Words

TELL me the name of something, dear;

As book, or ball, or kite;

Now tell some quality of each,

As big, or round, or light.

And now some word that means to be

Yes, is, my child, you're right.



The ink is black, The snow is white,

The ice is hard--is cold:

The sky is blue, The air is light,

Sometimes the child is bold.

And thus let names of everything

Afar or near be told;

And Qualities of each and all

Let memory infold.



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NOW give one name, and tell me all

Its qualities as well;

As, coal is black, and coal is hard,

And coal's inflammable.



And now, you children should be taught

That we need not repeat

The name, with every word that tells

Its qualities complete.



Coal's black, hard, and inflammable,

We say; but all so fast,

A comma follows after each,

With and before the last.



And now use iron, chalk, and clay,

Use water, snow, and ice,

Use thread and needle, pin and pen,

Use every word that's nice.--







ANOTHER lesson now attend--

We'll find some quality

Embraced by several different things,

As you will plainly see.



Snow is cold, ice is cold,

Salt is cold as well;

Snow, ice, and salt are cold, my child,

As every one can tell.





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