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Ballads for little folk . nd, by and by, Joseph his grubbing-hoe drewFrom the earth and the roots, crying, Father, look ! do ! And he pointed his words with the toe of his shoe ! And the farmer said, shaping a gesture to suit,I see why our sweeting has brought us no fruit —There s a worm sucking out all the sap at the root! Then John took his spade with an awful grimace, And lifted the ugly thing out of its place, And put the loose earth back in very short space. And when the next year came, it only is fairTo say, that the sweeting rewarded the care,And bore them good apples, enough and to spa
Ballads for little folk . nd, by and by, Joseph his grubbing-hoe drewFrom the earth and the roots, crying, Father, look ! do ! And he pointed his words with the toe of his shoe ! And the farmer said, shaping a gesture to suit,I see why our sweeting has brought us no fruit —There s a worm sucking out all the sap at the root! Then John took his spade with an awful grimace, And lifted the ugly thing out of its place, And put the loose earth back in very short space. And when the next year came, it only is fairTo say, that the sweeting rewarded the care,And bore them good apples, enough and to spare. And now, my dear children, whenever you see A life that is profitless, think of that tree ; For ten chances to one, youll find there will be Some habit of evil indulged day by day, And hid as the earth-worm was hid in the clay, That is steadily sapping the life-blood away. The fruit, when the blossom is blighted, will fallThe sin will be searched out, no matter how small;So, what youre ashamed to do, dont do at TO MOTHER FAIRIE. Good old mother Fairie, Sitting by your fire,Have you any little folk You would like to hire ? I want no chubby drudges To milk, and churn, and spin, Nor old and wrinkled Brownies,With grisly beards, and thin : But patient little people, With hands of busy care,And gentle speech, and loving hearts ; Say, have you such to spare ? I know a poor, pale body,Who cannot sleep at night, And I want the little peopleTo keep her chamber bright ; To chase away the shadows That make her moan and weep, To sing her loving lullabies,And kiss her eyes asleep. To Mother Fairie. $7 And when in dreams she reaches For pleasures dead and gone,To hold her wasted ringers, And make the rings stay on. They must be very cunning To make the future shineLike leaves, and flowers, and strawberries, A-growing on one vine. Good old mother Fairie, Since my need you know,Tell me, have you any folk Wise enough to go ?
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectchildre, bookyear1874