OVERDOING IT

This horrid old war is right in our house

Making itself at home, goodness sakes!

The scraps from our table wo n't feed a mouse

We've cut out desserts, salads, and cakes.

Monday is meatless and Tuesday is dry,

Wednesday is sugarless, too, gee whiz!

Our plates must be cleaned, they tell us. That's why

We eat the garbage before it is!

So I bought a melon the other day

When ma was‘ tending a Red Cross tea.

I wanted it awful bad.... Anyway

It was n't so big — just right for me —

And then, just to keep from wasting a drop,

I ate it all up!... Our colored Liz

Says Pa told the doctor, “My fault, old top —

“‘ We eat the garbage before it is.’”

The doctor was writing a‘ scription note

When I come to, turned over and grinned,

And he frowned at Pa, as he wrote and wrote,

Till Pa grew red like his cheeks was skinned.

“Eating the garbage? Now, listen, man,

If that's your game it's good for my biz.

But if I was you, I surely would‘ can’

“‘ We eat the garbage before it is!’”