Pebbles and Shells (Hawkes collection)/All About Boys
ALL ABOUT BOYS
A boy is something that makes noise
And smashes things and loses toys,—
That is until they're grown up, then
Folks do not call them boys, but men.
And smashes things and loses toys,—
That is until they're grown up, then
Folks do not call them boys, but men.
The things boys like the best are bad
Or things that make their mothers' sad,
Like going on the pond to skate
When 'tis not safe, and stayin' late.
Or things that make their mothers' sad,
Like going on the pond to skate
When 'tis not safe, and stayin' late.
Most boys don't care so much for dolls—
The things they like are bats and balls
And circuses and kinds of play
Where there's a horse that runs away.
The things they like are bats and balls
And circuses and kinds of play
Where there's a horse that runs away.
Small boys are always full of tricks,
Like tickling you with straws and sticks,
Or putting on some furs to wear
And fright'ning you a playing bear.
Like tickling you with straws and sticks,
Or putting on some furs to wear
And fright'ning you a playing bear.
My youngest brother's name is Jack—
Sometimes he takes me on his back
Just like a horse and gallops round
And then he spills me on the ground.
Sometimes he takes me on his back
Just like a horse and gallops round
And then he spills me on the ground.
My brother Tommy says that girls
Ain't good for much but raisin' curls,
And that folks keep them just for hair
To stuff the parlor rocking chair.
Ain't good for much but raisin' curls,
And that folks keep them just for hair
To stuff the parlor rocking chair.
And then he says it's only play
And they don't mean all that they say,
And when he's grown up to a man
He'll buy fine things for little Nan.
And they don't mean all that they say,
And when he's grown up to a man
He'll buy fine things for little Nan.