SPRING BLOSSOMS.

SPRING BLOSSOMS.

Here, for the infant minds, fair spring,
Blossoms of bright truth we bring,
Seeds of virtue there to sow,
Ere a single weed can grow.

Here may you learn how sweet the bliss,
To worship nature’s loveliness,
Escaping through her flow’ry charm,
Each thought or wish to do a harm.

For when the tender buds of truth,
Expand within the minds of youth,
They cast a bloom around the heart
That will not but with life depart.

Then take these tender blossoms rare,
Preserve their sweets with gentle care,
And ev’ry day thro’ life you’ll find
New flowers blooming in your mind.

MAN FRIDAY.

This is Robinson Crusoe’s man,whom he named Friday, because he fellin with him on that day of the week.When Man Friday first saw RobinsonCrusoe, he offered to be his servant;he was accepted as such, and Crusoefound him very useful, for having beenborn in that desolate country whereCrusoe had been cast away, he was wellacquainted with the forms and customsof the neighboring inhabitants, as wellas with all the secret caverns and othermysterious places upon the islands.

He also relieved the solitude of poorCrusoe much; for man, even though hechoose the life of a Hermit, soon findsthat the society of his fellows is necessaryto his happiness, and that the wordsof the Almighty are as true now as inthe beginning—“It is not good for manto be alone.”

JANE AND HER NEEDLE.

My shining needle! much I prize
Thy tender form and slender size,
And well I love thee now;
Though when I first began to sew,
Before thy proper use I knew,
And often pricked my fingers too,
A trial sore wert thou.
Then speed thee on my needle bright,
The love of thee makes labor light.

Oh, soon thy motions to control,
In collar, wristband, button-hole,
My ready hand attains;
And with thee I can help to form,
Full many a garment stout and warm,
To shield from winter’s wind and storm,
The aged and the blind.
Then speed thee on my needle bright,
The love of thee makes labor light.