FOR CHILDREN. 209

My voice hath been uttered everywhere,
And the sign of my presence seen ;

But the eye of man the form I woar
Hath never beheld, I ween !

 

THE AMBITIOUS WEED;
OR, THE DANGER OF SELF-CONFIDENCE.

AN idle weed that used to crawl
Unseen behind the garden wall,

(Its most becoming station, )
At last, refreshed by sun and showers,
Which nourish weeds, as well as flowers,
Amused its solitary hours

With thoughts of elevation,

These thoughts encouraged day by day,

It shot forth many an upward spray,
And many a tendril band ;

But as it could not climb alone,

It uttered oft a lazy groan

To moss and mortar, stick and stone,
To lend a helping hand.

At length, by friendly arms sustained
The aspiring vegetable gained

The object of its labours:
That which had cost her many a sigh,
And nothing else would satisfy —
Which was not only being high

But higher than her neighbours.

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