When We First Played "Show"

Wasn't it a good time, Long Time Ago-- When we all were little tads And first played "Show"!-- When every newer day Wore as bright a glow As the ones we laughed away-- Long Time Ago!

Calf was in the back-lot; Clover in the red; Bluebird in the pear-tree; Pigeons on the shed; Tom a-chargin' twenty pins At the barn; and Dan Spraddled out just like "The 'Injarubber'-Man!"

Me and Bub and Rusty, Eck and Dunk and Sid, 'Tumblin' on the sawdust Like the A-rabs did; Jamesy on the slack-rope In a wild retreat, Grappling back, to start again-- When he chalked his feet!

Wasn't Eck a wonder, In his stocking-tights?

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Wasn't Dunk--his leaping lion-- Chief of all delights! Yes, and wasn't "Little Mack" Boss of all the Show,-- Both Old Clown and Candy-Butcher-- Long Time Ago!

Sid the Bareback-Rider; And--oh-me-oh-my!-- Bub, the spruce Ring-master, Stepping round so spry!-- In his little waist-and-trousers All made in one, Was there a prouder youngster Under the sun!

And NOW--who will tell me,-- Where are they all? Dunk's a sanatorium doctor, Up at Waterfall; Sid's a city street-contractor; Tom has fifty clerks; And Jamesy he's the "Iron Magnate" Of "The Hecla Works."

And Bub's old and bald now, Yet still he hangs on,-- Dan and Eck and "Little Mack," Long, long gone! But wasn't it a good time, Long Time Ago-- When we all were little tads And first played "Show"!

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