ONCE on a time a youthful cove

     As was a cheery lad

Lived in a villa by the sea. —

     The cove was not so bad;

The dogs and cats, the cows and ass,

     The birds in cage or grove

The rabbits, hens, ducks, pony, pigs

     All loved that cheery lad.

Seven folks – one female and six male, —

     Seized on that youthful cove;

They said – ”To edjukate this chap

     Us seven it doth behove.”

The first his parrient was, – who taught

     The cove to read and ride,

Latin, and Grammarithemetic,

     And lots of things beside.

Says Pa, “I’ll spare no pains or time

     Your school hours so to cut,

And sqare and fit, that you will make

     No end of progress – but —,”

Says Mrs. Grey, – ”I’ll teach him French,

     Pour parler dans cette pays —

Je cris, qu’il parlera bien,

     Même comme un Francais – Mais – ”

Says Signor Gambinossi, – ”Si

     Progresso si farà,

Lo voglio insegnare qui,

     La lingua mia, – ma,” —

Says Mr. Grump, – ”Geology,

     And Mathetics stiff

I’ll teach the cove, who’s sure to go

     Ahead like blazes, – if – ”

Says James – ”I’ll teach him everyday

     My Nastics: now and then

To stand upon his ‘ed; and make

     His mussels harder, – when” —

Says Signor Bianchi, – ”Lascia far; —

     La musica da me,

Ben insegnata gli serà; —

     Farà progresso, – Se – ”

Says Edmund Lear – ”I’ll make him draw

     A Palace, or a hut,

Trees, mountains, rivers, cities, plains,

     And p’rapps to paint them – but – ”

So all these 7 joined hands and sang

     This chorus by the sea; —

“O! Ven his edjukation’s done,

     By! Vot a cove he’ll be!”