Innocent and free,

Coming here their life-long lessons

Now to learn of me.

Listen to the toilsome routine,

List, and answer them,

For these things who is sufficient

'Mong the sons of men?

Now they, at the well-known summons,

Cease their busy hum;

And, some with pleasure, some reluctant,

To the school-room come.

Comes a cunning little urchin

With defiant eye,

"Making music" with his marbles

As he passes by.

But, alas! the pretty toys are

[Pg 20]

Taken from him soon,

And the music-loving Willie

Strikes another tune!

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