AN UNUSUAL CHUM

HENRY Blake’s father goes fishing with him, And goes in the creek so’s to teach him to swim; He talks to him just like they’re awful close chums And sometimes at night he helps Henry do sums; And once he showed Henry how he used to make A basket by whittling a peach stone and take The bark off of willows for whistles although He hadn’t made one since a long time ago. Henry Blake’s father is just like his chum, And when he goes fishing he lets Henry come; He fixes two seats on the bank of the brook And shows Henry how to put frogs on his hook; And sometimes he laughs in the jolliest way At some little thing that he hears Henry say, And dips up a drink in his hat like you do When only just boys go a-fishing with you. Henry Blake’s father will take him and stay Somewhere in the woods for a half holiday And wear his old clothes and bring home a big sack Of hick’ries and walnuts to help Henry crack; And sit on a dead log somewhere in the shade To eat big sandwiches his mother has made; And Henry Blake’s father, he don’t seem as though He’s more than his uncle, he likes Henry so!