The Best Times
When Old Folks they wuz young like us
An’ little as you an’ me,—
Them wuz the best times ever wuz
Er ever goin’ to be!
“Hik-Tee-Dik!”
The War-Cry of Billy and Buddy
When two little boys—renowned but for noise—
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!—
May hurt a whole school, and the head it employs,
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
Such loud and hilarious pupils indeed
Need learning—and yet something further they need,
Though fond hearts that love them may sorrow and bleed.
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
O the schoolmarm was cool, and in no wise a fool;
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
And in ruling her ranks it was her rule to rule;
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
So when these two pupils conspired, every day,
Some mad piece of mischief, with whoop and hoo-ray,
That hurt yet defied her,—how happy were they!—
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
At the ring of the bell they ‘d rush in with a yell—
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
And they’d bang the school-door till the plastering fell,
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
They’d clinch as they came, and pretend not to see
As they knocked her desk over—then, My! and O-me!
How awfully sorry they’d both seem to be!
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
This trick seemed so neat and so safe a conceit,—
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!—
They played it three times—though the third they were beat;
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
For the teacher, she righted her desk—raised the lid
And folded and packed away each little kid—
Closed the incident so—yes, and locked it, she did—
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!