 | Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds |  |
126
CONTENTED JOHN.
One honest John Tomkins, a hedger and ditcher,
Although he was poor, did not want to be richer:
For all such vain wishes to him were prevented
By a fortunate habit of being contented.
Although he was poor, did not want to be richer:
For all such vain wishes to him were prevented
By a fortunate habit of being contented.
Though cold were the weather, or dear were the food,
John never was found in a murmuring mood;
For this he was constantly heard to declare,
What he could not prevent he would cheerfully bear.
John never was found in a murmuring mood;
For this he was constantly heard to declare,
What he could not prevent he would cheerfully bear.
“For, why should I grumble and murmur?” he said,
“If I cannot get meat, I'll be thankful for bread;
And though fretting may make my calamities deeper,
It never can cause bread and cheese to be cheaper.”
“If I cannot get meat, I'll be thankful for bread;
And though fretting may make my calamities deeper,
It never can cause bread and cheese to be cheaper.”
127
If John was afflicted with sickness or pain,
He wished himself better, but did not complain,
Nor lie down to fret in despondence and sorrow,
But said, that he hoped to be better to-morrow.
He wished himself better, but did not complain,
Nor lie down to fret in despondence and sorrow,
But said, that he hoped to be better to-morrow.
If any one wronged him, or treated him ill,
Why, John was good-natured and sociable still;
For he said, that revenging the injury done
Would be making two rogues, where there need be but one.
Why, John was good-natured and sociable still;
For he said, that revenging the injury done
Would be making two rogues, where there need be but one.
And thus honest John, though his station was humble,
Passed through this sad world without even a grumble:
And 'twere well if some folk, who are greater and richer,
Would copy John Tomkins, the hedger and ditcher.
Passed through this sad world without even a grumble:
And 'twere well if some folk, who are greater and richer,
Would copy John Tomkins, the hedger and ditcher.
| Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds | |