For Memorizing

What makes the light in them sparkle and spin?
Some of the starry spikes left in.
Where did you get that little tear?

I found it waiting when I got here.

What makes your forehead so smooth and high?
A soft hand stroked it as I went by.

What makes your cheek like a warm, white rose?
I saw something better than any one knows.

Whence that three-corner'd smile of bliss?
Three angels gave me at once a kiss.
Where did you get this pearly ear?
God spoke, and it came out to hear.

Where did you get those arms and hands?

Love made itself into hooks and bands.

Feet, whence did you come, you darling things?
From the same box as the cherubs' wings.

How did they all come just to be you?
God thought of me and so I grew.
But how did you come to us, you dear?
God thought of you, and so I am here.

-George Macdonald.

For Memorizing

MY SHADOW.

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

He has n't got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me.

One morning, very early, before the sun was up,

I rose and found the dew on every buttercup;

But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant, sleepy head; Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

-Stevenson.

SLEEP, BABY, SLEEP.

(Cradle Song.)

Sleep, baby, sleep!

Thy father's watching the sheep,
Thy mother's shaking the dreamland tree,
And down drops a little dream for thee.
Sleep, baby, sleep!

For Memorizing

Sleep, baby, sleep!

The large stars are the sheep;

The little stars are the lambs, I guess,
The bright moon is the shepherdess.
Sleep, baby, sleep!

Sleep, baby, sleep!

And cry not like a sheep!

Else the sheep-dog will bark and whine,
And bite this naughty child of mine.
Sleep, baby, sleep!

Sleep, baby, sleep!

Thy Savior loves His sheep;

He is the Lamb of God on High,
Who for our sakes came down to die.

Sleep, baby, sleep!

Sleep, baby, sleep!

Away to tend the sheep,

Away, thou sheep-dog fierce and wild,
And do not harm my sleeping child!
Sleep, baby, sleep!

-Elizabeth Prentiss. (From the German.)

For Memorizing

THREE LITTLE BUGS IN A BASKET.

Three little bugs in a basket,

And hardly room for two;

And one was yellow, and one was black,
And one like me or you;

The space was small, no doubt, for all,
So what should the three bugs do?

Three little bugs in a basket,

And hardly crumbs for two;

And all were selfish in their hearts,
The same as I or you.

So the strong one said, We will eat the bread,

And that's what we will do!"

Three little bugs in a basket,

And the beds but two could hold;

And so they fell to quarreling

The white, the black, and the goldAnd two of the bugs got under the rugs, And one was out in the cold.

He that was left in the basket,
Without a crumb to chew,

Or a shred to wrap himself withal,

When the wind across him blew,

Pulled one of the rugs from one of the bugs,
And so the quarrel grew.