Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AUNTIE'S LESSONS, by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL Poet's Biography First Line: They said their texts, and their hymns they sang Last Line: Dear alice's words in my heart will stay. Subject(s): Sabbath; Sunday | ||||||||
THEY said their texts, and their hymns they sang, On that sunny Sabbath-day; And yet there was time ere the church-bell rang, So I bid them trot away, And leave me to rest and read alone, Where the ash-tree's shade o'er the lawn was thrown. But oh! 'twas a cry and a pleading sore, 'O Auntie! we will not tease, But tell us one Sunday story more; We will sit so still on the grassy floor; Tell us the one you told before Of the little black Mumu, please, Whom, deaf and dumb, and sick and lone, The good ship brought to Sierra Leone.' Willie begged loud, and Francie low, And Alice, who could resist her? Certainly not myself, and so The story was just beginning, when lo! To the rescue came my sister. 'I will tell you a story to-day: Aunt Fanny has all her own lessons to say!' Wonderful notion, and not at all clear! Alfred looked quite astounded. Who in the world my lessons could hear? They guessed at every one far and near, 'Twas a mystery unbounded. They settled at last that it must be Grandpapa Havergal over the sea. Then merry eyes grew grave and wise, On tiptoe Alice trod; She had a better thought than they, And whispered low, 'Does Auntie say Her lessons all to God?' How little the import deep she knew Of those baby-words, so sweet and true! Little she knew what they enfold! A treasure of happy thought; A tiny casket of virgin gold, With jewels of comfort fraught. Great men's wisdom may pass away, Dear Alice's words in my heart will stay. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DAT GAL O' MINE by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON SUNDAY: NEW GUINEA by KARL SHAPIRO SABBATHS: 2001 by WENDELL BERRY SUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAY by PAUL BLACKBURN THE SABBATH OF THE SOUL by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD CONSECRATION HYMN by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL I DID THIS FOR THEE! WHAT HAST THOU DONE FOR ME? by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL A BIRTHDAY GREETING TO MY FATHER, 1860 by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL |
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