The Reading of the Notes
The Reading of the Notes is a poem written by F.I. (Franz Jves) published in the Arthur Conan Doyle handwritten magazine The Feldkirchian Gazette (Vol. I, october 1875).
The Reading of the Notes
The study door is opened
And anxious are the looks
Which hastily and stealthily
Are cast from off the books
Then in strides Father Löffel.
His ponderous book he gripes
And in the rear one saw with fear
The stately form of Pipes.
The book he opened with a look,
And something in his eye,
As if to say "Hello my boy,
"You've got an ein bis zwei"
Then one by one the names are called,
And at the solemn sound,
So many hearts, though brave enough,
With apprehension bound.
In "andstand" and "aufmerksamkeit"
How many meet their fate!
And in "betragen" and in "fleiss"
repentance comes too late.
The rules forbid us strictly
With many fearful threats
Whilst in the refectory,
To look at little brats.
And also in the play–ground
On morning's raw and cold.
Within our breetches pockets,
our freezing hands to hold.
The English are forbidden,
to speak or play together.
Especially in the "Billiards"
When it is rainy weather.
Then Pipes with peace upon his face
to this expressed his Joy.
And then he winks, as if he thinks,
"I've got you there old boy"
But then you'll find my dear friend Pipes
Such rules we all defy;
For pipes are very smoky things
The smoke may reach your eye.
.F.I.
