English Roses by F. Harald Williams [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] |
 |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
THE NEW SCHOOL OF MANNERS. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
 | English Roses |  |
THE NEW SCHOOL OF MANNERS.
Place for children now, ye parents, take the lowest seat;
Be content, if ye have nothing but your house-room and your clothing,
And enough to eat.
Be upon your best behaviour,
To attention stand, humbly hat in hand,
For the child is now the paviour
Of the awful path of Progress, and the only modern saviour
For this blessed Land!
Things are changing fast, and all (dogs and masters) rise and fall.
Be content, if ye have nothing but your house-room and your clothing,
And enough to eat.
Be upon your best behaviour,
To attention stand, humbly hat in hand,
For the child is now the paviour
Of the awful path of Progress, and the only modern saviour
For this blessed Land!
Things are changing fast, and all (dogs and masters) rise and fall.
We shall doubtless get accustomed soon to any change,
Even if the nails drive hammers and we turn again to grammars
Or to pastures strange;
Now the bit is reckoned vaster
Than the blooming whole, and the body soul,
While the prize is to the faster
Not the better man or braver, and the pupil is the master
And the start the goal.
Servants reign and children rule, and the parents go to school.
Even if the nails drive hammers and we turn again to grammars
Or to pastures strange;
Now the bit is reckoned vaster
Than the blooming whole, and the body soul,
245
Not the better man or braver, and the pupil is the master
And the start the goal.
Servants reign and children rule, and the parents go to school.
Place for children now, old fogies, be prepared to wait;
Walk behind your little tyrants, and obey these young aspirants
Who control the state!
Calm as Herakles they throttle
Every serpent ill, palsied by their will;
The triumphant bib and bottle
Coming to the front and wiser far than any Aristotle,
Though we pay the bill.
Ah, they spend whate'er we earn, and we daily live and learn.
Walk behind your little tyrants, and obey these young aspirants
Who control the state!
Calm as Herakles they throttle
Every serpent ill, palsied by their will;
The triumphant bib and bottle
Coming to the front and wiser far than any Aristotle,
Though we pay the bill.
Ah, they spend whate'er we earn, and we daily live and learn.
We have ceased to raise objections and are glad to serve,
Though like Englishmen we grumble when our masters chance to stumble
On a toe or nerve;
Now that chidhood wears the breeches,
We abide at home and dislike to roam,
While we put protective stitches
In small garments torn and draggled by the hedges and the ditches
And adhesive loam.
When old childhood brings us pain, they will go to school again.
Though like Englishmen we grumble when our masters chance to stumble
On a toe or nerve;
Now that chidhood wears the breeches,
We abide at home and dislike to roam,
While we put protective stitches
In small garments torn and draggled by the hedges and the ditches
And adhesive loam.
When old childhood brings us pain, they will go to school again.
Place for children now, instructors, let them have their fling,
Let them have a trifle more ease, juniores sunt priores,
And the Babe is King;
Let the spirits turn the tables,
Just a little while with transparent guile;
We are living modern fables,
And the steed is in the saddle and the rider in the stables
Till it does its mile;
And the parents will be free, if they only live to see.
Let them have a trifle more ease, juniores sunt priores,
And the Babe is King;
Let the spirits turn the tables,
Just a little while with transparent guile;
We are living modern fables,
246
Till it does its mile;
And the parents will be free, if they only live to see.
| English Roses | |