Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By Edith MatildaThomas

1201 A Little Boy’s Vain Regret

HE was six years old, just six that day,

And I saw he had something important to say

As he held in his hand a broken toy.

He looked in my face for an instant, and then

He said, with a sigh, and a downcast eye,

“If I could live my life over again,

I think I could be a better boy!”