Classic Poem

AN INCIDENT IN MY CHILDHOOD .

I remember once a Christmas day,
When, though drowsy still, I rose to see
What Santa Claus, in his kindly way,
Had brought from Toyland to give to me.

My poor old nurse was sleeping sound,
And the room was very still and dark,
But on the table I quickly found
A pile of toys and a big " Noah's Ark. "

I knew I did wrong in acting so,
But I was a little wayward chit,
And my nursie snored so very loud
That I put the gas up one wee bit;

I opened the lid with greatest care,
'Twas hard to move, for it was brand new,
And the first I spied was a Polar bear,
And a lovely, gray-tailed kangaroo.

I kissed them both, tho' I don't know why;
And then I pulled out Renard, the fox,
With a bushy tail and cunning eye,
And then a zebra, and then an ox.

I was sore afraid when the tiger came,
He looked so fierce at the poor giraffe,
But I tied him up to make him tame,
And oh! how the monkey made me laugh.

And then the lion, how brave and grand,
He didn't bite when I stroked his mane,
But he seemed to want to eat my hand,
And I didn't play with him again.

The elephant was a real dear pet,
As cunning and nice as he could be,
And I made him dance a minuet
With the antelope and the chimpanzee.

Then I found old Noah, and Japhet, too,
Who lived in the Ark — such funny men —
And a pretty dove that couldn't coo,
But was twice as sweet as the speckled hen.

And, can you believe? there were two flies,
And a scowling wild boar with big tusks;
I wanted to give them a great surprise,
And fed them on ginger-snaps and rusks.

But I forgot all about it then,
For down in this lovely Ark I found
A serpent that stings poor Indian men,
A brindled cow and a spotted hound.

I don't know how long I'd been that night
Playing with tiger and lamb and bear,
But when I turned it was broad daylight,
And I saw my papa smiling there.

*****

Now I am old, with sad regret,
I see life pass from me, dull and dark,
But through years of pain I linger yet
On the memories fond of that Noah's Ark!