Elderly Gentleman, The

By the side of a murmuring stream an elderly gentleman sat.     On the top of his head was a wig, and a-top of his wig was his hat.     The wind it blew high and blew strong, as the elderly gentleman sat;     And bore from his head in a trice, and plunged in the river his hat.     The gentleman then took his cane which lay by his side as he sat;     And he dropped in the river his wig, in attempting to get out his hat.     His breast it grew cold with despair, and full in his eye madness sat;     So he flung in the river his cane to swim with his wig, and his hat.     Cool reflection at last came across while this elderly gentleman sat;     So he thought he would follow the stream and look for his cane, wig, and hat.     His head being thicker than common, o'er-balanced the rest of his fat;     And in plumped this son of a woman to follow his wig, cane, and hat.