Title: Harrison's Amusing Picture and Poetry Book
Author: Unknown
Release date: September 12, 2007 [eBook #22582]
Language: English
Credits: Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
produced from images generously made available by The
Internet Archive)
| Oh! on this green and mossy seat, |
| In my hours of sweet retreat; |
| Thus I would my soul employ, |
| With sense of gratitude and joy. |
| ! farewell! the trumpet calls, The banner waves in view; And I must bid these friendly halls, One long! one last adieu! |
| The dappled herd of grazing deer, That seek the shades by day; Now started from their path with fear, To give the stranger way. |
| This is the valiant Cornish man, Who slew the giant Cormoran; A horrid savage monster, who, Before he kill'd, would torture you. |
| Why should we say 'tis yet too soon, To seek for Heaven or think of death; A flower may fade before 'tis noon, And we this day may lose our breath. |
| Ah! who is this totters along, And leans on the top of his stick; His wrinkles are many and long, And his beard is grown silver and thick. |
| I envy not thy ill-got riches, Sure oft remorse thy conscience twitches; I'd rather be yon little mouse, And seek my bread from house to house. |
| Come, Goody Dobbs, with me I pray, 'Tis only down a little way; And I will give you bread and meat, As much as ever you can eat. |
| When we devote our youth to God, 'Tis pleasing in his eyes; A flower, when offered in the bud, Is no vain sacrifice. |
| Charles Polish so attentive grew, So civil and polite; That all admir'd and lov'd him too, For all he did was right. |
| Upon a mountain's grassy side, Where firs and cedars grew; Young Sylvia wandered with her flocks, And many a hardship knew. |
| Hold Monster, hold! forbear, forbear! Thou shalt not take her life; To me she is a sister dear, To this brave man a wife. |
| I heard a noise of men and boys, The watchman's rattle too; And fire they cry; and then cry'd I, Oh dear! what shall I do. |
| Unhappy youth! what hast thou done, Why urge thy steed so fast? Alas! I hear him scream and groan; Ah me! he breathes his last. |
| Here Cinderella you may see, Weeping o'er her destiny; Her sisters to the Ball are gone, And she is left to toil alone. |
| The laughing harvest folks, at John, Stood quizzing him askew, 'Twas John's red face that set them on, And then they leer'd at Sue. |
| Why should a weak and vain desire, For outward show, and gay attire, Engage your thoughts, employ your time, And waste the precious hours of prime? |
| All praise to him who made the sun, The World by day to light; Who gave the gentle moon to cheer, The still and gloomy night. |
| Alone beneath the gloom of night, Monimia went to mourn; She left her parents' fost'ring arms, Ah! never to return. |
| Julia had a little bird, With feathers bright and yellow; And slender legs: upon my word, He was a pretty fellow. |
| Oh! stay you cruel gipsey! Nor steal this darling boy, From his distracted parents, He is their only joy. |
| Oft Ellen would go to a very deep well, To look at the water below; How naughty! to go to a dangerous well, When her mother forbade her to go. |
| Oh! pray forbear you cruel man! To beat poor donkey so; I'll give you this sweet pretty fan, If you will let him go. |
| Poor donkey, I'll give him a handfull of grass, I'm sure he's a good-natured honest old ass; He trots to the market, to carry the sack, And lets me ride all the way on his back. |
| Here's old Toby Philpot, As hearty a soul, As e'er quaff'd a pipe, Or partook of a bowl. |
| The Sportsman here at early morn, With dog and gun is seen; The Huntsman sounds his mellow horn; All nature looks serene. |
| The dying parent, like a wailing breeze, Moans in the fev'rish grasp of pale disease; While sad and watching, with a sleepless eye, Her lovely daughter sits and muses by. |
| The forked flash that now descends, And thunders too that roll; Alike are guided by God's arm, And under his control. |
| These little girls, though very young, Will never do what's rude or wrong; When spoken to, they always try, To give the most polite reply. |
| Of Blue Beard 'tis in stories said, He married many wives; And that when they too curious grew, He soon cut short their lives. |
| I think I should like to be happy to-day If I could but tell the easiest way; But then I don't know any pretty new play, Unless it's a romp with my little dog Tray. |
| At length before his wide stretch'd eyes, St. Paul's proud dome arose; That is, said Ralph in great surprize The King I do suppose!! |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| An Annual custom here was held, For all the Corporation, To hear the boy that most excell'd, Deliver an oration. |
| Alas! and is domestic strife, That sorest ill of human life, A plague so little to be feared, As to be wantonly incurr'd? |
| 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. |
| Here we see a common game, Of which most boys are fond; Some hit the ring with nicest aim, While others go beyond. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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? |
| Go; thou art all unfit to share, The pleasures of this place; With such as its old Tenants are, Creatures of gentle race. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Why is this silly girl so vain? Looking in the glass again; For the meekest flower of Spring, Is a gayer little thing. |
| I little thought that thus forlorn, In deserts I should bide; And have not where to lay my head, Amid the World so wide. |
| Dear lady, she cries, and tears trickle down, Relieve a poor beggar, I pray; I've wander'd all hungry about the wide town, And have not eat a morsel to-day. |
| Ah! there it falls, and now 'tis dead, Poor harmless little thing; The shot went through its pretty head, And broke its little wing. |
| He looks of a strong hardy race, And his bonnet and jacket of plaid; With shrewdness and sense in his face, Proclaim him a true scottish lad. |
| Oh! say what stranger cause yet unexplor'd, Could make a gentle belle reject a lord; In tasks so bold, can little men engage, And in soft bosoms dwells such mighty rage. |
| I've fought at Egypt, Italy, Marengo, Waterloo; And now I'm helpless, left to die, In misery, want, and woe. |
| Mamma shall we visit Miss Ellen to-day, And sweet little Julia and Ann; The morning's so fine, the sun is so bright, Do go dear mamma if you can. |
| Old Susan in her cottage small, Tho' low the roof and mud the wall, Enjoys within her peaceful shed, Her wholesome crust of barley-bread. |
| Great God! with wonder and with praise, On all thy works I look; But still thy wisdom, power, and grace, Shines brightest in thy Book. |
| These harmless sports we like to see, No mischief here appears; Young Alfred shews activity, Well suited to his years. |
| Run William to the baker's man, And quick to him apply; I know he'll give you, if he can, A smoking hot mince-pie. |
| Ah! poor little Red Riding Hood, You never once dreamt, When you met the Wolf in the wood, Of his cruel intent. |
| Oh! ask me not to be your bride, Oh! do not call me fair; For I have thrown the wreath aside, I once was proud to wear. |
| Away went Gilpin neck or nought; Away went hat and wig; He little dreamt when he set out, Of running such a rig. |
| Old Cherry and Blossom are having a fight, Do let us get out of their way; And not stop to witness so shocking a sight, Oh dear what a terrible fray! |
| Dancing on the village green, The pretty English girl is seen; Or beside the cottage neat, Knitting on the garden seat. |
| Some strength of arm and steady eye, This ancient game demands; To make the arrow distant fly, Is not for feeble hands. |
| Whoever played at blind-man's buff, And was the first to cry 'enough;' When nearly caught, who did not quake, Or laugh to see poor Buff's mistake? |
| When storms of passion rude arise, Be Nature's rule before your eyes; May friendship henceforth both unite, May both in future act aright. |
| With glowing cheeks the skaiter meets, The keen and frosty air; Performs variety of feats, To shew what skaiters dare. |
| Have you forgot Kate, prithee say, How many seasons here we've tarried; 'Tis forty years this very day, Since you and I, old girl, were married. |
| Two horses used to bit and bridle, But always much disposed to idle, Agreed, as soon as they were able, To steal unnoticed from the stable. |
| Thank you pretty cow that made, Pleasant milk to soak my bread, Every day and every night, Warm and fresh, and sweet and white. |
