Divine Songs for the Use of Children (1847)/XVI. Love between Brothers and Sisters
For other versions of this work, see Love Between Brothers and Sisters (Watts).
XVI.—Love between Brothers and Sisters.
1Whatever brawls disturb the street,
there should be peace at home;
Where sisters dwell and brothers meet
quarrels should never come.
there should be peace at home;
Where sisters dwell and brothers meet
quarrels should never come.
2Birds in their little nests agree,
and ’tis a shameful sight
When children of one family
fall out, and chide, and fight.
and ’tis a shameful sight
When children of one family
fall out, and chide, and fight.
3Hard names at first, & threat'ning words,
that are but noisy breath,
May grow to clubs and naked swords,
to murder and to death.
that are but noisy breath,
May grow to clubs and naked swords,
to murder and to death.
4The devil tempts one mother's son
to rage against another;
So wicked Cain was hurried on
till he had kill'd his brother.
to rage against another;
So wicked Cain was hurried on
till he had kill'd his brother.
5The wise will make their anger cool,
at least before 'tis night;
But in the bosom of a fool
it burns till morning light.
at least before 'tis night;
But in the bosom of a fool
it burns till morning light.
6Pardon, O Lord, our childish rage,
our little brawls remove,
That, as we grow to riper age,
our hearts may all be love.
our little brawls remove,
That, as we grow to riper age,
our hearts may all be love.