A WALK IN THE TOWN.
How cheerful is the live-long day,
When babe and I together stray!
Among the fields and daisy-flowers,
We love to spend the happy hours;
But when Mamma shall send us down
To make her markets in the town,
Much we shall see to please the boy
And make him almost jump for joy:
Horses and carts will please him well,
And twenty things we need not tell.
But then we must not stop too long,
Mamma would say that we did wrong.
We must not saunter in the street,
Or chatter with the folks we meet,
But hasten homeward with our store,
Until we reach the well-known door:
With dirty feet we'll not be seen,
For Mary's steps are neat and clean.
If Harry for my basket begs,
I must not let him break my eggs,
Or lose my curds, or spill, or waste;
But find some toy to suit his taste:
Then Harry, nurse, and basket-store,
Will safely land at home once more.
TEETHING.
Babies, when cutting teeth, oft cry,
And bite their little thumbs;
Aught they can seize, they'll often try
To carry to their gums.
Some people give them coral bright
With bells all hung together;
And some will give them glass to bite,
Or ivory, or leather.[2]
But things that are so hard as glass
Mamma approves of never;
They grieve and hurt poor babes, alas!
And make them worse than ever.
A nurse should then be very kind
In finding what will please,
A crust of bread, if they're inclined,
Will nourish and not tease.
Their diet should be thought of too,
With care about their dress:
Lancing, when teeth are nearly thro,'
Makes babies suffer less.