Lesson:

1. Two girls I know—Jeannette and Jo,


And one is always moping;


The other lassie, come what may,


Is ever bravely hoping.





2. Beauty of face and girlish grace


Are theirs, for joy or sorrow;


Jeannette takes brightly every day,


And Jo dreads each tomorrow.





3. One early morn they watched the dawn —


I saw them stand together;


Their whole day's sport, 'twas very plain,


Depended on the weather.





4. 'It will storm!' cried Jo. Jeannette spoke low:


'Yes, but 'twill soon be over.'


And, as she spoke, the sudden shower


Came, beating down the clover.





5. 'I told you so!' cried angry Jo:


'It always is a-raining!'


Then hid her face in dire despair,


Lamenting and complaining.





6. But sweet Jeannette, quite hopeful yet,—


I tell it to her honor,—


Looked up and waited till the sun


Came streaming in upon her.





7. The broken clouds sailed off in crowds,


Across a sea of glory.


Jeannette and Jo ran, laughing, in—


Which ends my simple story.





8. Joy is divine. Come storm, come shine,


The hopeful are the gladdest;


And doubt and dread, children, believe


Of all things are the saddest.





9. In morning's light, let youth be bright;


Take in the sunshine tender;


Then, at the close, shall life's decline


Be full of sunset splendor.





10. And ye who fret, try, like Jeannette,


To shun all weak complaining;


And not, like Jo, cry out too soon—


'It always is a-raining!'