Page 476 - The model orator, or, Young folks' speaker : containing the choicest recitations and readings from the best authors for schools, public entertainments, social gatherings, Sunday schools, etc. : including recitals in prose and verse ...

WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

A R C H IB A L D Edward Theophilus Jones
Had a way of expressing his feelings in moans.
In sobs and sighs,
And dolorous cries ;
The water continually ran from his eyes.

Upon every occasion he u started the bawl u
A t the silliest trifle, or nothing at all,
Till Ins mother declared : "W h y, Theophilus, dear,
If you are not more careful, you wont leave a tear!

“And some day, you know,
It might happen so,
Your feelings, or bead, might receive a hard blow;
A blow that would really be worthy a tear,
A nd by being so lavish at present, I fear
You'll have not a tear left.
And being bereft
O f the tears that are needful to make a good cry,
W ith no means of relieving your feelings you’ll die I ,e

But Theophil us paid to this counsel no heed.
He continued to roar
A nd cry as before.
The family wished themselves deaf;— yes, indeed;
Although certainly some
O f them wished ke was dumb.
For surely among things excessively trying
M ay be reckoned the child that forever is crying.

W ell— the worst of the story remains to be told.
He was weeping one nianting-— because it was cold— -
W hen he felt a strange quiver,

A shake and a shiver;