THE teacher sat in her high-backed chair,
Her chair so straight and tall;
Her eyes went flashing to and fro
Among the children small.
At last she spoke, and “Billy boy!
Now answer, Billy Bolee,
And tell me quickly, what does C-
O-W spell?” quoth she.
Then up went Patty’s hand,
Up went Matty’s hand,
Up went Freddy’s hand, too;
But poor little Billy,
He _was_ so silly,
He didn’t know what to do.
The teacher smiled her pleasant smile,
And shook her small, wise head.
“Be quiet, all! for I am sure
That Billy knows!” she said.
“Put on your thinking-cap, my child,
And tie it very tight;
Then C-O-W will not trouble you,
And you will say it right.”
But up went Patty’s hand,
Up went Matty’s hand,
Up went Freddy’s hand, too,
And poor little Billy
He _was_ so silly,
He didn’t know what to do.
But when the children ’gan to laugh,
And fun at him ’gan poke,
Poor Billy thought it might not be
So _much_ worse if he spoke.
So, lifting up his fearful eyes
All sad and timorously,
“Sure, C-O-W, must spell, _Sobble-you_!”
Thus spoke Billy Bolee.
Then out laughed Matty,
And out laughed Patty,
And out laughed Frederick, too;
But _poor_ little Billy,
He felt so silly,
He didn’t know, _what_—TO—DO!!!