He, sometimes says he does not like
His pudding and his meat,
If, on the sideboard he can see
A pie or custard sweet.
But mother does not choose her boy
Should follow ways like these;
And if his plate he does not clean,
He has no pie nor cheese.
Mamma knows that, whate'er she gives
Her boy, is always good;
And she is never pleas'd to hear
Remarks about his food.
How many a half-starv'd little boy
Has nought whereon to feed!
While happy Henry, day by day,
Has all that he can need.
Note. What a privilege those children enjoy who are allowed to take their meals with their parents! Many children are really brought up in habits of daintiness and gluttony, through the mistaken kindness of nurses, who are not aware that they are laying the foundation for future misery. And who is more miserable than the epicure? surrounded by the blessings of a bountiful Giver,—and yet dissatisfied with all! Surely poverty, with thankfulness, is not half so wretched a condition!
TAKING MEDICINE.
What have I got in this blue cup?
'Tis senna-tea: come, drink it up.
Now come, my little Harry, haste;
What! say he does not like the taste?
These raisins, with a crust of bread,
Will make a pleasant taste instead,
There! now 'tis gone,—both taste and smell;
My little boy has managed well;
Mamma shall know her darling can
Drink senna-tea, just like a man:
For, tho' it is not nice to take,
Med'cine oft cures both pain and ache.
Some naughty children will not try
To drink their senna-tea, but cry;
Then worse and worse they grow, instead,
And often lie for weeks in bed,
When early care, without delay,
Might send their poorliness away.
When nurses have a sickly charge,
Their stock of patience should be large;
Their kindness and obliging care,
Should teach them peevishness to bear;
But then, in what is needful,—right,
Their hold should be both firm and tight;
Then love and confidence would still
Meet in obedience to their will,
And children would not dare to be
Unruly with their senna-tea.
Note. The practice of giving children sweet things, such as comfits and lozenges, cannot be too much reprobated. They fill children with ill-humors, by impairing digestion; they disorder the bowels, by producing an unnatural fermentation; they prevent the relish and enjoyment of plain food, and create in the little sufferer a continual craving for indulgencies. A little dried fruit, on proper occasions, is not unwholesome.