When the children have been good,
That is, be it understood,
Good at meal-times, good at play,
Good all night and good all day
They shall have the pretty things
Merry Christmas always brings.

A Bush Study, A La Watteau

© Arthur Patchett Martin

HE.
See the smoke-wreaths how they curl so lightly skyward
From the ivied cottage nestled in the trees:
Such a lovely spotI really feel that I would
Be happy there with children on my knees.

Time And Sentiment

© George Meredith

I see a fair young couple in a wood,

And as they go, one bends to take a flower,

The Shepheardes Calender: July

© Edmund Spenser

Morrell.
Ah good Algrin, his hap was ill,
But shall be bett in time.
Now farwell shepheard, sith thys hyll
thou hast such doubt to climbe.

A Legend Of Christ's Nativity

© Duncan Campbell Scott

At Bethlehem upon the hill,
The day was done, the night was nigh,
The dusk was deep and had its will,
The stars were very small and still,
Like unblown tapers, faint and high.

Charity

© William Cowper

Fairest and foremost of the train that wait

On man's most dignified and happiest state,

My Fore-Elders

When from the child, that still is led

By hand, a father's hand is gone, ---

The Farmer's Daughter Cherry

The Farmer quit what he was at,

The bee-hive he was smokin':

On The Life And Death Of Man

The world's a theatre. The earth, a stage

Placed in the midst: where both prince and page,

Unimportant Differences

If he is honest, kindly, true,

And glad to work from day to day;

The Grassehopper. To My Noble Friend, Mr. Charles Cotton. O

I.
Oh thou, that swing'st upon the waving eare
Of some well-filled oaten beard,
Drunk ev'ry night with a delicious teare
Dropt thee from Heav'n, where now th'art reard.