The School-Committee Man by Joseph C. Lincoln

Sometimes when we're in school, and it's the afternoon and late, / And kinder warm and sleepy, don't yer know; / And p'r'aps a feller's studyin' or writin' on his slate, / Or, maybe chewin' paper-balls to throw, / And teacher's sort er lazy, too -- why, then there'll come a knock / And everybody'll brace up quick's they can; / We boys and girls'll set up straight, and teacher'll smooth her frock, / Because it's him -- the school-committee man.

He'll walk in kinder stately-like and say, "How do, Miss Brown? " / And teacher, she'll talk sweet as choclate cake; / And he'll put on his specs and cough and pull his eyebrows down / And look at us so hard 't would make yer shake. / We'll read and spell, so's he can hear, and speak a piece or two, / While he sets there so dreadful grand and cool; / Then teacher'll rap her desk and say, "Attention! " soon's we're through, / And ask him, won't he please address the school.