And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me he’s a coward, you can see;
I’d think it shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!
One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed!
—_Robert Louis Stevenson._
RUN AND PLAY
There, run away, you little things,
And skip and jump and play;
You have been quiet long enough,
So run away, I say.
The sweet, fresh air so softly blows,
So brightly shines the sun,
That active limbs and rosy cheeks
Will in the race be won.
For little girls and boys may sing
And frisk and jump and play,
When work and lessons both are done;
So run away, I say.
[Music:
LIGHTLY ROW
1. Lightly row, lightly row, O’er the glassy waves we go,
Smoothly glide, smoothly glide, On the silent tide.
Let the winds and waters be Mingled with our melody;
Sing and float, sing and float, In our little boat.
2. Far away, far away, Echo mid the rocks at play,
Calleth not, calleth not To this lonely spot.
Only with the sea-birds’ note Shall our dying music float;
Lightly row, lightly row, Echo’s voice is low.
]
ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN
God’s in his heaven,
All’s right with the world.
[Illustration: “A FEEBLE PRAYER LIKE MINE”]
ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN
GOD IS IN HEAVEN
God is in heaven--can he hear
A feeble prayer like mine?
Yes, little child, thou need’st not fear;
He listeneth to thine.
God is in heaven--can he see
When I am doing wrong?
Yes, that he can; he looks at thee
All day and all night long.
God is in heaven--would he know
If I should tell a lie?
Yes, if thou saidst it very low,
He’d hear it in the sky.
God is in heaven--does he care,
Or is he good to me?
Yes, all thou hast to eat or wear,
’Tis God that giveth thee.
God is in heaven--can I go
To thank him for his care?
Not yet; but love him here below,
And he will see it there.
God is in heaven--may I pray
To go there when I die?
Yes, love, be good, and then one day
He’ll call thee to the sky.
GOD, THE CREATOR
God only is the maker
Of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower,
He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey him;
By him the birds are fed;
And to us all, his children,
He gives our daily bread.
SO SAFE!
As on the mother’s breast,
Safe in her watchful keeping,
And softly hushed to rest,
The little babe is sleeping,
Without a care, without a fear,
Without a thought of danger near;—
So on my Saviour’s grace,
In Jesus’ love confiding,
And till I see his face,
Firm in his truth abiding,
As safe, as happy I may be,
For Jesus watches over me.
THAT SWEET STORY OF OLD
I think, when I read that sweet story of old,
When Jesus was here among men,
How he called little children as lambs to his fold,
I should like to have been with them then.
I wish that his hands had been placed on my head,
That his arms had been thrown around me,
And that I might have seen his kind look when he said,
“Let the little ones come unto me.”
But still to his footstool in prayer I may go,
And ask for a share in his love;
And if I thus earnestly seek him below,
I shall see him and hear him above--
In that beautiful place he has gone to prepare
For all who are washed and forgiven;
And many dear children are gathering there,
“For of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
But thousands and thousands who wander and fall
Never heard of that heavenly home;
I wish they could know there is room for them all,
And that Jesus has bid them to come.
—_Mrs. Luke._
THAT SWEET STORY OF OLD
Mrs. Luke English
1. I think, when I read that sweet story of old,
When Jesus was here among men,
How He called little children as lambs to His fold,
I should like to have been with them then.
2. But still to His footstool in pray’r I may go,
And ask for a share in His love;
And if I thus earnestly seek Him below,
I shall see Him and hear Him above.
THE MASTER HAS COME OVER JORDAN
“The Master has come over Jordan,”
Said Hannah the mother one day;
“He is healing the people who throng him
With a touch of his finger, they say.
“And now I shall carry the children,
Little Rachel and Samuel and John;
I shall carry the baby Esther
For the Lord to look upon.”
The father looked at her kindly,
But he shook his head and smiled.
“Now who but a doting mother
Would think of a thing so wild?”
“Nay, do not hinder me, Nathan!
I feel such a burden of care;
If I carry it to the Master,
Perhaps I shall leave it there.
“If he lay his hand on the children,
My heart will be lighter, I know;
For a blessing forever and ever
Will follow them as they go.”
So over the hills of Judah,
Along the vine-rows green,
With Esther asleep on her bosom,
And Rachel her brothers between--
’Mong the people who hung on his teaching
Or waited his touch or his word,
Through the row of proud Pharisees listening--
She passed to the feet of her Lord.
“Now why shouldst thou hinder the Master,”
Said Peter, “with children like these?
Seest not how from morning to evening
He teacheth, and healeth disease?”
Then Christ said, “Forbid not the children;
Permit them to come unto me!”
And he took in his arms little Esther,
And Rachel he set on his knee.
And the heavy heart of the mother
Was lifted all earth-care above,
As he laid his hands on the brothers
And blessed them with tenderest love.
LIKE JESUS
I want to be like Jesus,
So lowly and so meek;
For no one marked an angry word
That ever heard him speak.
I want to be like Jesus,
So frequently in prayer;
Alone upon the mountain-top,
He met his Father there.
I want to be like Jesus:
I never, never find
That he, though persecuted, was
To any one unkind.
I want to be like Jesus,
Engaged in doing good;
So that of me it may be said,
“She hath done what she could.”
Alas, I’m not like Jesus,
As any one may see!
O gentle Saviour, send thy grace
And make me like to thee!
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Jesus says that we must love him--
Helpless as the lambs are we;
But he very kindly tells us
That our Shepherd he will be.
Heavenly Shepherd, please to watch us,
Guard us both by night and day;
Pity show to little children,
Who like lambs too often stray.
We are always prone to wander,
Please to keep us from each snare;
Teach our infant hearts to praise thee
For thy kindness and thy care.
GO AND TELL JESUS
Little child, when you’re at play
Do you know that Jesus sees you?
He it is who made the day,
Sunshine, birds, and flowers, to please you.
Oh, then thank him much, and pray
To be grateful every day.
Little child, when you’re afraid
Do you know that Christ is by you?
Seek his care then--he has said,
“Ask, and I will not deny you.”
And he never fails to hear:
He will keep you, do not fear.
Little child, when you are bad
Do you think that Jesus knows it?
Yes; and oh, it makes him glad
When you’re sorry, and disclose it.
Oh, then tell him quick, and pray
To grow better every day.
NEVER FORGET TO PRAY
Never, my child, forget to pray,
Whate’er the business of the day:
If happy dreams have blessed thy sleep,
If startling fears have made thee weep,
With holy thoughts begin the day,
And ne’er, my child, forget to pray.
Pray him by whom the birds are fed
To give to thee thy daily bread:
If wealth his bounty should bestow,
Praise him from whom all blessings flow:
If he who gave should take away,
Oh, ne’er, my child, forget to pray!
MORNING HYMN
The morning bright
With rosy light
Has waked me from my sleep;
Father, I own
Thy love alone
Thy little one doth keep.
All through the day,
I humbly pray,
Be thou my guard and guide;
My sins forgive,
And let me live,
Blest Jesus, near thy side.
Oh, make thy rest
Within my breast,
Great Spirit of all grace;
Make me like thee,
Then I shall be
Prepared to see thy face.
PRAISE
Jesus, high in glory,
Lend a listening ear;
When we bow before thee,
Infant praises hear.
Though thou art so holy,
Heaven’s almighty King,
Thou wilt stoop to listen
When thy praise we sing.
We are little children,
Weak and apt to stray;
Saviour, guide and keep us
In the heavenly way.
Save us, Lord, from sinning,
Watch us day by day;
Help us now to love thee,
Take our sins away.
Then, when Jesus calls us
To our heavenly home,
We would gladly answer,
“Saviour, Lord, we come.”
I WOULD FOLLOW THEE
Jesus, Saviour, Son of God,
Who for me life’s pathway trod,
Who for me became a child,
Make me humble, meek, and mild.
I thy little lamb would be;
Jesus, I would follow thee:
Samuel was thy child of old,
Take me, too, within thy fold.
MORNING PRAYER
I thank thee, Lord, for quiet rest
And for thy care of me;
Oh, let me through this day be blest
And kept from harm by thee.
Oh, take my naughty heart away,
And make me clean and good;
Lord Jesus, save my soul, I pray,
And wash me in thy blood.
Oh, let me love thee; kind thou art
To children such as I:
Give me a gentle, holy heart;
Be thou my Friend on high.
Help me to please my parents dear
And do whate’er they tell;
Bless all my friends, both far and near
And keep them safe and well.
CHILDREN’S PRAYER
Gracious Lord, we look to thee,
Meek and humble may we be;
Pride and anger put away,
Make us better every day.
Teach us for our friends to pray,
And our parents to obey:
Richest blessings from above
Give them for their tender love.
May we find the sweets of prayer
Sweeter than our playtimes are,
Love the Sabbath and the place
Where we learn to seek thy face.
[Illustration: Girl praying]
JESUS, TENDER SHEPHERD
Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me;
Bless thy little lamb to-night:
Through the darkness be thou near me,
Watch my sleep till morning light.
All this day thy hand has led me,
And I thank thee for thy care;
Thou hast clothed me, warmed and fed me,
Listen to my evening prayer.
Let my sins be all forgiven,
Bless the friends I love so well;
Take me when I die to heaven,
Happy there with thee to dwell.
—_Mary Lundie Duncan._
THE FIRST PRAYER
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep;
If I should die before I wake,
I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take:
And this I beg for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
EVENING PRAYER
The sun has gone to rest,
The bee forsakes the flower,
The young bird slumbers in its nest,
Within the leafy bower.
Where have I been this day?
Into what folly run?
Forgive me, Father, when I pray,
Through Jesus Christ thy Son.
THE FATHER OF THE FATHERLESS
Father, an orphan’s prayer receive,
And listen to my plaintive cry;
Thou only canst my wants relieve,
Who art my Father in the sky.
Thy Word has promised all I need,
More than a father’s, mother’s care;
Thou wilt the hungry orphan feed,
And always listen to his prayer.
[Illustration: EVENING PRAYER]
[Music:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
K. E. C.
1. Our Father in Heaven, We hallow Thy name,
May Thy kingdom holy On earth be the same;
Oh, give to us daily Our portion of bread,
For ’tis from Thy bounty That all must be fed.
2. Forgive our transgressions, And teach us to know
That humble compassion Which pardons each foe;
Keep us from temptation, From weakness and sin;
And Thine be the glory Forever, Amen.
]
CHILDREN PRAISING THE SAVIOUR
Hosannas were by children sung
When Jesus was on earth;
Then surely we are not too young
To sound his praises forth.
The Lord is great, the Lord is good;
He feeds us from his store
With earthly and with heavenly food;
We’ll praise him evermore.
We thank him for his gracious word,
We thank him for his love;
We’ll sing the praises of our Lord
Who reigns in heaven above.
OH, WHAT CAN LITTLE HANDS DO?
Oh, what can little hands do
To please the King of heaven?
The little hands some work may try
To help the poor in misery:
Such grace to mine be given!
Oh, what can little lips do
To please the King of heaven?
The little lips can praise and pray,
And gentle words of kindness say:
Such grace to mine be given!
Oh, what can little eyes do
To please the King of heaven?
The little eyes can upward look,
Can learn to read God’s holy Book:
Such grace to mine be given!
Oh, what can little hearts do
To please the King of heaven?
The hearts, if God his Spirit send,
Can love and trust their Saviour Friend:
Such grace to mine be given!
Though small is all that we can do
To please the King of heaven,
When hearts and hands and lips unite
To serve the Saviour with delight,
They are most precious in his sight:
Such grace to mine be given!
A PRECIOUS TREASURE
Holy Bible, book divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine;
Mine, to tell me whence I came;
Mine, to teach me what I am;
Mine, to chide me when I rove;
Mine, to show a Saviour’s love:
Mine art thou, to guide my youth
In the paths of love and truth;
Mine, to comfort in distress,
If the Holy Spirit bless;
Mine, to show by living faith
Man can triumph over death;
Mine, to tell of joys to come,
And the sinner’s dreadful doom.
O thou precious book divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine!
THE COMMANDMENTS
One God I must worship supreme,
And ne’er before images bow;
I must not speak lightly his name,
But pay to my God every vow.
I’m bound to remember with care
The Sabbath so hallowed and pure;
To honor my parents so dear,
That my life may the longer endure.
I never must steal, or consent
To what is impure or untrue;
I must not indulge discontent,
Or covet my neighbor his due.
Now help me, O Father in heaven,
To keep these commandments with zeal,
In the strength that through Jesus is given
To those who are doing thy will.
GOD’S NAME
I must not use God’s name in vain,
Or ever speak a word profane;
For those who learn to curse and swear
The children of the devil are.
My little lips, oh, may they be
Attuned, O Lord, to honor thee.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
EXODUS, CHAPTER 20.
1. Thou shalt have no gods but me;
2. Before no idol bow thy knee.
3. Take not the name of God in vain,
4. Nor dare the Sabbath-day profane.
5. Give both thy parents honor due:
6. Take heed that thou no murder do.
7. Abstain from words and deeds unclean,
8. Nor steal though thou art poor and mean,
9. Nor make a wilful lie, nor love it.
10. What is thy neighbor’s, dare not covet.
SUM OF THE COMMANDMENTS
With all thy soul love God above,
And as thyself thy neighbor love.
BEFORE THE SABBATH
The week is passing fast away,
The hours are almost done;
Before I rise, the Sabbath-day
Will surely be begun.
Through all this week what have I done?
Have I been kind to all?
Have I sought anything but fun,
And run at every call?
Have I been still when I was bid,
And ceased to make a noise?
Have I been good in all I did,
At lessons or at toys?
I’m naughty every day I live,
Say many a foolish word,
But God can pardon all my sins,
Through Jesus Christ my Lord.
A child’s low prayer he will not scorn;
I’ll pray before I sleep,
And ask his love, then rest till morn,
For he my soul will keep.
PREPARING FOR THE SABBATH
Haste! put your playthings all away,
To-morrow is the Sabbath-day:
Come, bring to me your Noah’s ark,
Your pretty tinkling music cart;
Because, my love, you must not play,
But holy keep the Sabbath-day.
Bring here your German village, please,
With all its houses, gates, and trees;
Your waxen doll with eyes of blue,
And all her tea-things bright and new;
Because, you know, you must not play,
But love to keep the Sabbath-day.
Now, take your Sabbath pictures down--
King David with his harp and crown,
Good little Samuel on his knees,
And many pleasant sights like these;
Because, you know, you must not play,
But learn of God upon his day.
There is your hymn-book: you shall learn
A verse, and some sweet kisses earn;
Your book of Bible stories too,
Which dear mamma will read to you:
I think, although you must not play,
We’ll have a happy Sabbath-day.
SABBATH MORNING
Awake! awake! your bed forsake;
To God your praises pay;
The morning sun is clear and bright,
With joy we hail his cheerful light:
In songs of love
Praise God above--
It is the Sabbath-day.
THE BEST DAY
How sweet is the Sabbath, the morning of rest,
The day of the week which I surely love best;
The morning my Saviour arose from the tomb,
And took from the grave all its terror and gloom.
Instruct me, my Saviour, a child though I be,
I am not too young to be noticed by thee:
Renew all my heart, keep me firm in thy ways;
I would love thee, and serve thee, and give thee the praise.
[Illustration: young girl with book]
AT SABBATH SCHOOL
1. I’ll awake at dawn on the Sabbath day,
For ’tis wrong to doze holy time away.
With my lessons learned, this shall be my rule,
Never to be late at the Sabbath School.
2. Round our teacher dear, like a posy ring.
We will gather near as we pray and sing;
With the holy word for our guide and rule,
Oh, how happy we in our Sabbath School.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
Will you come to our Sabbath School?
I really wish you would;
Oh, come and join our infant class,
And learn how to be good.
We learn to sing, we learn to pray,
In our sweet Sabbath School;
And here we learn of Jesus, too,
Who gave the golden rule.
I know I should not steal or use
The smallest thing I see,
Or what I should not like to lose,
If it belonged to me.
And this plain rule forbids me quite
To strike an angry blow,
Because I should not think it right
If others served me so;
But any kindness others need,
I’ll do it cheerfully,
As I am very glad indeed
When they are kind to me.
DEAR LITTLE HEADS IN THE PEW
In the morn of the holy Sabbath
I like in the church to see
The dear little children clustered
And worshiping there with me.
I am sure that the gentle pastor,
Whose words are like summer dew,
Is cheered as he gazes over
The dear little heads in the pew.
Faces earnest and thoughtful,
Innocent, grave, and sweet--
They look in the congregation
Like lilies among the wheat.
And I think that the tender Master,
Whose mercies are ever new,
Has a special benediction
For those dear little heads in the pew.
When they hear, “The Lord is my Shepherd,”
Or, “Suffer the babes to come,”
They are glad that the loving Father
Has given the lambs a home--
A place of their own, with his people;
He cares for me and for you.
But close to his breast he gathers
Those dear little heads in the pew.
So I love, in the great assembly,
On the Sabbath morns to see
The dear little children clustered
And worshiping there with me.
For I know that our Heavenly Father,
Whose mercies are ever new,
Has a special benediction
For those dear little heads in the pew.
—_Margaret E. Sangster._
THE GIVERS
The Careless Penny went loudly in;
It rattled and rang like a piece of tin;
No prayer went with it, and nobody
Was helped or gladdened, and sad was he--
The poor little careless giver!
The Selfish Penny sank heavily,
Like a lump of lead, as it well might be;
No love went with it. “I might have bought
So much for myself!” was his only thought--
The mean little selfish giver!
The Loving Penny dropped softly down,
Like red, red gold from a royal crown;
Pity and love made his eyes grow dim
As he gave his all, and the Lord loved him--
The dear little cheerful giver!
—_Anna Burnham Bryant._
WHAT LITTLE CHILDREN MAY DO
Little hearts, O Lord, may love thee,
Little minds may learn thy ways;
Little hands and feet may serve thee,
Little voices sing thy praise;
Growing wiser, stronger, happier,
Loving Jesus all their days.
[Illustration: Head of girl]
Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever;
Do noble deeds, not dream them all day long;
And so make life, death, and that vast forever,
One grand, sweet song.
_Charles Kingsley._
JESUS BIDS US SHINE
K. E. C.
1. Jesus bids us shine With a pure, clear light,
Like a little candle Shining in the night.
In this world is darkness, So we must shine,
You in your small corner, And I in mine.
2. Jesus bids us shine First of all for Him;
Well He sees and knows it If our light is dim.
He looks down from heaven To see us shine,
You in your small corner, And I in mine.
3. Jesus bids us shine Then for all around;
Many kinds of darkness In the world are found,
Sin and want and sorrow; So we must shine,
You in your small corner, And I in mine.
SAMUEL
When little Samuel woke
And heard his Maker’s voice,
At every word he spoke
How much did he rejoice.
O blessed, happy child, to find
The God of heaven so near and kind.
If God would speak to me,
And say he was my friend,
How happy I should be,
Oh, how I should attend!
The smallest sin I then should fear,
If God Almighty were so near.
And does he never speak?
Oh, yes; for in his Word
He bids me come and seek
The God that Samuel heard.
In almost every page I see
The God of Samuel calls to me.
THE MISSIONARY SHIP
I see the ships upon the sea
That silently go by,
As white upon the waters blue
As doves in yonder sky.
And men are glad the ships to watch
That bring them many things,
Silver and gold and raiment soft,
Upon their broad white wings.
But I would rather look upon
The ship that goes afar,
And takes our Saviour’s messengers
Where heathen children are;
And carries books, that they may read
How kind our Lord has been;
For such a ship, I know, must be
The fairest ever seen.
A SWARM OF BEES
B patient, B prayerful, B humble, B mild,
B wise as a Solon, B meek as a child;
B studious, B thoughtful, B loving, B kind,
B cautious, B prudent, B truthful, refined.
B cheerful, B grateful, B hopeful, B firm,
B peaceful, Benevolent, willing to learn;
B temp’rate in everything, touching no wine,
B careful of conduct, of money, of time.
B courteous, B gentle, B liberal, B just,
B bold and B humble, because thou art dust;
B penitent, circumspect, sound in the faith,
Be active, devoted, and faithful till death.
A BIT OF A SERMON
Whatsoe’er you find to do,
Do it, boys, with all your might!
Never be a little true,
Or a little in the right.
Trifles even
Lead to heaven,
Trifles make the life of man;
So in all things,
Great or small things,
Be as thorough as you can.
Let no speck their surface dim--
Spotless truth and honor bright!
I’d not give a fig for him
Who says any lie is white!
He who falters,
Twists or alters
Little atoms when we speak,
May deceive me,
But believe me,
To himself he is a sneak!
Help the weak if you are strong,
Love the old if you are young,
Own a fault if you are wrong,
If you’re angry, hold your tongue.
In each duty
Lies a beauty,
If your eyelids do not shut,
Just as surely
And securely
As a kernel in a nut!
Love with all your heart and soul,
Love with eye and ear and touch;
That’s the moral of the whole:
You can never love too much!
’Tis the glory
Of the story
In our babyhood begun;
Hearts without it
(Never doubt it)
Are the worlds without a sun!
Whatsoe’er you find to do,
Do it, then, with all your might;
Let your prayers be strong and true--
Prayer, my lads, will keep you right.
Pray in all things,
Great and small things,
Like a Christian gentleman;
And for ever,
Failing never,
Be as thorough as you can.
[Illustration: Head of boy]
DEATH AND THE RESURRECTION
“How still the baby’s lying,
I cannot hear his breath:
They told me he was dying;
They tell me this is death.
My little song-book bringing,
I sat down by his bed
To soothe his pains by singing-—
They hushed me; he was dead.
“They say that he will, rising,
More beautiful appear:
The story is surprising;
Explain it, mother dear.”
“Dear daughter, you remember
The cold, dark thing you brought
One morning in September--
A withered worm, you thought.
“I told you God had power
That withered shell to break,
And from it in an hour
A lovely form to take.
And now you see before you
The empty casement lies,
And, robed in splendor, o’er you
The new-born being flies.”
“Oh, yes, mamma; how brightly
It spreads its golden wings,
And flies away so lightly,
The gayest of gay things.
And God can give my brother
An equal power to rise
From this life to another
And dwell above the skies.”
THE HAPPY LAND
There is a happy land,
Far, far away,
Where saints in glory stand,
Bright, bright as day.
Oh, how they sweetly sing,
“Worthy is our Saviour King;
Loud let his praises ring,
Praise, praise for aye.”
Come to that happy land,
Come, come away;
Why will ye doubting stand,
Why still delay?
Oh, we shall happy be,
When, from sin and sorrow free,
Lord, we shall live with thee,
Blest, blest for aye.
Bright, in that happy land,
Beams every eye;
Kept by a Father’s hand,
Love cannot die.
Oh, then to glory run,
Be a crown and kingdom won;
And bright, above the sun,
We reign for aye.
THE NEWCOMER IN HEAVEN
“Oh, what do you think the angels say?”
Said the children up in heaven.
“There’s a dear little girl coming home to-day:
She’s almost ready to fly away
From the earth we used to live in.
Let’s go and open the gates of pearl,
Open them wide for the new little girl,”
Said the children up in heaven.
“God wanted her here where his little ones meet,”
Said the children up in heaven;
“She shall play with us in the golden street.
She had grown too fair, she had grown too sweet,
For the earth we used to live in.
She needed the sunshine, this dear little girl,
That gilds this side of the gates of pearl,”
Said the children up in heaven.