Bib Ballads

<h3><br/><SPAN name="THE_GROCERY_MAN_AND_THE_BEAR" id="THE_GROCERY_MAN_AND_THE_BEAR"></SPAN>THE GROCERY MAN AND THE BEAR</h3> <div class="cpoem1"> <p><br/> He was weary of all of his usual joys;<br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">His books and his blocks made him tired,</span><br/> And so did his games and mechanical toys,<br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">And the songs he had always admired;</span><br/> So I told him a story, a story so new<br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">It had never been heard anywhere;</span><br/> A tale disconnected, unlikely, untrue,<br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Called The Grocery Man and the Bear.</span><br/> <br/> I didn't think much of the story despite<br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">The fact 'twas a child of my brain.</span><br/> And I never dreamt, when I told it that night,<br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">That I'd have to tell it again;</span><br/> I never imagined 'twould make such a hit<br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">With the audience of one that was there</span><br/> That for hours at a time he would quietly sit<br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Through The Grocery Man and the Bear.</span><br/> <br/> To all other stories, this one is preferred;<br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">It's the season's best seller by far,</span><br/> And out at our house it's as frequently heard<br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">As cuss-words in Mexico are.</span><br/> When choo-choos and horses and picture books fail,<br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">He'll remain, quite content, in his chair,</span><br/> While I tell o'er and o'er the incredible tale<br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Of The Grocery Man and the Bear.</span><br/></p> </div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/038.jpg" width-obs="591" height-obs="600" alt="" title="decoration" /></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />