| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 924. An Art Master |
| | | By John Boyle O’Reilly |
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| HE gathered cherry-stones, and carved them quaintly | |
| Into fine semblances of flies and flowers; | |
| With subtle skill, he even imaged faintly | |
| The forms of tiny maids and ivied towers. | |
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| His little blocks he loved to file and polish; | 5 |
| And ampler means he asked not, but despised. | |
| All art but cherry-stones he would abolish, | |
| For then his genius would be rightly prized. | |
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| For such rude hands as dealt with wrongs and passions, | |
| And throbbing hearts, he had a pitying smile; | 10 |
| Serene his way through surging years and fashions, | |
| While Heaven gave him his cherry-stones and file! | |
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