He has so many little ones,
He cannot clothe us all.
“I always long’d to go to church,
But never could I go;
For when I ask’d him for a gown,
He always answer’d, ‘No.’
“‘There’s not a father in the world
That loves his children more;
I’d get you one with all my heart,
But, Phebe, I am poor.’
“But when the blackberries were ripe
He said to me one day,
‘Phebe, if you will take the time
That’s given you for play,
“‘And gather blackberries enough,—
And carry them to town,—
To buy your bonnet and your shoes,
I’ll try to get a gown.’
Phebe and Billy going to School.
“O Miss, I fairly jumped for joy,
My spirits were so light:
And so, when I had leave to play,
I pick’d with all my might.
“I sold enough to get my shoes,
About a week ago;
And these, if they had not been spilt,
Would buy a bonnet too.
“But now they are gone, they all are gone
And I can get no more,
And Sundays I must stay at home
Just as I did before.