TOM.
YES, Tom's the best fellow that ever you knew.
Just listen to this:
When the old mill took fire,
And the flooring fell through,
And I with it, helpless, there, full in view,
What do you think my eyes saw through the fire,
That crept along, crept along higher and higher,
But Robin, my baby boy, laughing to see
The shining! He must have come there for me;
Toddled along from the cottage without
Any one missing him. Then with a shout
Oh! How I shouted, "For Heaven's sake, men,
Save little Robin!" Again and again
They tried, but the fire held them back like a wall.
I could hear them go at it, and at it, and call,
"Never mind, baby, sit still like a man,
We're coming to get you as fast as we can."
They could not see him, but I could; he sat
Still on a beam, his little straw hat
Carefully placed at his side, and his eyes
Stared at the flames with a baby's surprise,
Calm and unconscious, as nearer it crept.
The roar of the fire up above must have kept
The sound of the mother's voice shrieking his name
From reaching the child. But I heard it. It came
Again and again O God, what a cry!
The axes went faster, I saw the sparks fly
Where the men worked like tigers, nor minded the heat
That scorched them when, when suddenly there at their feet
The great wall leaned in they saw him--then, crash,
Down came the wall! The men made a dash
Jumped to get out of the way and I thought
"All's up with poor little Robin," and brought
Slowly the arm that was least hurt to hide
The sight of the child there, when swift at my side,
Some one rushed by, and went through the flame
Straight as a dart caught the child, and then came
Back with him choking and crying, but saved!
Saved safe and sound.
Oh! You'd admire
To see Robin now: he is eight years old,
And to me is worth his weight in gold;
Tom it was saved him. Now isn't it true,
Tom's the best fellow that ever you knew?
There's Robin now see, he's strong as a log
And there comes Tom too yes, Tom is our dog.
—Christian Child.