DON'T TELL A LIE.
Don't tell a lie, dear children,
No matter what you do,--
Own up and be a hero,
Right honest, brave, and true.
You'd better have a whipping
Each day than tell a lie,--
No, not a "white one," even,
They lead to blackest dye.
The rod but hurts your body,
While lies deform your soul;--
Don't mind the present smarting,
Keep the spirit pure and whole.
But I am sure that mamma
And papa, too, will try
To help you children tell the Truth,
Nor drive you to a lie.
They will not punish harshly,
Nor when they're angry, quite;
Nor promise, and then fail to do,--
But always lead you right.
LITTLE MOSES.
In the Talmud you will find it,--
In the quaint and curious lore
Of the ancient priests, or Rabbins,
Whom the people bowed before;
Find the story of an infant
Sitting on the kingly knee;
"Little Moses," Pharaoh calls him,--
Crowing loud in baby glee. [{295}]
And the banqueters were cheering,
When the infant with a spring,
Reached and caught the crown that rested
Upon Pharaoh's head, as king.
Caught the crown, and quickly placed it
On his own unwitting head;
But the king and all his princes,
In the deed a meaning read.
Then spake Balaam, the magician,
"Not because the child is young,
Hath he done this thing unknowing;--
He hath mocked thee, he hath flung
"In thy face thy kindly dealings;
Such hath ever been the way
Of his people; a usurper--
Let his blood be spilled this day."
But the winsome baby-fingers
Toying with the kingly beard,
Won the edict: "Call the judges;
Let their counselings be heard." [{296}]
So the judges and the wise men
Came with Jethro, Midian's priest,
Who, with wish to save young Moses,
Thus his majesty addressed:
"If it to the king be pleasing,
Fetch two plates, and we will hold
Them before the babe, a-brimming,
One with fire, and one with gold.
"If the child shall grasp the golden,
He hath done this knowingly;
He will trample on thy statutes;
For thine honor he must die.
"But if he shall grasp the other,
Know, O King, he knoweth nought
Of a royal crown or scepter,--
And his life with fire is bought."
These wise words, the king approving,
Plate of fire and plate of gold,
Courtiers brought, and screams of anguish,
Soon the childish choosing told. [{297}]
For he, baby-like, had thrust it
In his mouth; and though he flung
Quick the coal, he ever after
Spake with slow and stammering tongue.
[Footnote: Exodus IV:10]
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