Willie said, Now will I learn to read and spell

1 Willie said, "Now will I learn to read and spell,
Cheerful, happy!
I will try to learn my lesson well,
O, cheerfully, happily! cheerfully, happily!

2 Soon he fails, and other scholars take the load,
Cheerful, happy!
Yet he says, I'll try again to read,"
O, cheerfully, happily! cheerfully, happily!

3 Though I fail'd at first, yet I've begun to learn,
Cheerful, happy!
When I fail, I'll take another turn,
O, cheerfully, happily! cheerfully, happily!

4 Often failing, often bravely he returns,
Cheerful, happy!
Till he reads quite well, and finely learns,
O, cheerfully, happily! cheerfully, happily!

5 Now let's something learn, from Willie's reading song,
Cheerful, happy!
Never get discouraged your life long
O, cheerfully, happily! cheerfully, happily!

6 First beginnings oft are hard--yes, very hard,
Cheerful, happy!
Never mind it, on! there's your reward,
O, cheerfully, happily! cheerfully, happily!

Source: Linden Harp: a rare collection of popular melodies adapted to sacred and moral songs, original and selected. Illustrated. Also a manual of... #112