Ontario Teachers' Manuals: Literature Part 32

Keep pus.h.i.+ng--'tis wiser Than sitting aside, And dreaming and sighing, And waiting the tide.

In life's earnest battle, They only prevail Who daily march onward, And never say "fail".

One step and then another, And the longest walk is ended.

One st.i.tch and then another, And the largest rent is mended.

One brick and then another, And the highest wall is made.

One flake and then another, And the deepest snow is laid.

Speak the truth and speak it ever, Cost it what it will.

He who hides the wrong he did, Does the wrong thing still.

Whichever way the wind doth blow, Some heart is glad to have it so; Then blow it east or blow it west, The wind that blows, that wind is best.

We should make the same use of books that the bee does of a flower: he gathers sweets from it, but does not injure it.

I smile, and then the Sun comes out; He hides away whene'er I pout; He seems a very funny sun, To do whatever he sees done.

And when it rains he disappears; Like me, he can't see through the tears.

Now isn't that the reason why I ought to smile and never cry?

--F. D. SHERMAN

If fortune, with a smiling face, Strew roses in our way, When shall we stoop to pick them up?

To-day, my friend, to-day.

If those who've wronged us own their faults, And kindly pity pray, When shall we listen and forgive?

To-day, my friend, to-day.

Are you almost disgusted with life, little man?

I will tell you a wonderful trick That will bring you contentment if anything can-- Do something for somebody, quick.

Are you very much tired with play, little girl?

Weary, discouraged, and sick?

I'll tell you the loveliest game in the world-- Do something for somebody, quick.

"Were it not for me", Said a chickadee, "Not a single flower on earth would be; For under the ground they soundly sleep, And never venture an upward peep, Till they hear from me, Chickadee-dee-dee!"

--SIDNEY DAYRE

The world at noon belongs to the sun, At eve to the home-coming herds; But while the dew is early--very, very early-- The world belongs to the birds.

As still as in a dream lie the meadows and the stream, 'Neath the soaring and outpouring of the birds.

--WETHERALD

I know, blue modest violets, Gleaming with dew at morn-- I know the place you come from, And the way that you are born!

When G.o.d cuts holes in Heaven, The holes the stars look through, He lets the sc.r.a.ps fall down to earth,-- The little sc.r.a.ps are you.

The blossoms, down in the meadow, In the gardens, and woods, and the hills, Are singing, too, with their playmates, The birds, and the breezes, and rills.

And I think, if you listen closely, In the sweet glad days of spring, With the song of the brook, the breeze, and the birds, You can hear the flowers sing.

--MOOREHOUSE

Good-night, little s.h.i.+vering gra.s.ses!

'Tis idle to struggle and fight With tempest and cruel frost-fingers; Lie down, little gra.s.ses, to-night!

Good-night, little s.h.i.+vering gra.s.ses!

Lie down 'neath the coverlet white, And rest till the cuckoo is singing; Good-night, little gra.s.ses, good-night!

--_A November Good-night._--BEERS

Daffydowndilly came up in the cold, Through the brown mould, Although the March breezes blew keen on her face, Although the white snow lay on many a place.

I can't do much yet, but I'll do what I can.

It's well I began!

For unless I can manage to lift up my head, The people will think that the Spring herself's dead.

O Daffydowndilly, so brave and so true, I wish all were like you!

So ready for duty in all sorts of weather, And holding forth courage and beauty together.

--WARNER

One to-day is worth two to-morrow's.--POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC

The future is purchased by the present.--SAMUEL JOHNSON

The sober second thought is always essential, and seldom wrong.--MARTIN VAN BUREN

Recollect that trifles make perfection, and that perfection is no trifle.--MICHAEL ANGELO

Have more than thou showest, Speak less than thou knowest.

--SHAKESPEARE

Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle that fits them all.--O. W. HOLMES

Let all the end thou aim'st at be thy country's, Thy G.o.d's and truth's.

--SHAKESPEARE

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.