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THE NEW-YORK BOY'S SONG
TO CROTON WATER.
Oh, blessed be the Croton!
It floweth everywhere—
It sprinkles o'er the dusty ground,
It cooleth all the air.
It floweth everywhere—
It sprinkles o'er the dusty ground,
It cooleth all the air.
It poureth by the wayside,
A constant stream of joy,
To every little radish girl,
And chimney-sweeping boy.
A constant stream of joy,
To every little radish girl,
And chimney-sweeping boy.
Poor little ragged children,
Who sleep in wretched places,
Come out for Croton water,
To wash their dirty faces.
Who sleep in wretched places,
Come out for Croton water,
To wash their dirty faces.
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And if they find a big tub full,
They shout aloud with glee,
And all unite to freight a chip,
And send it out to sea.
They shout aloud with glee,
And all unite to freight a chip,
And send it out to sea.
To the ever-running hydrant
The dogs delight to go,
To bathe themselves, and wet their tongues,
In the silver water-flow.
The dogs delight to go,
To bathe themselves, and wet their tongues,
In the silver water-flow.
The thirsty horse, he knoweth well
Where the Croton poureth down,
And thinks his fare is much improved
In the hot and dusty town.
Where the Croton poureth down,
And thinks his fare is much improved
In the hot and dusty town.
And many a drunkard has forgot
To seek the fiery cup;
For everywhere, before his face,
Sweet water leapeth up.
To seek the fiery cup;
For everywhere, before his face,
Sweet water leapeth up.
Then blessings on the Croton!
It flows for man and beast,
And gives its wealth out freely,
To the greatest and the least.
It flows for man and beast,
And gives its wealth out freely,
To the greatest and the least.
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We city boys take great delight
To watch its bubbling play,
To make it rush up in the air,
Or whirl around in spray.
To watch its bubbling play,
To make it rush up in the air,
Or whirl around in spray.
It is good sport to guide a hose
Against the window-pane,
Or dash it through the dusty trees,
Like driving summer rain.
Against the window-pane,
Or dash it through the dusty trees,
Like driving summer rain.
Oh, blessed be the Croton!
It gives us endless fun,
To make it jump and splash about,
And sparkle in the sun.
It gives us endless fun,
To make it jump and splash about,
And sparkle in the sun.
And the Fountains in their beauty,
It glads our hearts to see—
Ever springing up to heaven,
So gracefully and free.
It glads our hearts to see—
Ever springing up to heaven,
So gracefully and free.
Fast fall their sparkling diamonds,
Beneath the sun's bright glance,
And like attendant fairies,
The shim'ring rainbows dance.
Beneath the sun's bright glance,
And like attendant fairies,
The shim'ring rainbows dance.
White and pure their feathery foam,
Under the moon's mild ray,
While twinkling stars look brightly down
Upon their ceaseless play.
Under the moon's mild ray,
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Upon their ceaseless play.
And all about the crowded town,
In garden, shop, or bower,
Neat little fountains scatter round
A small refreshing shower.
In garden, shop, or bower,
Neat little fountains scatter round
A small refreshing shower.
Perhaps some dolphin spouts it forth
To sprinkle flower or grass,
Or marble boy, with dripping urn,
Salutes you as you pass.
To sprinkle flower or grass,
Or marble boy, with dripping urn,
Salutes you as you pass.
Then blessings on the Croton!
May it diminish never—
For its glorious beauty
Is a joy forever.
May it diminish never—
For its glorious beauty
Is a joy forever.
[_]
Note.—In former years, water was very scarce and very bad, in some parts of the city of New-York. But now an abundance of delicious water is brought from the river Croton, forty miles off. It runs under-ground, in big iron pipes. In every street, are conductors, called hydrants, from which small streams slow continually.
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