THE YANKEE BOYS THAT DIDN'T NUMBER TEN.

'Tis morning, and no boy is seen In all the street, with play and fun. Ah! there comes Sam along the lane, With searching eyes, and he is one. The road to school is lone for him; What could a single fellow do? But Ben appears just there away, And he with book and slate makes two. Yet not enough for jolly sport; It's plain more lads there ought to be. Why, there is Tom, 'most out of breath! And now, together, they are three. Then on they run and skip and frisk, With eager looks that seek for more; Dan trips along with joyous shout,— Now reckon, and you'll find them four. They spring and hurry o'er the ground, All brave to wade or swim or dive. "Mother, there go the boys," cries Ed; No sooner said than there were five. "Not half school-time," they all declare; "No clock can cheat us with its tricks! Upon the hill there's waiting Frank!" Though short and small, yet he made six. O'er hedge and rocks and field they run; "Hello!" cries Ben, "see, there is Evan!" And now, as they rush on, we see, Like wonders of the world, they're seven. As if a bird had carried word, Like birds the boys thus congregate; To join the rest leaped merry Will, And, puffing, swelled the count to eight. Time quickly flew down by the shore, When boys and raft had fun so fine. But hark! Too plainly now they heard The clock! That made the doleful nine. The crew had all put out from land, And out put teacher, Mr. Glenn, With swinging arm and noisy bell,— No boy was he to make the ten!