An Adventurous Day

One time in vacation we boys all left town To stay in the country for Sunday; and down By Deacon Gray’s pasture a rabbit came out Right close to the highway and looked all about Until it saw us and it started to run Right down the highroad like a shot from a gun; So Billy Beggs threw off his coat and his hat And chased it till both of its ears were down flat, And, my, it just ran as if it saw a ghost, And Bill ran so fast that he caught it--almost!

And under the bridge where it crosses the creek We saw some fish swimming and darting as quick As a flash in the water, and one fish would flop Himself till he almost would come to the top; So then we got down on the bridge and we tied A pin on a string and dropped it down the side With a bug on the pin, and the fishes would look While Billy Beggs wiggled the bug on the hook; And one fish was hungry and came up so close That Bill gave a jerk and he caught it--almost!

And over by Skinner’s a big hawk flew by And lit on a stump that was not very high, But didn’t see us and we crawled up quite slow Through the grass to the stump with a big stone to throw; And Billy Beggs said that the hawk was asleep For it never stirred once; and the grass was so deep That we got to within a few feet from the stump, And Billy Beggs peeked, and his heart gave a thump; And when he got ever and ever so close He stood up and threw and he hit it--almost!

And then it got cloudy and thundered and then It lightened just awful and thundered again; It rained some big drops and we started to run To get in the barn till the shower was done; And lightning just spattered and crackled and flashed And we were all scared as could be, and we splashed All through mud and water, and then a big crack Of lightning came down and Bill Beggs hollered back From ’way up ahead, just as pale as a ghost, And said that last lightning had struck him--almost!

And over by Griggs’s somebody came out And hollered to us when we’re all just about So tired we could drop, and they took us right in By the big kitchen fire ’cause we’re wet to the skin; And Mrs. Griggs gave us some blankets to wear While all of our clothes were hung over a chair; And she made some tea till she got us warmed through And then the storm stopped and the sky got all blue; And Billy Beggs told her the flash came so close That he ’membered the whole of the Lord’s Prayer--almost!