 | The child's book |  |
MOTHER AND CHILD.
A child had troubled his mother:
He was fretful and disobedient:
He went away to school:
He walked slowly, and thought
Of what he had said and done.
He was fretful and disobedient:
He went away to school:
He walked slowly, and thought
Of what he had said and done.
The morning sky was bright,
But he did not look up and smile.
Flowers sparkled with dew,
But he did not enjoy their sweetness.
Birds sang from tree and bush,
But he did not love their song,
For the spirit of naughtiness
Lay heavy at his heart.
But he did not look up and smile.
But he did not enjoy their sweetness.
Birds sang from tree and bush,
But he did not love their song,
For the spirit of naughtiness
Lay heavy at his heart.
He entered the school-room:
The teacher read a lesson:
“Children,—a few years ago
You were little infants,—
Your hands were weak and helpless,—
Your feet unable to walk.
The teacher read a lesson:
“Children,—a few years ago
You were little infants,—
Your hands were weak and helpless,—
Your feet unable to walk.
“Who held you tenderly in her arms?
And when you hungered, gave you food?
When you cried, who had patience with you?
Who smiled on your little plays,
And taught your little tongue its first words?
“When you were sick, who nursed you?
Who watched your cradle, thro' the long night?
Who bowed down, with tears upon her cheeks,
Fearing that you might die?”
And the children answered,
“It was our mother.”
And when you hungered, gave you food?
When you cried, who had patience with you?
Who smiled on your little plays,
And taught your little tongue its first words?
Who watched your cradle, thro' the long night?
Who bowed down, with tears upon her cheeks,
Fearing that you might die?”
And the children answered,
“It was our mother.”
The lesson went on:
“What then will you do for the mother
Who hath done so much for you?
Who hath never forgotten you for a moment
Who loveth you, night and day?”
And the children said,
“We will love and obey her,
All the days of our life.”
“What then will you do for the mother
Who hath done so much for you?
Who hath never forgotten you for a moment
And the children said,
“We will love and obey her,
All the days of our life.”
Then the child who had been bad at home,
Held down his head with shame.
As soon as school was done,
He hastened back to his mother:
He kneeled down by her side,—
He hid his face in her lap, and said,
“I was naughty to you, and did not repent.
I went to school, and was unhappy.
Mother, forgive me,—
That the flowers may be sweet to me again,
And that I may look at the bright, blue sky,
And be at peace.”
Held down his head with shame.
As soon as school was done,
He hastened back to his mother:
He kneeled down by her side,—
He hid his face in her lap, and said,
“I was naughty to you, and did not repent.
I went to school, and was unhappy.
Mother, forgive me,—
That the flowers may be sweet to me again,
And that I may look at the bright, blue sky,
And be at peace.”
The mother said, “I forgive you, my dear son,—
Ask God to forgive you, also,
That the voice in your bosom
May no longer blame you,
And you may be at peace with Him.
Ask God to forgive you, also,
That the voice in your bosom
May no longer blame you,
And you may be at peace with Him.
| The child's book | |