A Rainy Night

’Bout eight o’clock first night that we Were down at the academy ’Twas awful rainy out, and so We both of us stayed in, you know; But we could hear the wind and rain Come splashing on the window-pane; And after while, why, Henry Stout Put up the curtain and looked out, And said, “My! Ain’t she coming down! I wish I was in Beaverstown.”

And then nobody spoke at all, Just listened to the rain-drops fall; And Henry sniffled up his nose Because he had a cold, I s’pose. And then he said, “I wonder how Our folks are getting on by now.” And I said, “Oh, I guess all right. My! Ain’t it rainy out to-night!” And Henry gave a great big sigh And swallowed hard--and so did I.

And then he said, “My! Such a noise! I guess there’s lots of homesick boys Around tonight.” And I said, “Oh,”-- Just careless like--“Oh, I don’t know.” And then he said, “I guess Jim Brown Is glad he stayed in Beaverstown And didn’t have to come down here.” And I said, “Do your eyes feel queer? I got a speck in mine, I guess, They water so.” And he said, “Yes.”

And then he looked and tried to smile, And we kept still for quite a while, And heard it rain; and then he said, “I s’pose our folks are gone to bed And sound asleep by now, I guess.” And then I swallowed and said, “Yes.” So then we both got into bed And heard it rain; and then he said, “My! Ain’t she just a-pouring down! I wish I was in Beaverstown.”