SELECT POETRY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 283, 3 July 1873, Page 7

SELECT POETRY.

THE BOYS. There comes the boys ! Oh, dear, the noise, The whole house feels the racket ; Behold the 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 ; We'd rather loose the tree's whole bark, Than find unsound the timber. Now hear the tops and marbles roll ! The floor— oh, woe betide them ! And I must watch the banisters, For I know the boys will ride them. Look well as you descend the stairs, I often find them haunted By ghostly toys that make no noise, Just when their noise is wanted. The very chairs are tied in pairs, And made to prance and caper, What swords are whittled out of sticks ! What brave hats made of paper. The dinner bell peals loud and well To tell the milkman's coming ; And then the rush of " steam-car trains " Set all our ears a humming. How oft T say : " What shall Ido To keep these children quiet ?" If I could find a good receipt, 1 certainly should try it. But what to do with these wild boys, And all their din and clatter. Is really quite a grave affair — Ho laughing, joking matter. " Boys 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 call us " mother ;" Or we be stretching empty hands From this world to the other. More gentle we should chide the noise, And when night quells the racket, Stitch in but loving thoughts and prayers, While mending pants and jackets.