The Two Raindrops

SAID a drop to a drop, "Just look at me! I'm the finest rain-drop you ever did see: I have lived ten seconds at least on my pane; Swelling and filling and swelling again.

"All the little rain-drops unto me run, I watch them and catch them and suck them up each one: All the pretty children stand and at me stare; Pointing with their fingers--'That's the biggest drop there.'"

"Yet you are but a drop," the small drop replied; "I don't myself see much cause for pride: The bigger you swell up,--we know well, my friend,-- The faster you run down the sooner you'll end.

"For me, I'm contented outside on my ledge, Hearing the patter of rain in the hedge; Looking at the firelight and the children fair,-- Whether they look at me, I'm sure I don't care."

"Sir," cried the first drop, "your talk is but dull; I can't wait to listen, for I'm almost full; You'll run a race with me?--No?--Then 'tis plain I am the largest drop in the whole pane."

Off ran the big drop, at first rather slow: Then faster and faster, as drops will, you know: Raced down the window-pane, like hundreds before, Just reached the window-sill--one splash--and was o'er.