And the future and the past,
And the present and the perfect is,
Look out!”
With every emphasized word a camp cushion came down upon Harry’s head. “And the first” (bang) “and the last” (bang).
“You bet it’s the last!” said Harry, “Look out!” and he promptly returned the compliment with the other cushion.
“And the first and the last,
And the future and the past.
I say, that’s a terrible song, isn’t it, Harry? Say it. Go on, say it once. You can never get it out of your head. There was a fellow over in England—a tenderfoot—and he learned it and it drove him crazy. Go on, say it, Harry.”
“Who told you that?”
“You say it once—please.”