Upon the raft, amidst the foam,
Who with Ulysses saw me roam,
His head still raised to look for home?

What made a barren rock so dear,

My boy he had a country there,

My Father.

And who, then, dropt a prescient tear?

My Father.

Who, now, in pale and placid light,
Of mem'ry, gleams upon my sight,
Bursting the sepulchre of night?

My Father.

O teach me still thy Christian plan!
Thy practice with thy precept ran,
Nor yet desert me now a man,

My Father.

Still let thy scholar's heart rejoice,
With charms of thy angelic voice,

Who was it when we both were young,
First prais'd me with her artless tongue,
And on my neck delighted hung?

My Sister

For me would run about all day,
And when at hide and seek we'd play,
Who came to find me where I lay?

My Sister.

When I would read of Robin Hood,

Or little Children in the Wood,

Who was it call'd me kind and good?

My Sister. And when one day ('twas wrong I know) I trod on grandpapa's sore toe,

Who strove to shelter me from woe?

For she would cry if I was beat,
And if she got a dainty treat,
Who gave me half of it to eat?

And when to school I went to stay,
For boys must learn as well as play,
Who sobb'd to see me go away ?

My Sister.

My Sister.

My Sister.

For it was ever our delight,

To love cach other day and night,

Nor would I do a thing to spite

My Sister

For naughty boys and girls, 'tis true,
Would pinch each other black and blue ;
But they were not like me or you,

My Sister,

For thou wert always kind to me,

And it will my ambition be,

To prove a faithful friend to thee,

My Sister.

To guard from hurt thy tender frame,
To shield thy lov'd and spotless name,
And be the champion of thy fame,

My Sister.

For well I know thou wouldst disdain,
To be or haugnty, pert or vain,
And good and modest wilt remain,

O! may it be thy precious choice,

My Sister.

Our aged parents to rejoice,

And sooth them with thy tender voice,

My Sister.

And may that sacred power above,

Still fill thy heart with filia! love,
And all thy virtuous ways approve,

My Sister.

MY BROTHER.

Who shar'd with me our parents' love,
And when my tender limbs could move,
Would all my infant ways approve?

My Brother.

Who strove to give my heart delight,
Would blow for me balloons so bright,
And fly his flutt'ring paper kite?

My Brother,

For he was never ride or rough,
And who would make me laugh enough,
When he was playing blindman's buff?

My Brothe

And if perchance he heard me cry,
O! who would to my succour fly,
And gently wipe my streaming eye?

My Brothe

And who would tell me pleasing tales,
How vice the wrath of Heaven assails,
And virtue every where prevails?

My Brother.

He made me love my books indeed,
And who delighted heard me read,
Those tales he could recite with speed?

And when a present he had got,
O! who was it that ne'er forgot,
To share with me his happy lot?

My Brother.

My Brother.

Then I do love thee very well,
Yes, more than any words can tell ;
Thy name shall in my bosom dwell,

My Brother.

For well I know thee void of guile,
When others frown'd, thy soothing smile
Would many a little wo beguile,

My Brother.

For thou wert always good and kind,
And I could speak to thee my mind,
Sweet solace from thy lips to find,

My Brother.

O! may I live to see thee rise
To man's estate, rever'd and wise,
To glad your friends' delighted eyes,

My Brother.

May virtue be thy constant guest,
And sweet contentment charm thy breast,›
Aud ev'ry gen'rous wish be blest,

My Brother.

A CATECHISM IN VERSE

FOR CHILDREN.

1.

Q. Who is the Maker of all things?
A. Th' Almighty God, who reigns on high:
He form'd the earth, he spread the sky,
And fashion'd in their various forms
Angels and men, and beasts and worms.

2.

Q. Did you derive your being from him?
A. I am the creature of the Lord;

He made me by his powerful word:
This body, in each curious part,
Was wrought by his unfailing art:
From him my nobler spirit came,
My soul a spark of heav'nly flame.

3.

Q. Wherein does your soul differ from your body?
A. 'Tis that by which my body lives,

Which thinks, and hopes, and joys, and grieves,
And must in heav'n or hell remain,
When flesh is turn'd to dust again.

4.

Q. What then should you consider as your chief end, and the principal business of your life?

4. Sure it consists in this alone,

That God, my Maker, may be known;
So known that I may love him still,

And form

my actions by his will