A First Series of Hymns and Songs/Descriptive Songs/By the side of a murmuring Stream
32. By the side of a murmuring Stream.
By the side of a murmuring stream
An elderly gentleman sat;
On the top of his head was his wig,
On the top of his wig was his hat.
The wind it blew high and blew strong
Where this elderly gentleman sat,
And took from his head in a trice
And plung'd in the river his hat.
The gentleman then took his cane,
Which lay by his side as he sat,
But he dropp'd in the river his wig,
In attempting to get out his hat.
And now in the depth of despair,
Though still from the place where he sat,
He flung in the river his cane,
To swim with his wig and his hat.
But cooler reflection at length,
As this elderly gentleman sat,
Said, jump up and follow the stream,
And look for your wig and your hat.
But alas for the thought! for so soon
As he rose from the place where he sat,
He slipp'd! and fell plump overhead,
To swim with his wig and his hat!