1 How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower!

2 How skilfully she builds her cell! 
How neat she spreads the wax! 
And labours hard to store it well
With the sweet food she makes.

3 In works of labour or of skill
I would be busy too: 
For Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do.

4 In books, or work, or healthful play
Let my first years be past,
That I may give for every day
Some good account at last.

Song 21.
Against evil Company.

1 Why should I join with those in play
In whom I’ve no delight;
Who curse and swear, but never play;
Who call ill names, and fight?

2 I hate to hear a wanton song: 
Their words offend my ears: 
I should not dare defile my tongue
With language such as theirs.

3 Away from fools I’ll turn my eyes,
Nor with the scoffers go: 
I would be walking with the wise,
That wiser I may grow.

4 From one rude boy, that’s used to mock,
They learn the wicked jest: 
One sickly sheep infects the flock,
And poisons all the rest.

5 My God, I hate to walk or dwell
With sinful children here: 
Then let me not be sent to hell,
Where none but sinners are.

Song 22.
Against Pride in Clothes.

1 Why should our garments, made to hide
Our parents’ shame, provoke our pride? 
The art of dress did ne’er begin
Till Eve our mother learnt to sin.

2 When first she put the covering on,
Her robe of innocence was gone;
And yet her children vainly boast
In the sad marks of glory lost.

3 How proud we are! how fond to shew
Our clothes, and call them rich and new,
When the poor sheep and silkworms wore
That very clothing long before!

4 The tulip and the butterfly
Appear in gayer coats than I: 
Let me be dress’d fine as I will,
Flies, worms, and flowers exceed me still.

5 Then will I set my heart to find
Inward adornings of the mind: 
Knowledge and virtue, truth and grace,
These are the robes of richest dress.

6 No more shall worms with me compare,
This is the raiment angels wear: 
The Son of God, when here below,
Put on this blest apparel too.

6 It never fades, it ne’er grows old,
Nor fears the rain, nor moth, nor mould: 
It takes no spot, but still refines;
The more `tis worn, the more it shines.

7 In this on earth would I appear,
Then go to heaven, and wear it there: 
God will approve it in his sight;
’Tis his own work, and his delight.

Song 23.
Obedience to Parents.

1 Let children that would fear the Lord
Hear what their teachers say;
With reverence meet their parents’ word,
And with delight obey.