A LESSON IN ASTRONOMY.
The solar system puzzled us,
Miss Mary said she thought it would,
And so she gave us each a name,
And made it all into a game,
And then we understood.
Theresa, with her golden hair
All loose and shining, was the sun,
And 'round her Mercury and Mars,
Venus, and all the other stars
Stood waiting, every one.
I was the earth, with little Nell
Beside me for the moon so round,
And Saturn had two hoops for rings,
And Mercury a pair of wings,
And Jupiter was crowned.
Then when Miss Mary waved her hand,
Each slow and stately in our place,
We circled round the sun until
A comet, that was little Will,
Came rushing on through space.
He darted straight into our midst,
He whirled among us like a flash,
The stars went flying, and the sun,
And laughing, breathless, wild with fun,
The "system" went to smash.
—Youth's Companion.