 | Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds |  |
130
THE GLEANER.
Before the bright sun rises over the hill,
In the corn-field poor Mary is seen,
Impatient her little blue apron to fill,
With the few scattered ears she can glean.
In the corn-field poor Mary is seen,
Impatient her little blue apron to fill,
With the few scattered ears she can glean.
She never leaves off, nor runs out of her place,
To play, or to idle and chat;
Except now and then, just to wipe her hot face,
And to fan herself with her broad hat.
To play, or to idle and chat;
Except now and then, just to wipe her hot face,
And to fan herself with her broad hat.
“Poor girl, hard at work in the heat of the sun,
How tired and hot you must be;
Why don't you leave off as the others have done,
And sit with them under the tree?”
How tired and hot you must be;
Why don't you leave off as the others have done,
And sit with them under the tree?”
“Oh no, for my mother lies ill in her bed,
Too feeble to spin or to knit;
And my poor little brothers are crying for oread
And we hardly can give them a bit.
Too feeble to spin or to knit;
And my poor little brothers are crying for oread
And we hardly can give them a bit.
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“Then could I be merry, or idle and play,
While they are so hungry and ill?
Oh no, I would rather work hard all the day
My little blue apron to fill.”
While they are so hungry and ill?
Oh no, I would rather work hard all the day
My little blue apron to fill.”
| Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds | |