Page:Poems For Our Children (1830).djvu/24

 My honey-cups I gaily quaff,

With friends I sing, and sport, and laugh—

'T is spring's and summer's industry

Makes winter hours so sweet to me.

Edward, from my example's truth,

Improve the golden days of youth,

In books, or business steadily

Engage, then like the busy bee,

Should age, or want, or weakness come

You 'll find resources, friends and home.

But if, like yonder fluttering thing,

You waste your time in rioting,

A heedless, helpless, useless drone,

You 'll have to fly or fall alone.'

So spoke the bee and homeward flew,

Young Edward heard, and thanked her too;

Quoth he, 'with speed to school I 'll hie,

I will not be a butterfly.'