Note
A very charming gentleman, as old as old could be, Stared a while, and glared a while, and then he said to me: “Read your books, and heed your books, and put your books away, For you will surely need your books upon a later day.” And then he wheezed and then he sneezed, and gave me such a look. And he said, “Mark—ME—boy! Be careful of your book.”
A very charming gentleman, indeed, he seemed to be. He heaved a sigh and wiped his eye, and then he said to me: “Take your books and make your books companions—never toys; For they who so forsake their books grow into gawky boys.” I don’t know who he was. Do you? he snuffled at the end; And he said, “Mark—ME—boy! Your book should be your friend.”