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The Book of Joyous Children

by James Whitcomb Riley

16 of 43 · Contents · Download EPUB

Little Dick and the Clock

When Dicky was sick
   In the night, and the clock,
As he listened, said “Tick-
   Atty—tick-atty—tock!”
He said that it said,
   Every time it said “Tick,”
It said “Sick,” instead,
   And he heard it say “Sick!”
And when it said “Tick-
   Atty—tick-atty—tock,”
He said it said “Sick-
   Atty—sick-atty—sock!”
And he tried to see then,
   But the light was too dim,
Yet he heard it again—
   And’t was talking to him!

And then it said “Sick-
   Atty—sick-atty—sick
You poor little Dick-
   Atty—Dick-atty—Dick!—
Have you got the hick-
   Atties? Hi! send for Doc”
To hurry up quick
   Atty—quick-atty—quock,
And heat a hot brick-
   Atty—brick-atty—brock,

And rikle-ty wrap it
And clickle-ty clap it
   Against his cold feet-
     Al-ty—weep-aty—eepaty—
There he goes, slapit-
   Ty—slippaty—sleepaty!”

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