When first sent to School (now the Station was Rugby) br I fancied my masters and took to the boys; br I thought to myself--here 'tis plain I shall snug be br Revolving at last in an orbit of joys: br The Alphabet Grecian I quickly could stammer, br Nor ran any risk of a jaw out of joint; br I waddled sedately through Fatherland Grammar, br But own I was floored by the Decimal Point! br br Le Roi de Montagnes was my Gallic translation, br And soon I was praised by my master, who said:-- br "I certainly deem that, with good education, br A Scholarship laurel should circle your head!" br I revelled in idioms; I thrilled at the phrases; br I knew how to render "avaunt" and "aroint," br But own that I shed many tears on the daisies br Of Rugby when stumped by the Decimal Point! br br I mastered the building proceedings of Balbus, br And rarely omitted a requisite cum; br I never remarked that an equa was albus, br And deftly supplied the subjunctive with quum! br No canis to me was a dog in the manger-- br A classic by Fate I was clearly anoint! br I own, though, I ran into desperate danger br When fogged and be-fooled by the Decimal Point!br br Norman Rowland Galebr br