I Must Not Be Selfish.

When I play with little children
    I must very gentle be;
I must always do to others
    As I'd have them do to me.

I must like to give and lend them,
    If they want my prettiest toy;
More than my delight and pleasure
    I must love my playmate's joy.

Children who are kind and loving
    God above is pleased to see;
Let me ever this remember,
    Ever sweet and pleasant be.

H. P. Nichols

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H. P. Nichols

The First Hymn.

H. P. Nichols, Simple Poetry

The Bird's Nest.

H. P. Nichols, Simple Poetry

God Sees Me Always.

H. P. Nichols, Simple Poetry

Spring.

H. P. Nichols, Simple Poetry

English

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The Four Gifts.

A new-born babe was sleeping
    Within its cradle fair,
And angel guards were keeping
    Its peaceful slumbers there.

Gone was the age of fairies,
    And of the elfins wild,
Who, hovering o'er the infant's couch,
    Were wont to bless the child.

But in a distant city,
    Fays that still glad the earth,
Four gentle little children,
    Hailed with delight his birth.

Out spake the eldest sister,
    "O, let us fairies play,
And give to our young brother
    Some precious gift to-day.

"Sit down around the fireside,
    And I my gift will tell."
And the little children sat them down
    The fancy pleased them well.

Again thus spake the eldest,
    "I 'll give him _beauty_ rare;
His eyes shall be as d...

H. P. Nichols

The First Hymn.

God made the bright, round sun;
    He made the pretty flowers;
The little birds, the trees, the clouds
    The rain that falls in showers.

He made papa, mamma,
    And baby brother, too;
And mother says He looks from Heaven,
    And sees each thing I do.

Then I must try to be
    Pleasant, and sweet, and mild;
For the good God who made me loves
    A kind, obedient child.

H. P. Nichols

Morning Hymn.

Now again the yellow sun
Shines upon my window-pane;
Now anothor day's begun,
I can laugh and play again.

I must try to-day to be
Kind in all I say and do;
Then will God be pleased with me,
And mamma will love me too.

For she says that God above
Loves to see a little child
Sweet and gentle as the dove,
Like the pretty lamb so mild.

H. P. Nichols

Christmas.

"Little children, when rejoicing
    In the merry Christmas morn,
'Mid your sports remember ever
    'Tis the day that Christ was born.

"When on earth, the blessed Saviour
    Said, 'Let children come to me,'
And the little ones he folded
    In his arms, how tenderly!"

"But the Saviour is in heaven,
    And we cannot see him now;
We cannot receive his blessing,
    In his presence cannot bow."

"Listen. In the holy Bible,
    Jesus Christ tells every child
That the way to gain his blessing
    Is by being good and mild."

"Here on earth you may not see him;
    But when this short life is done,
You shall live with him forever
    Where there is no setting sun."

"So remember, Christmas morning,
    That on e...

H. P. Nichols

God Loves Us.

"How beautiful it is, mamma,
    That God should love us all;
That He should listen to their prayer,
    When little children call!

"What shall I do for him, mamma?
    For He's so kind to me,--
How shall I show my love to Him
    Who made bird, flower and tree?"

"The only thing which you can do
    Is this, my darling child,
Be always gentle, full of love,
    In words and actions mild.

"Thus you will show your love to God
    Who is so kind to you;
And you will live with Him at last
    In His bright heaven, too."

H. P. Nichols

I Am Happy When I Do Right.

How glad it makes me feel at night,
    When sitting on my mother's knee,
To hear her whisper "You've done right,
    And tried my gentle child to be."

But then I feel ashamed and sad
    If I've been cross and disobeyed,
Or if my selfish way I've had
    When I with other children played.

So if at night I'd call to mind
    A day of undisturbed delight,
The only way that I can find
    Is to be loving and do right.

H. P. Nichols