THE DANCING BEAR.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 5, 4 February 1893, Page 119

THE DANCING BEAR.

BY ALBERT BIGELOW PAINE. Oh, it’s fiddle-de-dum and fiddle de dee, The dancing bear ran away with me ; For the organ grinder he came to town "With a joliy old bear in a coat of brown. And the funny old chap joined hands with me, While I cut a caper and so did he. Then ’twas fiddle-de-dom and fiddle-de-dee, I looked at him, a id he winked at me, And I whispered a word in his shaggy ear, And I said, ‘ I will go with you, my dear.’ Then the dancing bear he smiled and said, Well, he didn’t say much, but he nodded his head As the organ-grinder began to play •* Over the hills and far away.’ With a fiddle-de-dum and a fiddle de-dee; Oh, I looked at him and he winked at me, And my heart was light and the day was fair, And away 1 went with the dancing bear. Oh, ’tis fiddle-de-dum and fiddle de-dee, The dancing bear came back with me ; For the sugar plum trees were stripped and bare, And we couldn’t find cookies anywhere. And the solemn old fellow he sighed and said, Well, he didn’t say much, but shook his head, While I looked at him and he blinked at me Till I shed a tear and so did he ; And both of us thought of our supper that lay Over the hills and far away. Then the dancing bear he took my hand, And we hurried away through the twilight land ; And’twas fiddle-de-dum and fiddle-de-dee When the dancing bear came back with me.