A was the Alphabet Toby must say,
B was the Birch that made him obey,
C was the Collar he wore to explain,
D the Disgrace he had got in again,
E was the Evening when Toby was gay,
F was the Fate that befell him next day,
G was the Grave look on Muriel’s face,
H was the Hist’ry of Toby’s disgrace:—
I was the Ink that he spilt on the floor,
J was his Jump to get out of the door,
K was the Kick that he got as he past,
L was the Lesson—alas! not the last,
M was the Milk that he stole from the cat,
N was the Nap that he took after that,
O was the Owl that gave him a fright,
P was the Poaching he went for at night,
Q was his Queer look all dirty and worn,
R his Return somewhat early next morn,
S was his Smile that would not avail,
T was the Twitch of his terrified tail,
U “Understand me” he tried to assert,
V, his Vain effort his fate to avert,
W, the Whip which he saw held on high,
X, the Xpression that rose in his eye,
Y was his Yap when at last the whip fell,
Z (like his feelings) I’ll leave you to tell.