The Treasure Of The Wise Man

A poem by James Whitcomb Riley

O the night was dark and the night was late,
And the robbers came to rob him;
And they picked the locks of his palace-gate,
The robbers that came to rob him -
They picked the locks of his palace-gate,
Seized his jewels and gems of state,
His coffers of gold and his priceless plate, -
The robbers that came to rob him.

But loud laughed he in the morning red! -
For of what had the robbers robbed him? -
Ho! hidden safe, as he slept in bed,
When the robbers came to rob him, -
They robbed him not of a golden shred
Of the childish dreams in his wise old head -
"And they're welcome to all things else," he said,
When the robbers came to rob him.

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