Gus Gummer long had set his head

Upon some strange invention.

"Be careful, Gus," his good wife said;

"It might explode. I mention—"

Just then the pesky rocket flared

And wrecked that Yankee notion.

"I feared as much!" his wife declared;

Then fainted from emotion.

While Burt was on his hobby-horse

And riding it like mad,

The rocket on its fiery course

Upset the startled lad.

The frightened pony plunged a lot,

Like Fury playing tag.

"Whoa, Spot!" said Burt. "Who would have thought

You such a fiery nag!"

A taxidermist plied his trade

Upon a walrus' head.

It really made him quite afraid

To meet its stare so dread.

When suddenly the rocket, bright,

Flared up and then was off!

"Oh, Minnie," cried the man in fright,

"Just hear that walrus cough!"

Oh, it was just a splendid flight—

That rocket's wild career!

But to an end it came, all right,

As you shall straightway hear.