Lesson:

1. A bright, merry boy, with laughing face,


Whose every motion was full of grace,


Who knew no trouble and feared no care,


Was the light of our household—the youngest there.





2. He was too young, this little elf,


With troublesome questions to vex himself;


But for many days a thought would rise,


And bring a shade to his dancing eyes.





3. He went to one whom he thought more wise


Than any other beneath the skies;


'Mother,'—O word that makes the home!—


'Tell me, when will tomorrow come?'





4. 'It is almost night' the mother said,


'And time for my boy to be in bed;


When you wake up and it's day again,


It will be tomorrow, my darling, then.'





5. The little boy slept through all the night,


But woke with the first red streak of light;


He pressed a kiss to his mother's brow,


And whispered, 'Is it tomorrow now?'





6. 'No, little Eddie, this is today:


tomorrow is always one night away.


He pondered a while, but joys came fast,


And this vexing question quickly passed.





7. But it came again with the shades of night;


'Will it be tomorrow when it is light?'


From years to come he seemed care to borrow,


He tried so hard to catch tomorrow.





8. 'You can not catch it, my little Ted;


Enjoy today,' the mother said;


'Some wait for tomorrow through many a year-


It is always coming, but never is here.'





DEFINITIONS


1. Household: Family, those living in the same house.


2. Elf: A small, fairylike person.


2. Vex: Worry, trouble.


6. Pondered: Though anxiously.


6. Awhile: For a short time.





EXERCISES


1. What is meant by 'dancing eyes' in the second stanza?


2. What is meant by 'the shades of night,' in the seventh stanza?


3. Of what name are 'Eddie' and 'Ted' nicknames?


4. What troubled Eddie?


5. Can you define tomorrow?


6. What did Eddie's mother advise him to do?