Song of the School Bell

Kind neighbors, you and I are friends.
And toiling for the selfsame ends,
To help the children wiser grow,
And teach them what they ought to know.

Day after day, the winter through,
I guard your sons and daughters true.
Each day at nine I say, "hello",
To the youthful world of joy and woe.
Each day at nine are loudly sung
Clear greetings from my iron tongue,
While children rush with romp and race,
As though to meet my fond embrace.
Then through the hours they ply the mind
To see what knowledge they may find--
Sometimes with smile and radiant eye,
Sometimes with frown and inward sigh.
'Tis now with bright, now downcast, looks
They bend their heads above their books.

Kind neighbors, you and I are friends.
And toiling for the selfsame ends,--
To help the children wiser grow,
And teach them what they ought to know.