An' wunst he clumbed on our back'fence
An' flop his arms an' nen commence
To crow, like he's a hen;
But when he failed off, like he done,
He didn't fool us childern none,
Ner didn't _crow_ again.
An' our Hired Man, as he come by,
Says, "Tom can't _crow_, but he kin _cry_."

* * * * *

[Illustration: "PORE PA! PORE PA!"]

* * * * *




LITTLE DICK AND THE CLOCK


When Dicky was sick
In the night, and the clock,
As he listened, said "Tick-
Atty--tick-atty--tock!"
He said that _it_ said,
Every time it said "Tick,"
It said "Sick," instead,
And he _heard_ it say "Sick!"