THE BAREFOOT BOY
Blessings on thee, little
man,
Barefoot boy, with cheek
of tan!
With thy turned-up pantaloons,
And thy merry whistled tunes;
With thy red lip, redder
still
Kissed by strawberries on
the hill;
With the sunshine on thy
face,
Through thy torn brim's jaunty
grace;
From my heart I give thee
joy, -
I was once a barefoot boy!
Prince thou art, - the grown-up
man
Only is republican.
Let the million-dollared
ride!
Barefoot, trudging at his
side,
Thou hast more than he can
buy
In the reach of ear and eye,
-
Outward sunshine, inward
joy:
Blessings on thee, barefoot
boy!
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