When that I was a little lad
I dearly loved Amelia James;
She always seemed sunshiny glad,
And took such notice of the games!
Selina, who was Acton's pet,
Distinctly looked prepared to scratch;
She never stood behind the net,
And never came to watch a match.
But Miss Amelia took such pride
In all our study and our sport,
That once I think she nearly cried
When half our team got out for nought.
She knew the secrets of the slips;
And when a friend or foe played well
A cheer came from her kindly lips
That made a fellow feel a Swell!
We loved to see her freckled face,
We loved to hear her jolly fun;
We searched her out a shady place,
And clapped with her the stolen run.
I loved her most of all the men,
For Mother's eyes were such a blue;
I loved her as a boy of ten
Can love a girl of twenty-two!
One day we played a rival team,
And I made eighty-four, not out;
I knew Amelia's face would beam,
And sometimes heard her pretty shout!
At night the Doctor sent for me
And said my feat was not amiss;
Miss James, though, took me on her knee
And thanked me with a clinking kiss.