 | When life is young |  |
122
THE LETTERS AT SCHOOL
One day the letters rushed to school,
And hindered one another;
They got so mixed 't was really hard
To pick out one from t' other.
And hindered one another;
They got so mixed 't was really hard
To pick out one from t' other.
A went in first, and Z came last;
The rest were all between them,—
K, L and M, and N, O, P,—
I wish you could have seen them!
The rest were all between them,—
K, L and M, and N, O, P,—
I wish you could have seen them!
B, C, D, E and J, K, L
Soon jostled well their betters;
Q, R, S, T—I grieve to say—
Were very naughty letters.
Soon jostled well their betters;
Q, R, S, T—I grieve to say—
Were very naughty letters.
Of course, ere long they came to words—
What else could be expected?
Till E made D, J, C and T
Decidedly dejected.
What else could be expected?
Till E made D, J, C and T
Decidedly dejected.
But, through it all, the Consonants
Were rudest and uncouthest,
While all the pretty Vowel girls
Were certainly the smoothest.
Were rudest and uncouthest,
While all the pretty Vowel girls
Were certainly the smoothest.
And simple U kept far from Q,
With face demure and moral,
“Because,” she said, “we are, we two,
So apt to start a quarrel!”
With face demure and moral,
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So apt to start a quarrel!”
But spiteful P said, “Pooh for U!”
(Which made her feel quite bitter),
And, calling O, L, E to help,
He really tried to hit her.
(Which made her feel quite bitter),
And, calling O, L, E to help,
He really tried to hit her.
Cried A, “Now E and C, come here!
If both will aid a minute,
Good P will join in making peace,
Or else the mischief 's in it.”
If both will aid a minute,
Good P will join in making peace,
Or else the mischief 's in it.”
And smiling E, the ready sprite,
Said, “Yes, and count me double.”
This done, sweet peace shone o'er the scene,
And gone was all the trouble!
Said, “Yes, and count me double.”
This done, sweet peace shone o'er the scene,
And gone was all the trouble!
Meanwhile, when U and P made up,
The Cons'nants looked about them,
And joined the Vowels; for, you see,
They could n't do without them.
The Cons'nants looked about them,
And joined the Vowels; for, you see,
They could n't do without them.
| When life is young | |