It was good in school today.

  Miss Kay wrote "It is Autumn" on the board.

  "Guess what I'm thinking of," she said.

  "It begins with L; It's brown,

  And in autumn, it falls down."

  Then Sammy Smith jumped up and said

  "Elsie, my pet hen!"

  Miss Kay went red.

  "See, she pecks the fallen sloes

  When the frost has turned 'em rotten," Sammy said.

  That makes her tipsy, Miss.

  She goes round backwards,

  And she sings a funny song.

  Then she tumbles down.

   I seen her, Miss!

  My Uncle Bob, he laughed. He said

  "Look at that beggar there!

  Her eyes are crossed,

  Her beak is crossed,

  Her legs are crossed, an' all!

  Look at that beggar fall!"

  "So is it Elsie, Miss?"

  But Miss had put her head inside her desk.

  She stayed like that for ages,

  Then she said "Go out and play."