University of Virginia Library

A WELCOME TO YOUNG READERS

What children come with busy feet,
Rejoiced this little book to meet?
Here's Eliza, here is Sue
Here is bright-eyed Sarah too!
Here are Mary and Maria,
Here are Peter and Sophia,
Here are Thomas and Amelia,
Here is Charles and here Cornelia,
Isaac, with his laughing eye,
And pleasant Julius standing by.
Here is David, here is Arthur,
Here are Rosamond and Martha,
Here are Benjamin and James,
'Tis hard to think of all their names.
Here are Joe and Henrietta,
Here are George and Violetta,
Here are Catharine and Theresa,
Christiana and Louisa,
Esther, and young Margaret,
Emmeline and Harriet.
Frederic and Adeline,
Justina sweet, and Valentine.
Here are Nathan and Eugene,
While Archibald comes in between.
Here are Jane and Theodore,
Rosaline and Elenor,
Here are Lucy and Pamelia,
With Alonzo and Cecelia,
Here is Henry close to Sam,
You can't think how confused I am
Here come Virginia and Stephen,
And Mary Ann to make it even.
Here is Charlotte, here is Ellen,
Here is Francis, here is Helen;
Here's Rebecca next to Ruth,
The children puzzle me in truth!
Here is Clara with Susannah,
And Alexander following Hannah,
Here's Nathaniel come to meet me,
And Valeria runs to greet me,
Now Amanda trips before,
Daniel, and Emma, and some more;
Robert and Ephraim skipping too,
And Richard, with his “How d'ye do.”
Octavus hastens full of fun,—
Here Caroline and Julia run.
See William and young Lydia meet,
And Abby close on Frances' feet.
See Laura, Moses, Isabel,
Edward and John, I know them well,
Eugenia, Alwyn, Maurice too,
And Alfred all of them in view.
Augustus and Elizabeth,—
But stop and let me catch my breath;
Here are Louis and Floranthe,
Here are Agnes and Ianthe,
Here is blushing Adelaide,
And Clarissa, the pretty maid.
Joanna too, and Timothy,
'Tis fortunate they all agree.
But listen, listen, what a noise!
Here run another troop of boys;
Andrew and Edmond shouting loud,
And Christopher to swell the crowd,
Edwin and Gilbert following on,
With Gregory and Jonathan.
Humphrey, Lawrence, Jacob too,
And after Louis master Hugh,
Owen, and Patrick;—are these all?
Oh no; here Walter comes with Paul,
And hand in hand with little Annie,
My darling neighbour, black-eyed Fanny.
Now girls and boys, go read your book,
And on the pretty pictures look;
I hope you'll take as much delight in
Reading, as I have in writing.