They were looking through their book
With pictures of the Zoo;
Both too young to read the text,
But each the pictures knew.
Will was three, and Ray was five--
And five years old is _old_!
When his wiser brother spoke,
Will did as he was told!
"Look! I've found the _efalunt_!"
"Don't say _efalunt_," said Ray.
Said their mother: "You should tell
Little brother what to say."
"Don't say efalunt--that's wrong;
It's _efalint_!" said Ray.
"_Efalint_!" said little Will,
In his confiding way.
"YOURS SEVERELY"
(_The Letter of a Five Year Old_)
Once more she dipped her pen in ink,
And wrote: "I love you dearly."
"And now," she said, and stopped to think,
"I'll put, 'I'm
_Yours severely_.'"