The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-12-05

cOme were quite smalI' anu Out aAu a-I
Ate bread made out of oats
Good sweet cake from oats.
Among the urchins in that school,
Was one named Robin Hood;
Some calFd him Rob, and others Bob
And thus the matter stood
Bob, Rob, Robin Hood.
This Robin Hood and Mark were ike
Two brothers in their way;
They'd share alike and fare alike,
And join in 3ght or play
Gains. odds any day.
Now Marks grandma had grown quite old
And in a chair she sat,
With Pouch of hide* at either side,
And something in her lap
Called leather strap.
This strap the mistress used, to keep
Good order in her school;
Shed fling it here, she'd fling it there,
And this was then the rule
In that dear old school
That he to whom the strap was thrown,
Must quickly bring it back;
And then. 0 my you'd hear the cry,
As on the poor CulpTIts back
The strap vent whack-whack!
One luckless day-as some would say
Mark thought he'd play the fool,
And feeling thuS-he made muSs-
Adverse 10 all good rule
At home or in school.
But grandma's strap was on his track,
And quick and strait it fell
Close by his feet, beside his seat,
And Mark knew very well
What that strap would tell.
Now, I suppose just then "Old Nick"
Said slyly in Marks ear,
"Don'tmind thatrule, it's grandma's school
Strike back and never fear"
Q my 0 dear, dear!
One scarce could say Jack Robinson"
Ere Mark had thrown the strap
With all his might and bOyish spite,
Back to his grandma lap.
0, that wretched strap.
'Twou1d fail me to explain how Marx
And grandma fixed the thing;
But his know, twas cause Of woe
That made one Ro5ia sing
Dolefully next day.
think it was next day. Marks friend
Bob Rob, or Robin Hood,
Thought he would try the same high-fy,
Aud so became quite rude
This same Robin Hood.
And when the strap fell at his feet,
His looks said 20 be aisyl
Amt Mark my friend Amt Marks friendl
Mistress must be crazy"
Thus crowd Cock Robin.
The same bad sprite that urged poor Mark
To do so great a wrong,
Now whispered Rob, Il say, you Bob!
Send back that cursed thong
Go it, my boy, strong!'
And sure enough, poor Robin Hood,
Thus H0odrinF by the devil,
Threw back the strap, when rap, rap-rap-
Which Bob thought quite uncivil-
Came from his friend Mark.
So rap succeeded rap, till Mark
Had satisfied his ire,
And then poor Rob mo more dear Rob-
Was told he might retire.
Goodbye, Robin Hood" !"
Ny tale is told, my tale is true
Mark lives. grandma's long dead;
Bat who can tell the veal or woe
OF those who shared our bread
Three-score years ago?
MORAL WITH ADVICE.
FTrst1y-If you wish TO retain your friend
.on't insult his grandmother.
Ss,2ad,y-f you wish your grandmother
0 be respected by others, be careful to pay
Ter the proper respect yourself.
Thirdly, Lastly, Finally, and in Conc7asio7a-
Commit tomemory, along with other portions
# the Good Book, the Fifth and the Eleventh
Commandments. See Exodus 20, y, and
Tohn l3,-and this
''While in childhood's tender age,
You peruse the sacred page,
Nay you see in every line,
Kindling rays Of light divine"
Norristown, Oct, 1865. S. ON.
These buckskin pockets were 10 be seen in the
OISe OF Marks father many years after the period
luded 20. The Pouch OF Hide It's no fctiOa-M4RE