 | Poems for children |  |
96
AN OLD SAW.
A dear little maid came skipping out
In the glad new day, with a merry shout;
With dancing feet and flying hair
She sang with joy in the morning air.
In the glad new day, with a merry shout;
With dancing feet and flying hair
She sang with joy in the morning air.
“Don't sing before breakfast, you'll cry before night!”
What a croak, to darken the child's delight!
And the stupid old nurse, again and again,
Repeated the ancient, dull refrain.
What a croak, to darken the child's delight!
And the stupid old nurse, again and again,
Repeated the ancient, dull refrain.
The child paused, trying to understand;
But her eyes saw the great world rainbow-spanned:
Her light little feet hardly touched the earth,
And her soul brimmed over with innocent mirth.
But her eyes saw the great world rainbow-spanned:
Her light little feet hardly touched the earth,
And her soul brimmed over with innocent mirth.
“Never mind,—don't listen, O sweet little maid!
Make sure of your morning song,” I said;
“And if pain must meet you, why, all the more
Be glad of the rapture that came before.”
Make sure of your morning song,” I said;
“And if pain must meet you, why, all the more
Be glad of the rapture that came before.”
| Poems for children | |