University of Virginia Library

But if Nelly was sorrowful, then trust me
It was Tommy that was happy. “She kissed me!
She did! she did! she did!” And over
The hedge, and into a field of clover,
That was very fine; and he threw himself down
In the thick of it; and never a soun'
But the corn-crakes crowin' very clear—
You know they're about that time of the year—
Just to be happy, you know, and think—
The little chap! And the last sweet blink
Of the day, and the big cloud sailin' across—
And oh! he thought, the happy he was!
Bless ye! he's tould me many a time.
Why, this Tommy could put it in rhyme!
He was a bit of a poet, was Tommy—aye!
Aw, never say die! never say die!
A poet, I tell ye, reggilar!
And— The Star! that was splendid about the star!
Of coorse, he didn' make it then:
It'd ha' puzzled him to do that, my men!
No, the long years after this
(But even at school he wasn' amiss
With his little songs). I wouldn' trust
But I've got it here—I think I must—
Wrote at Tommy. Aisy all!
That's not it. Rather small
Is Tommy's writin'. Wait a bit!
“Star of Hope”—that's it! that's it!
Will you read it, Jemmy? Give him a light?
Jemmy's a scholar. All right! all right!
Jemmy reads:
First-rate, Jemmy! that'll do!
Capital readin'! Aw, it's aisy for you.