Stories and Poems

THE HONEST MILLER OF GLOUCESTERSHIREA TRUE BALLADBy Hannah More Of all the callings and the tradesWhich in our land abound,The miller’s is as useful, sure,As can on earth be found. The lord or squire of high degreeIs needful to the state,Because he lets the land he ownsIn farms both small and great. The farmer, he manures the land,Or else what corn could grow?The ploughman cuts the furrow deepEre he begins to sow. And though no wealth he has, exceptThe labor of his hands,Yet honest industry’s as goodAs houses or as lands. The thresher, he is useful tooTo all who like...

THE BAD BARGAINOR, THE WORLD SET UP TO SALEBy Hannah More The devil, as the Scriptures show,Tempts sinful mortals, high and low;And, acting well his various part,Suits every bribe to every heart.See there the prince of darkness stands,With baits for souls in both his hands. To one he offers empires whole,And gives a sceptre for a soul;To one he freely gives in barterA peerage, or a star and garter;To one he pays polite attention,And begs him just to take a pension. Some are so fired with love of fame,He bribes them by an empty name;For fame they toil, they preach,...

THE IMPOSSIBILITY CONQUEREDOR, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF IN THE MANNER OF SIR WALTER RALEIGHBy Hannah More THE OBJECTOR 1. Each man who lives, the Scriptures prove,Must as himself his neighbor love;But though the precept’s full of beauty,’Tis an impracticable duty:I’ll prove how hard it is to findA lover of this wondrous kind. 2. Who loves himself to great excess,You’ll grant, must love his neighbor less;When self engrosses all the heart,How can another have a part?Then, if self-love most men inthrall,A neighbor’s share is none at all. 3. Say, can the man who hoards up pelfE’er love his neighbor as...

THE FOOLISH TRAVELERA GOOD INN IS A BAD HOMEBy Hannah More There was a prince of high degree,As great and good as prince could be;Much power and wealth were in his hand,With lands and lordships at command. One son, a favorite son, he had,An idle, thoughtless kind of lad;Whom, spite of all his follies passed,He meant to make his heir at last. The son escaped to foreign lands,And broke his gracious sire’s commands;Far, as he fancied, from his sight,In each low joy he took delight. The youth, detesting peace and quiet,Indulged in vice, expense, and riot;Of each wild pleasure rashly tasted,Till...

TURN THE CARPET OR, THE TWO WEAVERS IN A DIALOGUE BETWEEN DICK AND JOHN By Hannah More As at their work two weavers sat,Beguiling time with friendly chat,They touched upon the price of meat,So high, a weaver scarce could eat. “What with my brats and sickly wife,”Quoth Dick, “I’m almost tired of life;So hard my work, so poor my fare,’Tis more than mortal man can bear. “How glorious is the rich man’s state!His house so fine! his wealth so great!Heaven is unjust, you must agree;Why all to him? why none to me? “In spite of what the Scripture teaches,In spite...