ese will lead you
Toward the bad, you may be sure.
Do not let a playmate tell you
Anything that must be kept
As a secret from your mother;--
Something's wrong, so don't accept.

"Always tell a thing precisely
As it is; don't try to make
It more fine and entertaining;
Tell the truth for Truth's dear sake.
Never lay a finger, darling,
On what is not quite your own,
Lest temptation overtake you,
And your honesty be gone.

"In the silence of your chamber,
When no human being's nigh, {323}
Don't forget that God is with you,
Watching with all seeing-eye;
Don't forget that He will know it
If you do a thing that's wrong;
Keep yourself so pure and perfect,
That your life shall be His song.

"Now, dear child, the blessed Jesus
Always, when you wish it, hears,
Giving help to those who ask it,
Lightening woes, and lessening fears.
Follow always His example;
Take His precepts for your guide;
Learn to trust Him, for He's walking
Ever loving at your side."

{324}

_CHILD-MEMORIES._

Was ever so sweet the clover,
Was ever so clear the brook,
As my child-days, over and over,
Found fresh in the dear home-nook?

{325}

Was ever such grace of motion,
Or ever such trills of song.
As the birds in mid-air ocean,
Poured childhood's plays among?

Were ever so bright the noondays,
Were ever the skies so blue,
Or so soft the slanting moon-rays,
As stole my childhood through?

Was ever so dear a mother,
Or a child so sweet, I pray,
As my blue-eyed baby-brother,
In the time so far away?

Was ever so true boy-lover,--
O, ever such pictures bright,
As my child-days, over and over,
Reflect by memory's light!

{326}

_NELLY AND NED._

"I'M twelve years old to-day," says Ned,
"And wish I were twelve more, sir,--
And Nelly Warner's almost twelve,
So we'd be twenty-four, sir."

"'And what of that!' Why, Nelly 'n' I
Have always played together;
And then I draw her on my sled,
To school in stormy weather.

"And all the goodies that we get,
We share them half and half, sir;
And O, we have such lots of fun,
I'm sure 'twould make you laugh, sir!

"Now Nelly lives in Cottage Square,
While I live 'round the corner,
And all the boys would laugh and shout,
'Ned Jarrett loves Nell Warner.'

{327}

{328}