Mother Truth's Melodies Part 21

stand take to taking ----- ---- -- ------ [3]

I you throw my

[Footnote 1: Alphabet]

[Footnote 2: The grate being empty, John put some coal on.]

[Footnote 3: I understand you undertake to overthrow my undertaking.]

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_BRITAIN'S RULERS_.

Old Britain was under the Romans From fifty-five years before Christ (55 B. C.) To four hundred fifty-five (455 A. D.) Then her eight States on home-rule insist.

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For many a year now they wrangle, Ah! yes, for quite three seventy-two, Being ruled now by this king, now that one, As each might the former o'erthrow.

But ever since eight-twenty-seven (827), Britain's rulers have reigned by descent, From Egbert, first "Monarch of England,"

To Victoria, daughter of Kent.

A score reigned and fell.--Second Harold In ten-sixty-six (1066), proud; usurps, But soon in fierce battle is conquered By William of Normandy's troops.

Then came William the Conqueror, a Norman, Then William the Second, his son; Then Henry and Stephen and Henry, Then Richard (Coeur de Lion), and John.

Next Henry the Third, and First Edward, Edward Second and Third, Richard, two (II).

Henrys Fourth, Fifth and Sixth, and Fourth Edward Fifth Edward,--Third Richard, they rue.

Henry Seventh and Eighth, and Sixth Edward, Then Mary, Bess, James, and Charles First,-- Eleven years then with no monarch; Second Charles, Second James, not the worst.

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Then William and Mary, then Anne, Four Georges, Fourth William, until Came Victoria, long live her queens.h.i.+p, For she wields her proud scepter with skill.

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_OUR LAND_.

A s.h.i.+p sailed over the blue, salt sea, For a man, Columbus called, Had thought that the world was round, and he Of the old ideas had palled.

So, in fourteen hundred and ninety-two, He sailed across from Spain, And found our continent so new-- The "land beyond the main."

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But jealousies and rivalries And bickerings begun, And Christopher Columbus now With grief was overborne.

Americus Vespucius soon Our sh.o.r.es came sailing round, And stole the naming of the land Columbus sought and found;

While he, Columbus, lay in chains, And died in sore distress; Yet won for us who tread his land, A lasting blessedness.

Young I-know is saucy and pert, And thinks himself wondrously wise; But I-know, the second, steps in all so curt, And you'd think that each might lose his eyes.

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_SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC_.

THE annual path of the Sun, The_ Ecliptic_ is called, as we see,-- And a belt, eight degrees, on each side, The _Zodiac_ ever will be.

The princ.i.p.al planets all seem To move in the zodiac lines, While the belt, of itself, is cut up Into twelve equal parts, called the _Signs_.

And these signs were first named, we are told, From their fancied resemblance to beasts, Which astronomers thought they could see In the stars, from the West to the East.

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There is Aries, the Ram, then the Bull, Which is Taurus,--then Gemini, Twins; Then Cancer, a Crab and then Leo, A Lion, and Virgo, Virgin.

Next Libra, the Balance or Scales, And Scorpio, a Scorpion (with sting),-- Sagittarius, the Archer or Arrow,-- Capricornus, a Goat's horn we bring.

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Aquarius, the Bearer of Water,-- And Pisces, or Fish from the sea,-- All together make twelve, and a wonder It is, that these fancies should be.

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_GRAPHO_.

Children, you ought to know That _Grapho_ can but mean To picture out, or tell about, Some object or some thing.

Now _Geo_ means the _earth_; And so Geography Means picturing out or telling about This earth of ours, you see.

As _Phono_ means a _sound_, Phonography so terse, Just pictures out or tells about The sounds of the human voice.

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