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THE THIRD OF JULY.
Ha, ha! little toddlekins—cash did you say?
You shall have it, my boys.
For racket and noise,
Crackers and powder,
Louder and louder,
Shall bang and resound on the glorious day!
Here's a dollar for Johnny, a dollar for Paul.
And you, little Dick,
Come to father my chick!
Now that's for a pack,
And that's for a pack,
And that's for torpedoes and snappers and all!
Now Robbie and Willie,—you boys with "real" pockets;
Ha, ha! I declare.
Shall I put it in there?
Hear it dropping, co-chunk!
What! you want more for punk?
Here it is. And I'll see to the pin-wheels and rockets.
Of course, you all know of the great Declaration
That made us as free
As a country could be.
On that glorious Fourth,
East, West, South, and North
Were proclaimed a United American Nation!
How our forefathers bled,—they, the mighty and wroth!
To make us all free,—
Yes, you, boys, and me.
Though you can't understand
How they wrestled and planned,
You can honor them, boys, and remember the Fourth.
Be off with your money! To-morrow's the word!
Hold, Johnny, here's more
To divide 'twixt you four.
And Dick, here's a dime,—
Hurrah! What a time!
We'll have such a racket as never was heard!
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When I am big, I mean to buy
A dozen platters of pumpkin-pie,
A barrel of nuts, to have 'em handy,
And fifty pounds of sugar-candy.
When I am big, I mean to wear
A long-tailed coat, and crop my hair;
I'll buy a paper, and read the news,
And sit up late whenever I choose.
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Wind for the tree-top, sun for the spear;
Johnny will be a big boy in a year.
When he is big he can battle the storm;
While he is little, we'll wrap him up warm.