on]

A tale should be judicious, clear, succinct,
The language plain, and incidents well link'd;
Tell not as new, what every body knows,
And new or old, still hasten to a close.

[Illustration]

And so you do not like to spell,
Ellen my dear; oh very well,
'Tis dull and troublesome you say,
And you would rather be at play.

[Illustration]

An Annual custom here was held,
For all the Corporation,
To hear the boy that most excell'd,
Deliver an oration.

[Illustration]

Alas! and is domestic strife,
That sorest ill of human life,
A plague so little to be feared,
As to be wantonly incurr'd?

[Illustration]

My numbers this day she had sung,
And gave them a grace so divine,
As only her musical tongue,
Could infuse into numbers of mine.

[Illustration]

Here we see a common game,
Of which most boys are fond;
Some hit the ring with nicest aim,
While others go beyond.

[Illustration]

Little sister come away,
And in the garden let us play;
But do not pluck the pretty flowers,
Because you know they are not ours.

[Illustration]

A boat, which oft had stem'd the tide,
Was by the shore close moored;
In which Maria fain would ride,
And therefore went on board.

[Illustration]

Good God! how abject is our race,
Condemn'd to slavery and disgrace;
Shall we our servitude retain,
Because our sires have borne the chain?

[Illustration]

Go; thou art all unfit to share,
The pleasures of this place;
With such as its old Tenants are,
Creatures of gentle race.

[Illustration]

In Westminster Abbey lie in grand state,
The bones of Kings and Noblemen great,
Whose figures in wax and marble are shown,
With Generals and Admirals carv'd in stone.

[Illustration]

Her heart beat strong; she gave a bound,
Down came the milk-pail on the ground,
Eggs, fowls, pig, hog, (ah! well-a-day,)
Cow, calf, and farm, all swam away.

[Illustration]

Why is this silly girl so vain?
Looking in the glass again;
For the meekest flower of Spring,
Is a gayer