Lesson 2 The Needle

The gay belles of fashion may boast of excelling

In waltz or cotillon, at whist or quadrille;

And seek admiration by vauntingly telling

Of drawing, and painting, and musical skill:

But give me the fair one, in country or city,

Whose home and its duties are dear to her heart,

Who cheerfully warbles some rustical ditty,

While plying the needle with exquisite art:

The bright little needle, the swift-flying needle,

The needle directed by beauty and art.

If Love have a potent, a magical token,

A talisman, ever resistless and true,

A charm that is never evaded or broken,

A witchery certain the heart to subdue,

'T is this; and his armory never has furnished

So keen and unerring, or polished a dart;

Let beauty direct it, so polished and burnished,

And oh! It is certain of touching the heart:

The bright little needle, the swift-flying needle,

The needle directed by beauty and art.

Be wise, then, ye maidens, nor seek admiration,

By dressing for conquest, and flirting with all;

You never, whate'er be your fortune or station,

Appear half so lovely at rout or at ball,

As gayly convened at the work-covered table,

Each cheerfully active, playing her part,

Beguiling the task with a song or a fable,

And plying the needle with exquisite art:

The bright little needle, the swift-flying needle,

The needle directed by beauty and art.

—Samuel Woodworth.