LESSON 2

LITTLE JIM

THE cottage was a thatched one,

The outside old and mean;

Yet everything within that cot

Was wondrous neat and clean.

The night was dark and stormy,

The wind was howling wild;

A patient mother knelt beside

The deathbed of her child:

A little worn-out creature—

His once bright eyes grown dim;

He was a collier’s only child—

They called him little Jim.

And oh, to see the briny tears

Fast hurrying down her cheek,

As she offered up a prayer inthough t;

She was afraid to speak,

Lest she might waken one she loved

Far better than her life;

For there was all a mother’s love

In that poor collier’s wife.

With hands uplifted, see, she kneels

Beside the suff’rer’s bed;

And prays that He will spare her boy

And take herself instead!

She gets her answer from the child;

Soft fell these words from him:

“Mother, the angels do so smile,

And beckon little Jim!

“I have no pain, dear mother, now;

But oh, I am so dry!

Just moisten poor Jim’s lips again;

And, mother, don’t you cry.”

With gentle, trembling haste she held

The tea-cup to his lips;

He smiled, to thank her, as he took

Three tiny little sips.

“Tell father, when he comes from work,

I said good-night to him;

And, mother, now I’ll go to sleep” —

Alas! poor little Jim!

She saw that he was dying—

The child she loved so dear

Had uttered the last words that she

Might ever hope to hear.

The cottage door was opened,

The collier’s step was heard;

The mother and the father met,

Yet neither spoke a word!

He knew that all was over—

He knew his child was dead;

He took the candle in his hand,

And walked towards the bed.

His quivering lips gave token

Of grief he’d fain conceal;

And see! his wife has joined him—

The stricken couple kneel!

With hearts bowed down with sadness,

They humbly ask of Him,

In heaven once more to meet again

Their own poor little Jim.

— Edward Farmer

QUESTIONS

Where was the mother kneeling? In what state was the boy? Why did she offer up her prayer in thought ? From whom did she get her answer? What were Jim’s last words? What did his mather do when he came in? What did both father and mother then do?

PRONUNCIATION

cot´-tage　col´-lier　an´-swer　ut´-tered　coup´-le

ev´-er-y-thing　hur´-ry-ing　trem´-bling　nei´-ther　up-lift´-ed

storm´-y　pray´-er　dy´-ing　hum´-bly　an´-gels 0wh01L7kzGhkMf95jysvDIURXYlLxVp2UwrfLeRrgDc7SimJns2IhybXUjvPxRz5

WRITE