CHILD'S PLAY

 

CHILD'S PLAY - A POEM

By the Author of Earth's Many Voices 

WITH care and cunning we shaped a boat, 

My brother Robbie and I; 
We rigged it next with sail and mast, 

We said it should be quite safe and fast,

My brother Robbie and I.

We made fast to it a slender rope, 

My brother Robbie and I; 

A rope by which we might guide its way,

 When we launched our boat in our tiny bay, 

My brother Robbie and I;  

The bay was set with perils, we knew, 

My brother Robbie and I; 

We knew them well- the thickets of reeds, 

And water-lilies, and tangled weeds- 

My brother Robbie and I. 

The day when we launched our little boat, 

My brother Robbie and I, 

Our playmates watched on the other bank; 

Oh! what if it sailed, and what if it sank, 

Thought brother Robbie and I. 

We sailed our boat right safely across, 

My brother Robbie and I; 

And when our boat to the shore drew near, 

We heard our comrades raise a cheer, 

My brother Robbie and I. 

Now we are old and grey with years, 

My brother Robbie and I. 

Many a venture we've sent afloat, 

Many a one since our tiny boat, 

My brother Robbie and I. 

Many a time we have wrought with care, 

My brother Robbie and I; 

But never success has seemed more dear 

Than the day when we heard our comrades cheer, 

My brother Robbie and I. 

Yes, we are old and grey with years, 

My brother Robbie and I; 

And we tell this story for those who say 

Of some careless task, 'It is mere child's play!' 

My brother Robbie and I. 

When folk say so, we shake our heads, 

My brother Robbie and I, 

And 'Oh, not so! not so!' cry we; 

'For child's play, it is done earnestly,' 

Say brother Robbie and I. 

References:

Chatterbox 1877

HARD SPELLING

 HARD SPELLING 

IT  is said that an Inspector, who was examining a School at Ipswich, gave this piece of doggrel for dictation. It is so hard to read, so difficult to understand, and so full of puzzling words to spell, that most scholars would say, 'It wasn't fair':-

'While hewing yews Hugh lost his ewe, 

And put it in the Hue and Cry. 

To name his face's dusky hucs 

Was all the effort he could use. 

You brought the ewe back by-and-bye,

 And only begged the hewer's ewer, 

Your hands to wash in water pure, 

Lest nice-nosed ladies, not a few,

 Should cry, on coming near you, "Ugh!"