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.