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“Oh, no, no!” said the little fly,

“For I’ve often heard it said,

They never, never wake again

Who sleep upon your bed.”

Said the cunning spider to the fly,

“Dear friend, what shall I do

To prove the warm affection

I’ve always felt for you?

I have within my pantry

Good store of all that’s nice;

I’m sure you’re very welcome-

Will you please to take a slice.

“Oh, no, no!” said the little fly,

“Kind sir, that cannot be;

I’ve heard what’s in your pantry,

And I do not wish to see.”

“Sweet creature,” said the spider,

“You’re witty and you’re wise;

How handsome are your gauzy wings,

How brilliant are your eyes.

I have a little looking-glass

Upon my parlor shelf;

If you’ll step in one moment, dear,

You shall behold yourself.”

“I thank you, gentle sir,” she said,

“For what you’re pleased to say,

And bidding you good-morning, now,

I’ll call another day.”

The spider turned him round about,

And went into his den,

For well he knew the silly fly

Would soon be back again;

So he wove a subtle thread

In a little corner sly,

And set his table ready

To dine upon the fly.

He went out to his door again,

And merrily did sing,

“Come hither, hither, pretty fly,

With the pearl and silver wing;

Your robes are green and purple,

There’s a crest upon your head;

Your eyes are like the diamond bright,

But mine are dull as lead.”

Alas, alas! how very soon

This silly little fly,

Hearing his wily, flattering words,

Came slowly flitting by

With buzzing wings she hung aloft,

Then near and nearer drew—

Thought only of her brilliant eyes,

And green and purple hue;

Thought only of her crested head—

Poor foolish thing!

At last up jumped the cunning spider,

And fiercely held her fast.

He dragged her up his winding stair,

Into his dismal den

Within his little parlor—but

She ne’er came out again!

And now, dear little children

Who may this story read,

To idle, silly, flattering words,

I pray you, ne’er give heed:

Unto an evil counsellor

Close heart and ear and eye,

And learn a lesson from this tale

Of the spider and the fly.

The Star

By Jane Taylor

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

How I wonder what you are!

Up above the world so high,

Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone,

When he nothing shines upon

Then you show your little light,

Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the traveller in the dark

Thanks you for you tiny spark:

He could not see which way to go,

If you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,

And often through my curtains peep,

For you never shut your eye

’Til the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark

Lights the traveller in the dark,

Though I know not what you are,

Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

Star of the Evening

by James M. Sayle

Beautiful star in heav’n so bright,

Softly falls thy silv’ry light,

As thou movest from earth afar,

Star of the evening, beautiful star.

Beautiful star,

Beautiful star,

Star of the evening, beautiful star.

In Fancy’s eye thou seem’st to say,

Follow me, come from earth away.

Upward thy spirit’s pinions try,

To realms of love beyond the sky.

Shine on, oh star of love divine,

And may our soul’s affection twine

Around thee as thou movest afar,

Star of the twilight, beautiful star.

Summer Days (Excerpt)

by Mark Wilks Call

In summer, when the days are long,

Alone I wander, muse alone;

I see her not, but that old song,

Under the fragrant wind is blown,

In summer, when the days are long.

Alone I wander in the wood,

But one fair spirit hears my sighs;

And half I see the crimson hood,

The radiant hair, the calm glad eyes,

That charmed me in life’s summer mood.

In summer, when the days are long,

I loved her as I loved of old;

My heart is light, my step is strong,

For love brings back those hours of gold,

In summer, when the days are long.

The Tarts

(Mother Goose)

The Queen of Hearts,

She made some tarts,

All on a summer’s day;

The Knave of Hearts,

He stole