Tom and His Pony, Jack
H. Belloc
Tom had a little pony, Jack:
He vaulted lightly on its back
And galloped off for miles and miles,
A-leaping hedges, gates and stiles,
And shouting “Yoicks!” and “Tally-Ho!”
And “Heads I win!” and “Tails below!”
And many another sporting phrase.
He rode like this for several days,
Until the pony, feeling tired,
Collapsed, looked heavenward and expired.
His father made a fearful row.
He said, “By Gum! You’ve done it now!
Here lies, a Carcase on the ground,
No less than five and twenty pound!
Indeed, the value of the beast
Would probably have much increased.
His teeth were false; and all were told
That he was only four years old.
Oh! Curse it all! I tell you plain
I’ll never let you ride again.”
Moral
His father died when he was twenty,
And left three horses—which is plenty.