The boy who’s always wishing,—

Why, we pass him on the street,

We see him in the office,

On the gridiron we meet;

It may be in the morning,

It’s just the same at night,

He’s wishing things would change a bit;

They’re not exactly right.

He wishes he were smart like Tom,

But then, Tom has a “snap”,—

To him things are so easy;

He doesn’t care a “rap”

How long and hard the lesson.

But isn’t this the way:

While Tom is hard a-grinding,

He is wasting time in play?

He wishes he had money,

Just enough to treat a friend;

He cannot see how Henry

Has all he wants to spend.

But while he’s idly wishing

He were rich like Carl or Bob,

Henry has his coat off working,—

He has found an honest job.

He wishes he could bat the ball,

Or kick a goal like Dick,

But when it’s time for practice,

He feels a trifle sick.

And thus he keeps a-wishing,

Never thinks “I can”, and “will”;

So where’er you chance to meet him,

You will find him wishing still.