ONE THOUSAND FAMOUS THINGS 2®
The Prisoner Bound
Rt tell me, who was it bound you ?
•*• It was my master, said the prisoner. I thought I could outdo
everybody in the world in wealth and power, and I amassed in my
own treasure-house the money due to my king. When sleep over-
came me I lay upon the bed that was for my lord, and on waking up
I found I was a prisoner in my own treasure-house.
Prisoner, tell me, who was it wrought this unbreakable chain ?
It was I, said the prisoner, who forged this chain very carefully.
I thought my invincible power would hold the world captive, leaving
me in a freedom undisturbed. Thus night and day I worked at the
chain with huge fires and cruel, hard strokes. When at last the
work was done and the links were complete and unbreakable I found
that it held me in its grip. Rabindranath Tagore
Good-Night and Joy be With You All
THE weary sun's gaen down the west,
The birds sit nodding on the tree |
All Nature now prepares for rest,
But rest prepared there's none for me.
The trumpet sounds to war's alarms,
The drums they beat, the fifes they play,
Come, Mary, cheer me wi' thy charms,
For the morn I will be far away.
Good-night, and joy—Good-night, and joy,
Good-night, and joy be wi' you all;
For since it's so that I must go,
Good-night, and joy be wi' you all.
Robert Tannahill
The Willow Growefh Fast
npHE willow groweth incredibly fast, it being a byword in Cambridge-
JL shire that the profit of willows will buy the owner a horse before
that of other trees will pay for his saddle. Thomas Fuller
The Little Lamb
ANNE, third daughter of King Charles the First, was born at Saint
James, March 1637. She died in ^er infancy, when not quite
four years old.
Being minded by those about her to call upon God, even when
the grasp of Death was upon her, " I arn not able (saith she) to say
my long prayer, but I will say my short one. Lighten mine eyes, O
Lord, lest I sleep the sleep of death." This done, the little lamb gave
up the ghost. * Thomas Fuller