Page:A Gentleman From France (1924).djvu/20

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My Dog
Come in, old beggar whining at the door,
Come in, old chap, and lie upon the floor,
And rest your faithful head upon my knee,
And deem it joy to be alone with me;
My dear old dog, unto creation's end,
Of all the world thou art my truest friend.

Thou dost not ask if I be rich the while,
Or if my coat is shabby or in style,
Or if the critics call me small or great,
Whether my life be full of joy or hate,
Or if my purse be over-lean or fat,
All through and through, thou art a democrat.

Thou dost not ask that I be good to thee,
It is enough that thou dost care for me;
And if this hand could beat thee from my door,
Thou wouldst come back at night and whine once more
To lick the hand that made thy body smart,
And love me still, deep in thy doggish heart.

Thou dost not ask for dainty bread and meat
But lovest best the food I will not eat,
And sweet the bit, if looks I understand,
That thou canst eat from out thy master's hand,
And while wise men to thank the Lord may fail,
My dog says "Thank you," with his wagging tail.