begun,
And seemed to think it made good fun,
You cruel puss.

But do not tease it so, I pray,
Because I've heard papa oft say,
It was a very cruel way,
And should not be.

So, pussy, you must kill it quite,
Not put it in so great a fright,
And seem to glory in the sight;
Do you hear, puss?

Give to the Father praise,
Give glory to the Son;
And to the Spirit of His Grace,
Be equal honor done.

[Illustration]

THE FROLICSOME KITTEN.

Dear kitten, do lie still, I say,
I really want you to be quiet,
Instead of scampering away,
And always making such a riot!

There, only see you've torn my frock,
And poor mama must put a patch in;
I'll give you a right earnest knock,
To cure you of this trick of scratching.

----Nay do not scold your little cat,
She does not know what 'tis you're saying.
And ev'ry time you give a pat,
She thinks you mean it all for playing.

But if your pussy understood
The lesson that you want to teach her,
And did she _choose_ to be so rude,
She'd be _indeed_ a naughty creature.

Penance for beating a Brother.

[Illustration]

A little girl I knew,
Who looked extremely mild;
And many thought her too
A very clever child.

But ah, one fault she had,
Although her face was pretty
Her temper it was bad;
And was not that a pity?

Both absent were one day
Her Father and her Mother
And then, I grieve to say,
She beat her little brother.

The Nurse then thought it right,
For beating little Fred,
(Although it was not night)
To put her into bed.

[Illustration]

THE NEW BOOK.

Mama, see what a pretty book
My dear papa has brought,
That I may at the pictures look,
And by the words be taught.

He knew I had been good, you said,
And had learnt all my spelling;
I'm very much obliged to you,
My dear mama, for telling.

And that when I am better taught,
And read with greater ease,
Some more new books shall then be bought,
His little girl to please.

My dear papa, he is so kind,
I dearly love a book;
And dearly too, I love to find
These pictures--pray do look!

And, O, dear, if I could but read
As fast as I can spell,
How very happy I should be,
I love to read so well.

I know mama, you'll tell me that
To practice is the way,
So will you kindly let me, now,
Another lesson say.

[Illustration]

THE DOG.

O, don't hurt th