had always cash in hand.
Yet not unmindful of poor Jack,
That helped him so to rise,
Provides him now a plenteous rack,
And stable, where he lies.
That helped him so to rise,
Provides him now a plenteous rack,
And stable, where he lies.
“Thou art,” says he, “poor beast, grown old,
Thy toilsome days are o'er;
No hunger shalt thou feel, nor cold,
And thou shalt work no more.
Thy toilsome days are o'er;
No hunger shalt thou feel, nor cold,
And thou shalt work no more.
“With grateful care I grant to thee
This comfortable shed:
When I had none, thou gain'dst for me
My hard-earned daily bread.”
This comfortable shed:
When I had none, thou gain'dst for me
My hard-earned daily bread.”
| Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds | |