My Teacher

From the Grand Forks Daily Herald, December 30, 1914. By Charles H. Barker.

To the desk of his teacher a little lad came,
With his eyes downcast, and his cheeks aflame,
And he said in a trembling and hesitant tone,
“I’ve spoiled this leaf; may I have a new one?”

In place of the sheet so stained and blotted,
She gave him a new one, clean, unspotted.
His tear-stained face she lifted, then smiled
And said, “Try to do better now, my child.”

To my Teacher I went on my knees, alone;
The days had passed by and another year flown;
“Dear Father, hast Thou not a new leaf for me?
I’ve blotted this other so sadly, I see.”

In place of the old year so soiled and blotted
God gave me a new one, clean, unspotted.
Then into my sorrowing heart He smiled,
Saying, “Try to do better now, my child.”