Mother Boston Will Be Greater

                            I.

O, Boston is the mother of a mighty familee,

Her children scatter every side, as far as one can see;

And some declare they’re big enough to rule themselves alone,

And make up faces at their ma, now since they’re overgrown.

                          Chorus

But mothers will be mothers, and a strap will be a strap;

And her saucy suburb children she will place across her lap;

And there she’ll gently lay it on, and sooner then or later,

               They’ll gladly come home for a plum,

              And make their mother greater.

                            II.

The suburbs are her children, to her they owe her birth;

If not for ‘mommer” Boston, they wouldn’t be on earth;

For years she’s fed and clothed them and held them ‘neath her wing,

And now they want no part they say, of Boston’s apron string.

                          Chorus

                            III.

‘Tis shameful, O, ‘tis shameful, you Somerville and Lynn,

And Cambridge, Medford, Chelsea girls, to keep from coming in;

You need a mother’s “council”, you need a mother’s care,

So hie back to your “mommer”, who is good as she is fair.

                          Chorus

But mothers will be mothers, and a strap will be a strap;

And you now defiant children she will place across her lap;

And you she’ll gently lay it on, and sooner then or later,

              You’ll cease to vex, but plead annex,

              To make your mother greater.

Nov. 27, 1894

Pub. in Boston

    Courier,

Dec. 2, ‘94