Edith Matilda Thomas

A Question of Spelling

They were looking through their book
  With pictures of the Zoo;
Both too young to read the text,
  But each the pictures knew.

Will was three, and Ray was five--
  And five years old is old!
When his wiser brother spoke,
  Will did as he was told!

"Look! I've found the efalunt!"
  "Don't say efalunt," said Ray.
Said their mother: "You should tell
  Little brother what to say."

"Don't say efalunt--that's wrong;
  It's efalint!" said Ray.
"Efalint!" said little Will,
  In his confiding way.