In the Morning by Willis Boyd Allen - HTML preview

TO M——, WITH A COPY OF “THE PETERKIN PAPERS.”

A Boston girl prefers a set of volumes that are uniform,

In Syriac, Chaldaic, Sanskrit, Arabic, or Cuneiform,

For these will test her paleontological ability,

And not insult her culture by superfluous facility.

She loves a scientific pedant, or, to use a synonyme,

A specimen, with printed name and label fair to pin on him.

Alas! I fear she will despise a book without a mystery,

That never once alludes to Art, or Mediæval History;

But as she is compelled each day to recognize and meet her kin,

I trust she will accept at least this tale of Mrs. Peterkin.