Some go through grassy lanes leading to the city-- Thinner grow the green trees and thicker grows the dust; Ever, though, to little people any path is pretty So it leads to newer lands, as they know it must. Some go to singing less; some go to list'ning; Some go to thinking over ever-nobler themes; Some go anhungered, but ever bravely whistling, Turning never home again only in their dreams. _Where go the children? Travelling! Travelling_! _Where go the children, travelling ahead_? _Some go to conquer things; some go to try them_; _Some go to dream them; and some go to bed_! [Illustration] [Illustration] * * * * * [Illustration: ELMER BROWN] ELMER BROWN [Illustration] Awf'lest boy in this-here town Er anywheres is Elmer Brown! He'll mock you--yes, an' strangers, too, An' make a face an' yell at you,-- "_Here's_ the way _you_ look!" [Illustration] Yes, an' wunst in School one day, An' Teacher's lookin' wite that way, He helt his slate, an' hide his head, An' maked a face at _her_, an' said,-- "_Here's_ the way _you_ look!" [Illustration] An' sir! when Rosie Wheeler smile One morning at him 'crosst the aisle, He twist his face all up, an' black His nose wiv ink, an' whisper back,-- "_Here's_ the way _you_ look!" [Illustration] Wunst when his Aunt's all dressed to call, An' kiss him good-bye in the hall, An' latch the gate an' start away, He holler out to her an' say,-- "_Here's_ the way _you_ look!" [Illustration] An' when his Pa he read out loud The speech he maked, an' feel so proud It's in the paper--Elmer's Ma She ketched him--wite behind his Pa,-- "_Here's_ the way _you_ look!" [Illustration] Nen when his Ma she slip an' take Him in the other room an' shake Him good! w'y, he don't care--no-_sir_!-- He ist look up an' laugh at her,-- "_Here's_ the way _you_ look!" * * * * * NO BOY KNOWS There are many things that boys may know-- Why this and that are thus and so,-- Who made the world in the dark and lit The great sun up to lighten it: Boys know new things every day-- When they study, or when they play,-- When they idle, or sow and reap-- But no boy knows when he goes to sleep. Boys who listen--or should, at least,-- May know that the round old earth rolls East;-- And know that the ice and the snow and the rain-- Ever repeating their parts again-- Are all just water the sunbeams first Sip from the earth in their endless thirst, And pour again till the low streams leap.-- But no boy knows when he goes to sleep.