Book 3-Lesson 02

LESSON 2
LITTLE JIM
THE cottage was a thatched(1) one,
The outside old and mean;
Yet everything within that cot
Was wondrous(2) neat and clean.
The night was dark and stormy,
The wind was howling(3) wild;
A patient(4) 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(5) tears
Fast hurrying down her cheek,
As she offered up a prayer in thought;(6)
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(7) little Jim!
"I have no pain, dear mother, now;
But oh, I am so dry!
Just moisten(8) 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(9) lips gave token(10)
Of grief he'd fain(11) conceal;(12)
And see! his wife has joined him—
The stricken(13) 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.

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(1) Thatched, with a straw roof.
(2) Wondrous, causing wonder; more than you would look for.
(3) Howling, making a loud, dreary sound.
(4) Patient, bearing much without a grumble.
(5) Briny, salt, like sea-water.
(6) In thought, in the mind, without speaking.
(7) Beckon, call by a wave of the hand.
(8) Moisten, make wet.
(9) Quivering, shaking; trembling with strong feeling.
(10) Token, sign, or proof.
(11) Fain, gladly.
(12) Conceal, hide.
(13) Stricken, bowed down with grief.