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A Life-Lesson

by James Whitcomb Riley
(1853–1916)


There! little girl; don't cry!
    They have broken your doll, I know;
And your tea-set blue,
And your play-house, too,
    Are things of the long ago;
But childish troubles will soon pass by. --
    There! little girl; don't cry!

There! little girl; don't cry!
    They have broken your slate, I know;
And the glad, wild ways
Of your schoolgirl days
    Are things of the long ago;
But life and love will soon come by. --
    There! little girl; don't cry!

There! little girl; don't cry!
    They have broken your heart I know;
And the rainbow gleams
Of your youthful dreams
    Are things of the long ago;
But Heaven holds all for which you sigh. --
    There! little girl; don't cry!

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