Mother Truth's Melodies Part 26

_HANDSOME d.i.c.k._

ELZIE'S kitty, white as snow, Loves his little mistress so, That he'll come at her command, Lift his paw to shake her hand, Bow his head and kneel to her, Rumpling all his milk-white fur; Many another pretty trick, Too, he's learned, our Elzie's d.i.c.k.

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Well, the Church-Fair coming on, Elzie thought, "What can be done By a little girl like me, In the cause of charity?"

Mam'a told her she would show Her some fancy work to do, Which a half-a-dozen dimes Sure would bring;--so, many times Elzie made her fingers fly Neat and nice to form the "tie."

Now our Elzie, large and fine, Looks like twelve, though only nine-- And the "tie" when quite complete, Was so small, though choice and neat, That it could not be denied, Elzie was not satisfied.

So she shook her curly head, As with curious smile she said: "If I were a _little_ girl, Like Nannette or Cousin Pearl, This wee 'tie' might then appear Just the thing,--but now, I fear, Looking at the 'tie' and me, We shall seem to disagree.--

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Now, Mamma, don't answer quick; Stop and think,--my snowy d.i.c.k At the Fair might win some pence, By his wise obedience; And his pretty winsome ways Being shown through all the days;-- And, dear Mamma, then I should Feel I'd done the best I could."

Quickly Mamma took the thought, And a royal cage was brought; Cus.h.i.+on made of scarlet bright,-- For our d.i.c.ky, pure and white, Thus was wont to perch and sit,-- And a collar blue we fit To his neck, when loyal, true, He presents red, white, and blue.

So the cage is placed within A sly corner, free from din, And with tickets five cents each, Elzie sought her end to reach.

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"Handsome d.i.c.k! weight fifteen pounds"-- Whispers Elzie on her rounds; "What is 'Handsome d.i.c.k'?" they say; "Come and see, please,--step this way;"

And once seen they're glad to tell Others of white d.i.c.k, as well;-- For the cat, as knowing now He must make his courtliest bow.

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Did his best to help along Elzie's plan, the friends among.

Upon his cus.h.i.+on he would stand, Or sit, as Elzie might command; Then down upon his blanket lie And be wrapped up like baby-bye; Would lap his milk, or dainty, sip, And shake his pretty under-lip, Thus showing teeth as white as pearl,-- Then round and round would quickly whirl, Till each one seeing, cheerful, said: "For that five cents I'm sure we're paid."

Thus the three days pa.s.sing by, Which the Fair must occupy-- Dollars ten--ah, yes! and more, Elzie holds within her store!

Dues for cage and tickets met, And the _ten_ is Elzie's yet,-- Which unto the Fair she gave With an air so joyful-grave, That it seemed a spirit bright, Nestled in her heart so light;-- And a happier child than she, We may never hope to see.

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_BESSIE'S KISSES._

Kisses, kisses, raining, raining, On her lips, her cheeks, her brow, Till she, wearied, "Daughter, darling, Mamma's had enough for now."

"Ah! but Bessie has so many!"-- Naught the pretty prattler daunts; Mamma pleading, baby shouting, "Ah! but Bessie's more'n she wants."

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_THE DINNER-POT._

The homeliest things are highest worth, The dinner-pot's a treasure Compared with diamonds, chains and rings, Which serve alone for pleasure;-- Enwreathe the dinner-pot with flame, And fill it with love's mixings, And it possesses charms beyond All gold or fancy fixings.

And then, our bony frame-work, too, So stiff and hard and homely, Will serve when plumpness all is gone, And lost is all that's comely.

Fling beauty, grace and sweetness round, Festoon your lives with flowers, But ne'er forget that plainest things Are life's most precious dowers.

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_NANNY'S PLAY._

Our Nanny helped her mother In many a childish way,-- She picked up chips to feed the fire, And "played that it was play."

She loved the hens and chickens And fed them day by day, And dubbed them each with quaintest name, And this was always play.

She hunted through the big barn For hens' nests in the hay, And fetched the eggs right carefully, And this again was play.

She donned her mother's dust-cap And danced about so gay, And planned how she would house-keep, And this was "truly play."

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With basin full of water She scrubbed the door one day, And splashed about till mother dear Must work instead of play.

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With brush and broom a-sweeping She fluttered like a fay; The broken cup soon told her 'Twas anything but play.

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She romped around the hay-field And shook the new-mown hay, And with her baby-rake she gleaned The meadow for her play.

She ran to pick the berries That ripened by the way, And with her basket full to brim This was the best of play.

So many things, so many, Far more than I can say, Our Nanny in her childhood Has "played that it was play."

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_NANNY'S LESSONS._

Our Nanny was but four years old When mother said, "My love, Your needle learn with skill to use, It will a blessing prove."