Songs of Action by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
page 44 of 74 (59%)
page 44 of 74 (59%)
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''Old 'ard, old gal!' says master, and 'Gently then!' says I, But an engine won't 'eed coaxin' an' it ain't no use to try; So first 'e pulled a lever, an' then 'e turned a screw, But the thing kept crawlin' forrard spite of all that 'e could do. And first it went quite slowly and the 'orse went also slow, But 'e 'ad to buck up faster when the wheels began to go; For the car kept crowdin' on 'im and buttin' 'im along, And in less than 'alf a minute, sir, that 'orse was goin' strong. At first 'e walked quite dignified, an' then 'e 'ad to trot, And then 'e tried a canter when the pace became too 'ot. 'E looked 'is very 'aughtiest, as if 'e didn't 'e mind, And all the time the motor-car was pushin' 'im be'ind. Now, master lost 'is 'ead when 'e found 'e couldn't stop, And 'e pulled a valve or somethin' an' somethin' else went pop, An' somethin' else went fizzywiz, and in a flash, or less, That blessed car was goin' like a limited express. Master 'eld the steerin' gear, an' kept the road all right, And away they whizzed and clattered--my aunt! it was a sight. 'E seemed the finest draught 'orse as ever lived by far, For all the country Juggins thought 'twas 'im wot pulled the car. 'E was stretchin' like a grey'ound, 'e was goin' all 'e knew; But it bumped an' shoved be'ind 'im, for all that 'e could do; It butted 'im an' boosted 'im an' spanked 'im on a'ead, Till 'e broke the ten-mile record, same as I already said. |
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