The Poetry Corner

Irish Schoolmaster, The

By James A. Sidey

"Come here, my boy; hould up your head, And look like a jintleman, Sir; Jist tell me who King David was, Now tell me if you can, Sir." "King David was a mighty man, And he was King of Spain, Sir; His eldest daughter 'Jessie' was The 'Flower of Dunblane,' Sir." "You're right, my boy; hould up your head, And look like a jintleman, Sir; Sir Isaac Newton, who was he? Now tell me if you can, Sir." "Sir Isaac Newton was the boy That climbed the apple-tree, Sir; He then fell down and broke his crown, And lost his gravity, Sir." "You're right, my boy; hould up your head, And look like a jintleman, Sir; Jist tell me who ould Marmion was, Now tell me if you can, Sir." "Ould Marmion was a soldier bold, But he went all to pot, Sir; He was hanged upon the gallows tree, For killing Sir Walter Scott, Sir." "You're right, my boy; hould up your head, And look like a jintleman, Sir; Jist tell me who Sir Rob Roy was; Now tell me if you can, Sir." "Sir Rob Roy was a tailor to The King of the Cannibal Islands; He spoiled a pair of breeches, and Was banished to the Highlands." "You're right, my boy; hould up your head, And look like a jintleman, Sir; Then, Bonaparte, say, who was he? Now tell me if you can, Sir." "Ould Bonaparte was King of France Before the Revolution; But he was kilt at Waterloo, Which ruined his constitution." "You're right, my boy; hould up your head, And look like a jintleman, Sir; Jist tell me who King Jonah was; Now tell me if you can, Sir." "King Jonah was the strangest man That ever wore a crown, Sir; For though the whale did swallow him, It couldn't keep him down, Sir." "You're right, my boy; hould up your head, And look like a jintleman, Sir; Jist tell me who that Moses was; Now tell me if you can, Sir." "Shure Moses was the Christian name Of good King Pharaoh's daughter; She was a milkmaid, and she took A profit from the water." "You're right, my boy; hould up your head, And look like a jintleman, Sir; Jist tell me now where Dublin is; Now tell me if you can, Sir." "Och, Dublin is a town in Cork, And built on the equator; It's close to Mount Vesuvius, And watered by the 'craythur.'" "You're right, my boy; hould up your head, And look like a jintleman, Sir; Jist tell me now where London is; Now tell me if you can, Sir." "Och, London is a town in Spain; 'Twas lost in the earthquake, Sir; The cockneys murther English there, Whenever they do spake, Sir." "You're right, my boy; hould up your head, Ye're now a jintleman, Sir; For in history and geography I've taught you all I can, Sir. And if any one should ask you now, Where you got all your knowledge, Jist tell them 'twas from Paddy Blake, Of Bally Blarney College."