Punishment

Their childhood is so brief that we Should hesitate to spoil their fun, We should be very slow to see The things that they should not have done. For such a little while they play Before the rough, long roads they tread, We should be careful every day To send no weeping child to bed. So soon they'll women be and men, With all the cares that grown-ups know, We should be slow to punish, when Their little feet in mischief go. Our whippings should be very few, Yes, very few, and very mild, We should be careful what we do In dealing with a happy child. So few the years that are their own, So brief the time to romp and play, So very quickly are they grown To face the battles of the day That we should hesitate to mar With punishment, however slight, The days that oh, so precious are, And turn to grief a child's delight. Too soon will come the long days when They'll often heavy-hearted be, And they'll look back on childhood then And think of you and think of me. And we should have them then recall When we are sleeping in the grave Not how we punished children small, But how we kissed them and forgave.