IX
When autumn came, the children three,
With books and lunch and noisy glee,
Went off to school, their tasks to learn,
And Towser waited their return.
And then, so short had grown the day,
They had but little time for play,
But drove the cows, the chickens fed,
Then supper ate and went to bed.
But Saturdays they viewed their prize,
And, lo, it grew to monstrous size!
And autumn sunbeams shining down
Colored the pumpkin golden brown.
X
Then came October clear and chill,
With frosts that unripe pumpkins kill.
They shivered in their beds so warm
Lest Jack Frost should their pumpkin harm.