A Boy Who Was Hero And villian
(Written for Uncle Ernest, Sackville.)
One day in a big meeting held by a MERCY-BAND,
The leader asked each little boy to hold up his right hand
If he could tell of any deed of kindness he had done
In saving some poor animal or helping any one.
Then Ernest held his hand on high and pride suffused his face,
As from his seat he quickly rose and took the speaker's place,
While speaking loud in accents clear, "I saved a little pup
Who had his tail in a tin can all tied securely up.
I took the can from off his tail and made him bark with joy,
So mother said and so said dad—I was a darling boy."
"And so say I," the leader said, while calling him her "DEAR,"
"But how I wish the wicked boy who did the deed was here."
"Well, here he is, for I'm the boy who did that deed as well,
So I could take the tin can off and of my goodness tell."