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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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[section]
  
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
expand sectionXXIV. 
XXIV. Of the fatted Swine.
 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.
expand sectionLXX. 
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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28

XXI. Of the Boy and Butter-Fly.

Behold how eager this our little Boy,
Is of this Butter Fly, as if all Joy,
All Profits, Honours, yea and lasting Pleasures,
Were wrapt up in her, or the richest Treasures,
Found in her would be bundled up together,
When all her all is lighter than a feather.
He hollo's, runs, and cries out here Boys, here,
Nor doth he Brambles or the Nettles fear:
He stumbles at the Mole-Hills, up he gets,
And runs again, as one bereft of wits;
And all this labour and this large Out-cry,
Is only for a silly Butter-fly.

Comparison.

This little Boy an Emblem is of those,
Whose hearts are wholly at the World's dispose.
The Butter-fly doth represent to me,
The Worlds best things at best but fading be.
All are but painted Nothings and false Joys,
Like this poor Butter-fly to these our Boys.
His running thorough Nettles, Thorns and Bryers,
To gratifie his boyish fond desires,
His tumbling over Mole-hills to attain
His end, namely, his Butter-fly to gain;
29

Doth plainly shew, what hazards some men run,
To get what will be lost as soon as won.
Men seem in Choice, then children far more wise,
Because they run not after Butter-flies:
When yet alas! for what are empty Toys
They follow Children, like to beardless Boys.
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