As he grew worse and worse, the doctor and nurse
To cure his disorder were sent ;

And rightly you'll think, he had physic to drink,
Which made him sincerely repent.

And while on the bed he roll'd his hot head,

Impatient with sickness and pain,

He could not but take this reproof from his cake, "Do not be such a glutton again."

Ann and Jane Taylor.

Another Plum-Cake

"OH!

H! I've got a plum-cake, and a feast let us make;
Come, schoolfellows, come at my call;

I assure you 'tis nice, and we'll each have a slice,
Here's more than enough for us all." ·

Thus said little Jack, as he gave it a smack,
And sharpen'd his knife to begin;

Nor was there one found, upon the play-ground,

So cross that he would not come in.

With masterly strength he cut through it at length,
And gave to each playmate a share :

Charles, William, and James, and many more names,
Partook his benevolent care.

And when it was done, and they'd finished their fun,
To marbles or hoop they went back ;

And each little boy felt it always a joy,

To do a good turn for good Jack,

In his task and his book, his best pleasures he took,
And as he thus wisely began,

Since he's been a man grown he has constantly shown
That a good boy will make a good man.

At last, when having caught enough,
And also tired himself,

He hasten'd home, intending there

To put them on a shelf.

But as he jump'd to reach a dish,
To put his fishes in,

A large meat-hook, that hung close by,
Did catch him by the chin.

Poor Harry kick'd, and call'd aloud,

And scream'd, and cried, and roar'd, While from his wound the crimson blood In dreadful torrents pour'd.

The maids came running, frighten'd much
To see him hanging there,

And soon they took him from the hook,
And set him in a chair.

The surgeon came and stopp'd the blood,
And bound his aching head;

And then they carried him upstairs,

And laid him on his bed.

Conviction darted on his mind,
As groaning there he lay,

And with compunction then he thought
About his cruel play.

"And oh," said he, "poor little fish,

What tortures they have borne : While I, well pleased, have stood to see Their tender bodies torn !

"Though fishermen must earn their bread,
And butchers too must slay,

That can be no excuse for me,
Who do the same in play.

"But now I know how great the smart,

How terrible the pain!

I think, while I can feel myself,

I will not fish again."

Ann and Jane Taylor.

The Two Gardens

WHEN

WHEN Harry and Dick had been striving to please,
Their father (to whom it was known)

Made two little gardens, and stocked them with trees,
And gave one to each for his own.

Harry thank'd his papa, and with rake, hoe, and spade,

Directly began his employ :

And soon such a neat little garden was made,

That he panted with labour and joy.

There was always some bed or some border to mend,

Or something to tie or to stick ;

And Harry rose early his garden to tend,
While sleeping lay indolent Dick.

The tulip, the rose, and the lily so white,
United their beautiful bloom :

And often the honey-bee stooped from his flight
To sip the delicious perfume,

A neat row of peas in full blossom was seen,

French beans were beginning to shoot;

And his gooseberries and currants, though yet they were

green,

Foretold for him plenty of fruit.

But Richard loved better in bed to repose,

And there, as he curl'd himself round, Forgot that no tulip, nor lily, nor rose,

Nor fruit in his garden was found.

Rank weeds and tall nettles disfigured his beds,

Nor cabbage nor lettuce was seen:

The slug and the snail showed their mischievous heads,
And ate every leaf that was green.

Thus Richard the idle, who shrank from the cold,

Beheld his trees naked and bare;

While Harry the active was charmed to behold

The fruit of his patience and care.

Ann and Jane Taylor.

The Truant Boys

'HE month was August and the morning cool,

THE

When Hal and Ned,

To walk together to the neighbouring school,

Rose early from their bed.

When near the school Hal said, "Why con your task,

Demure and prim?

Ere we go in, let me one question ask,

-Ned, shall we go and swim ?"