“Whose dog is Jack?” He belongs to this street. Needs anti-fat — has too much to eat. “Houseless and homeless?” — Well I guess not; In the whole of this block there is n't a tot
But has had Jack home to board and to sleep, And he pays‘ em in fun, every cent of his keep. He's the best-natured dog, and the smartest, too; No end of the tricks we've taught him to do.
Got a heap of sense in his yellow hide! He's the wonderf'lest dog on the whole East Side; Why, even the dog-man does n't know What breed Jack is,— for he told me so!
The dog-catchers came a'most every day, But Jack knew their cart, and he'd hide away; Then out he'd come, laughing, when they'd got past. Ca n't guess how he ever was cotched at last;
But he was, and they boosted him into their cart, And nobody there could take his part. My! but the little kids cried like mad, And us bigger ones, too,— we felt just as bad;
For he'd rode us all on his old yellow back. It looked as though it was all up with Jack, And I watched him go; but he cocked one eye As much as to say, “I'll be back by and by.”
The look that he gave me — it made me think; And I thought of a plan as quick as wink And I says, “Feller-citizens, ladies and gents, I guess that we've each of us got a few cents,
And we'll club together and have a show, And charge a price, not high nor low; And we'll raise the money, right here and now, That'll buy Jack back by to-morrow — that's how!
Tony, the Eyetalian boy, he'll sing; And Patsy McGovern'll do his handspring; And Ikey Aarons'll swallow his knife, And make us all think he's taking his life,
And little Freda, she'll pass round the hat, She'll smile and say nothing — she's just good for that!” Well, we emptied our pockets — you bet we did!— Every one of us big‘ uns and each little kid
Ran home for their banks as fast as they could; And we raised the money, and all felt good; And next day, early, we brought Jack back. So, now, things run in the same old track,
But he's got his license and do n't have to hide! And we've bought him a byootiful collar beside.
Cookies on Poetry Cove