Signor Topsy-Turvy's wonderful magic lantern or The World turned upside down. By the author of "My Mother," and other poems [Ann and Jane Taylor]. Illustrated with twenty-four engravings |
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THE DUNCE TURNED SCHOLAR.
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 | Signor Topsy-Turvy's wonderful magic lantern |  |
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THE DUNCE TURNED SCHOLAR.
There once was a poor little lad,
In shameful disgrace in his school,
For all his companions were glad,
To call him a dunce and a fool.
In shameful disgrace in his school,
For all his companions were glad,
To call him a dunce and a fool.
And these shocking names that he bore,
To be sure he'd the credit of earning,
For he always was lazy before,
And never too fond of his learning.
To be sure he'd the credit of earning,
For he always was lazy before,
And never too fond of his learning.
Too idle himself to attend,
He always assistance would ask;
Every day did he go to his friend,
With, “Pray, Ben, do finish my task.”
He always assistance would ask;
Every day did he go to his friend,
With, “Pray, Ben, do finish my task.”
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At last quite asham'd of his state,
And finding he could not defend it,
He determin'd no longer to wait,
But set about trying to mend it.
And finding he could not defend it,
He determin'd no longer to wait,
But set about trying to mend it.
And so a new method he tried,
He left his bad habits at once,
To his task with such patience applied,
That nobody call'd him a dunce.
He left his bad habits at once,
To his task with such patience applied,
That nobody call'd him a dunce.
No longer inactive he sits,
Or studies with negligent air;
For what he was wanting in wits,
He made up with patience and care.
Or studies with negligent air;
For what he was wanting in wits,
He made up with patience and care.
That success will such effort attend,
We now may set down as a rule,
For this little lad in the end
Became the head boy in his school!
We now may set down as a rule,
For this little lad in the end
Became the head boy in his school!
J.
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