It would be a shame too dreadful, if the king should have it to tell,
That Hansel missed in his figures, and Peterkin could not spell!”
“Oho! that never shall happen,” cried Hansel, and Peterkin too,
“We’ll show King Ludwig when he comes, what the boys in this school can do.”
“And we,” said Gretchen and Bertha, and all the fair little maids,
Who stood in a row before her, with their hair in flaxen braids.
“We will pay such good attention to every word you say
That you shall not be ashamed of us when King Ludwig rides this way.”
She smiled, the young schoolmistress, to see that they loved her so,
And with patient care she taught them the things it was good to know.