Life At the king's gate, the crafty noon The guards waked one by one. "Ho there! Ho there! Has no man seen On the king's gate the moss grew gray; The king came not. They called him dead; And made his eldest son one day Slave in his father's stead. H. H. December In a drear-nighted December, In a drear-nighted December, Thy bubblings ne'er remember They stay their crystal fretting, About the frozen time. Ah! would 'twere so with many Life Lessons Was never said in rhyme. JOHN KEATS. The End of the Play The play is done; the curtain drops, A moment yet the actor stops, And looks around, to say farewell. It is an irksome word and task; And, when he's laughed and said his say, He shows, as he removes the mask, A face that's anything but gay. Life Lessons One word, ere yet the evening ends, Let's close it with a parting rhyme, Come wealth or want, come good or ill, And bear it with an honest heart. Be each, pray God, a gentleman. A gentleman, or old or young! (Bear kindly with my humble lays;) And peace on earth to gentle men. My song, save this, is little worth; And wish you health, and love, and mirth, As fits the solemn Christmas-tide. As fits the holy Christmas birth, Be this, good friends, our carol stillBe peace on earth, be peace on earth, To men of gentle will. WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY. From" Dr. Birch and his Young Friends." Life Lessons A Farewell My fairest child, I have no song to give you; Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever; long: And so make life, death, and that vast forever One grand, sweet song. CHARLES KIngsley. Life Lessons A Boy's Prayer God who created me Nimble and light of limb, To run, to ride, to swim: But now from the heart of joy, I would remember Him: Take the thanks of a boy. HENRY CHARLES BEECHING. Chartless I never saw a moor, I never saw the sea; Yet know I how the heather looks, And what a wave must be. I never spoke with God, Nor visited in heaven; Yet certain am I of the spot EMILY DICKINSON. |