 | The Writings of Bret Harte |  |
327
COLENSO RHYMES FOR ORTHODOX CHILDREN
A smart man was Bishop Colenso—
'T were better he never had been so—
He said, “A queer book
Is that same Pentateuch!”
Said the clergy, “You musn't tell men so.”
'T were better he never had been so—
He said, “A queer book
Is that same Pentateuch!”
Said the clergy, “You musn't tell men so.”
There once was a Bishop of Natal
Who made this admission most fatal;
He said: “Between us
I fear Exodus
Is a pretty tough yarn for Port Natal.”
Who made this admission most fatal;
He said: “Between us
I fear Exodus
Is a pretty tough yarn for Port Natal.”
Shall I believe that Noah's Ark
Rode on the waters blue?
Or must I, with Colenso, say
The story is untrue?
Rode on the waters blue?
Or must I, with Colenso, say
The story is untrue?
What then becomes of all my joys—
That ark I loved so well—
Those tigers—dear to little boys—
Shall they this error swell?
That ark I loved so well—
Those tigers—dear to little boys—
Shall they this error swell?
There once was a Bishop, and what do you think!
He talked with a Zulu, who says with a wink,
“Folks say that the Pentateuch 's true.—I deny it.”
And never since then has this Bishop been quiet.
He talked with a Zulu, who says with a wink,
“Folks say that the Pentateuch 's true.—I deny it.”
And never since then has this Bishop been quiet.
| The Writings of Bret Harte | |