Play with Your Own Marbles, and Other Stories

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London, 1880

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Page 54 - THE mountain and the squirrel Had a quarrel ; And the former called the latter "Little Prig. Bun replied, " You are doubtless very big ; But all sorts of things and weather Must be taken in together, To make up a year And a sphere. And I think it no disgrace To occupy my place. If I'm not so large as you, You are not so small as I, And not half so spry. I'll not deny you make A very pretty squirrel track ; Talents differ ; all is well and wisely put ; If I cannot carry forests on my back, Neither...
Page 87 - So here hath been dawning Another blue Day: Think wilt thou let it Slip useless away. Out of Eternity This new Day is born ; Into Eternity, At night, will return. Behold it aforetime No eye ever did : So soon it forever From all eyes is hid. Here hath been dawninoAnother blue Day: ' : Think wilt thou let it Slip useless away.
Page 101 - Then they look for a while at the sky, And the hills that are far, far away. Quite often, as twilight comes on, Grandmothers sing hymns, very low, To themselves as they rock by the fire, About Heaven, and when they shall go. And then a boy, stopping to think, Will find a hot tear in his eye, To know what will come at the last ; For grandmother* all have to die.
Page 101 - They beat all the aunts in creation ; They let a chap do as he likes, And don't worry about education. I'm sure I can't see it at all What a poor fellow ever could do For apples, and pennies, and cakes, Without a grandmother or two. Grandmothers speak softly to
Page 101 - And if he is bad now and then, And makes a great racketing noise, They only look over their specs And say, "Ah, these boys will be boys | " Life is only so short at the best ; Let the children be happy to-day," Then they look for a while at the sky, And the hills that are far, far away. Quite often, as twilight comes on, Grandmothers sing hymns very low To themselves, as they rock by the fire, About heaven, and when...
Page 27 - Father answers. Give all your shillings you might, And hurt your brothers the more ; He only can serve his fellows right Who goes in at the little door. We must do the thing we must Before the thing we may ; We are unfit for any trust Until we can obey. Willie speaks. I will not plague you more- — Not one more question ask ; But you shall show me the little door ; You shall set me my task.
Page 27 - The Father answers. As long as you linger and wait, You are turning from his call ; It is because you are not great, You think any duty small. One at a time, and no more ; The nearest first to begin : What matter how little the little door, If it only lets you in ? V. Willie speaks. PAPA, I am come again. It is now three months and more That I've tried to do the thing that was plain, But I feel as small as before. The Father answers. Your honour comes too slow ? How much then have you done ? One...
Page 62 - Find out what you can do, And do it, with all your might, To serve the many or serve the few, Earnest, and faithful, and right.
Page 62 - I should be a sorry man — I should think my boy was dull and slow, And unworthy of his clan. You are bound to be great, my boy, Wish, and get up, and do! Were you content to be little, my joy Would be little enough in you...

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