Just when the sky was getting light The Barnum show would come our way And pitch its tents that once were white On Mason's Forty for a day; And all the kids were on the spot With yawning mouths and sleepy eyes To hang around the circus lot And watch the canvas city rise. They had the usual circus luck On Third or Jefferson or Grand, For now and then a wagon stuck Up to the axles in the sand. The teams would strain, and breathe a spell, Then look around like one who hunts For help -- and then some man would yell, "Hi-there! Bring up the elephunts!" And then a box-car with four legs, Big ears, a swinging trunk between, And feet that crushed the walks like eggs, Would just come slowly up and lean Head-on against the wagon's rear And grunt and snort a little bit, Then shove that wagon in the clear And put it where they wanted it. Well, that's a long, long time ago; But now and then in daily toil When work around the shop is slow, Up to the axles in the soil, I wish some man I could discern With strength and courage for such stunts -- I wish that somewhere I could turn And yell, "Bring up the elephunts!" |