LESSON FROM THE RAIN DROPS.



A LITTLE boy stood at his mother's door, 

One windy and boisterous day, 

The rain in torrents down did pour, 

And he could not go out to play, 

So he watched the trickling raindrops fall 

As they splashed against the garden wall.

He grumbled and pouted, and thought it hard, 

That the shower should come just then;

He meant to fly his kite in the yard, 

He said, with his cousin Ben;

And now, instead, he would have to stay

And mope in the house the livelong day.

So he hung about near the window seat,

Just as cross as he could be; 

But after a while he went to sleep,

And a wonderful dream had he; 

When he awoke again, I ween, 

A pleasanter boy could not be seen.

He dreamed that he owned a large old farm,

Had horses and cows to feed, 

That he'd planted some oats to store in his barn,

And sprinkled some clover seed; 

And he thought he was growing to be quite old, 

Was tall, and manly, and stout, and bold.

And he dreamed he waited and watched in vain,

For his oats to ripen fast; 

The corn he weeded again and again,

In hopes it would grow at last; 

While the clover drooped its empty head, 

And his barley was withered and almost dead.

Then sadly he turned to his old barn door, 

And sighed, while he said, ah, me!

I wish it would rain, I wish it would pour, 

But never a cloud do I see.

The thirsty ground is so hard and dry,

The grain I have planted will surely die.

But he seemed to hear some one whisper low, 

I hope it won't shower to night 

I only care for myself, you know, 

And I mean to fly my kite 

Then he changed to a little boy again,

And awoke while it still was pattering rain.

He looked around, and then springing up,

He opened wide the door, 

Each flower held up its tiny cup, 

And the earth, though drinking the rain drops up,

Still seems to be asking for more. 

He was very glad he had slept and dreamed, 

For he felt how selfish he must have seemed,

To think alone of his trifling play,

When the earth was so thirsty and dry,

And, because he must stay in the house all day, 

To wish for a cloudless sky.

He was happy now, nor forgot again,

The lesson he learned by the falling rain.

 



Children's Guest.