The parents of the learned child <br />(His father and his mother) <br />Were utterly aghast to note <br />The facts he would at random quote <br />On creatures curious, rare, and wild; <br />And wondering, ask each other: <br />'An idle little child like this, <br />How is it that he knows <br />What years of close analysis <br />Are powerless to disclose? <br />Our brains are trained, our books are big, <br />And yet we always fail <br />To answer why the Guinea-pig <br />Is born without a tail. <br />Or why the Wanderoo should rant <br />In wild, unmeaning rhymes, <br />Whereas the Indian Elephant <br />Will only read The Times. <br />Perhaps he found a way to slip <br />Unnoticed to the Zoo, <br />And gave the Pachyderm a tip, <br />Or pumped the Wanderoo. <br />Or even by an artful plan <br />Deceived our watchful eyes, <br />And interviewed the Pelican, <br />Who is extremely wise.' <br />'Oh! no,' said he, in humble tone, <br />With shy but conscious look, <br />'Such facts I never could have known <br />But for this little book.'<br /><br />Hilaire Belloc<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/introduction-more-beasts-for-worse-children/
