THE HOOK AND LADDER.
Reading edition
The frosts in the door-yard maple Had lighted a fine red blaze, And one of the golden twilights That come September days: The neighborhood lads had gathered To play their usual plays.
Frankie was good at planning, And seeing the glowing tree, “Let’s have a fire department And play ’tis a house!” said he. “Oh, yes, a hook and ladder,” Cried all; “what fun ’twill be!” So they put the hose on the hydrant. Searched everywhere about Until they found a ladder, And then, with yell and shout Of “fire” and clang of “ding-dong,” They rushed to put it out. The hosemen pulled their jackets Hastily from their backs; One climbed the tree like a squirrel, With a ball-bat for an axe And he hewed at the beautiful branches With frantic hacks and whacks.
Some one turned on the water, And the boy in the foremost place Got the full force from the nozzle Square in his little face; And he cried for half a minute With the funniest grimace.
The stream flew this way, that way, And up to the tree’s bright top, And back came the water splashing With reckless slosh and slop, And with it showers of red leaves And twigs began to drop. This small boys’ Hook and Ladder Was a very good company, And they squirted till the sidewalk Was like a mimic sea; But they didn’t put out the fire In the old red maple-tree. MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES.
