Watt

When Watt was but a little boy-- His papa's pride, his mama's joy-- He sat beside the kitchen fire The bubbling teapot to admire; And as he watched the hissing steam He straightway then began to dream Of what the vapor hot could do If how to use it he but knew.

Eventually he devised A neat invention which surprised The people of that early day-- He made an engine, anyway. This poor contrivance he improved Until by it great loads were moved And horses were displaced by rails, While sidewheels took the place of sails.

Observe, my child, how one small thing A wondrous lot of change will bring: Because wise little Jimmy Watt Could turn to some account his thought, Today the trains go whizzing through The land, and o'er the ocean blue The mighty ships scoot night and day From here to countries far away.

Great thanks are due to this James Watt, Also to his mama's teapot, By porters who on every trip Hold up the tourist for a tip, And also by that mighty mass Of folks who travel on a pass, And by the ones who rake in rocks Through squeezes that they work in stocks.

But that it would like punning seem We'd say Watt has the world's esteem (But since we've said it that way now We'll let the pun go, anyhow). But, somehow, when we chanced to stop Beside some busy boiler shop, We cannot say that peace was brought To all of us by Jimmy Watt.