 | The girl's reading-book ; in prose and poetry |  |
173
TEACHER'S EXCUSE.
WRITTEN IN SCHOOL.
My friend, I gave a glad assent
To your request at noon,
But now I find I cannot leave
My little ones so soon.
To your request at noon,
But now I find I cannot leave
My little ones so soon.
I early came, and as my feet
First entered at the door,
“Remember,” to myself I said,
“You must dismiss at four
First entered at the door,
“Remember,” to myself I said,
“You must dismiss at four
But slates, and books, and maps appear,
And many a dear one cries,
“Oh, tell us where that river runs,
And where those mountains rise;
And many a dear one cries,
“Oh, tell us where that river runs,
And where those mountains rise;
And where that blind old monarch reign'd,
And who was king before,
And stay a little after five,
And tell us something more.”
And who was king before,
And stay a little after five,
And tell us something more.”
And then my silent
darling comes,
And who unmoved can view,
The glance of that imploring eye,
“Oh, teach me something too.”
And who unmoved can view,
The glance of that imploring eye,
“Oh, teach me something too.”
174
Yet who would think, amid the toil,
(Tho' scarce a toil it be,)
That through the door, the muses coy
Should deign to look at me.
(Tho' scarce a toil it be,)
That through the door, the muses coy
Should deign to look at me.
Their look is somewhat cold and stern
As if it meant to say,
“We did not know you kept a school,
We must have lost our way.”
As if it meant to say,
“We did not know you kept a school,
We must have lost our way.”
Their visit was but short, indeed,
As these light numbers show;
But, oh! they bade me write with speed
“My friend, I cannot go.”
As these light numbers show;
But, oh! they bade me write with speed
“My friend, I cannot go.”
| The girl's reading-book ; in prose and poetry | |