LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

283

1

Give us light amid our darkness;
Let us know the good from ill;
Hate us not for all our blindness;
Love us, lead us, show us kindness,
You can make us what you will.

We are willing; we are ready;

We would learn if you would teach; We have hearts that yearn towards duty; We have minds alive to beauty;

Souls that any heights can reach.

We shall be what you will make us :-
Make us wise, and make us good;

Make us strong for time of trial;
Teach us temperance, self-denial,

Patience, kindness, fortitude.

2

THE CHILDREN'S APPEAL.

Look into our childish faces;
See you not our willing hearts?
Only love us - only lead us;
Only let us know you need us,

And we all will do our parts.

Train us; try us; days slide onward,
They can ne'er be ours again:
Save us; save from our undoing;
Save from ignorance and ruin;
Free us all from wrong and stain.

We

Send us to our loving mothers,
Angel-stamped in heart and brow.
may be our fathers' teachers;
We may be the mightiest preachers,
In the day that dawneth now.

Such the children's mute appealing.
All my
inmost soul was stirred,
And my heart was bowed with sadness,
When a cry, like summer's gladness,

Said, "The children's prayer is heard!"

MARY HOWITT.

INFANT Jor.

"I have no name,

I am but two days old." What shall I call thee? "I happy am,

Joy is my name."

Sweet joy befall thee!

Pretty Joy!

Sweet Joy, but two days old,

Sweet Joy I call thee:
Thou dost smile,

I sing the while;

Sweet joy befall thee!

BLAKE.

ONLY A BABY SMALL.

Only a baby small,

Dropt from the skies;

Only a laughing face,

Two sunny eyes;

4

ONLY A BABY SMALL.

Only two cherry lips,
One chubby nose;
Only two little hands,
Ten little toes.

Only a golden head,
Curly and soft;

Only a tongue that wags

Loudly and oft;

Only a little brain,

Empty of thought;

Only a little heart,

Troubled with nought.