hat on one side,
And his shoe-lace untied--
A surly old fellow, it can't be denied;
And each wicked boy
Thought that he would enjoy
An occasion the thoughtful old man to annoy,
And all of his wise calculations destroy.
So they thought they'd employ
A means known to each boy.
And across the wide pavement they fastened a twine
Exceedingly strong but exceedingly fine;
And Triangular Tommy laughed out in his glee,
To think how upset the old master would be!

[Illustration]

Although very wicked, their mischievous scheme
Was a perfect success; and with a loud scream,
A horrible clash,
A thump and a smash,
Old Schoolmaster Jones came down with a crash.
His hat rolled away, and his spectacles broke,
And those dreadful boys thought it a howling good joke.
And they just doubled up in immoderate glee,
Saying, "Look at the Schoolmaster!
Tee-hee! tee-hee!"

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

Tom gave a guffaw,
And Ted roared a "haw-haw";
But soon their diversion was turned into awe,
For old Schoolmaster Jones was angry, they saw.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

Triangular Ted
Turned swiftly and fled,
And far down the street like a reindeer he sped,
Leaving Tommy to face the old gentleman's rage,
Who quickly jumped up,--he was brisk for his age,--
And with just indignation portrayed on his face,
To Triangular Tommy he quickly gave chase.

[Illustration]

And hearing his squeals
And his frantic appeals,
Triangular Tommy fast took to his heels.
Now Tommy was agile and Tommy was spry;
He whizzed through the air--he just seemed to fly;
He rushed madly on, until, dreadful to say!
He came where the railroad was just in his way--
And alas! and alack!
He tripped on the track
And then with a terrible, sudden ker-thwack!
Triangular Tommy sprawled flat on his back--
And the train came along with a crash, and a crack,
A din, and a clatter, a clang, and a clack,
A toot, and a boom, and a roar, and a hiss,
And chopped him up all into pieces like this--
If _you_ cut out papers just like them, why, then,
If you try, you can put him together again.

[Illustration]

A Modern Invention

Old Santa Claus is up-to-date,
And hereafter, rumors say,
He'll come with his pack of glittering toys,
And visit the homes of girls and boys,
In a new reindeerless sleigh.

[Illustration]