James Whitcomb Riley

A Life Lesson

    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!