| |
| A DISTRICT school, not far away, | |
| Mid Berkshire hills, one winter’s day, | |
| Was humming with its wonted noise | |
| Of threescore mingled girls and boys; | |
| Some few upon their tasks intent, | 5 |
| But more on furtive mischief bent, | |
| The while the master’s downward look | |
| Was fastened on a copy-book; | |
| When suddenly, behind his back, | |
| Rose sharp and clear a rousing smack! | 10 |
| As ’t were a battery of bliss | |
| Let off in one tremendous kiss! | |
| “What ’s that?” the startled master cries; | |
| “That, thir,” a little imp replies, | |
| “Wath William Willith, if you pleathe,— | 15 |
| I thaw him kith Thuthanna Peathe!” | |
| With frown to make a statue thrill, | |
| The master thundered, “Hither, Will!” | |
| Like wretch o’ertaken in his track, | |
| With stolen chattels on his back, | 20 |
| Will hung his head in fear and shame, | |
| And to the awful presence came,— | |
| A great, green, bashful simpleton, | |
| The butt of all good-natured fun. | |
| With smile suppressed, and birch upraised, | 25 |
| The threatener faltered,—“I ’m amazed | |
| That you, my biggest pupil, should | |
| Be guilty of an act so rude! | |
| Before the whole set school to boot— | |
| What evil genius put you to ’t?” | 30 |
| “’T was she herself, sir,” sobbed the lad, | |
| “I did not mean to be so bad; | |
| But when Susannah shook her curls, | |
| And whispered, I was ’fraid of girls | |
| And dursn’t kiss a baby’s doll, | 35 |
| I couldn’t stand it, sir, at all, | |
| But up and kissed her on the spot! | |
| I know—boo-hoo—I ought to not. | |
| But, somehow, from her looks—boo-hoo— | |
| I thought she kind o’ wished me to!” | 40 |
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