When all at once the whooping-cough
Attacked and nearly took me off.
For nine long weeks I whooped and choked,
While mother nursed and father joked—
He was always great to jest and pun,
And turn all troubles into fun—
He said the crisis now was here,
And we had nothing worse to fear.
Alas! his jesting hopes were vain,
The whooping-cough did not remain,