Stories and Poems — Hannah More

DAN AND JANEOR, FAITH AND WORKS, A TALEBy Hannah More Good Dan and Jane were man and wife,And lived a loving kind of life;One point, however, they disputed,And each by turns his mate confuted.’Twas faith and works—this knotty questionThey found not easy of digestion.While Dan for faith alone contended,Jane equally good works defended.“They are not Christians, sure, but Turks,Who build on faith and scoff at works,”Quoth Jane;—while eager Dan replied,“By none but heathens faith’s denied.”“I’ll tell you, wife,” at length quoth Dan,“A story of a right good man—A patriarch sage, of ancient days,A man of faith, whom all must praise.In his...

THE PUPPET-SHOWA TALEBy Hannah More A noble earl—the name I spare,From reverence to the living heir—Loved pleasure; but, to speak the truthNot much refinement graced the youth.The path of pleasure which he trodWas somewhat new, and rather odd;For, that he haunted park or play,His house’s archives do not say;Or that more modish joys he felt,And would in opera transports melt;Or that he spent his morning’s primeIn Bond-street bliss till dinner-time:No treasured anecdotes recordSuch pastimes pleased the youthful lord. One single taste historians mention,A fact, unmingled with invention;It was a taste you’ll think, I fear,Somewhat peculiar for a peer,Though the rude...