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The infant moralist

Chapter 7: PROFANITY
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About This Book

A collection of short didactic poems for young readers that depict everyday domestic scenes to illustrate moral lessons. Each verse presents a simple incident—such as animal cruelty, heedless mischief, greed, envy, profanity, or neglect of the elderly—and traces its immediate consequences, often ending with parental correction or reflection. The pieces use plain rhyme and narrative vignettes to teach virtues like charity, politeness, courage, and prudence, emphasizing cause and effect in familiar, child-centered settings.

PROFANITY

A Sailor of the name of Park
Gave Nurse a Parrot gay;
I think I heard the Man remark
It came from Paraguay.
How strange a Sight in distant Lands,
Where Wonders meet the Eye,
To see the Works of Nature’s Hands
From ev’ry Tree-top fly.
But Oh! with Shame and Sorrow both,
I scarce can lisp the Tale,
Its brutal Jest and hideous Oath
My infant Cheek turn’d pale.
Alas! when all is bright and fair
That Wickedness should lurk,
Those sinful Words that filled the Air
Were Man’s ignoble work.
Nurse screamed aloud, the Sailor ran,
The Bird spoke yet more plain;
Oh! how I hope the shameless Man
Will not come back again.
How very careful we should be
’Mong those alone to move
Who shunning, fly Profanity,
And who our Hearts approve.