LINES WROTE WHILST SMARTIN’ FROM PUNISHMENT RECEIVED FOR LYIN’

By Nixon Waterman

O Washington! ( O Reader, hast thou not

In readin’ high-toned poems wrote for show,

Observed how many of them start with “O?”

Well, anyhow, there is an awful lot. )

The noble deeds thou wrought'st are not forgot

But serve to make thy name, where'er we go,

A household word. If all they say is so

Thou didst some mighty clever stunts. That's what!

And yet, thy fame belongest to thy dad;

Thou shinest by reflected light, forsooth,

For thou‘ rt the only boy that ever had

A pa who, when his son dared tell the truth

About some kiddish prank didst not get mad

And lamm him! O thou heaven-protected youth!