THE PROUD GIRL.
JANE.
What makes you wear that muslin dress,
And such a strong, coarse leather shoe,
With cotton stockings, cambric gloves,
And such a coarse straw bonnet, too?
See here! my shoes are real kid;
Just look at them—see how they shine;
My stocking’s silk, my bonnet’s new,
And only see the straw, how fine!
Why, I should fret myself to death,
If I were dressed as mean as you;
I always cry and tease mamma
For everything I see that’s new.
MARY.
What! cry and tease your dear mamma
For finery? That would not I;
I would not grieve her for the world,
And she would grieve to see me cry.
She gives me everything she can,
And that is everything I want;
And I should be a wicked child,
To ask for more than she could grant.
But, Jane, from what you say yourself,
You’re never happy, and your pride
Is such, that, with this finery,
You never are quite satisfied.
JANE.
But what if there should be a ball,
And you should have a chance to go,
Where every one is richly dressed,
Would you appear among them so?
MARY.
A ball! I never went to one;
I do not care for scenes so gay;
But with the birds and trees and flowers,
I can be happy any day.
When dear papa comes home at night,
I’m joyous as a little bird,
For, after tea, he always tells
Something amusing he has heard.
You ought to see our pleasant home,
Dear Jennie, then you would not say,
That I, from this dear, happy group,
Could often wish to be away.
Sometimes, he brings us home a book,
Then, after supper, down we sit,
He reads to us, while dear mamma
Takes out her work to sew or knit.
Then he will read some wondrous tale,
How mighty nations rose and fell,
And sometimes lay aside the book,
And some amusing story tell.
How some have climbed the highest hill,
And yet have murmur’d all the way,
While others walk along the vale,
As pleasant as a summer’s day.
“My children,” he will often say,
“You know I cannot give you wealth;
But you have riches dearer far,
And these are innocence and health.
“While thus you live in peace and love,
Contented with the blessings given,
And grateful to your God, I trust
He’ll fit you for the joys of heaven.”
Then, ere we go to bed at night,
We kneel together while he prays
That God would fill our hearts with love,
And help us serve him all our days.
But see! while I stand talking here,
The cars are in—papa has come!
Now you may go and dance at balls,
But I’ll enjoy myself at home.
