Lighter Lyrics

Larry

(A ROUGH-HAIRED TERRIER)

ONCE there was a wooden dog upon a wooden stand, From out a toy-shop window he would gaze at sea and sand. His chunky legs were planted on a board as green as spring. With wheels of cotton-bobbins and a length of leading string.

Then Pan, he came a-frisking As oftentimes he will, When jaunty winds arc whisking The blooms that branches spill. He piped a dancing ditty, . He said, " Your Dogship, you Remind me of my pretty— (By Zeus ! And how you do !) My pretty lambs a-leaping On asphodels afar, But aren't you tired of keeping So solemn as you are ? "

Along his Dogship's painted .coat in fleecy ripples flew A host of corkscrew kissing curls, and rooted there, and grew. His stumpy tail ridiculously wagged in joyous rhyme To notes that stirred the Doric lambkins once upon a timer

Then Pan, he said with laughter, " I go my prancing way, But you shall follow after A human, from to-day.

You'll Le no good for shooting ; YOur only use is fun, And aptitude for looting The hearts of everyone.

Yes, you must fetch and carry The hearts of all you meet.

Hie on ! And seek 'em, Larry ! "

He vanished down the street.

And now about a certain house, with mud upon his nose, A squarely cornered, scallywaggish puppy comes and goes, A jubilating Jackanapes, but be it understood

His spirit owes its headiness to being stored in wood.

And though he digs and noses

In-newly tidied bed,

And rootles up the roses To plant his bones instead, And claws the neatest knitting, And tars the Persian mat,

Or sets the kitten spitting,

Or eats his master's hat : Though clumsily he harries The rabbit, rat and mouse, He very kindly carries_ • The hearts of all the house.

BARBARA EVPHAN TODD,