Pa’s Sacrifice

Don’t shake your head in such a way,

     And look so melancholy;

That you can’t get away today

     Is worse than passing folly.

This is not time to uppish be,

     Don’t think that you can shake him;

Johnny the circus wants to see,

     And someone’s got to take him.

Give up your cares for one half-day,

     Although you hate to do it;

Just be a martyr, by the way,

     In time you will not rue it.

Of course you do not want to go,

     But Johnnie? Don’t forsake him!

He wants to see the circus, so

     Of course you’ll have to take him.

May 30, ‘10