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THE LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 F. Carlyle Shepard 
 
- 7 '? 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/mothertruthsmelomill 
 
MOTHER TRUTH'S MELODIES. 
 
 
MELODIES. 
 
 Common Sense for Children. 
 
 A KINDERGARTEN. 
 
 BY 
 
 MRS. E. P. MILLER, 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 "A father's advice, a book for every boy," and 
 "a mother's advice, a book for every girl." 
 
 with. 300 illustrations. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 G. W. Carleion &• Co., Publishers, 
 
 LONDON : S. LOW, SON & CO. 
 MDCCCLXXIX. 
 
COPYRIGHT BY 
 
 G. W. CARLETON & CO. 
 1878. 
 
 Trow's 
 Printing & Bookbinding Co., 
 205-213 F.ast 12 r A St., 
 
 NEW YORK. 
 
To all who love the Children, 
 
 This book, INSCRIBED, I bring,— 
 Thus reaching forth to draw you 
 
 "Within my charmed Ring; 
 Where seeds and germs we '11 nurture 
 
 In babies, children, youth, 
 Till every plant shall blossom, 
 
 And bear the fruits of TRUTH. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Since little ones are geese no more, 
 
 But knowing have become, 
 It ill beseems that " Mother Goose" 
 
 Should dwell in every home. 
 So "Mother Truth" in "Melodies" 
 
 For Babes, here lifts her voice, 
 Assured that parents, children, all, 
 
 Will welcome and rejoice. 
 
NOTE 
 
 ET no one suppose that the Author of these 
 " Melodies " considers them poetry. They are 
 simply rhymes, the jingle of which may be 
 music in the children's ears, and the 
 illustrations a delight to eager eyes. 
 The Truths presented, even if not fully 
 understood at first, will leave their im- 
 press, and in so far as they fill the 
 little minds, will keep out falsehood and false ideas. 
 
 The putting of facts in such form as to attract the at- 
 tention of the little ones, and be readily fixed in their 
 memory, was first suggested to the writer of these rhymes 
 by a valued friend, the well-known philanthropist. Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Thompson, and her interest in the " Melodies " 
 is such that she has generously assisted in procuring illus- 
 trations for the same. 
 
 Thus "Mother Truth's Melodies" are introduced with 
 the hope that this effort to entertain children with rhyming 
 reason will meet with the approval of every lover of the 
 young and of Truth. 
 
 Mrs. E. P. M. 
 
PAGE 
 
 Fly Away, Mother Goose, 13 
 
 Toss the Baby, 14 
 
 Pat-a-Cake, Pat-a-Cake, 15 
 
 Hey, my Kitten, my Kitten, 16 
 
 WlNKUM, WlNKUM, 1 7 
 
 Baby's Bell, 18 
 
 Willy-nilly, .......... 19 
 
 Humpty-dumpty, 20 
 
 Hush-a-bye, 1 22 
 
 Don't make me Laugh, ... .... 26 
 
 Bye-baby-bunting, -27 
 
 To Bed with the Chickens, 28 
 
 Dive me Sudar, 29 
 
 Tause I'm Tross, 30 
 
 The New Book, 32 
 
 Whiskum, Whiskum, 33 
 
 The Jack-Horse, 34 
 
 Hi-diddle-diddle, 35 
 
 The Rain 36 
 
 1* 
 
io Contents. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Feed the Birdies, -, 7 
 
 Rock-a-bye, . ,o 
 
 Little Bo-peep, . . , . . 4? 
 
 Mama, Panky me, . 46 
 
 Little Jack Horner, . .... 48 
 
 Little Boy Blue, . 4g 
 
 Miss Velvet-Paws, ....... r 
 
 Polly Hopkins, ..-,.-.,. 51 
 
 ■"■) B, C, ....... . . £ 2 
 
 C-a-t spells Cat, ....... eg 
 
 The Kitten, ....... 61 
 
 Dolly Dimple, 64 
 
 If you Please, ......... 69 
 
 The Poor Little Chick a-dees, 70 
 
 Heigh-ho, Daisies and Buttercups, . 74 
 
 The Pony, 75 
 
 Fee-fi-fo-fum, ..... 80 
 
 The Oxen, ..... 88 
 
 The Broken Pitcher, Q2 
 
 The Elephants, 
 
 The Wind, the Fog, the Rain, the Snow, ... 94 
 
 Truth > 98 
 
 Hl-DIDDLE, HO-DIDDLE, IOO 
 
 What is the Axis? I04 
 
 The Language Key, io7 
 
 Twinkle, Twinkle, , f 10 3 
 
 Old Sol in a Jingle, i IO 
 
 "Robert of Lincoln," jj, 
 
 l.impy-dimpy-dingle, . tta 
 
 ' • II 4 
 
 The Rattle of the Bones, .... n6 
 
Contents. 
 
 ii 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Wholly Holey, ........ 121 
 
 The Breath o' Life, . . .... 124 
 
 Curious Trees : the Cow-Tree ; the Sugar-Pine ; the But- 
 ter-Tree; the Bread-fruit Tree; the Clove-Tree, . 125 
 
 No Eyes, . . , 130 
 
 The Mammoth Cave, . . . . .* . . 132 
 
 The Camels, . . 134 
 
 Key-notes, , 139 
 
 The Bears, . 140 
 
 The Bear a Blessing, ,"...,. 143 
 
 The Raccoon, ......... 146 
 
 The Bank-Swallows, ....... 152 
 
 The Mocking-Bird, 156 
 
 The busy Bees, 158 
 
 Honey-Sweet, . 167 
 
 What they Say, >..... .170 
 
 Britain's Rulers, 177 
 
 Signs of the Zodiac, '. ...... 180 
 
 Little Mischief, .... .... 183 
 
 Grandma's Canary, .... . 1S7 
 
 Handsome Dick, 190 
 
 The Dinner-Pot, . ...... 195 
 
 Dare to say NO, 196 
 
 Ask Mother, . . 199 
 
 Tell Mother, 199 
 
 Don't tell a Lie, 200 
 
 The Children's Rail-Road, . 202 
 
 Mabel's Snow-feathers, 208 
 
 The Laddie- and Lassie-Birds, ...... 212 
 
ETING, 
 
MOTHER TRUTH'S MELODIES. 
 
 FLYAWAY, MOTHER GOOSE. 
 
 Mother Goose, Mother 
 Goose, 
 Fly, fly away ! 
 Mother Truth 's coming W 
 now, 
 Coming to-day. 
 She '11 tell us funny things, 
 
 But they '11 be true ; 
 She '11 bring us pictures, 
 As many as you ; 
 
 She '11 sing us Melodies helping to show 
 How, to true women and men, we may grow. 
 
H 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 TOSS THE BABY. 
 
 Toss the baby high in air ; 
 Catch him though with special care, 
 Lest his little back be strained, 
 Lest his little joints be sprained, 
 Lest his bones be bent or broken, 
 
 Lest through life he bear 
 some token 
 Of a careless toss or 
 
 fall, 
 That for sympathy shall 
 
 call, 
 And that must forever 
 
 be 
 Painful to our memory. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 15 
 
 PA T- A- CAKE, PA T-A- CAKE. 
 
 Pat-A-CAKE, pat-a-cake, 
 
 Mama's boy, 
 Laughing and crowing, 
 And jumping with joy ; 
 Roll it and pick it and mark it with B, 
 And toss in the oven for Baby and me. 
 
 Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, 
 
 Papa's girl, 
 Springing in baby-glee, 
 Shaking her curl ; 
 Roll it and pick it and mark it with G, 
 And toss in the oven for Girly and me. 
 
i6 
 
 Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 HEY, MY KITTEN, MY KITTEN. 
 
 Hey. 
 
 kitten, my kitten, 
 kitten, my deary ; 
 [ama should feed him too 
 often, 
 never could be so cheery, 
 re we go up, up, up, 
 
 And here we go 
 
 down, down, 
 
 \ down-y, 
 
 ^ ~ If we never feed 
 
 baby too much, 
 
 He neverwill give 
 
 us a frown-y. 
 
 Hey, my kitten, my kitten, 
 
 Hey, my kitten, my deary ; 
 We'll put him to bed with the birdies, 
 
 And that will make him so cheery ! 
 
 Here we go up, up, up. 
 And here we go down, down, down-y ; 
 If we give him nothing but smiles, 
 
 He will give us never a frown-y. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 17 
 
 WINKUM, WINKUM. 
 
 WlNKUM, <J.&$$Z winkum, shut your eye, 
 Sweet, my ^^^ baby, lullaby ; 
 For the dew is falling soft, 
 Lights are flickering up aloft, 
 And the head-light 's peeping over 
 Yonder hill-top capped with clover ; 
 Chickens long have gone to rest, 
 Birds lie snug within their nest, 
 And my birdy soon will be 
 Sleeping with the chick-a-dee, 
 For with only half a try, 
 Winkum, winkum, shuts her eye. 
 
i8 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 BABY'S BELL. 
 
 INGLE ! jingle ! baby's bell ;— 
 What a tale its tongue might tell. 
 Could it speak it sure would say, 
 " When the baby 's tired with 
 
 play, 
 And is getting cross, don't try 
 
 To jingle bells, but hush-a-bye ; 
 
 All so still, now crooning low, 
 
 Lull-a-bye, bye-o, bye-o, — 
 
 Quiet down his quaking nerves, 
 
 Soothe him as his state deserves ; — 
 
 Passing hand from head to feet, 
 
 Sl-o-w-l-y, softly, loving, sweet, 
 
 As to smooth the feathers down, 
 
 Rumpled from your birdling's crown ; — 
 
Mother Trutfis Melodies. 
 
 See, he sleeps, and in his dream 
 Yours may hand of angel seem, 
 Ravelling out the tangled ills, 
 Knitting up with restful thrills." 
 
 *9 
 
 WILL Y-NILL Y. 
 
 Willy-nilly, birdy sings, 
 
 For he's running over 
 With the music that he flings 
 
 To his sweet bird-lover ; — 
 Willy-nilly, baby laughs, 
 
 Gay and glad and gleeful ; 
 Brimming over high with health, 
 
 She is always playful. 
 
20 
 
 Mother Trut/is Melodies. 
 
 HUMPTY-D UMPTY. 
 
 Humpty-dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop, 
 Baby is crying, why doesn't he stop ? 
 What does he cry for ? his clothing is tight ; — 
 No wonder such things make baby a fright. 
 
 Humpty-dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop, 
 Baby was crying, but now he will stop ; 
 What did he cry for ? his clothing was wet ; — 
 No wonder such things should make babies fret. 
 
 Humpty-dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop, 
 Baby is crying, oh, when will he stop ? 
 What does he cry for ? his feet are a-cold ; — 
 No wonder such things should make baby scold. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 21 
 
 Humpty-dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop, 
 Baby is crying, but soon he will stop ; 
 What does he cry for ? he had too much food ; — 
 No baby in this way can ever be good. 
 
 Humpty-dumpty, hip-o'-to-hop, 
 Baby is laughing and scarcely will stop ; 
 What does he laugh for ? Oh, when he feels well, 
 He always is happy, — 'tis thus we can tell. 
 
22 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies, 
 
 HUSH-A-BYE. 
 
 HUSH-A-BYE, baby, 
 
 On Grandmother's lap ; 
 Hush-a-bye, baby, 
 
 And take a nice nap ; 
 Hush-a-bye, baby, 
 
 What is it you say ? 
 Your " teeth are a-coming," 
 You're " ten months to-day " ? 
 Well, babies must cry, 
 And Grandmothers must try 
 To comfort and hush them, but never forget 
 That little gums ache, 
 And little nerves quake, 
 Till little lips quiver, and babies must fret. 
 
 Hush-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 cool his hot gums, 
 Hush-a-bye, baby, 
 
 With tiny ice-crumbs ; 
 Hush-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We'll rub hard and long 
 With icy-cold finger, — 
 
 See him list to my song ! 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 Ah, babies are sweet 
 
 If their wants we but meet, 
 
 So why should we blame them when fretful and cross ? 
 
 Let us find what is wrong, 
 
 And remove it ere long, 
 And we '11 see that time thus spent is never a loss. 
 
 Hush-a-bye, baby, 
 
 What more can we do, 
 Hush-a-bye, baby, 
 
 That will comfort you ? 
 Hush-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 lay you down fiat, 
 On your stomach, dear baby, 
 
 On Grandmother's lap. 
 
2 A. 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Nor trot you a mite, 
 
 No matter how slight, 
 But, sure that your clothing is all dry and neat, 
 
 We'll loosen each band, 
 
 And with soft and warm hand, 
 Gently rub you all over from head to your feet. 
 
 Hush-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We will not forget, 
 Hush-a-bye, baby, 
 
 That hands may be wet, 
 
 Hush-a-bye, baby, 
 
 And soothe you sometimes, 
 When dry hands won't do it, 
 
 Hush, list to my rhymes ! 
 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 25 
 
 And now we '11 not nurse 
 
 Till the nursing 's a curse ; 
 Nor dose you, nor drug you, nor feed with sweet-meats ; 
 
 Nor to soothe, will we try, 
 
 With old " Dame Winslow" by, 
 For our hopes for the babies, she ever defeats. 
 
 Hush-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 quiet his nerves, 
 Hush a-bye, baby, 
 
 The truth it deserves — 
 Hush-a-bye, baby — 
 
 Even here to be known : 
 We will quiet his nerves 
 
 By jnst calming our ozvn I 
 And our baby will feel 
 The sweet hush o'er him steal, 
 That brings with it soothing and comfort and rest ; 
 And to slumber so soft, 
 , His spirit we'll waft, 
 And then lay him away in his own baby nest. 
 
 H' 
 
26 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 DON'T MAKE ME LA UGH. 
 
 Dear Mama, I've been laughing 
 
 For Uncle Ben and Pa, 
 And then for sister Lizzie 
 
 I talked " ar-g-o-o " and " gar ; " 
 And then a " little story " 
 
 For Dick and Cousin Jane, — - 
 And now you, Mama, want me 
 
 To lauch and talk aeain. 
 
 I'd like to do it, Mama, but if I even try, 
 
 I am so weary with it, I'm sure I'd only cry ! 
 
 Don't let them try, dear Mama, to make me laugh and 
 
 crow, 
 I'll do it when I'm able, for babies always do. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 2/ 
 
 B YE- BAB Y-B UN TING. 
 
 Bye-baby-bunting, 
 The Indians live by hunting, 
 And bring home many a beaver- 
 To wrap the little pappoose in. 
 
 And mother-squaw the baby '11 tie 
 i Fast on a board, and swing-insr 
 
 high, 
 Will hang it up among the trees 
 rs=a " To rock-a-bye with every 
 
 breeze ; 
 But our dear baby, snug 
 
 and warm, 
 1 Shall rock-a-bye on mo- 
 ther's arm. 
 
28 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 TO BED WITH THE CHICKENS. 
 
 Oh, put me in my bed, Mama, 
 When chickens go to rest, 
 
 For I'm your little chick-a-dee, 
 So put me in my nest. 
 
 Yes, when the birds forget to sing, 
 And lambs forget to play, 
 
 You '11 put your birdy in his nest, 
 Your lamb you '11 fold away. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 29 
 
 DIVE ME SUDAR, 
 
 Papa, when you dive me tandy, 
 
 Dive me only white, — 
 'Tause there 's poison in the tolored, 
 
 Which my health will blight ; 
 But you better dive me sudar, 
 
 Let the tandy be, — 
 'Tause I shall not want so much, 
 
 And that is best for me. 
 
;o 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 TAUSE I'M TROSS. 
 
 Mama, 'tause I'm tross don't whip me ; 
 
 I tan't help it, not a bit ! 
 Tis the tandy hurts my stomat, 
 
 And that mates me whine and fret. 
 Sometimes, too, I'm whipped for trossness 
 
 When the trossness tomes from meat ; 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 Thint how tiders drowl and drumble, 
 And then dive me food to eat 
 
 That will mate me well and happy, — 
 Wheat and oat-meal, rice and fruit, 
 
 These will mate me dood and gentle, 
 'Stead of mating: me a brute. 
 
32 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 THE NEW BOOK. 
 
 COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO, 
 A picture-book for you, — 
 Keep it nice, and in a trice, 
 Sing Cock-a-doodle-doo. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 33 
 
 WHISKUM, WHISKUM. 
 
 WHISKUM, whiskum, over the house, 
 Scud the cloudlets, still as a mouse ; 
 Whiskum, whiskum, by-and-by 
 They '11 pour rain-drops from the sky. 
 
34 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 THE JACK-HORSE. 
 
 s^^ 
 
 We will ride our Jack-horse 
 All the meadows across ; 
 Oh no, do not whip him, 
 But feed him, my dear ! 
 A handful of grass 
 In his mouth as we pass, 
 Will make him trot gayly, 
 And give us good cheer ! 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 35 
 
 HI-DIDDLE-DIDDLE. 
 
 Hl-DIDDLE-DIDDLE, 
 Mother duck 's in the middle, 
 Her baby-ducks swimming around ; 
 With bills like a ladle, 
 And feet like a paddle, 
 No danger that they will be drowned. 
 
36 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 THE RAIN. 
 
 r 
 
 COME, rain, come, 
 That the water may run, 
 That the meadow grass may grow ; 
 That the fruit and grain, 
 O'er hill and plain, 
 May greet us as we go. 
 
 Come, rain, come, 
 
 That the water may run, 
 That the mill may make our meal ; — 
 
 'Twill grind our wheat, 
 
 And corn so sweet, 
 When it turns the old mill-wheel". 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 37 
 
 FEED THE BIRDIES. 
 
 Feed the birdies, darling, 
 
 When the snow is here, 
 When there are no berries, 
 
 On the bushes, dear ; — 
 Scatter food out for them, 
 
 And they '11 quickly come, 
 Hopping, singing, chirping, 
 
 " Thank you for the crumb." 
 
38 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 ROCK-A-BYE. 
 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Our darling is ill, 
 Rock a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 soon have him well ;- 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Don't tremble with fear, 
 For that tends to make 
 
 His slight illness severe. 
 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Our darling is ill, 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 soon have him well ;- 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Don't coax him to nurse, 
 For urging to eat 
 
 Only makes matters worse. 
 
Mother Truth s Melodies. 
 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Our darling is ill, 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 soon have him well ;- 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 No company 'round, 
 Not even the dear ones, 
 
 To make a loud sound. 
 
 39 
 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Our darling is ill, 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 soon have him well ; — 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Don't rattle the papers 
 Nor whisper around, 
 
 Little nerves cut such capers. 
 
4-0 Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Our darling is ill, 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 soon have him well ; — 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Whatever is wrong, 
 Attend to his bowels, 
 
 Neglected too long. 
 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Our darling is ill, 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 soon have him well ; — 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 If he is too hot, 
 Undress him and bathe him ; 
 
 But, ah ! he is not. 
 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Our darling is ill ; 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 soon have him well ; — 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 There is cough with unrest, 
 So we '11 wring out hot flannels 
 
 And cover his chest. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 41. 
 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Our darling is ill ; 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 soon have him well ; — 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 He 's perspiring, to pour ! 
 We will keep up this treatment 
 
 A full hour or more. 
 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Our darling is ill, 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 soon have him well ;- 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Now dry him off neat, 
 And wrap him up warm, 
 
 And to-morrow, repeat. 
 
42 Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Our darling is ill, 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 soon have him well ; — 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 'Tis not in his chest ? 
 Then place the hot flannels 
 
 Where he feels the unrest. 
 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Our darling is ill, 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 soon have him well ; — 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 He is moaning with pain, 
 And rolling his head, 
 
 And we pet him in vain. 
 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Our darling is ill ; 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 soon have him well ; — 
 Rock-a-bye, bab}', 
 
 We will wring out from ice, 
 Linen cloths for his head, 
 
 All so cooling and nice. 
 
Mother Trtitti s Melodies. 43 
 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Our darling is ill ; 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 soon have him well ; — 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 If cold don't relieve, 
 Use hot and then cold, 
 
 And then hot, you perceive. 
 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Our darling is ill, 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 soon have him well ; — 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 We '11 see that his feet 
 Are kept warm all the time, 
 
 And his clothes dry and neat. 
 
44 Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 Our darling was ill ; 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 But now he is well ; 
 Rock-a-bye, baby, 
 
 No drugs, not a dose ! 
 Yet he 's over it finely, 
 
 Just hear how he crows ! 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 45 
 
 LITTLE BO-PEEP. 
 
 Co' Nan, co' Nan, says little Bo-Peep, 
 Co' Nan, co' Nan, up come the sheep ; 
 They jump the ditch and scale the wall, 
 Where one sheep goes, they follow, all. 
 
 Co' dea', co' dea', says little Bo-peep, 
 Co' dea', co' dea', I '11 shear my sheep ; 
 Their wool so fine will make my coat, 
 My blankets and my hose to boot. 
 
4 6 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 MAMA, PANIC Y ME. 
 
 See the baby run and tumble 
 
 'Cross his mother's knee, 
 While his merry voice is shouting, 
 
 " Mama, panky me ! " 
 
 Hundred times he '11 run and tumble 
 
 Thus in childish glee, 
 Bursting forth in joyous laughter, 
 
 " Mama, panky me." 
 
 But if she should " pank " in earnest, 
 
 Half as hard as now, 
 Quick would come in place of sunshine, 
 
 Clouds upon his brow. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 47 
 
 Ves, if she should "panic" in earnest, 
 
 Little eyes would fill, 
 Little lips would curl and quiver, 
 
 Little shout be still. 
 
 Till the little heart no longer 
 
 Could contain its woe, 
 Then burst forth in cries of anguish, 
 
 Such as babies know. 
 
4 8 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 LITTLE J A CK HORNER. 
 
 
 Little Jack Horner 
 Sat in the corner, 
 Eating a morsel of nice brown bread ; 
 
 " Have some pie, or some cake " ? 
 
 " Nay, not I," with a shake 
 And a toss of his wise little head. 
 " For this bread will make bone, 
 
 And white teeth like a stone, 
 That will neither grow soft nor decay ; 
 
 But rich cake and rich pie 
 
 Sure will break, bye and bye, 
 My good health, and that never will pay." 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 49 
 
 LITTLE BOY BLUE. 
 
 Boy Blue, may I go with you 
 now ? " 
 
 down to the pasture to drive 
 up the cow." 
 
 ttle boy blue, what then may I 
 have ? " 
 
 A nice cup of milk as ever 
 cow gave." 
 
 Little boy blue, the milk must be set ; " 
 
 Yes, for 'tis thus the nice cream we shall get." 
 
 Little boy blue, what will we do then ? " 
 
 We '11 skim it and dash it, with ' churn, butter, churn.' " 
 
 Little boy blue, what else can we make ? " 
 O, cheese, tempting cheese, and the dainty cheese- 
 cake." 
 
 Little boy blue, is there anything more ? " 
 
 O, yes, puddings, custards, and dainties, a store." 
 
 Little boy blue, shall we eat of all these ? " 
 Simple food is far better for us, if you please ? " 
 3 
 
5Q 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 MISS VELVET- PAWS. 
 
 Little Miss Velvet-paws. 
 Ravelling out her yarn, 
 Catches mice, in a trice, 
 In everybody's barn. 
 
 Look out for velvet paws, 
 Do not trust them far, 
 For velvet paws cover claws 
 That will leave a scar. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 5i 
 
 POLL Y HOPKINS. 
 
 "1 « — ^ ■ - m« 
 
 Now little Polly Hopkins 
 Must surely know great A, 
 And B, and C, and D, and E, 
 
 F, G, H, I, J, K; 
 And L, and M, and N, and O, 
 And P, and Q, R, S, 
 And T, U, V, and W, X, 
 
 And Y, & Z, I guess. 
 
52 
 
 Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 ^, B, O. 
 
 Stands for 
 
 Alligator, 
 
 Stands for Ball, 
 
 Stands for Cat in a 
 cream-pot, 
 
 Stands for Doll. 
 
Mother Trtitfis Melodies. 
 
 53 
 
 Stands for East, or 
 Ellen, 
 
 Stands for Fay, 
 
 Stands for Goat, a Pen 
 in, 
 
 ^^S 
 
 Stands for Hay. 
 
 Stands for Indigestion, 
 
54 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Stands for Jar, 
 
 Stands for King, or 
 Keepsake, 
 
 Stands for La. 
 
 Stands for Man, or 
 Thousand, 
 
 Stands for Nail, 
 
 lOOQ 
 
 f^v- 
 
Mother Truth ' s Melodies. 
 
 55 
 
 Stands for Oaken 
 bucket, 
 
 Stands for Pail. 
 
 Stands for Queen, or 
 Question, 
 
 Stands for Rose, 
 
 Stands for Christmas 
 Stocking, 
 
56 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Stands for Toes. 
 
 X 
 
 Stands for Urn, or 
 Ulster, 
 
 Stands for Vane. 
 
 :>< 
 
 Stands for West, or 
 Winter, 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 57 
 
 Stands for Ten. 
 
 Stands for Yoke 
 (with Oxen), 
 
 Stands for Zero, 
 
 
 when you 've learned your LETTERS, 
 You '11 be a Hero. 
 
58 
 
 Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 C-A-T SPELLS CAT. 
 
 x C-A-T spells Cat, 
 
 That brought the kittens here ; 
 
 D-O-G spells Dog, 
 
 That does, the puppies, rear. 
 
 C-O-W, COW, 
 The mother of the calf 
 
 O-X spells the Ox, 
 
 That's bigger, yes, by half. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 B-O-Y spells Boy, 
 
 That 's little brother Lou ; 
 
 G-I-R-L, Girl, 
 
 And that is sister Sue. 
 
 B-I-R-D, Bird, 
 
 Just hear canary sing ; 
 
 G-O-L-D, Gold, 
 
 That makes a handsome rinsf. 
 
 B-O-O-K, Book, 
 
 In which we learn to read ; 
 
 C-O-O-K, Cook, 
 
 Supplies the food we need. 
 
6o 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 S-E-E-D, Seed, 
 
 From which we raise the 
 plant ; 
 
 S-I-N-G, Sing, 
 
 Just hear the children chant. 
 
 B-A, BA, B-Y, BY, 
 
 And that spells Baby, love; 
 
 L-A, la, D-Y, DY, 
 
 And that spells LADY, dove. 
 
 M-A, Ma, R-Y, ry, 
 
 And that spells Mary, child, 
 
 E-D, Ed, D-Y, dy, 
 
 That's Eddy, sweet and 
 mild. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 61 
 
 THE KITTEN. 
 
 One, two, (1, 2,) 
 
 Here 's a kitten for you ;- 
 
 Three, four, (3, 4,) 
 
 She will open the door,— 
 
 Five, six, (5, 6,) 
 
 And your cream she will mix, 
 
62 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Q^finiMl 
 
 Seven, eight, (7, 8,) 
 If you are too late, — 
 
 Nine, ten, (9, 10,) 
 To cover the pan ; 
 
 Eleven, twelve, (11, 12,) 
 And then you must delve,- 
 
 Thirteen, fourteen, (13, 14,) 
 To cover her sporting ; 
 
 Fifteen, sixteen, (15, 16,) 
 But while you are fixing,- 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 63 
 
 
 Seventeen, eighteen, (17, 18,) 
 Remember I'm waiting, — 
 
 Nineteen, twenty, (19, 20,) 
 For butter, a plenty. 
 
 To those who serve you, children, all, 
 
 Be gentle and polite, — 
 For thus are gentle-women known, 
 
 Or gentle-men, at sight. 
 
6 4 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 DOLLY DIMPLE. 
 
 r-v^Sfc**. £^v„ 
 
 Dolly Dimple, just for fun, 
 Stands to show us she is One. 
 
 Dolly and her sister Sue 
 
 Show that One with One make Two. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Dolly, Sue, and Nanny Lee 
 
 Show that One with Two make Three. 
 
 65 
 
 Doll, Sue, Nan, and little Noah 
 
 Show that One with Three make Four. 
 
66 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Doll, Sue, Nan, Noah, and Ben Brive 
 Show that One with Four make Five. 
 
 Now all these with Jenny Hicks 
 Show that One with Five make Six. 
 
Mother Truth, 's Melodies. 
 
 67 
 
 One more, Ned, a baby even, 
 
 Shows that One with Six make Seven. 
 
 With these girls and boys, put Kate, 
 And the One with Seven make Eight. 
 
68 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 All these Eight, with Adaline 
 
 Show that One with Eight make Nine. 
 
 Now with these put Dick, and then 
 
 You '11 see that One with Nine make Ten. 
 
Mother Trtdti s Melodies. 
 
 6 9 
 
 IF YOU PLEASE. 
 
 I HOPE my children never will 
 Say, " Give me " this or that, — 
 
 But, " If you please," I'd like a bun, 
 Or, " Thank you " for a pat. 
 
7o 
 
 Mot he?' Truth's Melodies. 
 
 THE POOR LITTLE CHICK-A-DEES. 
 
 EN little chick-a-dees clinging to a vine, — 
 A speckled snake charmed one, then there 
 were but NINE. 
 
 NINE little chick-a-dees, — one without a mate, — 
 
 A Sparrow-hawk caught one, then there were but EIGHT. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 7 1 
 
 Eight little chick-a-dees, by a 'possum driven, — 
 He caught one and slaughtered it, then there were but 
 SEVEN. 
 
 SEVEN little chick-a-dees hopping round the ricks, — 
 A Weasel came and captured one, then there were but 
 
 SIX. 
 
 TX little chick-a-dees watching Rover dive, — 
 le sprang ashore and seized one, then there were but 
 FIVE. 
 
72 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 'fMyffj 
 
 Five little chick-a-dees pecking at the door, — 
 Kitty-cat caught one, then there were but FOUR. 
 
 Four little chick-a-dees full of birdy-glee, — 
 
 One was tangled in a net, then there were but THREE. 
 
 
 Three little chick-a-dees dabbling in the dew, — 
 A stone fell and crushed one, then there were but 
 TWO. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 73 
 
 Two little chick-a-dees peeping just for fun, — 
 
 A naughty Kite nabbed one, then there was but ONE. 
 
 One little chick-a-dee, mourning all alone, 
 
 Flew away to find a mate, and then there was None. 
 
/ 4 
 
 Mother Truth's Ale todies. 
 
 HEIGH-HO, DAISIES AND 
 BUI TER- CUPS. 
 
 EIGH-HO, daisies and but- 
 ter-cups 
 Grow in the meadows for 
 children to gather ; 
 But cattle will shun them, 
 And farmers will burn 
 them, 
 Because in their fields they 
 are only a bother. 
 
 -ho, red-top and clover- 
 bloom, 
 
 lg the air with their sweet- 
 ness and beauty, 
 Will yield without measure, 
 Their wealth of rich treasure, 
 lljli Rewarding the farmer for doing his duty. 
 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 75 
 
 THE PONY. 
 
 Once 2 is 2, 
 
 Here 's a pony for you ; 
 
 Two 2s are 4, 
 
 But be careful the 
 more, — 
 
 Three 2s are 6, 
 For perhaps pony 
 kicks ; 
 
 FOUR 2s are 8, 
 
 And if so we must wait,- 
 
j 6 Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 FIVE 2s are 10, 
 
 Till he 's trained by the men,- 
 
 SlX 2s are 12, 
 
 Before trusting ourselves,- 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Seven 2s are 14, 
 
 To ride him out sporting ; 
 
 Eight 2s are 16, 
 
 But we can be fixing — 
 
 77 
 
 Nine 2s are 18, 
 
 His food while we 're waiting ; 
 
 Ten 2s are 20, 
 
 Oh, yes, give him plenty, — 
 
 Eleven 2s are 22, 
 
 For then he will be gentle to— 
 
78 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Twelve 2s are 24, 
 
 Us who feed and pet him more. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 79 
 
So 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 t - / K 
 
 FEE-FI-FO-FUM. 
 
 Fee-fi-fo-fum, 
 From the Spruce-tree comes the 
 
 gum; 
 From the Pine the turpentine, 
 
 Tar and pitch, 
 
 And timber which 
 Is very choice and fine. 
 
 Fee-fi-fo-fum, 
 How from Spruce 
 tree comes the 
 gum? 
 So ft enough ; — the 
 sticky stuff, 
 From seam and 
 
 cleft, 
 Both right and left, 
 Flows out, and hard- 
 ens, rough. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Fay-fi-fo-fee, 
 Nut-galls grow on the Oak-tree ; 
 By tiny worms the nut-gall forms, 
 
 Like little ball ; 
 
 And from Nut-gall 
 The Gallic Acid comes. 
 
 Fee-fi-fo-fade, 
 
 From Nut-galls, too, the Tannin 's made ; 
 
 While Acorns grow in group or row ; — 
 And Live-oak long, 
 Makes ship-knees, strong, 
 
 That round the world may go. 
 
82 
 
 Mother Truth's Ale todies. 
 
 Fee-fi-fo-fap, 
 
 We tap the Maples, and the sap 
 
 We find as sweet as sugar-beet,- 
 Then boiling hard, 
 Our sure reward, 
 
 The maple-sugar treat. 
 
Mocker Truth's Melodies. 
 
 
84 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Fee-fi-fo-fap, 
 Hark and hear the Hemlock snap ;- 
 Little spine so full of wind, 
 Heated, hops, 
 And jumping, pops, 
 And makes the bright eyes shine. 
 
 Fee-fi-fo-fur, 
 See the curious chestnut-burr ; 
 Green and round, then turning brown, 
 
 Frost opens wide 
 
 Each prickly side 
 And out the chestnuts bound. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Fee fi-fo-fay, 
 Now the farmer makes his hay ; 
 Grasses grow, which workmen mow,- 
 
 Toss every-wise, 
 
 Till sunshine dries, 
 Then into stacks, they stow. 
 
 85 
 
 Fay-fee-fi-fo, 
 See the farmer wield his hoe, 
 Lettuce, greens, then corn and beans, 
 
 With pumpkin-vines 
 
 Along the lines, 
 Where many a weed o'er-leans. 
 
86 Mother Truth ' s Melodies. 
 
 Fee fi-fo-fog, 
 See the wriggling pollywog, — * 
 
 With funny tail ; but without fail 
 
 This pollywog 
 
 Will grow a frog, 
 And lose his wiggle-tail. 
 
 Fee-fi-fo-faint, 
 Colors, seven, the Rainbow paint; 
 Violet bright is first in sight — 
 
 Then indigo, 
 
 Blue, green, yellow, 
 Orange and red, — the seven, White. 
 
 * Common name for pollywig, or tadpole. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 87 
 
 Fay-fee-fi-fo, 
 '. Now you ask, "What makes 
 Rainbow ? " 
 f| It is the sun, my darling one, 
 Shines through the rain, 
 O'er hill and plain, — 
 But, see, the beauty 's flown ! 
 
 Fay-fi-fo-fear, 
 Don't you understand it, dear? 
 Raindrops fall, Sun shines through all, 
 
 Reflects beyond, 
 
 This beauteous wand 
 Which we, the Rainbow, call. 
 
Mother 7^rut/is Melodies. 
 
 THE OXEN. 
 
 The oxen are such clever beasts, 
 They '11 drag the plough all day ; 
 
 They 're very strong and tug along 
 Great loads of wood or hay. 
 
 They feed on grass, 
 when green or 
 dry; 
 
 Their flesh is beef, for food ; 
 Their lungs are " lights," 
 their stomach, " tripe," 
 'jf^m Their skin for leather 's good. 
 
 Their hair men use in mortar, too, — 
 
 Lime, water, sand, and hair, 
 They nicely mix and smoothly fix, 
 
 For plastering, so fair. 
 
Mother Trut/is Melodies. 
 
 89 
 
 For making soap their bones are used ; 
 
 Their horns for combs we group ; 
 Their feet are boiled for " neat's-foot-oil," 
 
 Their tails for ox-tail soup. 
 
 Their heart-case forms a money-bag ; 
 
 Their tallow, candles, white ; 
 Their intestine, gold-beater's skin, 
 
 With which grold-leaf we smite. 
 
 Thus every part is useful made ; 
 
 The same is true of cows, — 
 Except their ilk gives luscious milk 
 
 Instead of dragging ploughs. 
 
90 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Oxen and cows are " cattle " called ; 
 
 They go in " herds," when wild ; 
 But when they're tame, by other name,- 
 
 A " drove," en masse, they 're styled. 
 
 Their little ones are " calves," — and cows' 
 
 Rich milk produces cream, 
 Which butter makes, and nice cheese-cakes, 
 
 With curd, whey, and caseine. 
 
 And now 'tis funny, but 'tis true, 
 
 Some children young and mazy, 
 Have thought their eyes were used some- wise, 
 
 To make the ox-eyed daisy ! 
 
Mother 1 ruili s Melodies. 
 
 91 
 
 This can not be, yet creatures' bones 
 Placed round trees, plants, and bowers, 
 
 Will serve to feed just what they need, 
 To erow fine fruits and flowers. 
 
9 2 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 THE BROKEN PITCHER. 
 
 " SWEET, my love, I'm sorry 
 That you did not tell, 
 When you broke the pitcher 
 Coming from the well." 
 
 " Oh, I thought you 'd whip me, 
 Just as Betty did ; 
 Then when she would ask me, 
 I would tell a fib." 
 
 " Sweet, my child, I never 
 Punish any one 
 f , For an accidental 
 
 Thing that may be done. 
 
 " Tell me always, darling, 
 Everything you do ; 
 This will help to make you 
 
 Thoughtful, brave, and true." 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 93 
 
 THE ELEPHANTS. 
 
 THE ivory for our combs, 
 
 From elephants' tusks is made ; 
 The handles, too, for many a knife, 
 
 And for paper-knives, the blade, 
 
 The elephant knows a friend, — 
 And well remembers, too, 
 
 A kindly act, — but ne'er forgets 
 The teasing of a foe. 
 
94 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 THE WIND. 
 
 
 HAT is the wind, Mam- 
 ma " ? 
 " 'Tis air in motion, 
 child ; " 
 " Why can I never see 
 the wind 
 That blows so fierce 
 and wild ? " 
 ' Because the Gases, dear, 
 Of which the air is made, 
 Are quite transparent, that is, we 
 See through, but see no shade." 
 
 ND what are Gases. Ma ? " 
 
 " Fluids, which, if we squeeze 
 In space too small, will burst with 
 force ; " — 
 "And what are fluids, please?" 
 " Fluids are what will flow, — 
 
 And gases are so light 
 That when we give them room enough, 
 They rush with eager flight." 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 95 
 
 HAT gases, dear Mamma, 
 
 Make up the air or wind ? " 
 " 'Tis Oxygen and Nitrogen 
 
 That chiefly there we find ; 
 And when the air is full 
 
 Of Oxygen we 're gay, 
 But when there is not quite enough, 
 We 're dull or faint away." 
 
 
 THE FOG. 
 
 HAT is the Fog, Mamma? " 
 
 " Sometimes the air is light 
 
 And cannot bear up all the mists, 
 And then 'tis foggy, quite ; 
 
 But when air heavier grows, 
 The fog is borne above, 
 And floated off, the cloudy stuff, — 
 Just see it, graceful, move." 
 
9 6 
 
 Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 THE RAIN. 
 
 U HAT makes the rain, Mamma ? " 
 " The mists and vapors rise 
 From land and stream and roll- 
 
 ing sea, 
 
 Up toward the distant 
 v skies ; 
 
 And there they form the clouds, 
 
 Which, when they 're watery, dear, 
 Pour all the water down to earth, 
 And rain afar or near." 
 
 THE SNOW. 
 
 HAT makes the Snow, Mam- 
 ma ? " 
 
 " When very cold 
 above, 
 
 The mists are frozen high in air, 
 And fall as snow, my love." 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 " And Hail ? " *"Tis formed the same 
 Cold streams of air have come 
 And frozen all the water-drops, 
 And thus the hail-stones form. 
 
 97 
 
 OW do not question more, 
 
 Dear child, but run, and play, — 
 I '11 tell you of the Water, Fire, 
 And Light, another day." 
 " Oh yes, and, dear Mamma, 
 
 Of Thunder, Lightning, too, 
 For I shall want to know it all, 
 So tell me, Mama, do." 
 
98 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 TRUTH. 
 
 Do not let " Mother Truth " find a falsehood all over, — 
 Amongst all her children, no, never a lie ; 
 
 Stand for Truth, ye wee babies, for Truth, ye who 're 
 older, 
 For Truth while you live, and for Truth till you die. 
 
 All ye myriads of children this little book talks to, 
 Form now in each household a band for the Truth ; 
 
 Do not let even a " white lie," and still less a " whopper," 
 Find a place in your hearts, nor your heads, nor your 
 mouth. 
 
 You know God is Truth ; — and as you are His children, 
 You want to be like Him as near as you can ; 
 
 Speak the Truth, live the Truth, be the Truth with Him, 
 And Heaven will have come, as Christ taught in his 
 plan. 
 
IOO 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 HI-DIDDLE, BO-DIDDLE. 
 
 Hl-DIDDLE, HO-DIDDLE, 
 
 Pop-diddle-dee, 
 This Earth of ours, on which we live, 
 Is round as it can be. 
 
 Pray, then, what is a 
 
 Mountain, valley, hill ? 
 They are but like little warts, 
 And pores, on orange-peel. 
 
 Hi-diddle, ho-diddle, 
 
 Pop-diddle-dee, — 
 Our Earth is swinging in the air, 
 As you can plainly see ; — 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 101 
 
 Pray, then, what keeps it 
 
 Hanging up in space ? 
 The Sun, my child, attracts the Earth 
 And holds it in its place. 
 
 Hi-diddle, ho-diddle, 
 
 Pop-diddle-dee, — 
 A lovely Moon is shining for 
 This Earth of ours, you see, — 
 
 Held in its cradle 
 
 Ever since its birth, 
 Because our globe attracted it, 
 As the Sun attracts the Earth. 
 
 Hi-diddle, ho-diddle, 
 
 Pop-diddle-dee, 
 What I mean by globe, child, 
 You 're wondering now, I see. 
 
102 Mother Truth 7 s Melodies. 
 
 A globe or a ball, dear, 
 
 Is what is round and true, 
 And that is why I'm calling it, — 
 This Earth, — a globe, to you. 
 
 Hi-diddle, ho-diddle, 
 
 Pop-diddle-dee, 
 Instead of globe I might have said 
 A spJiere for you and me ; 
 
 For all the same, in truth, 
 
 Are sphere and globe and ball, 
 And liemi 's half — so half this Earth, 
 A hemisphere, we call. 
 
 Hi-diddle, ho-diddle, 
 
 Pop-diddle-dee, 
 'T was once supposed the Earth stood still, 
 While Sun went round it, free ; — 
 
 But now we've learned it well, 
 
 That 't is the earth doth turn 
 Upon its Axis, as it 's called ; 
 And also round the Sun. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 i o.i 
 
 Hi-diddle, ho-diddle, 
 
 Pop-diddle-dee, 
 Our Earth, in turning round, 
 How long may she be ? 
 
 She turns on her axis 
 In a day and a night, 
 But to go around the Sun 
 Takes a year for the flight. 
 
io4 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 WHA T IS THE AXIS ? 
 
 Now you ask " What is the Axis ? " 
 
 With an apple I will show ; 
 Place your thumb upon the stem-place, 
 
 And your finger at the blow ;— 
 Now we '11 just suppose the apple 
 
 Has a stem that passes through, 
 And this stem would be the Axis ; 
 
 Now we '11 whirl the apple, true, 
 
 Holding fast 'twixt thumb and finger, — - 
 That 's the way the Earth goes round 
 
 On its Axis, as we call it, 
 
 Though no real stem is found. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 105 
 
 And the two ends of the Axis 
 
 Have befti called the Poles, my dear ; 
 
 Yes, the North Pole and the South Pole, 
 Where 'tis very cold and drear. 
 
 Now we '11 hold a bigger apple 
 
 At a distance, for the Sun ; 
 Tip the smaller one a little, 
 
 And then slowly wheel it round, 
 All around the larger apple, 
 
 And it represents the Earth 
 Circling round the Sun that holds it, 
 
 Ceaseless, in its yearly path. 
 
 Wondrous is the strong attraction 
 
 Of the Sun which holds in place, 
 All the Planets in their turnings, 
 
 All the Stars that see his face ; 
 But more wondrous far the power 
 
 That created Sun and us, 
 And that gave a form and being, 
 
 To this mighty Universe. 
 
 " The Universe ! " now you exclaim ; 
 
 " By the Universe, what do you mean ? " 
 
 5* 
 
io6 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Tis the Sun and the Planets and everything known, 
 That we call by this Universe name. 
 
 Now the " Planets," you ask, 
 
 " What are Planets ? " They 're globes, 
 Some larger, some smaller than Earth, — 
 
 Which are swinging in space, 
 
 And are all held in place, 
 By the God-power that first gave them birth. 
 
 Wm 
 
 ■M 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 OUR LANGUAGE KEY. 
 
 107 
 
 We are small, and we are few, 
 But we 're wondrous mighty, too,- 
 For no word can language wear, 
 Save in it we hold a share. 
 One of us in May is met, — 
 One is caught in every net ; 
 One is in the clambering vine, 
 One, in Moon, must ever shine ; 
 One 's in you, — and all so shy, 
 The last is hiding in your eye. 
 
io8 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 TWINKLE, TWINKLE. 
 
 " Twinkle, twinkle, little star," 
 Up above the world so far, 
 Whisper now and tell me, pray, 
 What you are, and how you stay. 
 
 " Some of us away so far, 
 Planets like your own Earth, are ; 
 And we shine with borrowed light, 
 Borrowed from the Sun, so bright. 
 
 " Some of us are silvery moons, 
 Shining all the nightly noons ; 
 Some of us are jelly, soft, 
 Shooting, falling, from aloft. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 109 
 
 " Some of us are Nebulae, — 
 Faint and misty stars we be ; — 
 Some are Suns to other worlds ; 
 Here and there a Comet whirls. 
 
 " Having each our time and 
 
 place, 
 Swinging in the wondrous 
 
 space ; 
 Held in line by Him who 
 
 planned, 
 And who holds you in His 
 
 hand." 
 
no 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 OLD SOL LN A JINGLE. 
 
 Hl-DIDDLE-DIDDLE, 
 The Sun 's in the middle, 
 
 And planets around him so grand, 
 Are swinging in space, 
 Held forever in place, 
 
 In the Zodiac q-irdle or band. 
 
 MERCURY. 
 
 Hi-diddle-diddle, 
 
 The Sun 's in the middle, 
 And Mercury 's next to the Sun ; 
 
 While Venus, so bright, 
 
 Seen at morning or night, 
 Comes Second, to join in the fun. 
 
 VENUS 
 
 EARTH. 
 
 Hi-diddle-diddle, 
 
 The Sun 's in the middle, 
 And Third in the group is our 
 Earth ; 
 
 While Mars with his fire, 
 
 So warlike and dire, 
 Swings around to be counted the Fourth. 
 
 MARS. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 in 
 
112 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Hi-diddle-diddle, 
 
 The Sun 's in the middle, 
 
 While Jupiter 's next after Mars, — 
 And his four moons at night 
 Show the speed of the light ; 
 
 Next, golden-ringed Saturn appears. 
 
 JUPITER. SATURN. 
 
 Hi-diddle-diddle, 
 
 The Sun 's in the middle, 
 After Saturn comes Uranus far ; — 
 
 And his antics, so queer, 
 
 Led Astronomers near 
 To old Neptune, who drives the last car.* 
 
 URANUS. 
 
 NEPTUNE. 
 
 Other planets are as yet too little known to claim place. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 ii. 
 
 " ROBERT OF LINCOLN." 
 
 Bob-o-LINK, bob-o-link, reed-bird, butter-bird, 
 All through the country his jingle is gayly heard ; 
 Revelling in rice-fields he sweeps through the South, 
 While wheat, corn, and barley-fields welcome him North. 
 And Bobby is wild with his singing and chatter, 
 So saucily calling with rattle and clatter, 
 Bob-o-link, bob-o-link, Tom-denny, Tom-denny, 
 Come-now-and-pay-me-that-two-shillings- one-penny, — ■ 
 No,-I'll-not-wait-for-a-day-nor-a-minute, 
 So-pay-me-up-quick-or-you '11-get-your-foot-in-it ; — 
 Chink-a-chee, chink-a-chee, chink-a-chee, chin-it, 
 Yes,- pay-me- up-quick, -or-you '11-get-your-foot-in-it. " 
 
ii4 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 LIMP Y- LIMP I '- DINGL E. 
 
 LlMPY-DlMPY-DlNGLE, chicky-bid would stray 
 
 To the trap that had been set for weasels, many a day. 
 
 Limpy-dimpy-dingle, chicky-bid walked in, 
 
 And the trap, its teeth shut up, on chicky- biddy's shin. 
 
 Limpy-dimpy-dingle, chicky-bid is brought, 
 
 And her leg, so sore and big, we bathe with water hot. 
 
 Limpy-dimpy-dingle, here's a broken bone, 
 All so rough, — but close enough, we bring the ends, 
 right soon. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 1 1 5 
 
 Limpy-dimpy-dingle, strips of paste-board cut, 
 We will place with care and grace, from thigh to trem- 
 bling foot. 
 
 Limpy-dimpy-dingle, softest cotton, too, 
 
 Just within the paste-board thin, to fit around so true. 
 
 Limpy-dimpy-dingle, now with tape or band, 
 Neatly wind, and closely bind, with deft and skilful 
 hand. 
 
 Limpy-dimpy-dingle, nature '11 do the rest, 
 
 And soon will knit the bone to fit, as good as very best. 
 
n6 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 THE RA TTLE OF THE BONES. 
 
 OW many bones in the human face ? 
 FOURTEEN, when they 're all in place. 
 
 How many bones in the human head ? 
 Eight, my child, as I 've often said. 
 
 How many bones in the human ear ? 
 THREE* in each; and they help to hear. 
 
 How many bones in the human spine ? 
 Twenty-six ; like a climbing vine. 
 
 How many bones of the human chest ? 
 TWENTY-FOUR ribs, and TWO of the rest. 
 
 How many bones, the shoulders, bind ? 
 Two in each ; one before, one behind. 
 
 HOW many bones in the human arm ? 
 In each arm, ONE ; TWO in each fore-arm. 
 
 * Standard authorities give three, though latest works say four. 
 
I iS Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 How many bones in the human wrist ? 
 EIGHT in each y if none are missed. 
 
 How many bones in the palm of the hand ? 
 FIVE in each, with many a band. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 119 
 
 How many bones in the fingers ten ? 
 TWENTY-EIGHT, and by joints they bend. 
 
 I'' How many bones in the human hip ? 
 One in each;— like a dish they dip. 
 
 How many bones in the human 
 thigh ? 
 A ^ipp ONE in each, — and deep they lie. 
 
 'fipl How many bones in the human knees ? 
 ' ONE in each, — the knee-pan, please. 
 
 How many bones in the leg from the 
 
 knee ? 
 TWO in eac/i,—we can plainly see. 
 
 How many bones in the ankle strong? 
 SEVEN in each, — but none are long. 
 
120 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 How many bones in the ball of the foot ? 
 Five in each • as in palms were put. 
 
 How many bones in the toes half-a-score ? 
 Twenty-EIGHT, — and there are no more. 
 
 And now, all together, these many bones, fix, 
 
 And they count in the body TWO HUNDRED and SIX. 
 
 And then we have, in the human mouth, 
 Of upper and under, THIRTY-TWO teeth. 
 
 And w T e now and then have a bone, I should think, 
 That forms on a joint, or to fill up a chink, — 
 
 A Sesamoid bone, or a Wormian, we call, 
 And now we may rest, for we 've told them all. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 121 
 
 WHOLL Y HOLE- Y. 
 
 SEVEN million little openings, 
 
 God has made upon your skin ; 
 Mouths of tiny little sewers 
 
 That run everywhere, within. 
 And along these numerous sewers 
 
 All impurities must go, 
 That are not by other outlets, 
 
 Carried off with active flow. 
 6 
 
122 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 When these many little openings, 
 
 We call PORES, get shut quite close, 
 Through your frame the poison wanders, 
 
 Making you feel dull and cross. 
 It will make your lungs grow tender, 
 
 And they '11 soon be sore, and cough ; 
 It will make your stomach feeble, 
 
 And your head ache hard enough. 
 
 Then your heart can not be joyous, 
 
 And your other organs, too, 
 Will get weak, and be unable 
 
 For the work they ought to do ; 
 Quaking nerves will groan and quiver, 
 
 Weary bones be racked with pain, 
 And you '11 all the time be saying : 
 
 " How can I be well again ? " 
 
 HEAT and BATHING widely opens 
 
 All the pores, when discords dire, 
 Quick flow out in perspiration, 
 
 Quenching all the fever-fire. 
 Ravelling out the tangled tissues, 
 
 Setting free the life-blood's flow, 
 Pouring forth the pent-up poisons, 
 
 Wakening thus a healthful glow. 
 
124 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 THE BREATH 0' LIFE. 
 
 OUR lungs are formed of curious 
 cells, 
 And tubes to draw in air,— 
 
 And if we breathe quite 
 deep and full 
 And take our needful 
 share, 
 'T will keep our blood so 
 red and pure, 
 Our health so firm 
 and true, 
 We scarce shall know what suffering means, 
 But joyous feel, and new. 
 
 But if we wear our clothing tight, 
 
 The little cells will close, 
 And then they cannot do their work, 
 
 And thus our health we lose ; — 
 Or if we breathe the air impure, 
 
 'T will give us tainted blood, 
 While plenty, pure, sun-ripened air 
 
 Will make us glad and £ood. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 "5 
 
 . \naar 
 
 J>J*^>- 
 
 mm 
 
 CURIOUS TREES. 
 
 THE COW-TREE. 
 
 South America's soil 
 
 Yields the towering Cow- 
 tree, 
 With sweet milk in its cells 
 
 For you or for me ; 
 Its sap is the Milk,— 
 
 Cut the tree and it flows ; 
 Like leather its leaves, 
 SgkAnd its branches like bows. 
 !'(t 
 
126 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 THE SUGAR-PINE. 
 
 Then, too, my dear children, 
 
 The sweet Sugar-pine, 
 On Pacific's wild coast, 
 
 In our own soil we find ; 
 Cut or scoop out the trunk, 
 
 And the juices ooze forth, 
 And harden, for sugar, 
 
 Like icicles, North. 
 
 THE BUTTER-TREE. 
 
 And, funny enough, 
 
 There's a Butter-tree, too ; 
 Its seeds, when boiled down, 
 
 Will make butter for you. 
 In India and Afric 
 
 The Butter-tree grows, 
 With coffee and spices, 
 
 As every one knows. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 127 
 
 THE BREAD-FRUIT TREE. 
 
 AND listen, dear children, 
 
 In hot countries too, 
 The Bread-fruit tree grows, 
 
 Most delicious for you ; 
 Its great roasted nuts, 
 
 Like soft, sweet loaves of bread, 
 Form most of the food 
 
 On which natives are fed. 
 
128 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 And further, its fibres 
 
 Of bark, will make cloth ; 
 Its wood, boats and houses ; — 
 
 Its leaves are not loath 
 To be used for a towel, 
 
 A table-cloth, napkin ; 
 Its juice will make bird-lime, 
 
 And tinder, its catkin. 
 
 THE CLOVE-TREE. 
 
 And, children, one more, 
 
 Here's a spicy Clove-tree, 
 Growing forty feet high, 
 
 Ornamental, you see ; 
 The little round drop, 
 
 Fixed the four prongs be- 
 tween, 
 Forms the blossom or flower, 
 
 When it's not picked too 
 green. 
 
 Now list, while I tell you, — 
 Clove-trees will not grow 
 
 Except in hot climates, 
 Moluccas, or so, 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Where they bloom the year round, 
 
 In the sunshine or storm, 
 With their trunks straight and smooth, 
 
 And their pyramid form. 
 
 And lastly, dear children, 
 
 Clove-trees never flower 
 Till a half-dozen years 
 
 They have grown, maybe more ; 
 Then the buds, picked by hand, 
 
 And dried quickly, are best ; — 
 Trees a hundred years old 
 
 Often yield with the rest. 
 
 129 
 
 6* 
 
130 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 NO EYES. 
 
 Those Creatures that live in the dark, 
 
 And have no use for eyes, 
 Are made without these organs bright, 
 
 Which we so highly prize. 
 
 The fish in the Mammoth cave, — 
 
 Some species of the Ant, — 
 Have only a trace where eyes should be, 
 
 Yet never know the want. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 Who knows but girls and boys, 
 Kept always in the dark, 
 
 Might come to have but little sight, 
 And finally not a spark. 
 
 131 
 
 God meant us to live in the light 
 He has poured it all about ; 
 
 Oh, let us not ourselves destroy, 
 By shutting His sunshine out. 
 
132 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 
 
 " What is the Mammoth Cave ? " 
 I hear the children say, 
 Where fishes have no eyes nor sight, 
 And where 'tis dark by day ? 
 
 You all have seen a ledge 
 
 Of big rocks piled, or stone ? — 
 
 Now just suppose a door-way made, 
 Or entrance to go in. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 133 
 
 And when you 're in, a path 
 
 Leads on, right under ground, 
 And by-and-by you come to a place 
 
 Like a room with walls around. 
 
 Tis jagged and rough and rude, 
 
 Tis dark and damp as a grave, 
 But whether 'tis large or small. 
 
 'Tis always called a cave. 
 
 Now, Mammoth means monstrous big, 
 And the Mammoth Cave, we claim — 
 
 As the largest known in the world, 
 And that 's what gives the name. 
 
 And it has many a room, 
 
 Quite large and wondrous grand, 
 And it has springs and streams and lakes, 
 
 All dark, you understand. 
 
 And here are fishes, too, 
 
 Yes, fishes with no eyes, 
 That have lived in the dark for ages past, 
 
 As learned men surmise. 
 
134 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 THE CAMELS. 
 
 THE Camels live in desert lands ; 
 Their feet are made to walk on sands ; 
 They carry burdens far and near, 
 Where neither grass nor trees appear ; 
 
 Where there 's no rain, no rivers, brooks, 
 No water anywhere for folks ; — 
 But God has made in Camels' chest, 
 Peculiar sacs, for He knew best 
 
 What they must do, and that they 'd die, 
 If He did not their drink supply. 
 Before they start they drink and drink, 
 Till every sac is full I think, — 
 
 And at the mouth of every sac, 
 A muscle strong, but loose and slack, 
 Will tighten up when it is filled, 
 So that no drink can e'er be spilled. 
 
 And when on journey, last or first, 
 The camel wants to slake his thirst, 
 A bag-string loosens, and out-pours 
 Enough to satisfy for hours. 
 
136 
 
 Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 The laden camels, in a row, 
 
 Are called a Caravan, you know ; — 
 
 Sometimes a caravan is lost, 
 
 Being buried deep in sand and dust. 
 
 A storm of wind, a Simoon named, 
 Will sweep across the desert sand, 
 When camels, men, and every one 
 Must throw themselves their knees upon, 
 
 And bury faces in the earth, 
 For thus alone they save their breath ; 
 A fearful thing, but 'tis the best 
 That they can do, — now hear the rest. 
 
Mother Truili s Melodies. 
 
 Sometimes they 're buried deep, and find 
 When they dig out they 're almost blind 
 And cannot tell which way to go, 
 And thus are lost, — a serious woe ! 
 
 *Z7 
 
 Sometimes, when lost, the drink for men 
 Gets short ; is gone ; they thirst, and then 
 
 They kill a camel just for lack 
 Of what he carries in his sac. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 In deserts bare and bleak and drear, 
 The sun shines hot through all the year, 
 But many an Oasis is found, 
 Or spot where grass and trees abound. 
 
 And here is drink, and here they rest, 
 And take their fill of what is best ; 
 Then travel on in thankful mood, 
 With song and shout ! " Allah is good ! " 
 
Mother- Truth's Melodies. 
 
 139 
 
 KEY-NOTES. 
 
 Lightly flowing liquids, we,- 
 
 Tethered with our brothers, 
 Make we music, melody, 
 
 More than all the others ;— 
 Lulling, mellowy, nimble, rare, 
 
 Revelling in rhythm, 
 Running here and everywhere, 
 
 Make we merry with 'em. 
 
140 Mother TrutJis Melodies. 
 
 THE BEARS. 
 
 WlLD bears are found all over, 
 From Northern lands to South, 
 
 But largest, strongest, where 'tis cold, 
 And fiercest, farthest North. 
 
 All bears are fond of honey, 
 
 Of berries, too, and roots ; 
 They hug or squeeze their prey to death., 
 
 As this their nature suits. 
 
 They mate in June-y weather : 
 
 Their little ones are cubs ; 
 They sadly mourn when mates are killed, 
 
 You'd almost hear their sobs. 
 
 They'll try to feed a cub 
 
 That's lying cold and dead, 
 And will not flee, but stand and take 
 
 The fatal knife instead. 
 
142 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 They sleep through winter-time, — 
 But prowl in wildest storms, 
 
 With hope to find some creature killed, 
 Or struck with death's alarms. 
 
 -« 
 
 The bears are white, or black, 
 Or brown, or grizzly gray, — 
 
 The white, 'mong polar snows are found, 
 Where half the year is day. 
 
 Their fur is used for robes, 
 
 For coats, sometimes a muff; — 
 
 Their meat is prized by some as food, 
 While some would call it " stuff." 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 They nimbly climb a tree, 
 
 But " back down," — for their frame 
 Is made so lungs would forward press, 
 
 If they, head-foremost, came. 
 
 H3 
 
 THE BEAR A BLESSING. 
 
 To people of Kamtschatka, 
 The bear a blessing proves ; 
 
 His skin forms beds and coverlets, 
 And bonnets, shoes, and gloves. 
 
 His flesh and fat are dainties, 
 
 And of his intestine, 
 Is made a mask for warding off 
 
 The glare of Sun in Spring. 
 
144 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 'Tis also used for windows, 
 As substitute for glass ; — 
 
 Of shoulder-blade a tool is made, 
 That's used for cutting grass. 
 
 ,^—>-/^ 
 
 Norwegians think the Bear is 
 
 More sensible than men ; 
 While Laplands call him " Dog of God," 
 
 And dare not him offend. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 145 
 
 THE fruits of the orchard and garden 
 Are beautiful, luscious, and good, — 
 
 Part ike of them freely, dear children, 
 But eat them at meals with your food. 
 7 
 
146 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 THE RACCOON. 
 \ 
 
 Come, child, and see our pet Raccoon, — 
 The Raccoons live in the woods, you know, 
 But ours was caught, 
 And caged, and brought 
 From old Virginia, long ago. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 147 
 
 Oh, no, you need not be afraid, 
 See, he is fastened with a chain ; 
 For ropes enough, 
 He has gnawed off, 
 And he is hard to catch again. 
 
 He e'en will climb this ten- 
 ""W foot fence, 
 
 And, careless where his feet may 
 strike, 
 
 He tumbles, bang ! 
 
 And there will hang, 
 His rope being caught by vine or 
 
 And once the rascal ran 
 
 away ; 
 Was gone for days, and 
 ma3'be weeks ; 
 When children came, 
 And charging blame, 
 Said, "Your Raccoon has caught our 
 chicks. 
 
1 48 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
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Mother Truth 's Melodies. 149 
 
 So now he 's chained ; yet up he '11 climb 
 The stake to which he 's fastened tight, 
 
 And mutter low, 
 
 So pleading, Oh ! 
 'T would make you sorry for him, quite. 
 
 Just see his nose, so pointed, sharp, — 
 His ears as keen as keen can be, — 
 
 His eyes so bright, 
 
 So full of light, 
 And see him leap right merrily ! 
 
 His fur, you see, is yellowish gray, — 
 And he is nearly two feet long ; 
 
 He lives on roots, 
 
 And nuts and fruits, 
 When he 's his native woods among. 
 
 But here we give him bread and milk ; 
 He never eats like dogs or lambs, 
 
 But takes it up 
 
 From out the cup 
 With his fore-foot, as we use hands. 
 
i«;o 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 You 'd laugh to see him, I am sure ; 
 Of strawberries, too, he 's very fond ; 
 
 Will poke around 
 
 Till he has found 
 Each one among the hulls out-thrown. 
 
 Then, too, he's fond of 
 
 nice clean clothes, — 
 Will spring for sheets hung 
 out to dry ; 
 
 And children dressed 
 In very best, 
 Are sure to please his 
 dainty eye. 
 
 No matter where his feet 
 
 have been, 
 He '11 spring and plant 
 them, little pest, 
 On something white, 
 And then will fight 
 To hold, and hide it in his nest. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 151 
 
 You 've " come again to see our Coon " ? 
 Well, he is gone ; he plagued us so, 
 
 We sent the " Rac" 
 
 To Central Park, 
 Where you can see him when you go. 
 
 Oh yes, they 're glad to get him, there ; 
 They have no clothes hung out to 
 dry; 
 
 And children aye 
 
 Must stand away, 
 
 For there a keeper 's always nigh. 
 
 A "Yes" and " No " are common, hard, 
 But "yes'm," "no-sir," choice; — 
 
 Let none but sweet and gentle words 
 Flow from your gift of voice. 
 
152 
 
 Mother Truth's Me loci i 
 
 es. 
 
 THE BANKS WALL O WS. 
 
 IN a village of Bank-Swallows, 
 You will find so many a nest, 
 "That you scarce can tell their number, 
 Nor which one of them is best." 
 
Mother Truttis Melodies. 153 
 
 In the sand-hill, see the openings, 
 Round or oval, odd-shaped, some, 
 
 Size and form depending often, 
 On how loose the sand become 
 
 When with their short bills they pecked it,- 
 Clinging fast with claws the while, — 
 
 Till they made an open door-way, 
 Suiting them in size and style. 
 
 Once within, they peck and peck it, 
 Sometimes quite a yard or more, — 
 
 While the nest is snugly builded, 
 Farthest from the outer door. 
 
 But, so wise are they, this archway 
 From the entrance to the nest, 
 
 Is inclining ever upward, 
 
 That no rain within may rest. 
 
 So the pink-white eggs are laid there, 
 Safe from harm, till baby-birds 
 
 Chirrup forth to take their places 
 'Mongst the self-sustaining herds. 
 7* 
 
154 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Smallest of the swallow species, 
 Homeliest, too, yet favorites dear, 
 
 For their graceful, airy movements, 
 And their simple, social cheer. 
 
 Found are they from North to South-land, 
 Known of every tribe and race ; — 
 
 Swift in flight, yet swinging, swaying, 
 Skimming low from place to place. 
 
 Parent-birds care less for young ones, 
 Than do other swallow-kind ; — 
 
 Push them off half-fledged and timid, 
 Each his food and home to find. 
 
 Thus they, many a time, fall prey to 
 Hawks and crows, — their enemies ; — 
 
 Even the nest sometimes is entered 
 By the snakes and fleas and flies. 
 
 Swallows migrate in the Winter, 
 From the cold, to warmer climes, — 
 
 Flying back as Spring approaches, 
 To the haunts of former times. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 155 
 
 " Ne'er one swallow makes a Summer,' 
 
 Is a saying everywhere ; — 
 But when swallows come in myriads, 
 
 Blessed Summer-time is here. 
 
 JM 
 
156 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 THE MOCKING-BIRD. 
 
 The New World boasts the Mocking-bird ; 
 
 And whether caged or free, 
 His wondrous voice pours forth in songs 
 
 Of rarest melody. 
 
 His notes swell out, and die away, 
 
 As if a joyous soul 
 Were wrought to highest ecstasy, 
 
 All music to control. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 His native notes are bold and full, 
 
 And then he '11 imitate, 
 Till it would seem the feathered tribe 
 
 Were all arrayed in state. 
 
 V.I.I. |[.-.iAx \ 
 
 157 
 
 He'll whistle for the dog or cat, — 
 Will squeak like chicken, hurt, — 
 
 And cluck and crow and bark and mew, 
 So comical and curt. 
 
 While blue-birds warble, swallows scream, 
 
 Or hens - will cackle clear, — 
 In robin's song, the whip-poor-will 
 
 Pours forth his plaint so near. 
 
158 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Canaries, hang-birds, nightingales, 
 He echoes loud and long ; 
 
 While they stand silent, mortified, 
 He triumphs in his song. 
 
 THE BUSY BEES. 
 
 __.-';_ 'a 
 
 WHY do the little busy bees 
 So dearly love their queen, 
 
 And wait upon, and pay respect, 
 With watchful care and mien ? 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 159 
 
 Because the queen lays all the eggs, 
 
 And mothers all the young, 
 While every father - bee that 's 
 hatched 
 
 Is nothing but a drone. 
 
 The working-bees might all be queens, 
 
 If cared for and well-fed 
 When they are in the larvae state, 
 
 But they're half-starved instead, — 
 
 While those intended for young queens 
 
 Are fattened overmuch, 
 And nursed and petted every hour, 
 
 That they full growth may reach. 
 
 For every different kind of egg 
 That makes the different bees, 
 
 A different kind of cell is made, 
 The queen directing these. 
 
 For drones or males, six-sided cells, 
 Quite neat, and smooth, and nice ; 
 
 For working-bees a smaller cell, 
 Uncouth, and rough, and coarse ; 
 
160 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 While those for queens are large and free, 
 And fashioned fine with care, 
 
 And lined with softest silken shreds, 
 So daintily they fare. 
 
 The queen-bee lays the worker-eggs, 
 
 A dozen days, I ween, 
 And then the drones, as many more, 
 
 Then workers, then the queen. 
 
 Eggs, two or three, and sometimes four 
 
 Are laid in worker-cell ; 
 While drones and queens have each but one, 
 
 As oft is proven well. 
 
 The bluish eggs so close and warm, 
 Hatch out with three days passed ; 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 161 
 
 When larvae, white, as little worms, 
 Are watched and fed and nursed. 
 
 These larvae, when some six days old, 
 Close in their cells are shut, 
 
 And there at once begin to weave 
 A silken web about. 
 
 They turn and twist till all around 
 Themselves 'tis woven quite, 
 
 And then they rest for twenty days, — 
 'Tis such a pretty sight, 
 
 The small cocoons of working- 
 bees, 
 The larger ones of drones, 
 
 The large and plump and per- 
 fect ones 
 
 Of all the coming queens. 
 
162 
 
 Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 In twenty days they now burst forth, 
 
 Equipped from tip to toe, 
 The working-bees and drones, I mean, 
 
 For queens come forth more slow. 
 
 The queen cocoons ope from 
 behind, 
 And I will tell you why, 
 u 'Tis that the reigning queen 
 may sting 
 The others till they die. 
 
 If mother-queen leads off a 
 
 swarm, 
 
 A young queen they release, 
 
 And she may take another 
 
 swarm, 
 
 And leave the hive in peace. 
 
 Another queen is then let 
 out, 
 
 Perhaps a third and fourth, 
 As many as can raise a swarm, 
 
 To follow them, not loath; 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 163 
 
 But when no more can swarm and go, 
 
 Because not bees enough, 
 As I have said, the reigning queen 
 
 Stings all the rest to death. 
 
 For in each hive and everywhere, 
 
 One queen alone will reign, 
 And any interloper meets 
 
 With sure and sharp disdain. 
 
 Of workers, some are strong to fly, 
 While some are weak and small, 
 
 Unfitted quite, for load or flight, 
 Or outside work at all. 
 
 These last complete the larvae-cells, 
 And nurse and feed the young ; 
 
 They mix the bee-bread, cleanse the hive, 
 And care for every drone. 
 
 All bees have stings except the drones, 
 And these, when Autumn nears, 
 
 Are stung to death with furious wrath, 
 As by the book appears. 
 
164 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 And now I hope you children all, 
 Will use your wondrous power 
 
 To " gather honey all the day, 
 From every opening flower." 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 165 
 
 BBB R YYY 
 B U YY* 
 
 * Bees are wise ; 
 Be vou wise. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 167 
 
 HONEY-SWEET. 
 
 " Ah, but how do bees make honey ? " 
 Now the children, eager, ask ; 
 And we '11 try to give them answer, 
 If we 're able for the task. 
 
 See, the under-lip is lengthened, 
 
 Like a trunk or proboscis, 
 Ending by a kind of button, 
 
 Fringed with tiny, moving hairs. 
 
 All along its length, too, fringes, 
 Just the same, are growing forth ; 
 
 And by means of these, the honey 
 Is conveyed from flowers to mouth. 
 
 Then the bee has two small stomachs, 
 
 In the first of which is stored 
 All the honey it can gather, 
 
 But, when home, 'tis quick out poured. 
 
1 68 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Bees have six legs ; and in hindmost, 
 There are baskets found, or bags, 
 
 Into which the pollen gathered, 
 Is brushed off by the other legs. 
 
 And this pollen, for the bee- bread 
 And as food for young, they use, 
 
 Mixed with honey and with water, — 
 Swallowed and disgorged like juice 
 
 ><R! 
 
 By the nurses, who digest it 
 Partly, for the larvae- food, 
 
 Taking care that each shall have it, 
 Just according to the brood. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 Now we '11 watch and see them working ; 
 
 See them brush off pollen-dust ; 
 See them, too, disgorge the honey, 
 
 Into cells the sweetness thrust. 
 
 169 
 
 Children, with your useful fingers, 
 
 Hands and arms and feet and head, 
 
 Do not let the bees surpass you, 
 
 Making honey, nay, nor bread. 
 8 
 
170 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 WHAT THEY SAY. 
 
 THOSE creatures that chew the cud, 
 The " Ruminants " we call, 
 
 From " Rumen," or the stomach-pouch, 
 In which their food doth fall. 
 
 A " Species " is a kind 
 
 Of animals or plants ; — 
 Each species has a different name, 
 
 And differing traits and wants. — 
 
 And species may unite 
 To form a Race we know, 
 
 For race from root is always drawn, 
 And roots must spread and grow. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 171 
 
 That men and women are 
 
 The race most choice and fine, 
 
 We plainly see, and sometimes call, 
 The Human Race, Divine. 
 
172 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 The noble Horse neighs out, 
 " I am the race Equine, 
 (ft And nearest seem, and dear- 
 est to 
 The ' human race, divine.' " 
 
 ^ARJBBJSsjg 
 
 The Ox and Cow l-o-o, l-o-o, 
 ' ' We are the race Bovine ; 
 
 And we most useful are, unto 
 The ' human race, divine.' " 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 173 
 
 The Ass and Mule bray out, 
 " Our race is Assinine, 
 
 And very like us seem some of 
 The ' human race, divine.' " 
 
 The Dog bow-wows as race 
 Canine, Canine, Canine;- 
 
174 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies, 
 
 While Tigers, Cats and Catamounts, 
 G r-o-w-1, growl, as race Feline. 
 
 The Lion, king of beasts 
 
 (Feline), roars "Leonine" ; — 
 
 The Lamb that's to lie down with him, 
 Ba-a, ba-as for race Ovine. 
 
Mother Truth ' s Melodies. 
 
 175 
 
 Fishes in lakes or seas 
 Or rivers sport Piscine , 
 
 While birds in air, or cages close, 
 Sing " race Avine, Avine" 
 
 All bees in hives or wild, 
 Hum out the race Apine ; 
 
 
176 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 And reptiles all rejoicing crawl 
 In race, Reptilian. 
 
 I've a name that \s made up of three letters alone, — 
 That reads backwards and forwards the same ; 
 
 I speak without sound, — yes, I talk without tongue, 
 And to beauty I lay the first claim. 
 
 A word of three syllables, children, now find, 
 That holds the whole twenty-six letters combined.* 
 
 The B ing m t, John put some : f 
 
 stand take to taking . 
 
 I you throw my 
 
 * Alphabet. 
 
 f The grate being empty, John put some coal on. 
 
 % I understand you undertake to overthrow my undertaking. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 17; 
 
 SRI TAIN'S RULERS. 
 
 Old Britain was under the Romans 
 
 From fifty-five years before Christ, (55 B. C.) 
 
 To four hundred fifty-five (455) A. D. 
 
 When the Octarchy, eight states were spliced. 
 
178 Mother Truths Melodies. 
 
 For three hundred and seventy-two cycles, 
 
 This Octarchy, changing about, 
 Was ruled now by this one, now that one, 
 
 As each might, the former king, rout. 
 
 But ever since eight-twenty-seven (827), 
 Britain's rulers have reigned by descent, 
 
 From Egbert, first " Monarch of England," 
 To Victoria, daughter of Kent. 
 
 A score reigned and fell. — Second Harold 
 
 In ten-sixty-six (1066), proud, usurps, 
 But soon in fierce battle is conquered 
 
 By William of Normandy's troops. 
 
 Then came William the Conqueror, a Norman, 
 
 Then William the Second, his son ; 
 Then Henry and Stephen and Henry, 
 
 Then Richard (Cceur de Lion), and John. 
 
 Next Henry the Third, and First Edward, 
 Edward Second and Third, Richard, two (II), 
 
 Henrys Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth, and Fourth Edward, 
 Fifth Edward, — Third Richard, they rue. 
 
 Henry Seventh and Eighth, and Sixth Edward, 
 Then Mary, Bess, James, and Charles First, — 
 
 Eleven years then with no monarch ; 
 
 Second Charles, Second James, not the worst. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 179 
 
 Then William and Mary, then Anne, 
 Four Georges, Fourth William, until 
 
 Came Victoria, long live her queenship, 
 For she wields her proud sceptre with skill. 
 
i8o 
 
 Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC. 
 
 The annual path of the Sun, 
 
 The Ecliptic is called, as we see, — 
 
 And a belt, eight degrees (8°), on each side, 
 The Zodiac ever will be. 
 
 The principal planets all seem 
 
 To move in the zodiac lines, 
 While the belt, of itself, is cut up 
 
 Into twelve equal parts, called the Signs. 
 
 And these signs were first named, we are told, 
 From their fancied resemblance to beasts, 
 
 Which astronomers thought they could see 
 In the stars, from the West to the East. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 181 
 
 There is Aries, the Ram, 
 —then the Bull, 
 
 Which is Taurus, — then 
 Gemini, Twins ; — 
 
 Then Cancer, a Crab, — 
 and then Leo, 
 A Lion, — and Virgo, Vir- 
 gin. 
 
 Next Libra, the Bal- 
 
 And Scorpio, a Scor- 
 
 Sagittarius, the Ar 
 
 Capricornus, a Goat's 
 
 ance or Scales, 
 
 pion (with sting), - 
 
 cher or Arrow, — 
 
 horn, we bring. 
 
182 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Aquarius, the Bearer 
 
 And Pisces, or Fish 
 
 of Water, — 
 
 from the sea, — 
 
 All together make twelve, — and a wonder 
 It is, that these fancies should be. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 183 
 
 LITTLE MISCHIEF. 
 
 LITTLE Master Mischief 
 
 Lives in Nellie's eye, 
 Sitting in the corner, 
 
 Peeping out so sly ; 
 Now he's crossed the snow-ground 
 
 And in chamber blue, 
 Thinking he is hidden, 
 
 Peek-a-boos at you. 
 
 Now he drops the curtain, 
 
 Sure that he is hid, 
 But you see him dancing 
 
 Even on the lid. 
 Now, the curtain lifting, 
 
 You can see he's crept 
 To the inner chamber, 
 
 Where the love-light slept. 
 
 Watching now his moment 
 
 He pops out, and see 
 Mama's spools and thimble 
 
 Quickly disagree. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 185 
 
 Shall we punish Mischief? 
 
 Better teach the child 
 How to hold and lead him, 
 
 Running now so wild. 
 
 Would she like her playthings 
 
 Scattered here and there, 
 When she had arranged them ? 
 
 Would she think it fair ? 
 Would she like her puzzle 
 
 Portions of it, lost ? 
 Would she like her dishes 
 
 Everywhere uptossed ? 
 Would she like her apron 
 
 With a missing string, 
 Mama hunting, meanwhile, 
 
 Thread and everything? 
 
 Nellie, learn the lesson : 
 
 Be to others true, — 
 Always do as you would 
 
 Have them do to you. 
 
1 86 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 This the dear Lord's precept,- 
 This the Golden Rule, — 
 
 This the highest lesson 
 In our Nellie's school. 
 
 E gentle and loving, — 
 Be kind and polite ; 
 
 Be thoughtful for others, 
 Be sure and do right. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 187 
 
 GRANDMAS CANARY. 
 
 GRANDMA loves her birdy, 
 And when he gayly sings, 
 
 She will laugh and chat with him, 
 At which he hops and springs. 
 
 Fearing though that birdy 
 
 Might not understand, 
 Grandma from the toy-shop, 
 
 Brought a whistle grand. 
 
 Tuning now the whistle, 
 To his sweet bird-note, 
 
 He in singing back to her, 
 Nearly burst his throat. 
 
i88 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Birdy, free outflying, 
 Often comes to light 
 
 On Grandma's tip-of-finger, 
 Or chair- back, pretty 
 sight ! 
 
 From her hand she feeds 
 him, 
 
 And he oft will take 
 From her mouth the sugar, 
 
 With a merry shake. 
 
 Yester-morn the window 
 Being open wide, 
 
 Birdy thought it brighter 
 On the outer side. 
 
 Grandma mourning sadly, 
 Shed of tears a few, 
 
 Then she prayed the Father, 
 " Show me what to do." 
 
 Soon she set his cage out 
 On the window-sill, 
 Saying " Birdy '11 come now, 
 Oh, I'm sure he will ! " 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Then she, hopeful, praying 
 " Bring my birdy home," 
 
 Took the sweet bird-whistle, 
 Playing "Birdy, come." 
 
 And the birdy hearing, 
 Quickly came and lit 
 
 On the cage, and shortly 
 Flitted into it. 
 
 Thankful now was Grandma, 
 To the dear Lord, who, 
 
 Listening to her prayer, 
 Taught her what to do. 
 
 189 
 
190 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 HANDSOME DICK. 
 
 Elzie's kitty, white as snow, 
 Loves his little mistress so, 
 That he '11 come at her command, 
 Lift his paw to shake her hand, 
 Bow his head and kneel to her, 
 Rumpling all his milk-white fur ; — 
 Many another pretty trick, 
 Too, he 's learned, our Elzie's Dick. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 191 
 
 Well, the Church-Fair coming on, 
 Elzie thought, " What can be done 
 By a little girl like me, 
 In the cause of charity ? " 
 
 Mam'a told her she would show 
 Her some fancy work to do, 
 Which a half-a-dozen dimes 
 Sure would bring ; — so, many times 
 Elzie made her fingers fly 
 Neat and nice to form the " tie." 
 Now our Elzie, large and fine, 
 Looks like twelve, though only nine — 
 And the " tie " when quite complete, 
 Was so small, though choice and neat, 
 That it could not be denied, 
 Elzie was not satisfied. 
 So she shook her curly head, 
 As with curious smile she said : 
 " If I were a little girl, 
 
 Like Nannette or Cousin Pearl, 
 This wee ' tie ' might then appear 
 Just the thing, — but now, I fear, 
 Looking at the ' tie ' and me, 
 We shall seem to disagree. — 
 
192 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Now, Mamma, don't answer quick ; 
 
 Stop and think, — my snowy Dick, 
 
 At the Fair might win some pence, 
 
 By his wise obedience 
 
 And his pretty winsome ways 
 Being shown through all the 
 
 days ; — 
 And, dear Mama, then I should 
 Feel I'd done the best I could." 
 
 Quickly Mama took the thought, 
 And a royal cage was brought ; 
 Cushion made of scarlet bright, — 
 For our Dicky, pure and white, 
 Thus was wont to perch and 
 
 sit, — 
 And a collar blue we fit 
 To his neck, when loyal, true, 
 He presents red, white, and 
 
 blue. 
 
 Soon the cage is placed within 
 A sly corner, free from din, 
 And with tickets, five cents each, 
 Elzie sought her end to reach. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 193 
 
 " Handsome Dick ! weight fifteen pounds" — 
 Whispers Elzie, on her rounds ; 
 " What is ' Handsome Dick ' ? " they say ; 
 " Come and see, please, — step this way ; " 
 
 And once seen they 're glad to tell 
 Others of white Dick, as well ; — 
 For the cat, as knowing now 
 He must make his courtliest bow, 
 Did his best to help along 
 Elzie's plan, the friends among. 
 9 
 
194 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Upon his cushion he would stand, 
 
 Or sit, as Elzie might command ; 
 
 Then down upon his blanket lie 
 
 And be wrapped up like baby-bye ; 
 
 Would lap his milk, or dainty, sip, 
 
 And shake his pretty under-lip, 
 
 Thus showing teeth as white as pearl, — 
 
 Then round and round would quickly whirl, 
 
 Till each one seeing, cheerful, said : 
 
 " For that five cents, I'm sure we 're paid." 
 
 Thus the three days passing by, 
 Which the Fair must occupy — 
 Dollars ten — ah, yes ! and more, 
 Elzie holds within her store ! 
 Dues for cage and tickets met, 
 And the ten is Elzie's yet,— 
 Which unto the Fair she gave 
 With an air so joyful-grave, 
 That it seemed a spirit bright, 
 Nestled in her heart so light ; — 
 And a happier child than she, 
 We may never hope to see. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 195 
 
 THE DINNER-POT. 
 
 THE homeliest things are highest worth, 
 
 The dinner-pot 's a treasure 
 Compared with diamonds, chains, and rings, 
 
 Which serve alone for pleasure ; — 
 Enwreathe the dinner-pot with flame, 
 
 And fill it with love's mixings, 
 And it possesses charms beyond 
 
 All gold or fancy fixings. 
 
 And then, our bony frame-work, too, 
 
 So stiff and hard and homely, 
 Will serve when plumpness all is gone, 
 
 And lost is all that 's comely. 
 Fling beauty, grace, and sweetness round, 
 
 Festoon your lives with flowers, 
 But ne'er forget that plainest things 
 
 Are life's most precious dowers. 
 
196 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 DARE TO SA Y NO. 
 
 Dear children, you are sometimes led 
 To sorrow, sin, and woe, 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 197 
 
 Because you have not courage quite, 
 And dare not answer, No. 
 
 When playmates tell you this, or that 
 
 Is " very nice to do," 
 See first what mama says, or if 
 
 You think 'tis wrong, say No. 
 
 Be always gentle, but be firm, 
 
 And wheresoe'er you go, 
 If you are asked to do what's wrong, 
 
 Don't fear to answer, No. 
 
 False friends may laugh and sneer at you, — 
 
 Temptations round you flow, 
 But prove yourself right brave and true, 
 
 And firmly tell them, No. 
 
 Sometimes a thing that's not a sin, 
 
 You may be asked to do, — 
 But when you think it is not best, 
 
 Don't yield, but answer, No. 
 
 True friends will honor you the more,' 
 
 Ah, yes, and false ones too, 
 When they have learned you're not afraid 
 
 To stand and answer, No. 
 
198 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 And when temptations rise within, 
 And plead to " come," or " go," 
 
 And do a wrong for "Just this once" 
 Be sure you answer, No. 
 
 For when you once have done a Wrong, 
 The Right receives a blow, — 
 
 And Wrong will triumph easier now, 
 So haste and answer, No. 
 
 There's many a little boy and girl, 
 
 And man and woman too, 
 Have gone to ruin and to death 
 
 For want of saying, No ! 
 
 So, young or old, or great or small, 
 Don't fail, whate'er you do, 
 
 To stand for Right, and nobly dare 
 To speak an honest No. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 199 
 
 ASK MOTHER. 
 
 Yes 
 
 DARLING, when you question, 
 I will answer, simple, plain, 
 he Truth ; — and when a 
 playmate 
 
 5 you anything again, 
 'ome to Mother, she will tell 
 you, 
 Yes, and tell you always 
 
 true, 
 For she knows what 's 
 
 low and sinful, 
 
 And what 's right and 
 
 wrong for you. 
 
 TELL MOTHER. 
 
 TlS wrong, my dear, to do a thing 
 
 That mother must not know ; — 
 And when your playmates, old or young, 
 
 Shall tell you thus to do, 
 Leave them at once, and quickly come 
 
 To your dear Mother's side, 
 And tell her, — for she '11 know what 's wrong, 
 
 And she will be your guide. 
 
200 Mother Truttis Melodies. 
 
 DON'T TELL A LIE. 
 
 DON'T tell a He, dear children, 
 No matter what you do, — 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 201 
 
 Own up, and be a hero, 
 
 Right honest, brave, and true. 
 
 You 'd better have a whipping 
 
 Each day than tell a lie, — 
 No, not a " white one," even, 
 
 They lead to blackest dye. 
 
 The rod but hurts your body, 
 
 While lies deform your soul ; — 
 Don't mind the present smarting, 
 
 Keep the spirit pure and whole. 
 
 But I am sure that mama 
 
 And papa, too, will try 
 To help you children tell the Truth, 
 
 Nor drive you to a lie. 
 
 They will not punish harshly, 
 
 Nor when they 're angry, quite ; 
 Nor promise, and then fail to do, — 
 
 But always lead you right. 
 9* 
 
202 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 THE CHILDREN'S RAILROAD. 
 
 Old Time has built a Railroad, 
 
 On which you children speed 
 To a land of light and plenty, 
 
 Or a land of darksome need ; 
 And soon you '11 come to a meadow, 
 
 Where two tracks mark the way, 
 But they '11 run close up alongside 
 
 For many and many a day. 
 
 And one is strewn with 
 roses, 
 H While one looks bleak 
 and bare, 
 With now and then a ber- 
 ry-bush, 
 |jL And a violet here and 
 there ; — 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 On one you '11 find companions 
 Who but for pleasure seek, 
 
 While friends along the other, 
 Will words of wisdom speak. 
 
 20 
 
 Be careful in your choosing, 
 
 For if you take the Right, 
 You will travel in the shadow 
 
 Of the Rock that shields at night ; 
 'T will lead through greenest pastures, 
 
 Where softest brooklets flow, 
 And land you at a Station 
 
 That is full of cheer and glow. 
 
204 Mother Trtttti s Melodies. 
 
 On the other track, the roses 
 
 Are backed by sharpest thorns ; 
 While berries always nourish, 
 
 And the violet but adorns ; — 
 You will stumble into sluices, 
 
 And what is worse than all, 
 Your self-respect and conscience 
 
 Grow weak with every fall. 
 
 Yes, if you choose the other, 
 
 That looks so bright and gay, 
 You '11 find the bridges broken, 
 
 And the road-bed washed away; 
 And when you near the Station, 
 
 You '11 switch to a fearful leap, 
 That will hurl you into darkness, 
 
 And bury you in the deep. 
 
 But those who choose the Right one, 
 
 Grow manly, womanly, true ; 
 God's love-light shines upon them, 
 
 And falls as heavenly dew ; — 
 They grieve at your wild folly, 
 
 And will gladly help you back, 
 If at any curve or turning 
 
 You seek the trusty track. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 205 
 
 SI i 
 
 '■si 
 
 1-1'.; " ■ iM . ' \ 
 
 But ah ! the scars you 're wearing, 
 From thorns that pierced you sore, — 
 
206 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 And the ditches in which you 've fallen, 
 That were strewn with roses o'er ; — 
 
 And the joys you 've lost, unnumbered, 
 That spring from good deeds done ; — 
 
 And the fruits you 've missed, unmeasured, 
 That by others have been won. 
 
 Though friends may be indulgent, 
 
 And loved ones even forget, 
 Yourself can never banish 
 
 The memories that beset. 
 You will wish you had never travelled 
 
 The way that leads to death ; 
 You will wish you had never revelled 
 
 In the viper's venomed breath. 
 
 So beware which track you follow ; 
 
 And again I say,. beware ! 
 The False is strewn with roses, — 
 
 The True looks bleak and bare ; 
 But this, 't is plain, is only 
 
 That youthful, artless eyes 
 Are open to show and glamour 
 
 But see not deep nor wise. 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 
 
 To Truth then, children, listen, 
 
 And cultivate the seed 
 That in your hearts God planted, 
 
 To serve your every need ; — 
 Yes, heed the voice within you, 
 
 And follow it all the way, 
 For it will help you choose the road 
 
 That leads to endless day. 
 
208 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 MABEL'S SNO W-FEA THERS. 
 
 LISTEN, children, while I tell you 
 What our merry Mabel said 
 
 When she saw the feathery snow-flakes 
 Tumbling down about her head. 
 
 Clapping hands and dancing gayly, 
 " Mama, mama, come and see ! 
 
 Come and see the feathers, mama, 
 Soft and white as they can be ! " 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 209 
 
 Standing then a moment, pondering 
 As it were, whence came the snow, 
 
 Little face so wise and thoughtful, 
 Mabel cried : " Oh, now I know, 
 
 " There are lots of eider ducklets 
 Up in Heaven, above the blue, 
 And they're dropping off their feathers, — 
 
 And such downy feathers, too ! 
 
 » 
 
 " See them frolic with each other ; 
 See them kiss as fast they fly ; 
 See them make believe they're going to, 
 Then go gayly flitting by. 
 
 " See them, on the Spruce and Balsam, 
 Pile up little soft, fat hands ; 
 See their many plump, white cushions ; 
 See them wave their fairy wands. 
 
 " See the showers of flying feathers 
 Whisking 'round in merry moods ; 
 See, the telegraph their perch is, — 
 Oh, I'm sure they're almost birds ! " 
 
210 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 Now she fancies she can hear 
 them 
 Whisper of their ducklet 
 birth ;— 
 Hear their soft and wean-y 
 quacklings, 
 As they tumble down to earth. 
 
 Now she listens for the jingle 
 Of the sleigh-bells they will 
 bring ; 
 
 Now she sees the flying horses, 
 Prancing gayly at their ring. 
 
 Lovely are these fleecy feathers, 
 Dainty in each rare device ; 
 
 All unlike our ducklet feathers, — 
 White and soft, but cold as ice. 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 * ^f ^ :i 
 
 "xmrn. 
 
 if- m? : ;:;#- * 
 
 211 
 
 L<SZ 
 
 $:y&m 
 
 Yet they cover, warmly cover 
 
 Mother Earth so bleak and brown ; 
 
 Cover her with feathery mantles, 
 Comforters of eider- down. 
 
212 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 THE LADDIE- AND LASSIE-BIRDS. 
 
 L,\;t 
 
 Come sit with me in the green-wood bower, 
 While I sing you a song of love ; — 
 'Tis the song of the birds 
 In the deep, wild woods, 
 'Tis the song of the sweet ring-dove. 
 
 The laddie-bird says, " I have come to woo ; " — 
 And the lassie-bird, " Ah ! coo, coo, coo, coo." 
 
Mother Truth 's Melodies. 213 
 
 The laddie-bird says, " With a hope to win," — 
 And the lassie-bird, " Coo, coo, that is no sin." 
 
 The laddie-bird says, " Together we'll dwell," 
 And the lassie-bird says, " In the Linden dell." 
 
 The laddie-bird says, " And build our nest," 
 
 And the lassie-bird says, " In the tree to the West." 
 
 The laddie-bird says, " And raise our brood," 
 And the lassie-bird says, " In the sweet solitude." 
 
 The laddie-bird says, " Till they're fit to fly," 
 And the lassie-bird, " Yes, to the blue, blue sky." 
 
 The laddie-bird says, " Let us hie away ; " — 
 And the lassie-bird, " Yes, and begin to-day." 
 
 The laddie-bird says, " I will take this moss," — 
 And the lassie-bird says, " And I, this floss." 
 
214 
 
 Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 The laddie bird says, 
 
 "And we '11 love so 
 true ; " 
 
 And the lassie-bird, 
 
 " Ah, yes, coo, coo, coo." 
 
 Tis the old-new song that the 
 birds have sung, 
 Aye, the birds of every race, 
 Since the world was planned, 
 And came forth from the hand 
 Of the Maker, aglow with grace. 
 
 'Tis the song they will sing till time is o'er, — 
 Tis the stream that from Paradise gushed ; 
 
Mother Truth's Melodies. 
 
 215 
 
 And the music that flows 
 When the love-light glows, 
 Will never, no, never be hushed.