Leila Lee

“ In these tiny ant-hills we see above ground
Small buildings of full twenty stories are found,
Supported by pillars and walls.
What wonderful instinct these creatures display
In the care of their young on a damp rainy day,
As they run from one room to another!
And up stairs and down stairs they hasten again,
As each little ant, to be kept from the rain,
Must be carried up stairs by its mother.
When the clouds are dispersed, again they must run,
These delicate ants could not bear the hot sun ”

“ That rich and poor alike might see
He condescends their Friend to be.
The poorest child may never fear
To pour its wants into his ear,
For Jesus, though a king above,
Looks down with sympathy and love.
He knows exactly what we need,
And he will be our Friend indeed,
Will kindly listen to our prayer,
And all our little sorrows share. ”

“ All arguments failed;—Charlie would not confess
That he had been telling a lie.
The teacher stood there, with her heart raised in prayer
To One whom she felt ever nigh;
Oh how could she bear that her pupil should dare
To grieve him by telling a lie.
“Dear Father, I know not what course to pursue;
Oh guide me,” she said, with a sigh;
“I am young and too helpless to know what to do
With a child who is telling a lie. ”

“ These beautiful hills in their wintry attire.
The Ice King has laid his cold hand on the rills,
They cannot now playfully leap down the hills;
Snowy mountain and valley alike are made hoary;
Jack Frost reigns triumphant, alone in his glory.{57}
One sees, now and then, a lonely snow-bird,
But old Robin red-breast no longer is heard
Warbling out a glad song to the praise of her Maker,
She has gone where the Ice King cannot overtake her.
Who guides the dear birds, that they never get lost
When seeking a home to escape from the frost? ”

“ O, give him thine heart, then, in grief and in joy;
He will love thee and make thee his own little boy;
Will guard thee in safety thro’ life, and will even
Take thee with him to dwell in his beautiful heaven. ”

“ Mary’s the oldest of them all,—
And hard enough she has to work
To help the rest, though she’s so small.
As soon as strawberries are ripe,
She picks all day and will not stop
To play, nor eat a single one
Till she has filled her basket up.
Then down she comes to sell them all,
And lays the money up to buy{117}
Her stockings and her shoes to wear
When cold and wintry storms are nigh.
Then Mary has to trudge away,
And gather wood thro’ piles of snow,
To keep the little children warm,
When the frost bites and cold winds blow. ”

“ BIBLE HOUSE (Astor Place) .
{187}
BIBLE STORIES AND HYMNS. SOLOMON’S CHOICE.
“Be strong, and shew thyself a man!”
Said David to his youthful son.
“I die! keep thou the charge from God,
And in his ways and precepts run!”
So David slept—and Solomon
Desired to do just what was right,
And God spoke to him in a dream,
“What shall I give thee? Ask to-night.”
“Oh, God,” he said, “Thou hast been kind
To place me on king David’s throne;
Yet, I am but a little child,
I am not fit to go alone.
“An understanding heart I want,
To guard thine Israel, Lord, from sin—
This mighty people! ”

“ Where the mountain seems split for more than a mile,
And a picturesque landscape around you is spread,
With the White Mountains hanging just over your head.
This Notch is so wonderful, travellers agree,
It repays one to come a long distance to see;
Amid Alpine heights such views may abound,
But in our own country they seldom are found.
American Switzerland! Such is the name
We give to the Old Granite State for the fame
Of its islands and lakes, its cascades and fountains,
And the bold, lofty peaks of the snowy White Mountains.
SHUN THE SWEARER.
Run home, little boy! ”

“ Deep penitence was given;
And thus, for Jesus’ sake, we trust,
He found a home in heaven.
MY SON, GIVE ME THINE HEART.
Time is flying, dearest children,
Come and give your hearts away;
Come to Jesus! Come to Jesus!
He will teach you how to pray.
Time is flying—do not linger,
Listen to his voice to-day ”

“ And spring shall renew their bright verdure again,
Our loving, kind Father shall still fondly care
For the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air.
Not a robin or sparrow can fall to the ground;
Not a raven may cry but he heareth the sound.
Then will not “Our Father in Heaven” be nigh,
And bless us, dear children, when we, too, shall cry?{58}
Oh, yes! Are ye not of more value than they?
In accents most tender, we hear Jesus say;
And I’m sure, if God takes such kind care of a bird,
Our prayers, if sincere, cannot fail to be heard.
THE LAKE—ISLES—NOTCH—WHITE MOUNTAINS, ETC. ”

“ MORNING SONG AND MORNING PRAYER. MOTHER.
Awake, my daughter, come and see
This Robin red-breast on the tree;
Open your drowsy eyes!
Spring up from bed and see her now,
She’s lighting on the highest bough,
Come quick, before she flies!
LILLIE.
Yes, dear mamma, I see the bird,
And sweeter notes I never heard
Than she is warbling now;
I hope she will not fly away,
But sit and sing the live-long day,
On this, her favorite bough.
{26} MOTHER.
The birds must build their nests in Spring,
They have to work as well as sing ”

“ Thus spoke a wise king, in the Proverbs, you know,
And though we’re no sluggards, I think if we go
We’ll find a rich feast for our eyes.
One square foot of earth, though to us very small,
To the ant is a kingdom. ”

“ That in that dear disciple’s home,
She her remaining days might spend.
My mother, I would yield to thee,
The warm affection of my heart,
Nor ever false or wayward prove,
Or from thy precepts e’er depart.
Help me to serve my mother’s God,
And bear his image on my heart!
Then, when these scenes of earth are o’er,
We’ll meet in heaven no more to part.
{197} ON FAITH.
How sweet it is my child,
To live by simple faith,
Just to believe that God will do
Exactly what he saith. ”

“ A change soon was wrought, when Miss Mary was taught
By God, her kind Father on high,
That his Word must be brought, and thence must be sought
His threatenings to those who will lie.{111}
Charlie reads of the joys of the ransomed above,
And learns that this home in the sky
Forever is closed by our Father in love,
From those who on earth learn to lie.
To that Heavenly City, so good and so fair,
The Lamb will a welcome deny,
And no little child can e’er hope to go there,
“Who loveth and maketh a lie.” [6]
The Bible has conquered! ”

“ I have fitted her work, when ’tis done,” said mamma,
“And the lesson is learned, she may go.”
“I can work after dinner,” said Lillie, “do please
Just for once to grant Eddie’s request.”
“My dear,” said her mother, “’tis no use to teaze,
After work, not before, you may rest.”
Lillie took up her book, with a tear in her eye,
She could scarce see a word that was in it;
But Eddie declared ’twas of no use to cry,
And she thought so herself in a minute.
Resolving to try, and do all in her power,
To make of each duty a pleasure,
She conquered ”

“ Mamma has asked, that God would bless and guard you while away.
“And God has kindly heard her prayer, and kept you safe and well.”
She worked awhile,—at length, she said, “Dear Alfred, please to tell
Where you have put your Bible? I’ve unpacked the trunk with care,
And I have laid upon the bed most all the clothes you wear.
“I’ve looked at every article, and yet I have not seen
A Bible or a Testament; brother, what can it mean?
I fear that you have been without a Bible all the way;
Is it in California, or have you lost it,—say?” ”

“ That father rose in penitence, sweet thoughts within him stirred,
A yearning, warm desire to hear from God’s own Word
Those precious truths she thus had lisped in accents sweet and mild;
He placed the Bible in her hand; “Take this and read my child.”
She read the holy Book, and, at that midnight hour,
God sent his blessed Spirit to seal it home with power;
Those sweet words of the loving John, that “all who look may live,” [4]
He heard, and said, “Dear Mary, can Jesus now forgive?{86}”
“Oh listen, father! ”

“ The mother quick replied,
“No, take the living child for thine,
Give me the one that died.
“O king, in pity, spare my boy,
And let him not be slain!
Thy handmaid then will hasten home,
Nor trouble thee again.”
“In nowise slay or hurt the babe,”
King Solomon replied,
“The mother’s heart shall plead for her,
Give her the living child!”
{191} SOLOMON’S WISDOM.
And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt."—Kings iv. ”

“ Mary oft pondered in her heart
Those things the angels did impart.
CHILD.
How could they be so very poor,
When Christ was Lord of all? I’m sure,
I should have thought that he would come
To live in some delightful home. ”

“ All nations take delight.
Silver, and gold, and precious stones,
Were sent him day by day,
And camels laden with rich goods,
From regions far away.{192}
So prosperous a reign as this,
God’s people ne’er had known,
And mighty kings oft came to see
The monarch on his throne.
Thus God had said, [9] “Since thou dost choose
To walk in wisdom’s ways,
Thou shalt be rich, and wise, and great,
Before me all thy days.
SOLOMON AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA.
“And when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon she came to prove him with hard questions. ”

“ Run home and see what you can find, and bring them before night.
The boy was very poor, indeed, but he was good and kind,
And when he went among his friends, it was not hard to find
Those who approved of Willie’s care of God’s most Holy Word,
They gladly gave the papers when the story they had heard.
An hour had scarcely passed, when the grocer saw, with pleasure,
The little boy returning to claim the promised treasure.
He placed the Bible in one scale, the papers in the other.
Oh, thank you, sir! ’tis mine! he cried, and ran to tell his mother.{38}
How happy was that mother ”

“ No monarch yet has ever reigned
So well. No king so wise shall live.{188}”
“’T is well that thou hast sought this thing,
And hast not asked long life and health,
Riches or honors,—yet I give
To thee and thine abundant wealth!”
“Ask what thou wilt” in prayer, dear child;
God promises to give it thee,
And shouldst thou heavenly wisdom seek,
All other things shall added be.
SOLOMON’S JUDGMENT.
“And all Israel heard of the judgment, and they feared King Solomon, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him."—Kings iii: 28.
No King e’er reigned like Solomon,
So good was he and wise ”

“ You would lose all this innocent joy.”
“O no! dear mamma, I should not wish to steal,
So I’ll bid these sweet roses adieu!
Now, Rover,” said Ella, “we’re ready to play,
And I will be happy with you.”
IDA MAY.
No little girl
More bright and gay,
Or happier
Than Ida May
As she ran off
To school one day,
And passed the store
Of Mr. Gray,{14}
Where, near the door,
Some ripe plums lay,
And Satan whispered,
Ida May—
Take but one plum,
Then run away;
You’ll not be seen
By Mr. Gray.
Oh, had she thought
One prayer to say,
She’d not have sinned,
Poor Ida May! ”

“ That story of the Prodigal, which I have often heard;
For I have wandered far away, but now desire to come
And love and serve that Being who hath safely brought me home?”
Her prayer was heard; and Alfred Bell is now a Christian man,
Serving his God with faithfulness, and doing all he can{22}
That those who go to distant lands, to search for mines of gold,
May find within God’s holy Word a mine of wealth untold.
THE PULSIFER CHILDREN.
Oh, Mother! ”

“ Perhaps those wasted hours had even
Dispelled the thoughts which turned to heaven.{89}
But care and industry are found,
With, heaven and earth’s best blessing crown’d
And those who truly value them,
Should early do like Sarah M——. ”

“ Oh, sportsmen, you know ’twould be wrong!{39}
At dawn of the day, they are warbling away,
But they never have done the least harm;
The summer’s most gone, they’ve a short time to stay—
They will soon fly away from our farm. ”

“ When Trenton Falls
Meet their eye!
{103}
PRECIOUS BIBLE.
How many nations
Ne’er have heard
The precious truths
Of God’s own Word;
That the dear Savior
Came to die,
That we might dwell
With him on high. ”

“ I thought my darling dead, but soon
I saw what she had done.{190}”
“It is not so,” the woman cried,
“The dead boy let her bring,
That is her child, the living one
Belongs to me, O king!”
“Bring in a sword!” said Solomon,
“Now cut the child in two!
We’ll give the other woman half,
One half belongs to you.”
Joyful the wicked woman spoke,
“But half the babe is thine ”

“ I’m sure ’twill displease Him, if merely for sport
You shoot these sweet songsters to-day;
Remember, kind sportsmen, their life is but short;
Oh, spare them, in pity, I pray!
CROSS GIRL.
Jane, my dear,
How can you be
Cross to little
Emily!
When she’s such
A darling child;
Always gentle,
Meek and mild.
{40}
{41}
TRENTON FALLS. See Frontispiece and other views of Trenton Falls.
Cascades roaring
In their might,—
Waters pouring
From the height,—
Wildly bounding
On their way,—
Loud resounding,
Seem to say,—
See us toiling,
As we glide;—
Hear us boiling,
Far and wide. ”