While walking down a crowded
City street the other day,
I heard a little urchin
To a comrade turn and say,

"Say, Chimmey, lemme tell youse,
I'd be happy as a clam
If I only was de feller dat Me mudder tinks I am.

"She tinks I am a wonder,
An' she knows her little lad
Could never mix wit' nuttin'
Dat was ugly, mean or bad.
Oh, lot o' times I sit and t'ink
How nice, 'twould be, gee whiz!
If a feller was de feller
Dat his mudder t'inks he is."

My friends, be yours a life of toll
Or undiluted joy,
You can learn a wholesome lesson
From that small, untutored boy.
Don't aim to be an earthly saint,
With eyes fixed on a star:
Just try to be the fellow that
Your mother thinks you are.

- Will S. Adkin

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