tfMserd to Children 
 
 NEW YORK. 
 
 ft/BLlS4£D BY SAMUEL WOOD & SOFS 
 N~ ^61 P< irl-strset. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 ■— — — —**. 
 
 School o i Libtitf 
 Science 
 
>■ 
 
 PRESENT 
 
 ©iiiiiBii» 
 
 BY THE AUTHOR OF 
 
 DITTIES FOR CHILDREN, GOOD GIRL'S SOLILOQUY 
 POETIC TALES, &c. &c. 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 
 PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL WOOD fy SOWS, 
 26! PEARL-STREET 
 
^ 
 
PRESENT TO CHILDREN 
 
 WINTER, 
 
 t 
 Of 
 
 Come, my darling little girls, 
 Brush the slumbers from your eyes, 
 For the day begins to dawn 
 Sweetly in the eastern skies. 
 
A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 
 
 Plentiful has been your sleep, 
 For the winter nights are long ; 
 And not a single bird will come, 
 To wake you with his merry song. 
 
 Early rising gives a space 
 For the duties of the day, 
 All your lessons, all your work, 
 And a leisure hour for play. 
 
 Short and fleeting as it is, 
 if you will but seize its prime, 
 And improve its passing hours, 
 You will then " redeem the time.' 1 
 
 Faded are the garden flowers ; 
 Fruit is gone, and trees are bare — 
 Grassy banks are hid in snow — 
 Piercing is the frosty air. 
 
 Should you now attempt to walk 
 O'er the hills, or through the mead, 
 Your fingers would be numb with cold ; 
 Your teeth would chatter in your head. 
 
A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 
 
 Many a lender mother now, 
 While her helpless infant brood 
 Hover round a scanty fire, 
 Weeps to hear them cry for food, 
 
 Many a little hungry child, 
 Thinly clad, and sadly poor, 
 Shivering leaves her wretched home* 
 To beg a crust from door to door. 
 
 You, my babes, are not exposed, 
 To the rigours of the year — 
 For you a pleasant breakfast waits — 
 A cheerful fire is blazing clear. 
 
 Children, fall upon yom knees, 
 Lift your thankful hearts to heaven ; 
 Bless that God whose wond'rous love 
 Has to you such blessings given. 
 
 Yet remember you are charged 
 Never to forget the poor ; 
 But with care to search them out, 
 And with them divide your store, 
 
A PRESENT TO CHILDREN, 
 
 Let us then employ this day 
 In the works of charity ; 
 Let us little garments make, 
 To clothe the limhs of infancy. 
 
 Some superfluous attire, 
 Let us willingly forego ; 
 To supply the wants of age ; 
 To relieve the house of wo. 
 
 Kindly offices of love, 
 Make the shining day more bright ; 
 And a conscience whispering peace? 
 Lays the pillow soft at night. 
 
A PRESENT TO CHILDREN 
 
 TO ADELINE, ON HER BIRTH DAY 
 
 Another smiling fifth of March, 
 Reminds us of thy natal day — 
 Reminds us too that thirteen years 
 Hav« from thy life heen lopp'd away. 
 
10 A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 
 
 Thirteen winters hast thou lived, 
 Shelter'd safe from every storm ; 
 Thirteen springs have lent their breath 
 To expand thy little form. 
 
 Thirteen summers have unveiled 
 Nature's beauties to thine eye — 
 Thirteen autumns brought their fruit, 
 Ripened in their mellow sky. 
 
 In the length of thirteen years, 
 Never once has failed thy food ; 
 But a Father's hand has still 
 Been extended for thy good. 
 
 Time would fail, should I attempt. 
 
 To recount thy mercies o'er ; 
 They are numerous as the sands 
 
 That enwrap the ocean shore. 
 
 Deep thy obligations are — 
 What hast thou return'd, my child 1 
 Has obedience marked thy life, 
 Has thy heart with love been rilled ? 
 
A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 11 
 
 Or hast thou forgotten Him 
 Who has kindly thought on thee ; 
 And the time for duty given, 
 Spent too much in vanity ? 
 
 Then resolve this day, my love, 
 All thine errors to amend — 
 Look with humble face to Him 
 Who is thy forgiving friend : 
 
 Choose him for thine only guide 
 Through the winding paths of life — 
 Choose him for thine only guard 
 In this world of care and strife : 
 
 Choose whatever he directs — 
 Choose the precepts he has given — 
 Choose him for thy king on earth, 
 And he will be thy God in Heaven, 
 
12 
 
 A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 
 
 TOMMY TRUE, 
 
 Harry, come here, my darling child,. 
 Come sit by me, and hear me tell 
 Of little Tommy True, the boy 
 Whom vvsey body loves 10 wdJL 
 
A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 13 
 
 Before the morning sun appears, 
 Young Tommy is in haste to rise* 
 And never fails to lift his thoughts 
 To Him who reigns above the skies. 
 
 Then, full of gratitude and love, 
 With prostrate heart he humbly bends, 
 To seek and bless, to thank and praise 
 His greatest, dearest, best of friends. 
 
 And to this one Almighty friend, 
 Joyful he gives himself away, 
 And begs him to protect his child 
 Through all the dangers of the day. 
 
 And when he comes amongst his friends. 
 With love and meekness meets them all j 
 And not one cross or snappish word 
 Is suffered from his lips to fall. 
 
 And when his breakfast is prepared, 
 Whatever it may chance to be, 
 He never thinks of finding fault, 
 But smiles, and eats it thankfully, 
 
14 A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 
 
 Then straight he takes his little hat; 
 And off to school he jogs away, 
 And let him meet with whom he will, 
 He seldom stops to chat or play. 
 
 " This is my time to learn," says he, 
 " I never shall be young but once , 
 11 And if I throw this time away, 
 11 I must grow up a silly dunce/' 
 
 School orders he obeys with care ; 
 He keeps his books and copies neat ; 
 And be his lessons e'er so hard, 
 He minds to get them all complete. 
 
 And when the hours of school are o'er, 
 
 And he has leave to go and play, 
 He lays his satchel up at home, 
 
 And cheerily he springs away. 
 
 But if he hears a wicked word, 
 
 He will not stay a minute there, 
 
 " I'll keep at home alone," says he, 
 
 " Before I'll play with boys who swear."' 
 
A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 1£ 
 
 If either of his parents speak, 
 He hastes that moment to obey ; 
 And never gives them cause to chide 
 His inattention or delay. 
 
 And let him speak of what he will, 
 All that he says, you may believe, 
 For he is never known to lie, 
 Or cheat, or flatter, or deceive. 
 
 But such a mild and gentle boy, 
 So meek, so pitiful, and kind, 
 So good and generous to all, 
 And humble too, you seldom find. 
 
 And now if you could see my heart, 
 You'd read this tender wish for you — 
 Oh may my dearest Harry be 
 Just such a boy as Tommy True. 
 
w 
 
 A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 
 
 NIGHT. 
 
 Look up, my dear sister, and see the fair Mood* 
 How it shines through the window so bright! 
 
 And the light fleecy clouds scattered over the sky. 
 Adorning the face of the night ! 
 
A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 17 
 
 The sheep and the lambs have lain down in the fold, 
 HpKThe birds are asleep in the nest ; 
 And the cattle which lowed till they made the vales ring, 
 Are quietly taking their rest. 
 
 Our Father has hushed every clamorous sound, 
 
 While his children enjoy their repose, 
 And the moon walks in silence, while over the earth 
 
 Her beautiful mantle she throws. 
 
 My sister, let us from the stillness of night, 
 Learn the heart-soothing lesson of peace— 
 
 And earnestly pray that all anger and strife 
 Henceforth from our bosoms may cease. 
 
 Let us cherish the feelings of kindness and love* 
 
 For this is the spirit of Heaven ; 
 And freely forgive all offences that rise, 
 
 As we wish our own failings forgiven. 
 
 Now let us implore the protection of God, 
 
 To guard us from every ill; 
 And the bodies and souls he has graciously give% 
 
 Resign to his merciful will. 
 
18 A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 
 
 THE CHILD'S MEDITATION. 
 
 How bright are the beams of the heart cheering sun, 
 As he daily pursues his glad journey above, — 
 But brighter, far brighter, the life of a child 
 Who employs every hour in the duties of love. 
 
A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 19 
 
 How sweet is the breath of a morning in May, 
 When the flowers are so fresh, and the air is so mild ; 
 But sweeter, far sweeter, the gentle soft words 
 That flow from the lips of a kind hearted child. 
 
 When the motherly hen calls her feathery brood, 
 : Tis pleasant to see how they hasten away ; 
 More pleasant it is to behold a dear child, 
 When its parents command, in a moment obey. 
 
 What a beautiful sight is a garden of plants 
 
 That, arranged in fine order, all flourish and thrive— = 
 
 More beautiful still is a family group 
 
 Where brothers and sisters in harmony live. 
 
 Thou, best of all Beings, who madest the world— 
 Every creature that lives — every object I see — 
 Oh, grant in thy mercy, that all I behold, 
 May instruct me each day in my duty to thee. 
 
 Still let me remember the time must arrive, 
 When this earth shall dissolve, and that sun fade away, 
 But the child who loves Thee, shall in triumph arise, 
 To a world of delight which can never decay. 
 
20 A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 
 
 DIALOGUE 
 BETWEEN AGNES AND HER MOTHER . 
 
 AGNES. 
 
 Mamma, I often have been told, 
 
 That when at night I pray, 
 I should with grateful heart recount 
 
 The blessings of the day. 
 
A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 21 
 
 And so this evening I have tried 
 
 To look my blessings o'er ; 
 Yet I can think of nothing, Ma, 
 
 But what I had before. 
 
 t have a home, and friends, and health, 
 
 And food, and clothing too ; 
 But these are things I always had, 
 
 And so have others too. 
 
 MAMMA. 
 
 The God who gives you friends, and home, 
 
 And health, and clothes, and food, 
 Guards you from every ill, because 
 
 He loves to do you good. 
 
 He looks on all your various wants, 
 
 With a kind parent's eye ; 
 And should his care one moment cease, 
 
 Your comforts all would die. 
 
 This morning while you sweetly slept, 
 I wag called out in haste, 
 
22 A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 
 
 To neighbour Smith's, whose little girl 
 That hour had breathed her last. 
 
 Yesterday morning when she arose, 
 
 She was as well as you ; 
 But e'er another sun appeared, 
 
 She bade the world adieu. 
 
 Another child, about your age, 
 Lay groaning with distress ; 
 
 A burning fever racked her frame* 
 And scorch'd her tender face. 
 
 Nothing that we could do or say 
 Had the least power to please, 
 
 She turned with loathing from her food, 
 And only prayed for ease. 
 
 When I came home, a little boy 
 Stood waiting at the door, 
 
 And begged I would bestow a mite 
 Upon the wretched poor. 
 
 Half covered were his shivering limbs f 
 His meagre face was blue, 
 
A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 23 
 
 And he had travelled through the snow, 
 Without a sock or shoe. 
 
 I furnish'd him with decent clothes, 
 
 Bought him some bread and meat, 
 And bade him sit beside the fire, 
 
 And warm himself and eat. 
 
 "Poor hungry child! the simple meal 
 
 He ate without delay ; 
 Then begged me for a crust, on which 
 
 To feed another day. 
 
 f Madam," said he, "I have no friends 
 
 " To give me bread or meat ; 
 " And when I'm fainting for a crumb, 
 
 " This crust will taste so sweet ! 
 
 I have no home — I seek for work, 
 " And do it cheerfully — 
 •* And when I cannot be employed, 
 " I ask for charity." 
 
 Agnes, what think you now ? are health, 
 And friends, and home, and food, 
 
24 A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 
 
 Blessings enough to warm your heart 
 With love and gratitude ? 
 
 Blessings not given once or twice, 
 
 And taken then away ; 
 But granted when your life began. 
 
 Continued — every day. 
 
 AGNES. 
 
 1 blush with shame to think my heart 
 
 Has been so cold and dead, 
 When heaven has showered such mercies dowB 
 
 Upon my worthless head. 
 
 Oh, may I never, never lose, 
 
 The memory all my days ; 
 May every act be duteous love, 
 
 And every feeling, praise. 
 
h PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 
 
 25 
 
 SPRING. 
 
 The dark cloudy winter is o'er, 
 Its fears and its dangers are past, 
 The frost has let go its cold gripe, 
 And hush'd is the sound of the blast, 
 
26 A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 
 
 The snows are all melted away, 
 And the river runs sparkling along; 
 The trees are just ready to bud, 
 And the birds are beginning their song. 
 
 The clouds are dissolving in rain, 
 (While the soft mellow breezes come on,) 
 As if they were weeping for joy 
 That the hard gloomy season is gone. 
 
 Weep on, gentle clouds, if you will, 
 And fall on the meadows in showers ; 
 Your tears will be richly repaid, 
 By the green-springing grass, and the flower? 
 
 The sun, that with aspect so pale, 
 Hasted over the slope of the sky, 
 Now glowing with splendor again-, 
 Has begun his bright circuit on higrj, 
 
 How sweet is the face of the world I 
 The hum of delight is awake — 
 And all orders of being that live, 
 Of the wide-spreading gladness partake. 
 
A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 27 
 
 But let me consider awhile — 
 If to see a cold winter depart, 
 And the beauties of nature revive, 
 Such pleasure affords to the heart — 
 
 What must be the joy of a soul 
 Escaped from a region like this, 
 From danger for ever set free, 
 And entering the portals of bliss! 
 
 When the dark howling tempest of earth. 
 Its fears and its trials are o'er; 
 When grief, disappointment, and pain, 
 And sickness, and death are no more ; 
 
 When the beauty and glory of God, 
 Will illumine the heavenly plain, 
 And the light of the sun and the moon, 
 Will never be needed again ; 
 
 For whom are those mansions prepared % 
 To whom is this blessedness given? 
 They, they who love Jesus on earth, 
 Shall forever dwell with him in heaven. 
 
28 
 
 A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 
 
 LINES 
 
 SUPPOSED TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE CHILDREN OF A SAB? 
 BATH SCHOOL, TO THEIR INSTRUCTOR, AND A CHARITABLE 
 SOCIETY CONNECTED WITH THEM. 
 
 Dear ladies, let a simple lay 
 Your kind attention gain, 
 Suspend awhile your works of love, 
 And list our thankful strain. 
 
A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 2$ 
 
 In poverty's obscure abode, 
 
 Our humble lot was cast ; 
 
 Whose bleak walls scarce a shelter gave 
 
 From winter's stormy blast. 
 
 And when in tatter'd garbs we roam'd, 
 A scanty meal to crave, 
 In vain we strove from pinching cold 
 Our half clad limbs to save. 
 
 Yet these were not the only ills 
 By indigence assign'd; 
 The body suffered much, but more, 
 Far more the immortal mind. 
 
 For how could lowly helpless ones* 
 Divine instruction gain, 
 When penury denied the means 
 Instruction to obtain ? 
 
 Extensive are the benefits 
 
 Your generous care imparts, 
 
 And while your labours clothe our limbs, 
 
 Your kindness warms our hearts, 
 
30 A PRESENT TO CHILDREN, 
 
 But lo ! the gloomy clouds disperse, 
 A beauteous form appears, 
 She bids us raise our drooping heads, 
 And wipe away our tears. 
 
 'Tis charity herself, enshrined 
 In a sweet female band ! 
 , She comes with all her choicest stores ; 
 To shower them o'er the land. 
 
 Surprised we see our little forms 
 In decent robes arrayed — 
 Amazed we hear the glorious truths 
 Of gospel grace displayed. 
 
 Raised from the dust we view the prize 
 To faith and virtue given : 
 When to lone outcasts from the earth 
 Is showed a home in Heaven. 
 
 Ye gentle beings, who have made 
 The wretched poor your care — 
 Who wide have stretch'd the willing hand 
 To snatch us from despair ; 
 
A PRESENT TO CHILDREN. 31 
 
 May He who only can, reward 
 These efforts of your love, 
 With every precious gift on earth. 
 And endless joys above. 
 
 MMS 
 
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