Albert And His Savings

One day, little Albert Ramsbottom

To see 'ow much money 'e'd got

Stuck a knife in 'is money-box slot 'ole

And fiddled and fished out the lot.

It amounted to fifteen and fourpence

Which 'e found by a few simple sums

Were ninety two tuppenny ices

Or twice that in penn'orths of gums.

The sound of the chinkin' of money

Soon brought father's 'ead round the door

He said, "Whats that there, on the table?"

Albert said it were, "Fifteen and four."

"You're not going to spend all that money…"

Said Pa, in an admonitory tone

"On toffee an' things for your stomach."

Said Mother, "Why not?… it's his own."

Said Pa, "Nay, with that fifteen shillings,

We'll buy National Savings and then…

In five years we'll have seventeen and six

And one pound and sixpence, in ten!"

Young Albert weren't what you'd call eager

He saw his sweet dreams fade away,

Ma said, "Let 'im 'ave the odd fourpence."

Pa lovingly answered, "Nay… nay!"

"It's our duty in crisis… what's 'appened

For every child, woman and man

To strain every muscle and sinew

To raise every penny we can!"

He said, "Even this little fourpence…

Might help us, the Germans to drub!"

Then 'e dropped the four coins in 'is pocket

And made for the neighboring pub.

These words stirred the 'eart of young Albert

He made up 'is mind then and there

To take up 'is part in the straining

And sell everything 'e could spare.

So off 'e went down to the junk shop

With some toys and a flashlamp, he'd got.

And the stick with the 'orses 'ead 'andle

He received half a crown for the lot.

He went off to the Post Office counter

Where National Savings was bought

But found that they cost fifteen shillings

Which meant he were twelve and six short.

The little lad wasn't down 'earted

He went off without wastin' words

And sold 'is dad's smoking companion

And 'is Mother's glass case of stuffed birds.

At the Post Office counter they gave 'im

A certificate all crisp and clean

Then back 'e went 'ome, to his parents

To say what a good boy he'd been.

They didn't 'alf shout, when he told 'em

By Gumm… but 'e were in the wars

But at finish, they 'ad to forgive 'im

It were all done in such a grand cause.

There's a moral, of course. to this story

That's pointing to you and to me…

Let's all be young Alberts and tend

To defend the right to be free.