I saw him turn a somersault right on the pulpit stairs;

And once, in his old meeting-house, he flew into the steeple,

And rang a merry chime of bells, to call the feathered people.

He has a tiny helpmeet, too, who wears a gown and cap,

And is so very wide-awake, she seldom takes a nap.

She preaches, also, sermonettes, with headlets one, two, three,

In singing monosyllables beginning each with D.

But O her little minister, she does almost adore:

I’ve heard her call her sweet D.D. full twenty times or more.

And his pet polysyllable—why, did you hear it never?