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A book for boys and girls

or, Country Rhimes for Children. By J. B. [John Bunyan]
Bunyan, John (1628-1688)

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TO THE READER.
 I. 
I. Upon the Ten Commandments.
 II. 
II The awakened Childs Lamentation.
 III. 
III Meditations upon an Egg.
 IV. 
IV. Upon the Lord's Prayer.
 V. 
V Meditation upon Peep of day.
 VI. 
VI. Upon the Flint in the Water.
 VII. 
VII. Upon the Fish in the Water.
 VIII. 
VIII. Upon the Swallow.
 IX. 
IX. Upon the Bee.
 X. 
X. Upon the Creed.
 XI. 
XI. Upon a low'ring Morning.
 XII. 
XII. Upon over-much Niceness.
 XII. 
XII. Meditations upon the Candle.
 XIV. 
XIV. Upon the Sacraments.
 XV. 
XV. Upon the Suns Reflection upon the Clouds in a fair Morning.
 XVI. 
XVI. Upon Apparel.
 XVII. 
XVII. The Sinner and the Spider.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. Meditatiens upon day before Sun-rising,
 XIX. 
XIX. Of the Mole in the Ground.
 XX. 
XX. Of the Cuckow.
 XXI. 
XXI. Of the Boy and Butter-Fly.
expand sectionXXII. 
XXII. Of the Fly at the Candle.
expand sectionXXIII. 
XXIII. Upon the Lark and the Fowler
collapse sectionXXIV. 
XXIV. Of the fatted Swine.
  
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Comparison.
 XXV. 
XXV. On the rising of the Sun.
expand sectionXXVI. 
XXVI. Upon the promising Fruitfulness of a Tree.
expand sectionXXVII. 
XXVII. On the Post-boy.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. Upon the Horse in the Mill.
expand sectionXXIX. 
XXIX. Upon a Ring of Bells.
 XXX. 
XXX. Upon the Thief.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. Of the Child with the Bird at the Bush.
 XXXII. 
XXXII. Of Moses and his Wife.
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII. Upon the barren Fig-tree in God's Vineyard
 XXXIIII. 
XXXIIII. Of the Rose-bush.
expand sectionXXXV. 
XXXV. Of the going down of the Sun.
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI. Upon the Frog.
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII. Upon the whipping of a Top.
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII. Upon the Pismire.
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX. Upon the Beggar.
 XL. 
XL. Upon an Instrument of Musick in an unskilful Hand.
 XLI. 
XLI. Upon the Horse and his Rider.
 XLII. 
XLII. Upon the Sight of a Pound of Candles falling to the Ground.
expand sectionXLIII. 
XLIII. Of Fowls flying in the Air.
 XLIV. 
XLIV. Upon a Penny Loaf.
 XLV. 
XLV. Upon the Vine-tree.
expand sectionXLVI. 
XLVI. The Boy and Watch-maker.
 XLVII. 
XLVII. Upon the Boy and his Paper of Plumbs.
 XLVIII. 
XLVIII. Upon a Looking-glass.
 XLIX. 
XLIX. Upon a Lanthorn.
 L. 
L. Of the Love of Christ.
 LI. 
LI. Of the Horse and Drum.
 LII. 
LII. On the Kackling of a Hen.
 LIII. 
LIII. Upon an Hour-Glass.
 LIV. 
LIV. Upon the Chalk-stone.
 LV. 
LV. Upon a Stinking Breath.
 LVI. 
LVI. Upon Death.
 LVII. 
LVII. Upon the Snail.
 LVIII. 
LVIII. Of the Spouse of Christ.
 LIX. 
LIX. Upon a Skilful Player on an Instrument.
 LX. 
LX. Upon Fly-blows.
 LXI. 
LXI. Of Man by Nature
expand sectionLXII. 
LXII. Of Physick.
 LXIII. 
LXIII. Upon a Pair of Spectacles.
 LXIV. 
LXIV. Upon our being so afraid of small Creatures.
 LXV. 
LXV. Upon our being afraid of the Apparition of Evil Spirits.
 LXVI. 
LXVI. Upon the Disobedient Child.
 LXVII. 
LXVII. Upon the Boy on his Hobby-horse.
 LXVIII. 
LXVIII Upon the Image in the Eye.
 LXIX. 
LXIX. Upon the Weather cock.
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LXX. Upon a Sheet of white Paper.
 LXXI. 
LXXI. Upon the Boy dull at his Book.
 LXXII. 
LXXII. Upon Time and Eternity.
 LXXIII. 
LXXIII. Upon Fire.
 LXXIV. 
LXXIV. Of Beauty.

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XXXIII. Upon the barren Fig-tree in God's Vineyard

What barren, here! in this, so good a soyl?
The sight of this doth make God's heart recoyl
From giving thee his Blessing: Barren Tree,
Bear Fruit, else thine end will cursed be!
Art thou not planted by the water side?
Know'st not thy Lord by Fruit is glorifi'd?
The Sentence is, cut down the barren Tree:
Bear Fruit, or else thine End will cursed be!
Hast not been dig'd about, and dunged too,
Will neither Patience, nor yet Dressing do?
The Executioner is come, O Tree,
Bear Fruit, or else thine End will cursed be!
He that about thy Roots takes pains to dig,
Would if on thee were found but one good Fig,
Preserve thee from the Axe: But barren Tree,
Bear Fruit, or else thy End will cursed be!
The utmost end of Patience is at hand,
'Tis much if thou much longer here doth stand.
O Cumber-ground, thou art a barren Tree,
Bear Fruit, or else thine End will cursed be!
44

Thy standing nor thy name will help at all,
When fruitful Trees are spared thou must fall.
The Axe is laid unto thy Roots, O Tree!
Bear fruit, or else thine End will cursed be!
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