Mother Truth's Melodies.
by Mrs. E. P. Miller.
INTRODUCTION.
Since little ones are _geese_ no more, But _knowing_ have become, It ill beseems that "Mother Goose"
Should dwell in every home.
So "Mother Truth" in "Melodies"
For Babes, here lifts her voice, Assured that parents, children, all, Will welcome and rejoice.
NOTE.
Let no one suppose that the Author of these "Melodies" considers them poetry. They are simply rhymes, the jingle of which may be music in the children's ears, and the illustrations a delight to eager eyes.
The Truths presented, even if not fully understood at first, will leave their impress, and in so far as they fill the little minds, will keep out falsehood and false ideas.
The putting of facts in such form as to attract the attention of the little ones, and be readily fixed in their memory, was first suggested to the writer of these rhymes by a valued friend, the well known philanthropist, MRS. ELIZABETH THOMPSON, and her interest in the "Melodies" is such that she has generously assisted in procuring illustrations for the same.
Thus "Mother Truth's Melodies" are introduced with the hope that this effort to entertain children with rhyming reason will meet with the approval of every lover of the young, and of Truth.
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Poetry is the language of the imagination, while "facts are stubborn things," and, in the mass, refuse utterly to be poetized. Yet, even facts may be presented pleasingly and melodiously, and in such way that they will be easily impressed upon the minds of children. This the author of "Mother Truth's Melodies" sought to do, when the little book was first given to the public.
Now, however, in the revising and enlarging of the book, she has given wider play to the imagination, has enlarged the range of subjects, has embodied lessons for children of older growth, and feels that altogether, it will meet more fully the demands which its already large sales warrant her in believing to exist.
She can ask no more favorable reception than was first met; but, hoping for a continuance of the same, she trusts that as it becomes more widely distributed, its truths and teachings will be impressed upon household after household, till throughout the land, the little ones, and larger, too, shall be influenced thereby.
MRS. E. P. M.
MOTHER TRUTH'S MELODIES.
_WHY FLY AWAY, MOTHER GOOSE?_
"MOTHER GOOSE, Mother Goose, Why fly away?"
"Because Mother Truth is A-coming to-day.
She'll tell you funny things, But they'll be true; She'll bring you pictures So charming and new; She'll sing you Melodies, helping to show How, to true women and men, you may grow."
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_TOSS THE BABY_.
Toss the baby high in air; Catch him though, with special care Lest his little back be strained, Lest his little joints be sprained, Lest his bones be bent or broken;
Lest through life he bear some token Of a careless toss or fall, That for sympathy shall call, And that must forever be Painful to our memory.
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_PAT-A-CAKE, PAT-A-CAKE_.
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, Mamma's boy, Laughing and crowing, And jumping with joy; Roll it, and pick it and mark it with B, And toss in the oven for Baby and me.
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, Papa's girl, Springing in baby-glee, Shaking her curl; Roll it and pick it and mark it with G, And toss in the oven for Girly and me.
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_HEY, MY KITTEN, MY KITTEN_.
Hey, my kitten, my kitten, Hey, my kitten, my deary; If Mamma should feed him too often, He never could be so cheery.
Here we go up, up, up.
And here we go down, down, down-y.
If we never feed baby too much, He never will give us a frown-y.
Hey, my kitten, my kitten, Hey, my kitten, my deary; We'll put him to bed with the birdies, And that will make him so cheery!
Here we go up, up, up, And here we go down, down, down-y; If we give him nothing but smiles, He will give us never a frown-y.
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_WINKUM, WINKUM_.
Winkum, winkum, shut your eye, Sweet, my baby, lullaby; For the dew is falling soft, Lights are flickering up aloft, And the head-light's peeping over Yonder hill-top capped with clover; Chickens long have gone to rest, Birds lie snug within their nest, And my birdie soon will be Sleeping with the chick-a-dee, For with only half a try, Winkum, winkum, shuts her eye.
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_BABY'S BELL_.
Jingle! jingle! baby's bell; What a tale its tongue might tell.
Could it speak it sure would say, "When the baby's tired with play, And is getting cross, don't try To jingle bells, but hush-a-bye; All so still, now crooning low, Lull-a-bye, bye-o, bye-o,-- Quiet down his quaking nerves, Soothe him as his state deserves;-- Passing hand from head to feet, Sl-o-w-l-y, softly, loving, sweet, As to smooth the feathers down, Rumpled, from your birdling's crown;-- {19} See, he sleeps, and in his dream Yours may hand of angel seem, Raveling out the tangled ills, Knitting up with restful thrills."