Chapter 1

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THE YOUTH'S CORONAL

BY HANNAH FLAGG GOULD

Author of "Poems," etc., etc.

1851

Whate'er the good instruction may reveal, The head must _take_, before the heart can _feel_. THE MORALIZER.

ADDRESS

TO THE YOUTH OF MY COUNTRY.

In preparing the following pages, my aim has been, to produce a book alike entertaining and instructive;--one which, in the reading, should afford an amusement to the mind, pleasant as the spring-blossoms on the tree; and, in its influences on the heart in after life, be like the good fruits that succeed and ripen, to refresh and nourish us, when the vernal season is over and gone, and the voices of the singing-birds are lost in the distance.

Choosing an appropriate title for such a presentation, I have borrowed my idea from the words of the wise king of Israel:--"Hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother; for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head," &c., and other Scripture passages of similar figurative meaning; for, though often given in a sportive way, it is my design that no moral shall be conveyed in the volume, but such as a good and judicious parent would wish a child to imbibe.

Accept, then, my young Friends, this new CORONAL of the little flowers of poesy which I have woven for you. When you shall have examined and scented it, and found no thorn to pierce--no juice or odor to poison you in its whole circle, wear it for the giver's sake; and enjoy it and profit by its healthful influences, for your own.

Gladly would I feel assured that, in some future years,--when I shall have done with earthly flowers, and you will be engaged in the busy scenes and arduous duties of mature life,--the import of these leaves may from time to time arise to your memory, in all its dewy freshness, like the fragrance which the summer-breeze wafts after us, from the lilies and violets we have passed and left far behind us, in our morning rambles. Then, if not to-day, you will be convinced that I was--as now I am,

Your true Friend,

H. F. GOULD.

Newburyport, Mass., August, 1850.

CONTENTS

The Sale of the Water-Lily

The Humming-Bird's Anger

The Butterfly's Dream

The Boy and the Cricket

Fanny Spy

Sudden Elevation

The Stricken Bird

The Young Sportsman

The Pebble and the Acorn

The Grasshopper and the Ant

The Rose-Bud of Autumn

Frost, the Winter-Sprite

Vivy Vain

The Lost Kite

The Summer-Morning Ramble

The Shoemaker

The Snow-Storm

The Whirlwind

The Disobedient Skater Boys

Winter and Spring

Tom Tar

The Envious Lobster

The Crocus' Soliloquy

The Bee, Clover, and Thistle

Poor Old Paul

The Sea-Eagle's Fall

The Two Thieves

Jemmy String

The Caterpillar

The Mocking Bird

The Silk-Worm's Will

Dame Biddy

Kit with the Rose

The Captive Butterfly

The Dissatisfied Angler Boy

The Stove and Grate-Setter

Song of the Bees

Summer is Come

The Morning-Glory

The Old Cotter and his Cow

The Speckled One

The Blind Musician

The Lame Horse

The Mushroom's Soliloquy

The Lost Nestlings

The Bat's Flight by Daylight

Idle Jack

David and Goliath

Escape of the Doves

Edward and Charles

The Mountain Minstrel

The Veteran and the Child

Captain Kidd

The Dying Storm

The Little Traveller

=The Sale of the Water-Lily=

And these would sometimes come, and cheer The widow with a song, To let her feel a neighbor near, And wing an hour along.

A pond, supplied by hidden springs, With lilies bordered round, Was found among the richest things, That blessed the widow's ground.

She had, besides, a gentle brook, That wound the meadow through, Which from the pond its being took, And had its treasures too.

Her eldest orphan was a son; For, children she had three; She called him, though a little one, Her hope for days to be.

And well he might be reckoned so; If, from the tender shoot, We know the way the branch will grow; Or, by the flower, the fruit.

His tongue was true, his mind was bright; His temper smooth and mild: He was--the parent's chief delight-- A good and pleasant child.

He'd gather chips and sticks of wood The winter fire to make; And help his mother dress their food, Or tend the baking cake.

In summer time he'd kindly lead His little sisters out, To pick wild berries on the mead, And fish the brook for trout.

He stirred his thoughts for ways to earn Some little gain; and hence, Contrived the silver pond to turn. In part, to silver pence.

He found the lilies blooming there So spicy sweet to smell, And to the eye so pure and fair, He plucked them up to sell.

He could not to the market go: He had too young a head, The distant city's ways to know; The route he could not tread.

But, when the coming coach-wheels rolled To pass his humble cot, His bunch of lilies to be sold Was ready on the spot.

He'd stand beside the way, and hold His treasures up to show, That looked like yellow stars of gold Just set in leaves of snow.

"O buy my lilies!" he would say; "You'll find them new and sweet: So fresh from out the pond are they, I haven't dried my feet!"

And then he showed the dust that clung Upon his garment's hem, Where late the water-drops had hung, When he had gathered them.

And while the carriage checked its pace, To take the lilies in, His artless orphan tongue and face Some bright return would win.

For many a noble stranger's hand, With open purse, was seen, To cast a coin upon the sand, Or on the sloping green.

And many a smiling lady threw The child a silver piece; And thus, as fast as lilies grew, He saw his wealth increase.

While little more--and little more, Was gathered by their sale, His widowed mother's frugal store Would never wholly fail.

For He, who made, and feeds the bird, Her little children fed. He knew her trust: her cry he heard; And answered it with bread.

And thus, protected by the Power, Who made the lily fair, Her orphans, like the meadow flower, Grew up in beauty there.

Her son, the good and prudent boy, Who wisely thus began, Was long the aged widow's joy; And lived an honored man.

He had a ship, for which he chose "The LILY" as a name, To keep in memory whence he rose, And how his fortune came.'

He had a lily carved, and set, Her emblem, on her stem; And she was called, by all she met, A beauteous ocean gem.

She bore sweet spices, treasures bright; And, on the waters wide, Her sails as lily-leaves were white: Her name was well applied.

Her feeling owner never spurned The presence of the poor; And found that all he gave returned In blessings rich and sure.

The God who by the lily-pond Had drawn his heart above, In after life preserved the bond Of grateful, holy love.

=The Humming-Bird's Anger=

"Small as the humming-bird is, it has great courage and violent passions. If it find a flower that has been deprived of its honey, it will pluck it off, throw it on the ground, and sometimes tear it to pieces." BUFFON.

On light little wings as the humming-birds fly, With plumes many-hued as the bow of the sky, Suspended in ether, they shine to the light As jewels of nature high-finished and bright.

Their vision-like forms are so buoyant and small They hang o'er the flowers, as too airy to fall, Up-borne by their beautiful pinions, that seem Like glittering vapor, or parts of a dream.

The humming-bird feeds upon honey; and so, Of course, 'tis a sweet little creature, you know. But sweet little creatures have sometimes, they say, A great deal that's bitter, or sour, to betray!

And often the humming-bird's delicate breast Is found of a very high temper possessed. Such essence of anger within it is pent, 'Twould burst did no safety-valve give it a vent.

Displeased, it will seem a bright vial of wrath, Uncorked by its heat, the offender to scath; And, taking occasion to let off its ire, 'Tis startling to witness how high it will fire.

A humming-bird once o'er a trumpet-flower hung, And darted that sharp little member, the tongue, At once to the nectarine cell, for the sweet She felt at the bottom most certain to meet.

But, finding some other light child of the air To rifle its store, had already been there; And no drop of honey for her to draw up, Her vengeance broke forth on the destitute cup.

She flew in a passion, that heightened her power; And cuffing, and shaking the innocent flower, Its tender corolla in shred after shred She hastily stripped; then she snapped off its head.

A delicate ruin, on earth as it lay, That bright little fury went, humming, away, With gossamer softness, and fair to the eye, Like some living brilliant, just dropped from the sky.

And since, when that curious bird I behold Arrayed in rich colors, and dusted with gold, I cannot but think of the wrath and the spite She has in reserve, though they're now out of sight.

Ye two-footed, beautiful, passionate things, If plumy or plumeless--without, or with wings, Beware, lest ye break, in some hazardous hour, Your vials of wrath, hot, or bitter, or sour!

And would ye but know how at times ye do seem Transformed to bright furies, or frights in a dream, Go, stand at the glass--to the painter go sit, When anger is just at the height of its fit!

=The Butterfly's Dream=

A tulip, just opened, had offered to hold A butterfly gaudy and gay; And rocked in his cradle of crimson and gold, The careless young slumberer lay.

For the butterfly slept;--as such thoughtless ones will, At ease, and reclining on flowers;-- If ever they study, 'tis how they may kill The best of their mid-summer hours!

And the butterfly dreamed, as is often the case With _indolent_ lovers of change, Who, keeping the body at ease in its place, Give fancy permission to range.

He dreamed that he saw, what he could but despise, The swarm from a neighboring hive; Which, having come out for their winter supplies, Had made the whole garden alive.

He looked with disgust, as the proud often do, On the diligent movements of those, Who, keeping both present and future in view, Improve every hour as it goes.

As the brisk little alchymists passed to and fro, With anger the butterfly swelled; And called them mechanics--a rabble too low To come near the station he held.

"Away from my presence!" said he, in his sleep, "Ye humble plebeians! nor dare Come here with your colorless winglets to sweep The king of this brilliant parterre!"

He thought, at these words, that together they flew, And, facing about, made a stand; And then, to a terrible army they grew, And fenced him on every hand.

Like hosts of huge giants, his numberless foes Seemed spreading to measureless size: Their wings with a mighty expansion arose, And stretched like a veil o'er the skies.

Their eyes seemed like little volcanoes, for fire,-- Their hum, to a cannon-peal grown,-- Farina to bullets was rolled in their ire, And, he thought, hurled at him and his throne.

He tried to cry quarter! his voice would not sound, His head ached--his throne reeled and fell; His enemy cheered, as he came to the ground, And cried, "King Papilio, farewell!"

His fall chased the vision--the sleeper awoke, The wonderful dream to expound; The lightning's bright flash from the thunder-cloud broke, And hail-stones were rattling around.

He'd slumbered so long, that now, over his head, The tempest's artillery rolled; The tulip was shattered--the whirl-blast had fled, And borne off its crimson and gold.

'Tis said, for the fall and the pelting, combined With suppressed ebullitions of pride. This vain son of summer no balsam could find, But he crept under covert and died!

=The Boy and the Cricket=

At length I have thee! my brisk new-comer, Sounding thy lay to departing summer; And I'll take thee up from thy bed of grass, And carry thee home to a house of glass; Where thy slender limbs, and the faded green Of thy close-made coat, can all be seen. For I long to know if the cricket _sings_, Or _plays_ the tune with his gauzy wings;-- To bring that shrill-toned pipe to light Which kept me awake so long last night, That I told the hours by the lazy clock, Till I heard the crow of the noisy cock; When, tossing and turning, at length I fell In a sleep so strange, that the dream I'll tell.

Methought, on a flowery bank I lay, By a beautiful stream; and watched the play Of the sparkling wavelets, that fled so fast, I could not number them as they passed. But I marked the things which they carried by; And a neat little skiff first caught my eye. 'Twas woven of reeds, and its sides were bound By a tender vine, that had clasped it round; And spreading within, had made it seem A basket of leaves, borne down the stream. And the skiff had neither a sail nor oar; But a bright little boy stood up, and bore, On his outstretched hands, a wreath so gay, It looked like a crown for the Queen of May. And while he was going, I heard him sing, "O seize the garland of passing _Spring!_" But I dared not reach, for the bank was steep; And he bore it away, to the far off deep!

There came, then, a lady;--her eye was bright-- She was young and fair, and her bark was light; Its mast was a living tree, that spread Its boughs for a sail, o'er the lady's head. And some of its fruits had just begun To flush, on the side that was next the sun; And some with the crimson streak were stained; While others their size had not yet gained. In passing she cried, "Oh! who can insure The fruits of _Summer_ to get mature? For, fast as the waters beneath me flowing, Beyond recall, I'm going! I'm going!"

I turned my eye, and beheld another, That seemed as she might be Summer's mother. She looked more grave; while her cheek was tinged With a deeper brown; and her bark was fringed With the tasselled heads of the wheaten sheaves Along its sides; and the yellow leaves, That had covered the deck concealed a throng Of _Crickets!_--I knew by their choral song. And at _Autumn's_ feet lay the golden corn, While her hands were raised, to invert a horn That was filled with a sweet and mellow store, And the purple clusters were hanging o'er. She bade me seize on the fruit that should last When the harvest was gone, and Autumn had past. But, when I had paused to make the choice, I saw no bark! and I heard no voice!

Then I looked on a sight that chilled my blood! 'Twas a mass of ice, where an old man stood On his frozen float; while his shrivelled hand Had clenched, as a staff by which to stand, A whitened branch that the blast had broke From the lifeless trunk of an aged oak. The icicles hung from the naked limb, And the old man's eye was sunken and dim. But his scattering locks were silver bright, His beard with gathering frost was white; The tears congealed on his furrowed cheek, His garb was thin, and the winds were bleak. He faintly uttered, while drawing near, "_Winter_, the death of the short-lived year, Can yield thee nought, as I downward tend To the boundless sea, where the Seasons end! But I trust from others, who've gone before, Thou'st clothed thy form, and supplied thy store And now, what tidings am I to bear Of thee--for I shall be questioned there?"

I asked my mother, who o'er me bent, What all this show of the Seasons meant? She said 'twas a picture of Life, I saw; And the useful moral myself must draw!

I woke, and found that thy song was stilled, And the sun's bright beams my room had filled! But I think, my Cricket, I long shall keep In mind the dream of my morning sleep!

=Fanny Spy=

Lucy, Lucy, come away! Never climb for things so high. Don't you know, the other day, What fell out with Fanny Spy?

Fanny spied, a loaf of cake, Wisely set above her reach; Yet did Fanny think to make In its tempting side a breach.

When she thought the family Out of sight and hearing too, Forth a polished table she Quickly to the closet drew.

First, she stepped upon a chair; Then the table--then a shelf; Thinking she securely there Might, unnoticed, help herself.

Then she seized a heavy slice, Leaving in the loaf a cleft Wider than a dozen mice, Feasted there all night, had left.

Stepping backward, Fanny slid On the table's polished face:-- Down she came, with dish and lid, Silver--glass--and china vase!

In, from every room they rushed, Father--mother--servants--all, Thinking all the closet crushed, By the racket and the fall.

'Mid the uproar of the house, Fanny, in her shame and fright, Wished herself indeed a mouse, But to run and hide from sight.

Yet was she to learn how vain, Poor and worthless, is a wish. Wishing could not lull her pain, Hide her shame, nor mend a dish.

There she lay, but could not speak; For a tooth had made a pass Through her lip; and to her cheek Clung a piece of shivered glass.

From her altered features gushed Rolling tears, and streaming gore; While, untasted still, and crushed, Lay her cake upon the floor.

Then the doctor hurried in: Fanny at his needle swooned, As he held her crimson chin, And together stitched the wound.

Now her face a scar must wear, Ever till her dying day! Questioned how it happened there, What can blushing Fanny say?

=Sudden Elevation; or The Empaled Butterfly=

"Ho!" said the Butterfly, "here am I, Up in the air, who used to lie Flat on the ground, for the passers by To treat with utter neglect! But none will suspect that I am the same; With a bright, new coat, and a different name; The piece of nothingness whence I came In me they'll never detect.

"That horrible night in the chrysalis, Which brought me at length to a day like this, In a form of beauty--a state of bliss, Was little enough to give For freedom to range from bower to bower, To flirt with the buds, and flatter the flower, And bask in the sunbeams hour by hour, The envy of all that live.

"Why, this is a world of curious things, Where those who crawl, and those that have wings, Are ranked in the classes of beggars, and kings, No matter how much the worth May be on the side of those who creep, Where the vain, the light, and the bold will sweep, Others from notice, and proudly keep Uppermost on the earth!

"Many a one that has loathed the sight Of the piteous worm, will take delight In welcoming me, as I look so bright In my new and beautiful dress. But some I shall pass with a scornful glance, Some, with an elegant _nonchalance_; And others will woo me, till I advance To give them a slight caress."

"Ha, ha!" said the Pin, "you are just the one Through which I'm commissioned, at once, to run From back to breast, till, your fluttering done, Your form may be fairly shown. And when my point shall have reached your heart, 'T will be as a balm to the wounded part, To think how you're to be copied by art, And your beauty will all be known!"

=The Stricken Bird=

Here's the last food your poor mother can bring! Take it, my suffering brood. Oh! they have stricken me under the wing; See, it is dripping with blood!

Fair was the morn, and I wished them to rise, Enjoying its beauties with me. The air was all fragrance--all splendor the skies, While bright shone the earth and the sea.

Little I thought, when so freely I went, Employing my earliest breath, To wake them with song, it could be their intent To pay me with arrows and death!

Fear that my nestlings would feel them forgot, Helped me a moment to fly; Else I had given up life on the spot, Under my murderer's eye.

Yet, I can never brood o'er you again, Closing you under my breast! Its coldness would chill you; my blood would but stain And spoil the warm down of your nest.

Ere the night-coming, your mother will lie, All motionless, under the tree; Where, deafened, and silent, I still shall be nigh, While you will be moaning for me!

=The Young Sportsman=

Harry had a dog and gun; And he loved to set the one, Barking, out upon the run, While he held the other, Often charged so heavily, 'Twas a dangerous thing to be With so young a wight as he Mindless of his mother.

Earnestly she warned her child To forego a sport so wild; While he, turning, frowned or smiled, And away would sidle. For, to give him short and long, Harry had a head so strong, In the right or in the wrong, It was hard to bridle.

On his gunning madly bent, Often in his clothes a rent Told the reckless way he went, Over hedge and brambles. Homeward then would Harry slouch, With his gun and empty pouch, Looking like a scaramouch Coming from his rambles.

Sometimes when he scaled a wall, Headlong there to pitch and fall, Ratling stones, and gun and all. Down together tumbled. Tray would bark to tell the news Of his master with a bruise, Hatless, and with grated shoes, Lying flat and humbled!

Where he saw the bushes stirred, Harry, sure of hare or bird, Drew,--and at a flash was heard Noise like little thunder. When he ran his game to find, Disappointment 'mazed his mind;-- Finding he'd but shot the wind, Dumb he stood with wonder!

Over muddy pool or bog, Not so nimble as his dog, When he walked the plank or log, There his balance losing, Splash! he went--a rueful plight! If his face before was white, 'Twas like morning turned to night, Much against his choosing.

Now, like many a hasty one, Whether quadruped or gun, Or a mother's wayward son Given to disaster, Harry's gun was rather quick; And it had a naughty trick,-- It would snap itself, and kick Fiercely at its master.

So, this snappish habit grew With a power for him to rue; Just as all bad habits do Grow, as age increases. When, one day, with noise and smoke, Over-charged, the barrel broke, Harry's hand the mischief spoke-- It was blown to pieces!

Tray came crouching round, and growled,-- Saw the gore, and whined, and howled, While his owner groaned and scowled, And the blood was running. With the horrors of his state, And with anguish desperate, Then poor Harry owned too late, He was _sick of gunning_!

While his mother bent to mourn As her froward son was borne, With his hand all burnt and torn, Faint and pale, before her, Harry's pain must be endured,-- And the wound--it might be cured; But, for fingers uninsured, There was no restorer!

=The Pebble and the Acorn=

"I am a Pebble! I yield to none!" Were the swelling words of a tiny stone, "Nor time nor season can alter me; I am abiding, while ages flee. The pelting hail and the drizzling rain Have tried to soften me, long, in vain; And the dew has tenderly sought to melt, Or touch my heart; but it was not felt. There's none to tell you about my birth, For I am as old as the big, round earth. The children of men arise, and pass Out of the world, like blades of grass; And many foot that on me has trod Is gone from sight, and under the sod! I am a Pebble! but who art _thou_, Rattling along from the restless bough?"

The Acorn was shocked at this rude salute, And lay for a moment abashed and mute: She never before had been so near This gravelly ball, the mundane sphere; And she felt for a time at loss to know How to answer a thing so coarse and low. But to give reproof of a nobler sort Than the angry look, or the keen retort, At length she said, in a gentle tone, "Since it has happened that I am thrown, From the lighter element where I grew, Down to another, so hard and new, And beside a personage so august, Abased, I'll cover my head with dust, And quick retire from the sight of one Whom time, nor season, nor storm, nor sun, Nor the gentle dew, nor the grinding heel Has ever subdued, or made to feel!" And soon in the earth she sank away From the cheerless spot where the Pebble lay.