The Old Schoolhouse

In an old English village, down a country street
Next to a village church stands a cottage small and neat.
Children of the village poor crossed the threshold of this door.
For basic education taught by a dame, the children of the village came.
The church did run this village school, and did teach those children small.
Now there is no sound of running feet, or scrape of chalk on blackboard neat.

Their education ended at an early age, they went forth to earn a paltry wage.
A few were lucky to learn a trade, if not it was work the land, or be a maid.
Many had no prospects bright, and long hours worked from morn to night.
What did the future hold in store for each who entered that door ?
If only one could go back in time and see those children then,
And discover what became of them when grown to women and men.

Into service young girls had to go, their days filled with menial tasks,
And household chores, so many had a life of toil.
The young men had to work the land, plough and plant the soil,
That was all so long ago, the year seventeen hundred or so.
Perhaps some in younger churchyard lie, slate coloured stones pointing to the sky.
Were these the children of the poor who crossed the threshold of that door.