He'd come when called—I called him Joe.—

He was a most amusing fly.

At evening, when the sun was low,

Or, by the firelight's ruddy glow

He'd hopscotch on my buttered bread

Or o'er my jam, with nimble toe.

(Alas! that little fly is dead.)

I saved him once, when none was by;

From out the milk jug's fatal flow

I fished him out, and let him dry.