THE BAREFOOT BOY
  
Blessings on thee, little
man,
 Barefoot boy, with cheek
of tan!
 With thy turned-up pantaloons,
 And thy merry whistled tunes;
 With thy red lip, redder
still
 Kissed by strawberries on
the hill;
 With the sunshine on thy
face,
 Through thy torn brim's jaunty
grace;
 From my heart I give thee
joy, -
 I was once a barefoot boy!
 Prince thou art, - the grown-up
man
 Only is republican.
 Let the million-dollared
ride!
 Barefoot, trudging at his
side,
 Thou hast more than he can
buy
 In the reach of ear and eye,
-
 Outward sunshine, inward
joy:
 Blessings on thee, barefoot
boy!
 
    
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