 | Snow-berries. A book for young folks |  |
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PLEA FOR THE BOYS.
Young men must work, and old men rest,—
They have earned their quiet joys;
And everywhere, from east to west,
The boys must still be boys.
They have earned their quiet joys;
And everywhere, from east to west,
The boys must still be boys.
They do not want your larger sight,
Nor want your wisdom grim:
The boy has right to the boy's delight,
And play is the work for him.
Nor want your wisdom grim:
The boy has right to the boy's delight,
And play is the work for him.
The idle day is the evil day,
And work in its time is right;
But he that wrestles best in the play
Will wrestle best in the fight.
And work in its time is right;
But he that wrestles best in the play
Will wrestle best in the fight.
Then do not, as their hour runs by,
Their harmless pleasures clip;
For he that sails his kite to the sky
May sometime sail a ship.
Their harmless pleasures clip;
For he that sails his kite to the sky
May sometime sail a ship.
And soon enough the years will steal
Their mood of frolic joys;
So keep your shoulder to the wheel,
And let the boys be boys.
Their mood of frolic joys;
So keep your shoulder to the wheel,
And let the boys be boys.
| Snow-berries. A book for young folks | |