Turning to mirth all things of earth,

As only boyhood can.

Hood

JULY TWENTY-FOURTH

A tiny thing,

Whom, when it slept, the lovely mother nursed

With reverent love; whom, when it woke she fed

And wondered at, and lost herself in long

Rapture of watching and contentment deep.

Jean Ingelow

JULY TWENTY-FIFTH

But more sweet

Shone lower the loveliest lamp for earthly feet,

The light of little children and their love.

Swinburne

JULY TWENTY-SIXTH

Full often it falls out, by fortune from God,

That a man and a maid may marry in this world,

Find cheer in the child whom they nourish and care for

Tenderly tend it until the time comes,

Beyond the first years, when, the young limbs increasing,

Grown firm with life's fulness, are formed for their work;

Fond father and mother so guide it and feed it,

Give gifts to it, clothe it: God only can know

What lot to its latter days life has to bring.

Anglo-Saxon Poem

JULY TWENTY-SEVENTH

But children holds he dearest of the dear.

Ingemann

JULY TWENTY-EIGHTH