Classic Poem

It was Mr. Benjamin Franklin, a-carrying of the mail
(Sing ho, for the tallow-chandler's brother!);
He had to be at Newport Friday morning without fail
(Sing rather, t'other, pother, fuss, and bother!).
When passing Trustum Pond, as he rode with might and main,
He was soaked to the skin by the thunder and the rain;
And when he came to Dead Man's Brook his pony stumbled in,
And tumbled Mr. Franklin off, and wet him through again
(Sing ho, for the tallow-chandler's mother!).
“Speed up,” he cried, “and bring me to the inn at Willow Dell”
(Sing ho, for the tallow-chandler's cousin!);
“Ben Seegar there shall give you oats and Hiram groom you well”
(Sing ten, eleven, twelve, a baker's dozen!).
So quick they strode along the road, and here he entered in,
And first, of course, he left his horse all wetted to the skin.
But lo! so many people were around the landlord's fire
That he was forced to stand outside, and could n't come no nigher
(Sing five and four and two and one's a dozen!).

“Good friend,” said Mr. Franklin, as if it were of course
(Sing Trustum Bay and lobster-claw and clamshell!).
“I wish that you would give a peck of oysters to my horse”
(Sing lobster-claw and pickerel and clamshell!).
The landlord heard without a word; and quick as he was able,
He shelled the fish and took the dish of oysters to the stable;
And with surprise in all their eyes, the people left the stranger,
And crossed the yard in tempest hard, to crowd around the manger.
Ben Franklin, he cared not to see, but took the warmest seat,
And hung his coat above the fire, and sat and dried his feet
(Sing centipede and crocodile and bomb-shell!).

Five minutes more, and through the door came Mr. Landlord, swearing
(Sing Oliver, Tom Nopes, and Benjamin Seegar!);
And after him came all the folks, a-wondering and a-staring
(Sing Oliver, Queen Moll, and Colonel Wager!).
“Your horse won't touch the oysters, sir, although they're fresh and new, sir.”
“He won't?” asked Mr. Franklin; “That's no offence to you, sir.
You see he does n't know what's good; but if he don't, I do, sir”
(Sing rheumatiz and gout and shaking ager!);
“If he had tried your oysters fried he might not then refuse 'em,
But I will sit and toast my feet while Mistress Bowers stews 'em.”