Whose Child Is This?

"Whose children are these" I asked one day,

Seeing a little one out at play.
"Mine", said the parent with a tender smile,
"Mine to keep a little while,
To bathe thier hainds and comb their hair,
To tell them what they are to wear,
To prepare them that they may always be good,
And each day do the things they should."

"Whose children are these" I asked again,
As the door opened and someone came in.
"Mine", said the teacher with same tender smile,
"Mine to keep just for a little while,
To teach them to be gentle and kind,
To train and direct their dear little minds,
To help them live by every rule,
And get the best they can from school."

"Whose children are these" I asked once more,
Just as a little one entered a door
"Ours", said the parent and the teacher as they smiled,
And each took a hand of the little child.
"Ours to love and train together,
Ours this special task forever."