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And not last beyond a minute。
If to further lengths it go；
It does into malice grow。
'Tis the difference that we see
'Twixt the serpent and the bee。
If the latter you provoke；
It inflicts a hasty stroke；
Puts you to some little pain；
But it never stings again。
Close in tufted bush or brake
Lurks the poison…swelled snake
Nursing up his cherished wrath；
In the purlieus of his path；
In the cold； or in the warm；
Mean him good； or mean him harm；
Wheresoever fate may bring you；
The vile snake will always sting you。
Charles and Mary Lamb
〃THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL〃
There was a little girl； who had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead；
And when she was good she was very； very good；
But when she was bad she was horrid。
She stood on her head； on her little trundle…bed；
With nobody by for to hinder；
She screamed and she squalled； she yelled and she bawled；
And drummed her little heels against the winder。
Her mother heard the noise； and thought it was the boys
Playing in the empty attic；
She rushed upstairs； and caught her unawares；
And spanked her； most emphatic。
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ＇1807…1882＇
THE REFORMATION OF GODFREY GORE
Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore …
No doubt you have heard the name before …
Was a boy who never would shut a door！
The wind might whistle； the wind might roar；
And teeth be aching and throats be sore；
But still he never would shut the door。
His father would beg； his mother implore；
〃Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore；
We really do wish you would shut the door！〃
Their hands they wrung； their hair they tore；
But Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore
Was deaf as the buoy out at the Nore。
When he walked forth the folks would roar；
〃Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore；
Why don't you think to shut the door？〃
They rigged out a Shutter with sail and oar；
And threatened to pack off Gustavus Gore
On a voyage of penance to Singapore。
But he begged for mercy； and said； 〃No more！
Pray do not send me to Singapore
On a Shutter； and then I will shut the door！〃
〃You will？〃 said his parents； 〃then keep on shore！
But mind you do！ For the plague is sore
Of a fellow that never will shut the door；
Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore！〃
William Brighty Rands ＇1823…1882＇
THE BEST FIRM
A pretty good firm is 〃Watch & Waite；〃
And another is 〃Attit； Early & Layte；〃
And still another is 〃Doo & Dairet；〃
But the best is probably 〃Grinn & Barrett。〃
Walter G。 Doty ＇1876…
A LITTLE PAGE'S SONG
（13th Century）
God's lark at morning I would be！
I'd set my heart within a tree
Close to His bed and sing to Him
Right merrily
A sunrise hymn。
At night I'd be God's troubadour！
Beneath His starry walls I'd pour
Across the moat such roundelays
He'd love me sure …
And maybe praise！
William Alexander Percy ＇1885…
HOW THE LITTLE KITE LEARNED TO FLY
〃I never can do it；〃 the little kite said；
As he looked at the others high over his head；
〃I know I should fall if I tried to fly。〃
〃Try；〃 said the big kite； 〃only try！
Or I fear you never will learn at all。〃
But the little kite said； 〃I'm afraid I'll fall。〃
The big kite nodded： 〃Ah well； goodby；
I'm off；〃 and he rose toward the tranquil sky。
Then the little kite's paper stirred at the sight；
And trembling he shook himself free for flight。
First whirling and frightened； then braver grown；
Up； up he rose through the air alone；
Till the big kite looking down could see
The little one rising steadily。
Then how the little kite thrilled with pride；
As he sailed with the big kite side by side！
While far below he could see the ground；
And the boys like small spots moving round。
They rested high in the quiet air；
And only the birds and the clouds were there。
〃Oh； how happy I am！〃 the little kite cried；
〃And all because I was brave； and tried。〃
Unknown
THE BUTTERFLY AND THE BEE
Methought I heard a butterfly
Say to a laboring bee；
〃Thou hast no colors of the sky
On painted wings like me。〃
〃Poor child of vanity！ those dyes；
And colors bright and rare；〃
With mild reproof； the bee replies；
〃Are all beneath my care。〃
〃Content I toil from morn till eve；
And； scorning idleness；
To tribes of gaudy sloth I leave
The vanity of dress。〃
William Lisle Bowles ＇1762…1850＇
THE BUTTERFLY
The butterfly； an idle thing；
Nor honey makes； nor yet can sing；
As do the bee and bird；
Nor does it； like the prudent ant；
Lay up the grain for times of want；
A wise and cautious hoard。
My youth is but a summer's day：
Then like the bee and ant I'll lay
A store of learning by；
And though from flower to flower I rove；
My stock of wisdom I'll improve；
Nor be a butterfly。
Adelaide O'Keefe ＇1776…1855＇
MORNING
The lark is up to meet the sun；
The bee is on the wing；
The ant her labor has begun；
The woods with music ring。
Shall birds and bees and ants be wise；
While I my moments waste？
Oh； let me with the morning rise；
And to my duties haste。
Why should I sleep till beams of morn
Their light and glory shed？
Immortal beings were not born
To waste their time in bed。
Jane Taylor ＇1783…1824＇
BUTTERCUPS AND DAISIES
Buttercups and daisies；
Oh； the pretty flowers；
Coming ere the spring time；
To tell of sunny hours；
While the trees are leafless；
While the fields are bare；
Buttercups and daisies
Spring up here and there。
Ere the snow…drop peepeth；
Ere the crocus bold；
Ere the early primrose
Opes its paly gold； …
Somewhere on the sunny bank
Buttercups are bright；
Somewhere midst the frozen grass
Peeps the daisy white。
Little hardy flowers；
Like to children poor；
Playing in their sturdy health
By their mother's door。
Purple with the north…wind；
Yet alert and bold；
Fearing not； and caring not；
Though they be a…cold！
What to them is winter！
What are stormy showers！
Buttercups and daisies
Are these human flowers！
He who gave them hardships
And a life of care；
Gave them likewise hardy strength
And patient hearts to bear。
Mary Howitt ＇1799…1888＇
THE ANT AND THE CRICKET
A silly young cricket； accustomed to sing
Through the warm； sunny months of gay summer and spring；
Began to complain； when he found that at home
His cupboard was empty and winter was come。
Not a crumb to be found
On the snow…covered ground；
Not a flower could he see；
Not a leaf on a tree：
〃Oh； what will become；〃 says the cricket； 〃of me？〃
At last by starvation and famine made bold；
All dripping with wet and all trembling with cold；
Away he set off to a miserly ant；
To see if； to keep him alive； he would grant
Him shelter from rain：
A mouthful of grain
He wished only to borrow；
He'd repay it to…morrow：
If not； he must die