John sawed up; James sawed low;
The birds they flew all o'er the town
To tell the folks these things were so,
As if they did--know! know! know!

They made some boxes, tops, and hoops,
They fashioned bowls and chairs,
They sold a thousand million scoops,
And seven hundred stairs;
And this Bob--declares! declares! declares!

Eleven hundred sticks they cut,
And all of them good size;
With a five mile long water-butt,
"In which to float," Tom cries,
And "Time," they said--"flies! flies! flies!"

Oh! work and play are very good,
Work number one, you know;
Play number two has ever stood
The best in this world's show
And it should be--so! so! so!

Hence these young children played at work,
And thus learnt to work well,
And now their duties they ne'er shirk,
Which is all I've to tell,
And you to--spell! spell! spell!

Or, maybe, read and then to write,