72 SELECT POETRY

The songster heard his short oration,

And, warbling out his approbation,

Released him as my story tells,

And found a supper somewhere else,

Cowper

MORAL."

From this short fable, youth may learn

Their real interest to discern ;

That brother should not strive with brother,

And worry and oppress each other,

But, joined in unity and peace,

Their mutual happiness increase :

Well pleased another's faults to hide,

And in his virtues feel a pride.

 

WE ARE SEVEN;

OR, A CHILD'S NOTION OF DEATH.
A simple child

That lightly draws its breath,
And feels its life in every limb,

What should it know of death ?
I met a little cottage girl,

‘Sho was eight years old, she said ;
Her hair was thick with many a curl

That clustered round her head.

She had a rustic, woodland air,
And she was wildly clad :

Her eyes were fair, and very fair,
—Her beauty made me glad.

1 The moral here given is hy. au unknown hand