第 25 节
作者:乐乐陶陶      更新:2021-02-20 05:15      字数:9322
  Great Father; with Thy folds of love;
  O tuck my baby in。
  Curtis May '18  …
  〃JENNY WI' THE AIRN TEETH〃
  What a plague is this o' mine;
  Winna steek an e'e;
  Though I hap him o'er the heid;
  As cosy as can be。
  Sleep an' let me to my wark …
  A' thae claes to airn …
  Jenny wi' the airn teeth;
  Come an' tak' the bairn!
  Tak' him to your ain den;
  Whaur the bogie bides;
  But first put baith your big teeth
  In his wee plump sides;
  Gie your auld gray pow a shake;
  Rive him frae my grup;
  Tak' him whaur nae kiss is gaun
  When he waukens up。
  Whatna noise is that I hear
  Coomin' doon the street?
  Weel I ken the dump; dump;
  O' her beetle feet;
  Mercy me! she's at the door!
  Hear her lift the sneck;
  Wheesht; an' cuddle mammy noo;
  Closer roun' the neck。
  Jenny wi' the airn teeth;
  The bairn has aff his claes;
  Sleepin' safe an' soun'; I think …
  Dinna touch his taes。
  Sleepin' bairns are no for you;
  Ye may turn aboot;
  An' tak' awa' wee Tam next door …
  I hear him screichin' oot。
  Dump; dump; awa' she gangs
  Back the road she cam';
  I hear her at the ither door;
  Speirin' after Tam;
  He's a crabbit; greetin' thing …
  The warst in a' the toon;
  Little like my ain wee wean …
  Losh; he's sleepin' soun'!
  Mithers hae an awfu' wark
  Wi' their bairns at nicht;
  Chappin' on the chair wi' tangs;
  To gie the rogues a fricht;
  Aulder bairns are fleyed wi' less;
  Weel eneuch we ken;
  Bigger bogies; bigger Jennies;
  Frichten muckle men。
  Alexander Anderson '1845…1909'
  CUDDLE DOON
  The bairnies cuddle doon at nicht
  Wi' muckie faucht an' din;
  〃O; try an' sleep; ye waukrife rogues;
  Your father's comin' in。〃
  They never heed a word I speak;
  I try to gie a froon;
  But aye I hap them up; an' cry;
  〃O bairnies; cuddle doon。〃
  Wee Jamie wi' the curly heid …
  He aye sleeps next the wa' …
  Bangs up an' cries; 〃I want a piece;〃
  The rascal starts them a'。
  I rin an' fetch them pieces; drinks;
  They stop awee the soun';
  Then draw the blankets up an' cry;
  〃Noo; weanies; cuddle doon。〃
  But ere five minutes gang; wee Rab
  Cries oot; frae 'neath the claes;
  〃Mither; mak' Tam gie ower at once …
  He's kittlin' wi' his taes。〃
  The mischief's in that Tam for tricks;
  He'd bother half the toon;
  But aye I hap them up an' cry;
  〃O bairnies; cuddle doon。〃
  At length they hear their father's fit;
  An'; as he steeks the door;
  They turn their faces to the wa';
  While Tam pretends to snore。
  〃Hae a' the weans been gude?〃 he asks;
  As he pits aff his shoon;
  〃The bairnies; John; are in their beds;
  An' lang since cuddled doon。〃
  An' just afore we bed oorsel's;
  We look at oor wee lambs;
  Tam has his airm roun' wee Rab's neck;
  An' Rab his airm roun' Tam's。
  I lift wee Jamie up the bed;
  An' as I straik each croon;
  I whisper; till my heart fills up;
  〃O bairnies; cuddle doon。〃
  The bairnies cuddle doon at nicht
  Wi' mirth that's dear to me;
  But sune the big warl's cark an' care
  Will quaten doon their glee。
  Yet; come what will to ilka ane;
  May He who sits aboon
  Aye whisper; though their pows be bauld;
  〃O bairnies; cuddle doon。〃
  Alexander Anderson '1845…1909'
  BEDTIME
  'Tis bedtime; say your hymn; and bid 〃Good…night;
  God bless Mamma; Papa; and dear ones all。〃
  Your half…shut eyes beneath your eyelids fall;
  Another minute; you will shut them quite。
  Yes; I will carry you; put out the light;
  And tuck you up; although you are so tall!
  What will you give me; sleepy one; and call
  My wages; if I settle you all right?
  I laid her golden curls upon my arm;
  I drew her little feet within my hand;
  Her rosy palms were joined in trustful bliss;
  Her heart next mine beat gently; soft and warm
  She nestled to me; and; by Love's command;
  Paid me my precious wages … 〃Baby's Kiss。〃
  Francis Robert St。 Clair Erskine '1833…1890'
  THE DUTY OF CHILDREN
  HAPPY THOUGHT
  The world is so full of a number of things;
  I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings。
  Robert Louis Stevenson '1850…1894'
  WHOLE DUTY OF CHILDREN
  A child should always say what's true
  And speak when he is spoken to;
  And behave mannerly at table;
  At least as far as he is able。
  Robert Louis Stevenson '1850…1894'
  POLITENESS
  Good little boys should never say
  〃I will;〃 and 〃Give me these〃;
  O; no! that never is the way;
  But 〃Mother; if you please。〃
  And 〃If you please;〃 to Sister Ann
  Good boys to say are ready;
  And; 〃Yes; sir;〃 to a Gentleman;
  And; 〃Yes; ma'am;〃 to a Lady。
  Elizabeth Turner ' ? …1846'
  RULES OF BEHAVIOR
  Hearts; like doors; will ope with ease
  To very; very little keys;
  And don't forget that two of these
  Are 〃I thank you〃 and 〃If you please。〃
  Come when you're called;
  Do what you're bid;
  Close the door after you;
  Never be chid。
  Seldom 〃can't;〃
  Seldom 〃don't;〃
  Never 〃shan't;〃
  Never 〃won't。〃
  LITTLE FRED
  When little Fred
  Was called to bed;
  He always acted right;
  He kissed Mama;
  And then Papa;
  And wished them all good…night。
  He made no noise;
  Like naughty boys;
  But gently up the stairs
  Directly went;
  When he was sent;
  And always said his prayers。
  THE LOVABLE CHILD
  Frisky as a lambkin;
  Busy as a bee …
  That's the kind of little girl
  People like to see。
  Modest as a violet;
  As a rosebud sweet …
  That's the kind of little girl
  People like to meet。
  Bright as is a diamond;
  Pure as any pearl …
  Everyone rejoices in
  Such a little girl。
  Happy as a robin;
  Gentle as a dove …
  That's the kind of little girl
  Everyone will love。
  Fly away and seek her;
  Little song of mine;
  For I choose that very girl
  As my Valentine。
  Emilie Poulsson '1853…
  GOOD AND BAD CHILDREN
  Children; you are very little;
  And your bones are very brittle;
  If you would grow great and stately;
  You must try to walk sedately。
  You must still be bright and quiet;
  And content with simple diet;
  And remain; through all bewild'ring;
  Innocent and honest children。
  Happy hearts and happy faces;
  Happy play in grassy places …
  That was how; in ancient ages;
  Children grew to kings and sages。
  But the unkind and the unruly;
  And the sort who eat unduly;
  They must never hope for glory …
  Theirs is quite a different story!
  Cruel children; crying babies;
  All grow up as geese and gabies;
  Hated; as their age increases;
  By their nephews and their nieces。
  Robert Louis Stevenson '1850…1894'
  REBECCA'S AFTER…THOUGHT
  Yesterday; Rebecca Mason;
  In the parlor by herself;
  Broke a handsome china basin;
  Placed upon the mantel…shelf。
  Quite alarmed; she thought of going
  Very quietly away;
  Not a single person knowing;
  Of her being there that day。
  But Rebecca recollected
  She was taught deceit to shun;
  And the moment she reflected;
  Told her mother what was done;
  Who commended her behavior;
  Loved her better; and forgave her。
  Elizabeth Turner ' ? …1846'
  KINDNESS TO ANIMALS
  Little children; never give
  Pain to things that feel and live;
  Let the gentle robin come
  For the crumbs you save at home; …
  As his meat you throw along
  He'll repay you with a song;
  Never hurt the timid hare
  Peeping from her green grass lair;
  Let her come and sport and play
  On the lawn at close of day;
  The little lark goes soaring high
  To the bright windows of the sky;
  Singing as if 'twere always spring;
  And fluttering on an untired wing; …
  Oh! let him sing his happy song;
  Nor do these gentle creatures wrong。
  A RULE FOR BIRDS' NESTERS
  The robin and the red…breast;
  The sparrow and the wren;
  If ye take out o' their nest;
  Ye'll never thrive again!
  The robin and the red…breast;
  The martin and the swallow;
  If ye touch one o' their eggs;
  Bad luck will surely follow!
  〃SING ON; BLITHE BIRD〃
  I've plucked the berry from the bush; the brown nut from the tree;
  But heart of happy little bird ne'er broken was by me。
  I saw them in their curious nests; close couching; slyly peer
  With their wild eyes; like glittering beads; to note if harm were near;
  I passed them by; and blessed them all; I felt that it was good
  To leave unmoved the creatures small whose home was in the wood。
  And here; even now; above my head; a lusty rogue doth sing;
  He pecks his swelling breast and neck; and trims his little wing。
  He will not fly; he knows full well; while chirping on that spray;
  I would not harm him for the world; or interrupt his lay。
  Sing on; sing on; blithe bird! and fill my heart with summer gladness;
  It has been aching many a day with measures full of sadness!
  William Motherwell '1797…1835'
  〃I LIKE LITTLE PUSSY〃
  I like lit