THE FUGITIVE THOUGHT.

When scribbling late one nightI happened to alightOn the happiest thought I’d thoughtFor many a year.I hailed it with delightBut ere I’d time to writeMy pencil had contrivedTo disappear.

When scribbling late one night

I happened to alight

On the happiest thought I’d thoughtFor many a year.

I hailed it with delight

But ere I’d time to write

My pencil had contrived

To disappear.

Wherecouldthe thing have gone?I searched and searched uponThe table, and beneath itAnd behind it.I pushed my books about,Turned my pockets inside out,But the more I lookedThe more I could n’t find it!

Wherecouldthe thing have gone?

I searched and searched upon

The table, and beneath it

And behind it.

I pushed my books about,

Turned my pockets inside out,

But the more I looked

The more I could n’t find it!

Then I searched and searched againOn the table, but in vain,And I fussed and fumedAnd felt about the floor.And I rose up in my wroth,And I shook the tablecloth,And turned my pocketsInside out once more!“This will not do,” I said,“Imust notlose my head!”So I went and tore the cushionsFrom my chair,Shook all my rugs and mats,And shoes and coats and hats,And crawled beneath theSofa in despair!

Then I searched and searched again

On the table, but in vain,

And I fussed and fumed

And felt about the floor.

And I rose up in my wroth,

And I shook the tablecloth,

And turned my pockets

Inside out once more!

“This will not do,” I said,“Imust notlose my head!”So I went and tore the cushionsFrom my chair,Shook all my rugs and mats,And shoes and coats and hats,And crawled beneath theSofa in despair!

“This will not do,” I said,

“Imust notlose my head!”

So I went and tore the cushions

From my chair,

Shook all my rugs and mats,

And shoes and coats and hats,

And crawled beneath the

Sofa in despair!

Then I said, “Imustkeep cool!”So I took my two-foot ruleAnd I poked among theAshes in the grate.And I paced my room in rage,Like a wild beast in a cage,In a furious, frightful, frantic,Frenzied state!At last, upon my soul,I lost my self-controlAnd indulged in languageQuite unfit to hear;Till out of breath—I gaspedAnd clutched my head—and graspedThat pencil calmly resting onMy ear!Yes, I found that pencil stub!But my thought—Aye, there’s the rubIn vain I try to call itBack again.It has fled beyond recall,And what is worst of all’T will turn up in someOther fellow’s brain!So I denounce forthwithAny future Jones or SmithWho thinksmy thought—aPlagiarist of the worst.I shall know my thought againWhen I hear it, and it’s plainItmustbe mine becauseI thought it first!

Then I said, “Imustkeep cool!”

So I took my two-foot rule

And I poked among the

Ashes in the grate.

And I paced my room in rage,

Like a wild beast in a cage,

In a furious, frightful, frantic,

Frenzied state!

At last, upon my soul,I lost my self-controlAnd indulged in languageQuite unfit to hear;Till out of breath—I gaspedAnd clutched my head—and graspedThat pencil calmly resting onMy ear!

At last, upon my soul,

I lost my self-control

And indulged in language

Quite unfit to hear;

Till out of breath—I gasped

And clutched my head—and grasped

That pencil calmly resting on

My ear!

Yes, I found that pencil stub!But my thought—Aye, there’s the rubIn vain I try to call itBack again.It has fled beyond recall,And what is worst of all’T will turn up in someOther fellow’s brain!

Yes, I found that pencil stub!

But my thought—Aye, there’s the rub

In vain I try to call it

Back again.

It has fled beyond recall,

And what is worst of all

’T will turn up in some

Other fellow’s brain!

So I denounce forthwithAny future Jones or SmithWho thinksmy thought—aPlagiarist of the worst.I shall know my thought againWhen I hear it, and it’s plainItmustbe mine becauseI thought it first!

So I denounce forthwith

Any future Jones or Smith

Who thinksmy thought—a

Plagiarist of the worst.

I shall know my thought again

When I hear it, and it’s plain

Itmustbe mine because

I thought it first!

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