4. THE STORY OF THE INKY BOYS.
As he had often done before,
The woolly-headed black-a-moor
One nice fine summer’s day went out
To see the shops and walk about;
And as he found it hot, poor fellow,
He took with him his green umbrella.
Then Edward, little noisy wag,
Ran out and laugh’d, and wav’d his flag;
And William came in jacket trim,
And brought his wooden hoop with him;
And Arthur, too, snatch’d up his toys
And join’d the other naughty boys;
So, one and all set up a roar
And laugh’d and hooted more and more,
And kept on singing,—only think!—
“Oh! Blacky, you’re as black as ink.”
![[See image]](#1081550648728204290_i045a.jpg.id-8070385432091557929.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
Now tall Agrippa lived close by,—
So tall, he almost touch’d the sky;
He had a mighty inkstand too,
In which a great goose-feather grew;
He call’d out in an angry tone,
“Boys, leave the black-a-moor alone!
For if he tries with all his might,
He cannot change from black to white.”
But ah! they did not mind a bit
What great Agrippa said of it;
But went on laughing, as before,
And hooting at the black-a-moor.
![[See image]](#1081550648728204290_i047a.jpg.id-535223057328152866.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
Then great Agrippa foams with rage,
Look at him on this very page!
He seizes Arthur, seizes Ned,
Takes William by his little head;
And they may scream and kick, and call,
Into the ink he dips them all;
Into the inkstand, one, two, three,
Till they are black, as black can be;
Turn over now and you shall see.