And now, John Wesley Thomas, first and last,—

You feed 'em milkfresh milk—and always warm

Say five or six or seven times a day—

Of course we'll grade that by the way they thrive."

But, for all sanguine hope, and care, as well,

The little fellows did not thrive at all.—

Indeed, with all our care and vigilance,

By the third day of their captivity

The last survivor of the fated five