THE STERILIZED BOY

New Zealand Tablet, 6 March 1913, Page 61

THE STERILIZED BOY

Say, I would like to breathe some air That wasn't so refined; And have a chance to run and hop With no one near to mind. And eat an apple 'fore it's peeled, And own some dirty toys, And be too poor to have a nurse And play like other boys. Why, every time that Columbine • Comes otf the street with me She has to change her clothes and mine For fear of germs, you see. And if I grab a stone or touch A post along the walk, You'd think it was a crocodile To hear her line of talk. And kissing, I can't kiss a soul Without an awful row, And mother saying: ' Well, for sure, He'll get the measles now.' I can't pet cats or dogs, and when A stranger pats my head, I get it washed with smelly stuff, Just as the doctor said. So if you know a real bad germ Too strong to sterilize, That you can catch and send around As sort of a surprise, I might get sick and have some fun, And maybe then they'd see It wasn't any use to make A germicide of me.