SLY BOY.

I was the slyest boy at home, The slyest boy at school, I wanted all the world to know That I was no one's fool.

I kept my childish hopes and schemes Locked closely in my breast, No single secret shared with Bob, The chum I liked the best.

I never showed my squirrel's nest, Nor beaver dam, nor cave, Nor fortress where I used to go To be a soldier brave.

Oh, I was sly, just awful sly, In winter, summer, spring, While Bob would tell me all he knew, I never told a thing.

And yet Bob always got ahead; I'd find the careless knave Asleep within my fortress walls, And fishing in my cave.

“What, yours!” he said, in great surprise, “You should have told me so. You never said a word, old chum, And how was I to know?”

My slyness hurt more than it helped; If Bob had known, you see, He was too kind to do his best To get ahead of me.

I still was sly when I grew up. I fell in love with Nan, But scorned to own it to myself Or any other man.

So sly was I, Nan never guessed — No more did handsome Bob — That every time she looked my way My heart, it stirred and throbbed.

The same old story! Ere I knew, My chum had loved and won. When I explained I'd picked her out To be my very own,

“What, yours!” he said in great surprise, “You should have told me so. You never said a word, old chum, And how was I to know?”

I've learned my lesson, lost my girl; You'll own‘ tis rather rough. Henceforward I'll not be too sly — I'll be just sly enough.