COUNTRY SCHOOL DAYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 68

COUNTRY SCHOOL DAYS.

Happy children, full of glee, Like the streamlet bounding free; Fettered not with care, thoughtless Yet of foted miseries! Oft I see them passing by, Onward to the schoolhouse nigh — Back come thoughts of when I knew Careless pleasures, dear to jou! Memories crowd o'er my brain — ■ Would that I could live again; Buoyant with the dreams of when Time would change boys into men! Ah' the change has come, and now Othei s to the scliooihou^e po, There to take of learning'^ store, Freely, freely, rich and poor! Some must walk whilst others ncle; Ah 1 a smile I scaice can hide, "When the pony came? four, Stiaddlclegs, to th' schco'ho-use dooi t Boys and girls perched m a row Make the knowing pony go, Round his neck are schoolings four— • My l their steed, ho looks galore! And companions tramp beside, Never asking for a ude . Tho' cfttimcs a change is made. And young hearts light up a shade. But the fun giows weail c ome, And by this time =ome leach homeNone more glad than roines are, Cantering hoaiewaid w.th but four! Back from school in time for tea, Back from p'.ay and drudge y, So they think— all lessons clone, Tho their training's but begun. But th' morrov's blight sunshine Brings its lessons children mine, And 'each day of langhtei, tears, Ye shall know m after j ears, When fond memory shall =cc All the pranks of childish gleeHow ye rode o'er th' lonely track, Stracldlelegs to school bareback! Happy, thoughtless gills and hoy a, May ye grow up learned and wise, And confess when wc'ie at lest — During life school days aie best. H. A. COBBLEDICS Otttttau, April, 1901,