Five Minute Stories

Chapter 12: A CERTAIN BOY.

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About This Book

A lively collection of short stories and poems for children, offering simple domestic scenes, playful rhymes, brief narratives, and light moral lessons. Pieces range from tender portraits of family life and child play to fanciful nonsense verses, seasonal and holiday sketches, animal vignettes, and concise character studies, often keyed to children's imagination and daily activities. Language is straightforward and rhythmic, with songs and jingles interspersed among short tales; many pieces aim to charm or amuse while gently reinforcing kindness, curiosity, and good manners. Illustrations accompany several items, enhancing the accessible tone and appeal to young readers.

A CERTAIN BOY.

I know a little bright-eyed boy

Who lives not far away,

And though he is his mother’s joy,

He plagues her, too, they say.

For when his task he’s bid to do,

He sits him down and cries, “Boo-hoo!

I can’t! I can’t! I can’t! I can’t! I can’t!”

Yes! whether he’s to practise well,

Or do his horrid sums,

Or “Hippopotamus” to spell,

Or clean to wash his thumbs:

It matters not, for with a frown

The corners of his mouth go down,—

“I can’t! I can’t! I can’t! I can’t! I can’t!”

Oh! what a joyful day ’twill be

For mother and for son,

When smiling looks they both shall see

Beneath the smiling sun.

For in his heart he knows ’tis stuff,

And knows that if he tries enough,

He can! he can! he can! he can! he can!