University of Virginia Library

So one day Tommy took the road
The very earliest he could;
And into the school as quite as a worm,
And claps his basket under the furm —
His dinner, you'd think—and waited there
Till school began; but just in the prayer
A fellow gave a shove—worse luck!
At Tommy's basket; and “Tuck-tuck-tuck!”
And the master stopped, and we all of us stopped;
And “Tuck-tuck-tuck!” and out she popped—
A beautiful little hen—and she flew
This way and that way—and “Shish!” and “Shoo!”
And over the desks; and we all gave chase,
And she flapped her wings in the master's face—
And the dignified he turned to look!
And “Shoo!” he says; and “Tuck-tuck-tuck”—
And away to the window, and scratched and tore;
And the feathers flyin'. “Open that door!”
Says the master then; and, glad to be shot of us,
So out goes the hen, and out goes the lot of us—
Helter-skelter, boys and gels—
Sticks and stones, or anything else:
“Catch her!” “Watch her!”
“Stop her!” “Drop her!”
“Here she is!” “There she is!”
“Tommy's I'll swear she is!”
“Tommy's! Tommy's! Hop-chu-naa!
Three cheers for Tommy!—Hip-hip-hooraa!”
And a stone come flyin', and a flip and a flutter—
And down went the poor little hen in the gutter,
And her leg was broken; and “Take her up!”
And “The poor little thing!” and “Stop, then; stop!
Here's Tommy himself!” And Tommy came,
And he stood like dumb. “It's a dirty shame!”
Says one of the gels, and begun a cryin'.
Says an imp, “He brought her for Nelly Quine!”
And, “Nelly! for Nelly!” and took and caught her!
And, “Nelly's his sweetheart! It's for Nelly he brought her!”
So when Tommy heard that, he stooped down low,
Like to take the hen, and the tears to flow
Most pitiful, and shivered all over—
And, “Look at him, Nelly! look at your lover!”
But Nelly sprung like a flash of light,
And her eye was set, and her face was white;
And she put her hand upon his head,
And, “Was it for me then, Tommy?” she said—
“Was it for me?” And he snuffs and he snivels;
And, “Yes,” says Tommy. “Hooraa!” says the divils.