Full well they laughed with counterfeited glee
At all his jokes for many a joke had he.
Full well the busy whisper circling round
Conveyed the dismal tidings when he frowned.
He always closes his eyes and smiles when we reach the last lines of
the passage,
Yet he was kind, or, if severe in aught,
The love he bore to learning was in fault.
The village all declared how much he knew.
Twas certain he could write, and cipher too.
Lands he could measure, terms and tides presage,
And even the story ran that he could gauge.
In arguing, too, the parson owned his skill,
For, even though vanquished, he could argue still,
While words of learned length and thundering sound
Amazed the gazing rustics ranged around.
And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew,
That one small head could carry all he knew.
We know he loves these lines because theyre about a schoolmaster,
about him,and hes right because we wonder how one small head could
carry all he knows and we will remember him in these lines. He says,
Ah, boys, boys,You can make up your own minds but first stock them.
Are you listening to me? Stock your minds and you can move through
the world resplendent. Clarke, define resplendent.
I think its shining, sir.
Pithy, Clarke, but adequate. McCourt, give us a sentence with pithy.
Clarke is pithy but adequate, sir.
Adroit, McCourt.You have a mind for the priesthood, my boy, or
politics.Think of that.
I will, sir.
Tell your mother come and see me.
I will, sir.
Mam says, No, I could never go near Mr. OHalloran. I dont have
a decent dress or a proper coat.What does he want to see me for?
I dont know.
Well, ask him.
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