 | Young folks' centennial rhymes |  |
I.
Old Master Hobby, with a face
Half serious, half grotesque,
And no one else within that place,
Sat writing at his desk;
Half serious, half grotesque,
And no one else within that place,
Sat writing at his desk;
Conning long lessons, drear and sad,
To make his boys rehearse;
Writing wise copies very bad,
For them to copy worse.
To make his boys rehearse;
Writing wise copies very bad,
For them to copy worse.
Long, empty benches stretched around,
And desks in stern array;
From boys outside there came a sound,
Hard-working at their play.
And desks in stern array;
From boys outside there came a sound,
Hard-working at their play.
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When all at once a voice he heard:
“You are the thief, not I!”
And back again the angry word
Came, loud and clear, “You lie!”
“You are the thief, not I!”
And back again the angry word
Came, loud and clear, “You lie!”
Old Master Hobby left his seat:
Across the dusty floor,
A pair of ragged-slippered feet
His lean old body bore;
Across the dusty floor,
A pair of ragged-slippered feet
His lean old body bore;
And putting up his wrinkled face
(Unseen from out the yard),
Into a broken glass-pane's place,
He watched and listened hard.
(Unseen from out the yard),
Into a broken glass-pane's place,
He watched and listened hard.
With fists tight-clenched, with feet firm-braced,
Two boys stood, fast to fight;
Both savage-eyed and angry-faced,
Shouting with all their might.
Two boys stood, fast to fight;
Both savage-eyed and angry-faced,
Shouting with all their might.
Old Master Hobby bent his brow
And turned to seek the door,
As to himself he muttered, “Now,
I'll whip the scamps full sore.”
And turned to seek the door,
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I'll whip the scamps full sore.”
But at that moment came a voice—
As if from one in doubt,
Crying above the tumult, “Boys,
Why don't you leave it out?”
As if from one in doubt,
Crying above the tumult, “Boys,
Why don't you leave it out?”
Then reason seemed to rule with one,
And he at last replied,
“I'll leave it to George Washington,
To no one else beside.”
And he at last replied,
“I'll leave it to George Washington,
To no one else beside.”
Whereto the other did agree;
When George appeared, and said,
“Since you have left it unto me,
Thus to decide I'm led:
When George appeared, and said,
“Since you have left it unto me,
Thus to decide I'm led:
“Patrick, three pears, if true his claim,
This boy has lost by you;
And from your somewhat blemished name,
I rather think 'tis true.
This boy has lost by you;
And from your somewhat blemished name,
I rather think 'tis true.
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“Your father has an orchard large;
In payment for your tricks
Against your friend, I hereby charge
That you shall pay him six.
In payment for your tricks
Against your friend, I hereby charge
That you shall pay him six.
“You, Nehemiah, here 'tis claimed,
Your playmate's top have broke;
And, from the deeds for which you're famed,
I fear 'tis truly spoke.
Your playmate's top have broke;
And, from the deeds for which you're famed,
I fear 'tis truly spoke.
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“Right easily your mind you bend
The making toys to do;
So you the broken top shall mend,
And give him one that's new.”
The making toys to do;
So you the broken top shall mend,
And give him one that's new.”
At this the boys stood still a while,
Thinking what should be done;
And the young umpire, with a smile,
Was calmly looking on.
Thinking what should be done;
And the young umpire, with a smile,
Was calmly looking on.
But rage again came surging through
Each passion-heated head,
And both declared they would not do
What had to them been said.
Each passion-heated head,
And both declared they would not do
What had to them been said.
Whereat the young peace-maker cried,
“You left the case to me;
I took pains justly to decide,
From all that I could see.
“You left the case to me;
I took pains justly to decide,
From all that I could see.
“But you with heedless rage are mad,
For foolish fight equipped;
And each would probably be glad
To see the other whipped.
For foolish fight equipped;
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To see the other whipped.
“So if you will not heed my plan,
But both are bound to fight,
I'll whip you both—I think I can—
And that will set it right.”
But both are bound to fight,
I'll whip you both—I think I can—
And that will set it right.”
The boys full well his bravery knew
In every time of need;
And each stepped back a pace or two,
And with the terms agreed.
In every time of need;
And each stepped back a pace or two,
And with the terms agreed.
The Master hobbled back, right glad
His duties to rehearse,
And went to making copies bad,
For them to copy worse;
His duties to rehearse,
And went to making copies bad,
For them to copy worse;
And muttered to himself, “That one
Of all my lads is best,
Who, when 'tis fitting to be done,
Can govern all the rest.
Of all my lads is best,
Who, when 'tis fitting to be done,
Can govern all the rest.
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“The boy who heard this childish cause,
And when his mind was set,
Stood ready to enforce his laws,
May rule a nation yet.”
And when his mind was set,
Stood ready to enforce his laws,
May rule a nation yet.”
| Young folks' centennial rhymes | |