Divine Songs for the Use of Children (1847)/XVI. Love between Brothers and Sisters

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For other versions of this work, see Love Between Brothers and Sisters (Watts).
3948808Divine Songs for the Use of Children (1847) — XVI. Love between Brothers and SistersIsaac Watts
XVI.—Love between Brothers and Sisters.

1Whatever brawls disturb the street,
there should be peace at home;
Where sisters dwell and brothers meet
quarrels should never come.

2Birds in their little nests agree,
and ’tis a shameful sight
When children of one family
fall out, and chide, and fight.

3Hard names at first, & threat'ning words,
that are but noisy breath,
May grow to clubs and naked swords,
to murder and to death.

4The devil tempts one mother's son
to rage against another;
So wicked Cain was hurried on
till he had kill'd his brother.

5The wise will make their anger cool,
at least before 'tis night;
But in the bosom of a fool
it burns till morning light.

6Pardon, O Lord, our childish rage,
our little brawls remove,
That, as we grow to riper age,
our hearts may all be love.