Chapter I: Will Be Good To-Day

"I will be good, dear mother,"
I heard a sweet child say,
"I will be good,--now watch me!
I will be good all day."

She lifted up her bright young eyes,
With a soft and pleasing smile;
Then a mother's kiss was on her lips;
So pure and free from guile.

And when night came, that little one,
In kneeling down to pray,
Said, in a soft and whispering tone,
"Have I been good to-day?"

Oh, many, many bitter tears
'Twould save us, did we say,
Like that dear child, with earnest heart,
"I will be good to-day."

I'LL DO WHAT I CAN.

I may, if I have but a mind,
Do good in many ways;
Plenty to do, the young may find,
In these our busy days.
Sad would it be, though young and small,
If I were of no use at all.

One gentle word that I may speak,
Or one kind loving deed,
May, though a trifle, poor and weak,
Prove like a tiny seed;
And who can tell what good may spring
From such a very little thing?

Then let me try, each day and hour,
To act upon this plan;
What little good is in my power,
To do it while I can:
If to be useful thus I try,
I may do better by and by.

TIME TO ARISE.

Come, little sister, 'tis time to arise,
The sun has arisen to brighten the skies;
Every bird is singing high,--
Birds are glad, and so am I.

Merrily, merrily, those in the tree,
Bluebird and Robin, are singing to me;
Round the window see them fly,--
Birds are glad, and so am I.

Glad little robin, you never can know
Who is the Maker who fashioned you so;
Yet you cannot weep nor sigh,--
Birds are glad, and so am I.

He who created the birds of the air,
Surely will keep me from trouble and care;
He has taught the birds to fly,--
Birds are glad, and so am I.

DIVINE GUIDANCE.

O Thou, who hast at Thy command,
The hearts of all men in Thy hand!
Our wayward, erring hearts incline
To know no other will but Thine.

Our wishes, our desires control;
Mould every purpose of the soul;
O'er all may we victorious be,
That stands between ourselves and Thee.

Thrice blest will all our blessings be,
When we can look through them to Thee;
When each glad heart its tribute pays
Of love, and gratitude, and praise.

INDUSTRY.

Up, be doing, little children:
Up, be doing, while 'tis day;
Do the work the Master gives you,
Do not loiter by the way:
For we all have work before us,
Thou, my child, as well as I;
Let us seek to learn our duty,
And perform it cheerfully.

Be up and doing, little children,
Gentle be, and ever kind;
Helpful to your loving mothers,
E'en their slightest wishes mind.
Let your little playmates love you,
For your care and gentle play;
And the feeble and more wilful,
Help them by your kindly way.

"PRAYER IS THE SOUL'S SINCERE DESIRE."

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed;
The motion of a hidden fire
That glows within the breast.

Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.

ANGRY WORDS.

Angry words! O let them never
From the tongue unbridled slip;
May the heart's best impulse ever
Check them, e'er they soil the lip.

Love is much too pure and holy,
Friendship is too sacred far,
For a moment's reckless folly
Thus to desolate and mar.

Angry words are lightly spoken,
Bitterest thoughts are rashly stirred;
Brightest links of life are broken
By a single angry word.

THE REQUEST.

Father, whate'er of earthly bliss
Thy sovereign will denies,
Accepted at Thy throne of grace
Let this petition rise.

Give me a calm, a thankful heart,
From every murmur free;
The blessings of Thy grace impart,
And make me live to Thee.

Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine,
My life and death attend;
Thy presence through my journey shine,
And crown my journey's end.

Transcriber's Note:

Words in italics are surrounded by underscores, _like this_.

End of Project Gutenberg's Devotional Poetry for the Children, by Various