The Boys

Tliore romos the boys! Oh, dear, the noise ! The whole house ieels the racket ; Behold tiie knees of Harry's pants, And weep o'er Bertie's jacket. But never mind, if eyes keep bright. And limbs grow straight and limber; Wi;'d rather lose the tree's whole bark, Than fiud unsound the timber ! Now hear the tops and marbles roll ! Tne Hoor - oh, woe betide them ! And I must watch the banisters, For I kuow the boys will ride the. „j. Look well as you descend the stairs ; irdus . I ofteri fiud them haunted By ghostly toys that inake no noise, Just when their uoise is wanted ! The very chairs are tied in pairs, And made to prance and caper ; Wliat swords are whittled out of sticks ! What brave hats made of paper ! The dinner bell peals loud and well To teil the milkman's coming ; And theu the rush of '■ steam-car trains " Set all our ears a humming. How oft I say, " What shall I do To keep these children quiet ?" If I could flnd a good receipt I certainly should try it. But what to do with these wild boys, And all their din and clatter, Is really quite a grave attair - No laughmg, trifliug matter. " Boj-s will be boys " - but not for long ! Ah, could we bear about us This thought : how very soon our boys Will learn to do without us. How soon full, tall, and deep-voiced men Will gravely cali us " Mother ;" Or we be stretchiug empty hands From this world to the other. More gently we should chide the noise, And when uight quells the rackot, Stitch in but loving thoughts and prayers, Wluld mendiug pants and jacket!